Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-07-01
FEW GIVE 1HANKS
Gods Special Mercy and Favor
So Freely Bestowed Meets
With lngratitude.

As the master entered a certain VII
lage he was met by ten men that were
lepers. who lifted up their voices, be-
seechng him 10 have mercy upon
them. Their prayer was answered.
They were all clsansed and cured
from their dread malady. But OILY
one OF the ten showed gratitude for
the mercy received. He. when he
realized that he had been healed,
turned back, and with a loud voice
gloritied God and gave thanks; but
the others, who were equally bsns-
fitted. did not return to give glory to
God.
In the plaintiYe words of disappoint-
ed love. the master eXclaims, Were
there not ten clcansed? But where
are the nine??"
Ingratitude is grevous disap
pointment to benevolence-yet 1t is
common experience in life. OF al
the multitudes who are shown mercy
and special favor, how few give recos'
milton by grateful acknowledgment
and thanksgiving. The instance given
of nine out OF ten being ungrateful
shows that the proportion of the un-
grateful is very great. How great
God alone knows.
Leprosy represents the extremity OF
calamity that may befall men. Aep-
rosy is a painful, loathsome and an
incurable disease by any natural
means known. Its cure has never
been effected, except through super
natural agencies. 1t is a type of sin
in the fact that it is hereditary, in
fectious, loathsome and incurable by
ordinary means The sin-sick soul,
like the 1nalady of leprosy, cannot be
cured, except by the divine physician
of both soul and body
lnstinctively Turn to God.
The lepers found themselves in the
extremity of physical peril, and they
called upon God for help. All men at
a time of great calamity turn instInc-
lively to the supernatural for deliver
ance. In the hour of great trial
wicked men recognize the existence
and ability OF God. They call upon
God for mercy, though in the times OF
prosperity they have no reverence or
respect for his name.
Sometimes the prayers Of the un-
godly are answered. All of the ten
lepers were healed. yet only one OF
them was good man. How often
men who in distress cry unto God and
are delivered forget or ignore the obli-
CATION Of gratitude. the deliverance
imposed upon them. They go on
their way. like the nine lepers, and
return not to give glory to God.
Ten were healed, but one only gave
thanks. Where are the nine?' The
question teaches that gratitude is ex-
pected from all, and is an obligation
resting upon all. The one leper who
showed it was made whole and sent
on his way rejoicing. Gratitude never
fails Of reward.
The one In our narrative promptly
showed his gratitude. AS soon as he
saw that he had been healed he
turned back, and with loud voice
glorified God and gave thanks. His
action was voluntary and every eX-
preston of true gratitude must spring
spontaneously from the heart in
spirit of humility.
He fell down on his face at the
feet of his healer. giving him thanks.
Humbly and independently Of what
others might do or think, he came
alone
There were ten cleansed, but there
were not found any that returned
save this one, yet the presence Of
others would not have made hi; graft
tude less Independently his own.
Only Acts That Count.
Had the whole ten returned, glorify-
ing God and giving thanks, with each
it would have been voluntary hum
BILE and independent expression Of
gratitude. Some people manifest ap-
probation OF an. act Of kindness be-
cause they see others praising it;
such spirit has no element OF graft
tude, in it. 1t is not what others do
in return for mercies, but what we
do, that counts in our lives.
Most men, like these ten lepers call
upon God in time of great physical
distress. Realizing that there is no
help from any visible means. they
turn to the invisible power for relief.
There is an innate belief in the exist
ence and ability of God. 1t may not
be recognized until confronted by
some great affection or evil. Many
have this belief at all times. but even
the hardened sinner in the hour Of
dread trial has awakened in his soul
some response TO its creator.
But there is distress greater than
the greatest temporal affiiction. Lep-
rosy in the soul is far more dreadful