Luke 9

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IX.—With authority Jesus commissions his gospel ministers; with faithfulness and care they must labour; and men’s eternal state must be fixed as they hear or reject their messages. In times of scarcity and distress we should cast all our care on God, and be always ready to divide the little subsistence that we have with the hungry. By his blessing restored through Christ, we may live comfortably and in a Christian manner on a little. Happy are they who boldly confess the Redeemer, whatever they may suffer on his account. What is lost for him on earth will be more than compensated in heaven. But dreadful is their eternal state who prefer the honours, profits, and pleasures, of a present world, to him and his everlasting salvation; or who are ashamed of his truths and ways.—Astonishing is the influence of close fellowship with God. Easily it could even overset our mortal constitution. And how delightful then is heaven, where Jesus and all his saints shall for ever appear in their glory, and for ever, with joy inexpressible, contemplate his expiatory sufferings. In hopes of it, let me love his person, obey his directions, and trust all my cares and maladies to his power and skill. Let me accurately observe 3 whether I have true faith, and in what degree; and into what debates I enter, and with what manner of spirit. Alas, what defects, prejudices, pride, and passion, he finds in the very best on earth! Heartily he detests them; and much more to have his gospel propagated by their means. But with great tenderness he treats the meek and humble, pities their infirmities, and cherishes their good intentions concerning him