October 16

Look . . . also on the things of others. — PHIL. ii. 4.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? . . . Go, and do thou likewise. — LUKE x. 36. 37.

THOUGH apart from his original design, yet our Lord gives us an apt illustration in this narrative of the helpless and wretched condition of all men in their natural state, and also of his own gracious interposition in their behalf. We have all of us been badly handled by the great adversary of God and man. We have not only been robbed and stripped and wounded and left more than half dead, but we have been left altogether “dead in trespasses and sins.”

Our blessed Lord, he in whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead, not by chance, but “according to his eternal purpose,” has been pleased to pass this way: and looking upon us in our undone state, and knowing that we were entirely “without strength,” he had compassion upon us and graciously interposed between us and eternal death. “He gave himself to redeem us from all our iniquity,” bound up our broken hearts, poured his healing balm into our bleeding wounds, and promised “never to leave nor forsake us,” until he had brought us to the house of many mansions.

In view of what Christ has done for us when we were yet enemies and rebels against him, we should be constrained to “go and do likewise,” even to our bitterest enemy, for Christ’s sake. So far from confining our compassions and our contributions, we should ever bear in mind that Christian benevolence takes in an indefinitely wide sphere.

Jn. Gaston

Thy neighbor? It is he whom thou Hast power to aid and bless.

WILLIAM CUTTER.