Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-31

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The date is about 4. d. 2S, and the
last period of our Lords life upon
earth now begins. Thus far he had ex.
ercised his ministry for the most part IN
Galilee, but now, driven out OF Naza
reth and rejected at Capernaum, he
seems to have felt that that province
was closed against him, and he prepar.
ed TO leave it, and 90 towards the south,
making his way towards Jerusalem
about the time of the Feast OF Taber
nacles.
lie was going to his death. The fear"
lul scenes OF the cross were before him,
and he calmly and stead'as,ly, and with
the full knowledge of his appointed
fate, sent messengers who should pre-.
pare n place for him and his disciples.
The time when his earthly mission
should be ended, and he should be re.
ceived up into heaven, was but "A few
months distant, and so "he set his face
to 90 to Jerusalem" Though he knew
that denial, suffering and a horrible
death awaited him there, there was no
irrcsolution, no fear, but "A calm, brave
determination to tread the path ap.
pointed for him, even to the end.
The messengers who preceded him
were not able TO obtain the hospitality
for which they asked ia the Samaritan
village, through which the Journey lay.
The Jews were not actually forbidden To
pass through Samaria, but in this case
1t was not possible To procure entertain
ment Tor considerable party, especial.
~ as their purpose was not To 20 to
Mount l,nrtytpt tho u.rr..I ,.tayn Of a..
Samgritans, but TO Jerusalem. This
shows the bitterness of the religious
prcjudices which separated the people
of the two districts, for these Samari.
tans violated one of the most common
and acknowledged duties of Oriental
hospitality in their conduct on this oc.
casion. Their refusal was too much for
the disciples Of the Lord, and the two
whom perhaps we would have least sup.
posed would have manifested such a
vindlctiye spirit. were very earnest IN
the expression of their wish that they
might be authorized TO call down ven.
gesnce upon the inhospitable people.
even to the destruction of their homes.
But Jesus, true to his loving and for.
giving disposition. rebuked his excited
friends, and reminded them that he
came not TO destroy mems lives, but TO
save them, and directed them to seek
for entertainment in another, probably
Jewish, village.
As they went, they were met by Ger.
tain man, a Scribe, as Matthew tells US,
who showed a special and Jealous desire
to become n follower OF Jesus. "Iord,
| will follow thee withersoever thou
goest"
We should suppose that such an ex.
pressed purpose would have been re.
ceived by Jesus with appreciation and
encouragement, but his reply seems cold
and disheartening: Foxes have holes,
and birds of the air have meats, but the
Son OF Man hath not where to lay his
head" The Lord simply meant that
the man probably had not fully consid
cred the sacrifices that were implied in
his becoming his follower, and that he
needed to be quite assured that he was
ready to meet them before he became
such.
The same lesson, in fact, IL taught by
his answers tothe two other individuals
mentioned in the story iva. 59-5ll. Not
that the Lord was not ever ready TO
welcome every sincere and earnest dis.
ciple TO the number of his followers,
but he always discriminated between
real which was based upon n momentary,
excited impulse and that which was the
fruit OF an intelligent and hearty con.
viction of duty, and decided choice Of
the service of Christ for its own sake.
Men ought 10 "count the cost" OF
Christian profession. To follow Jesus
requires the earnest consecration Of the
There must be no half hearted devo.
tion, TO mingled service of God and
Mammon. Chris; must be all or moth.
ing. He must reign supreme in the
soul not the hssty choice Of an ex.
cited and impulsive moment. but of a
purpose which enlists tho affection OF
the whole heart and the devotion of
tho entire life.
This is especially taught b. the illus.
tratjpn of the ploughman. Ploughing
IN the Eas, is a difficult work. The in.
strumcnt is rude and clumsy. The
farmer must stick closely to HE work.
Lolding the plough firmly in hand. and
not looking back, but inclinins his
body ior@ard and pressing his entire
weight upon the share. 50 that he can.
not look behind him without seriously
impeding his progress.
So it must bc with the worker for
Christ lie is not fit for bis work who
allows any duty or charity OF life. any
desire for ense or Indulgence. auy claim
Of kindred or wish for personal erjoy.
ment. "a interfere with constant and
perseyer!uy fidelity to Christian duty.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
!. Steadfastness in the way Of duty is
enforced by the example of Christ.
"lIo stcadfastly act his face TO 20 to
jerusalem" The path was n difficult
and dangerous one. IL led him to per.
secution, rejection, cruelty. and death.
But il was the path marked out for him
by his heavenly Father, and he never
thought for moment Of any other way.
Had he wavered now, had he turned
back, redemption would have been a
fgilure, and there would have been no
salvation for this lost world. The great
end for which he came was to be reach.