The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-08-02
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

MULES AND GUM MENlS
Strange as it may appear to us, the
transfiguration scene and the healing
of the demoniac boy was followed by u
more or less friendly wrangle oncern-
ing who should be greatest in the king
dom of Heaven. Still considering the
materialistic views of the disciples Of
the kingdom Christ was to found, IL
is not so very strange. They had yet
to learn that greatness in the Heavenly
kingdom depended upon things other
than those that often make for prom
inence of position in earthly relations.
An Object Lesson.-It was to teach
His disciples some of the qualities of
superior Christian character that He
places a child in their midst. "EX-
ccpt," He says, ''ye become as little
children, We shall not enter into the
kingdom of Heaven" and the emphasis
is put upon the humility Of the child
nature. "Whosoever therefore hum
bleth himself as this little child, the
same is greatest in the kingdom Of
Heaven" Emphasis is upon the "hu-
mility." To many mind humility has
been given u false meaning. Dickens
Humble Uriah Ileep' is but parody
on humility, not the genuine article.
Webster defines "humble" as being
near the ground; not proud or assum-
ing The trouble is that the word has
Lcen commonly confounded with some
Of the synonyms of the word. To
abasc, lower, humiliate, mortify. de-
grade, are given as synonyms. But we
remember that no two English words
mean exactly the same thing. So hui
mility is not abascment or self-lower-
ing, but putting oneself in his right
full relation, not thinking more high
ly of himself than he ought to think.
II is prominently Christian virtue
and should be studiously cultivated.
stumbling Stoncs.-This thought
gives rise to another in the mind of
Jesus. The child can easily be turned
toward the right or the wrong, there
fore, "whoso shall offend one of these
little ones which believein Me, 1t were
better for him that a milestone were
hanged about his neck and that he were
drowned in the depth Of the sea-"
Then Jesus goes on to say that offenses
must needs come to every life, young or
old. The heart carries in itself the
seeds of temptation and sin, but "woe
to that man by whom the offensc COM
eth," or to that man who makes II cas-
Ter for another to yield to temptation
or commit sin.
Drastic Measures Suggested.-Re-
turning TO the thought of disciplining
oneself Jesus says: Wherefore If thy
hand or thy foot offend thee (or are
means Of sin and temptation). cut them
off. it is better for thee to enter
into life halt or maimedI rather than
having two hands or two feet to be cast
into everlasting fire." 1t is an illustra-
tion OF the principle He had just enun-
ciated, and the further thought that
absolute sacrifice of self may become
necessary to the inheritance Of eternal
life.
Parable Of the Lost Sheep.-This
parable becomes the point Of the les
son. Earlier Christ has said: "Culti-
vate the spirit of humility" Then fol-
lows the injunction to help others, es-
pecially the little children who are
easily led. to enter the right way. Now
He says, in effect: Strive to do in your
sphere of influence what I am doing,