The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-17
The Ten LepcrS CleanSed.

I The lepers went. and while OH the way they
| were cleansed. 1t was Il remarkable display OF
Jesus power, working results i'll men distant
from Him, and rewarding their elementary faith.
PRAISING.-rcn men in the way healed OF
lcprosy and restored to society. Another triumph
of the love OF Jesus over bodily infirmities One
would suppose that these men would hasten to
fling themselves with passionate gratitude at the
Saviours feet and to thank Him for the Won
derous gift of lite and health. But nine OF
them go their way and forget Him. They may
haze gone on with glad hearts to receive the
priests certificate and TO seek their homes and
friends They may have been controlled 10y
some absorbing sclishncss some Jewish iascina-
tion some saccrdoa interference some shame.
ful thanklcssncss, some superstitious ignorance.
But one of them, and he q Samaritan, exhibited
a spirit OF gratitude. Turning back with loud
voice, he gloriiicd God, and fell on his face in
tr,c Oriental style expressive OF his deep revcr-
cncc (Gen. xviii: 1a>, and gave hearty thanks
to his bcnciactor. In this the Samaritan honored
his own people, showing that though despised,
they were in many respects superior to their
naughty and sell,rghtcous ncighbors tJohn iv:
%. The incident also accounts for the re-
inarkablc success which Jesus had in Samalia,
| earlier in Ills ministry (Joln iv: a9), and war
| rants His parable wherein he sets these people
above the Jews U.uke \: 33).
RECOGNIZED.--oi all the horrid states TO
| which fallen humanity may descend none is so
| revolving as ngratitudc. The apostle Paul mcn'
ticns this as the olicf sin Of the ancient world
| (Rom. i: 2D. II marks the decay OF every gcn'
| erous impulse. On the other hand, nothing Is
more beautiful nothing more acceptable to God
| than gratitude OPsalm Xcii l'3). II IL the end
| oi all holy Cndcavor and of all divine discipline.
/ When the soul has attained that state it is per-
/ .,.i,, l.DN nt, ginn
! der consideration Jesus recognized the ingrati
tude with surprise and pain 'Where are the
nire?" was His inquiry. But no answer came
| And then, as He saw the one man, He said
| "rhy faith had made thee whole" An old
| proyelb says, ''lIe who Is thankful for iayol
| rcpays it," And there is no doubt that Jesus
| received as much satisfaction in noting the
thankiulncss OF the healed man as the latter did
! in the presence Of His mighty friend, Going
forth from his Masters presence. the Samaritan
| must have experienced ineypressiblc ioy-thc io,
OF sound body, OF thankful heart, OF
personal communion with Jesus of that approx
ing word lie spoke and OF learning the secret
| of all Gods dealing with men, tho victory o
faith
sUMNlARN.-our lesson presents -four impor
| iant facts concerning faith: Its naurc-it il
| like a grain OF mustard seed, apparently small
| yet, principle OF lie, having in itSei the prop
crty OF developments its power-it will enabl
its possessor TO do mighty things, what vii
seem to the unbelieyer as impossible, as to max,
Il tree growin the sea without soil; lis culture
it enters into the heart, not as the result o
asking merely, but is bestowed upon hiin VIII,
consccrates himself 10 Jesus Christ; lis reward
efieeting connection between the finite and tn
infinite it brings new energy into mans being
the source OF health and Joy Faith is the ODE
dent SOULS reliance upon the Divine promise, tn
submissive souls grasp OF Divine mower; it is
return to that normal state in which God live
in man and acts through him (Rom. v: l.2)
and man lives for God and acts for His glory
Faith transforms and iransposes men. II make
them new creatures and puts them in atti
tudes and relations. b. II the alien becomes
citizen, and the rebel i made loyal (rhl iv
13O.