The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-28

suit those who asked and to meet their need
The mistake of each was the same that pre-
walls at all times, viz, that eternal life can
be obtained by some doing on our part. It is
the mistake Of all who are wise and prudent
in their own eyes. How much can babe do
to help itself? Try and think of single
thing. It must be cared for or perish. Just
so with the sinner.
26. HE said unto him, What is written
in the law? how readest thou9" Being a
lawyer he was supposed to know the law,
and to that Jesus refers him. The law Is
sometimes general name for the books Of
Moses, and sometimes signifies the ten com.
mandments, or the larger law concerning all
rites and ceremonies. The law, the prophets
and the psalms is the Saviour's summary Of
all Scripture luke xiv, 81, A.. Is there
anything concerning which you would Like
to ask Jesus question? See here what he
would probably say to you: "What Is writ
ten? how readest thou?' If you would have
TO reply: II do not know, Lord, for have
not read the Bible carefully" then begin
you may know what is written. Otherwise
those who never saw Bible may rise against
you in the judgment.
81. "And he answering said, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and thy neighbor as thysef." He
was perhaps more ready with an answer
than many of us would have been. He
quoted from Deut. vi, 5, and Lev. xix, 18,
putting together in one statement two which
were widely separated in the law, AMI thus
giving q concise and correct summary.
%. '.And He said unto to him, Thou hast
answered right; this do, and thou shalt live."-
The keeping Of law which God requires was
explained by the Saviour in His sermon on
the mount, when He taught that hatred in
the heart was equal to murder, and lustful
look equal to adultery. Let any one stand
forth able to say truly that he has kept the
whole law in thought, word and deed, the
same would be righteous man, having life,
needing no Saviour. But such an one never
lived, for ''all have sinned and come short Of
the glory OF God,n and therefore by tho
deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justi-
fed in His sight" The law Of God and its
holy requirements stops every mouth and
makes all the world guilty before God (Rom.,
ill.,, 10, 90, 23).
20. 'But he, willing (R. v. desiring) to
Justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is
my neighbour The sinner, convinced OF
his sin, Is ready to condemn himself, plead
guilty and humbly seek forgiveness. But
this man was not convicted of sin; he was
not truly seeking life; he was against Christ,
nnd was seeking to catch Him in His words,
that he might condemn Him; therefore he
asks this question, not because he really
wanted to know, but simply to try the
Saviour still further.
80. "And Jesus answering, said, A certain
man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho"
As he had drawn from the lawyer the an
swer to the first question, so lie Will draw
from the answer to His second ana send him
away confounded. This poor traveller
robbed, stripped, wounded and half dead,
NAV be taken as type Of every sinner. The
two great roads ON which all are travelling
lead-the one upward to peace and glory, the
other downward to ruin aud destruction.
The devil Is the great thief and destroyer,
and LAYS hands on all who will let him.
Happy for them if they are rescued even IN
the condition Of this poor man.
81. Sand by chance certain priest was
going down that way" Or. W.; There were
lots Of them on the downward road In the
Saviours time of humiliation, and there are
plenty still travelling in the same way, even
though called priests.
the other side" And yet priest was sup
posed to live nearer to God than any one else
and have more of the Spirit of God. Here
was a man processing to be living emboda-
mert of Gods low and yet had none or lts
true spirit
SO. "And in like manner O Levite also,
when he came to the place. and saw him,
passed by on the other side" Here is an:
other most religious person, next IN stand,
ing to the priests. The Levites were to "stano
before the Lord, to minister unto Him, and
to bless in His name" Deut L, 81. But
here is one, appointed to bless IN the s name
and passing by on the other side, just
like the priest who went before him.
He acts as if he, too, was on the down
grade. What does it matter though a
man be called priest, Oh bishop, or an
archbishop, reverend or right reverend,
aD. D. or an LII. D.? If he has not the
spirit Of Christ he is none Of His; he is on the
downward road, and unless washed in the
blood of the Lamb and saved by His merits
and His righteousness shall hear it said in
that day: II never knew you; depart from
me, ye that work iniquity" Matt. vii, 2S.
33. But certain Samaritan, as he jour
neyed, came where He was; and when he
saw Him, he had compassion on Him. Here
is neither Priest nor Levite, not even a
Scribe ora Pharisee but only Samaritan
whom all the Jews despised. Type of Jesus
Himself treated by His Own as stranger
and an outcast, despised and rejected BY
them, and looked upon by them as justly
stricken and smitten Of God. Yet even for
them, who hated Him without cause, He
had compassion.
81 IS. HAnd took care of Him" His COM
passion was manifested, not in words OF pity,
but in deeds of love, all summed up in this:
tHe took care of Him" His loving care is
seen in q seven hued rainbow OF blessing and
mercy. He went to him, bound up His
wounds, poured in oil and wine, set Him on
his own beast, brought Him to an inn, took
care of Him, made provision for His future.
The down grade Priest and Levite lived for
self and not for others. This Good Samari.
tan denied self and lived for the good or
others.
Sc. (which now of these three. thinkest
thou. was neishbor unto Him that fell among
the thieves% Jesus has put the matter clearly
before him, and now he is to answer his own
question as to "Who is my neighbor" Ones
neghbor is not always the one who lives next
door or across the street, but the one who
acts neighborly. Not wosds but deeds prove
the reality of love or friendship. "Not every
one that saith. + but he that doeth." /"
81 "And he said, He that showed mercy
on him." He has answered his own question,
and perhaps this time been compelled to con-
denim himself, for He who reads the heart
had doubtless read him personal lesson.
"Then said Jesus unto him, Go and do
thou likewise" The Saviour knew his man,
He saw the hard, impenitent heart, AMI b9y
bringing him face to face with Gods holy
law and the spirit Of it, He would fain humble
him and convince him of sill that lie might
be Saved.-LesSon Helper.
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