Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-28
LOST AND FOUND.
LUKE 10. lilo.

IL was but few weeks before the last
Passover, and Jesus was on bis last jour.
new from Perea to Jerusalem. AS he
passed from village to village increasing
multitudes througed about him, among
whom we're not few of the despised
and degraded Is is said that "aR the
publicsns and sinners drew near unto
him." There was good reason for this.
Until now the only pretended right
eousness which they had seen was proud,
distant and contemptuous. But here
was teacher who not only epioined a
righteousness exceeding that of the
Scribes and Pharisees, but withal was
the sinners friend He received them
kindly, conversed with them, visited
their homes, and sat at their tables.
No wonder they heard him gladly.
At all this the selfrighteous Phari.
sees were greatly scandalized. They
had no conception of a Righteousness
which could at once abhor sin and pity
the sinner. 1t was in reproof of their
murmurings and in explanation of his
conduct that our Saviour spoke the
three wonderful parallels of this chap.
ter.
These parallels are alike in that they
are intended to represent the mercy OF
GOD to sinners; the first two Gods mer.
.cy in seeking, and the third, that same
mercy in receiving them. 1t may be
that each was intended to depict dis.
tinct clsss,-the first, the stupid the
second, the ignorant; the third, the
wilful. But, more likely, each was
meant to represent different side Of
the same person for all sin is at once
stupid, blind and wilful.
In the two parallels for this days les.
son, we see, .frSt, Vhy God is so earnest
for the sinners recovery. 1t is because
he both pities and values him.
The divine pity is depicted in the
story OF q shepherd seeking a lost
sheep. The Saviour is the Shepherd
81 am the good Shepherd :" "all we, like
sheep, have gone astray." Great is the
wanderers misery and peril and hope.
1ezSness. What picture of all this is a
sheep separated from the flock, wildly
running hither and thither, the ready
prey of wild beasts, liable to fall into
some pit, with no wisdom or strength
TO End his way back 10 the fold As
the shepherd pities the sheep, so God
pities the unhappy, imperiled, helpless
sinner.
The wonderful truth that God also
values the sinner is set forth in the 9th
er parable. In our Saviour's day the
highest coin in common use was Of sill
'ver; SILVER thus represents high value,
1.-THE highest likely TO be in ones posses
sion. lost soul is like lost piece OF
silver now useless, and yet in itself OF
great works. So God looks upon the
sinner; he bears the divine image, how.
ever defaced, and has powers for great
and high service. For this reason. as
we'll as in pity for his misery, God de
sres his salvation.
Then, merit. in both parallels, we are
helped TO see ho,0 God seeks the recov.
cry of the lost. lie goes after them
with pains and patience and the wisest
adaptation Of means. Leaving the nine
ty and nine in their safe pasture ground,
the shepherd pursues the wandering
sheep. Nor, mindless Of the roughness
and difficulties Of the way, does he give
over until, if it be possible. the lost is
found; then, tenderly laying it upon
his shoulder. he joyfully bears it home.
So, with lighted candle and great over.
turnings, does the woman diligently
search for the missing coin. Such, we
are told, is Gods way. With patience
and wisdom he seeks the lost, that he
may save them from their misery and
have them as his own. This he did by
the coming and work and death Of his
Son, and still does by his Word and
Spirit and the ministries Of his people.
And all this, we are told, he does for
one for one sinner for him who has
wandered faTthest, or is most deep in
his corruption.
Just who are represented by the nine
ty and nine who are left is vexed
question, which we need not be greatly
anxious to answer. The reference may
be TO the sinless angels, or to truly
righteous men already brought back, or
to those who ignorantly count them
selves righteous. The great purpose Of
the parallels is to show us the heart Of
God and, particularly, that it is the
recovery OF those who feel themselves
sinners which engages his thought aud
makes his heart glad.
A careless reading of these rarables
might lead TO the inference that man
has nothing to do TO secure bis own
salvation that he has only to wander
and to wait that God does all. But
such an inference is distinctly preclud.
ed. Repentance is the souls own act
and our Saviour plainly says that il is
over the sinner that repenteth that
heaven exults. He must himself con.
sent to Gods grace. Then it is tha,
God calls angels and glorified men %
unite with him in rejoieings which fill
the heavens.
PRACTICAL sCO0EsTTOSs.
|. None are so far gone in sin that we
should not seek their salvation the
seemingly abandoned may be more
hopeful than the proudly self righteous
2. The way TO mems hearts Is by an
exhibition Of friendlness. not by treat
ing sin as trhe, but by showing that
we do not despise the sinuer.
2. The opposition and derision OF the
great and honorcd Of this world did not
issSe4 our Sagiour's ardor for souls; II