The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-11-28


the seventeenth chapter, the sixteenth
verse, you read these words: '.And
he fell upon his face at His feet. Civ
ing Him thanks They are part OF
the record of the miraculous healing
Of ten lepers. Jesus had steadfastly
set his face to go to Jerusalem that
he might there complete his redemp.
tive work. AS he was passing through
the midst OF Samaria and Galillee,
and was entering into a certain vii
lage, on that last journey of his, there
met him ten men who were lepers. AS
was the custom of those thus af-
fiicted, they stood afar off, separating
themselves from the crowd in order
that no one might be contaminated
But instead Of the usual cry, I'm
clean, unclean,' there came from the
lips of the unfortunates a mighty
prayer, great request: Jesus, mas
ter have mercy ON u.s. And He, who
never turns a deaf ear to the plea OF
the needy, heard their duplication
and answered it. Go and show your
selves to the priests was waited on
the air to their ears, and gladly, Joy
fully, full Of confidence in him who
had commanded, they made haste to
obey his words. AS they went, the
sacred record tells us, they were heal
ed. They felt the life blood once more
|coursing through their veins in heal
ing power; they felt themselves made
new again, and realized that they
by super-human power, had been call
ed to life from death itself. But anx
ious only that they might once more
mingle with their friends and loved
ones; anxious only that they might
again enter the pursuits and the pleas
!ures from which they had been sep
arated, they forgot their benefactol
to whose loving kindness and tender
mercy they were indebted so deeply
Unmindful of him, they hastened on
wrapped up in their own selfishness
and selfish purposes. This was true
of nine of them, seemingly not one
iota of thankfulness in them But al
though true OF the nine, of the tenth
1t was not true, for he, when he saw
that he was healed, turned back, with
a loud voice clarifying God; and he
fell upon his face at his feet, giving
him thanks. Here was a sincere
thanksgiver-one who remembered his
benefits, and was grateful for them.
The Sin Of Ineratitude.
"Of the nine we say, what base in
gratitude But as we pass judgment
upon them are we sure that we are
not guilty Of the same sin? There is
the story Of two angels that come
from heaven every morning and &c
on their errands all day long. One is
the angel Of prayer; the other, of
Thanksgiving. Each carries a great
basket. Soon the angel OF requests
has his basket filled to overfiowing.
Everybody pours into it handfuls of
desires. But when the day. ended
the angel of Thanksgiving has only
two or three expressions of gratitude,
This is not an exaggeration. Most of
us do more or less praying, but it is
nearly all the unloading of burdens,
fears, wants, and clamarous requests
for favors, with only here and there
a feeble word of thanks for blessings
received. Ten lepers were cleansed,
all receiving the same great blessing,
but only one of the ten returned
to thank the healer. Where were the
nine? Are we as pitifully wanting in
gratitude? Does Thanksgiving lang
uish on our lips? Or do we today
feel grateful, as the one leper of old,
and are we sincere thanksgivers, even
as he was? Let us take stock of. our
selves that we may see.
Blessings Remembered.
"A sincere thanksgiver remembers
blessings received, and is grateful for
the great blessing that was so in the
case of the cleansed leper, for when
he realized the great blessing that
was his he turned back, and with a
loud voice glorlied God This was SO
in the case OF David, who had much
to be grateful for, and this gratitude
The expresses in that great Psalm OF