November 21

And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. - Luke 17:14-16.

OBSERVE their recovery. These men having received our Saviour’s directions, concluding that the very order to show themselves unto the priests was an intimation that they should be healed, immediately went, and as soon as they began to move the cure commenced; and filled them with wonder and astonishment. “Oh,” says one, “I feel better already.” “So do I,” says another. So say they all. They look upon each other and see their flesh has become like the flesh of a new-born child. They feel and they find the purification of their blood, and the renewal of their strength, and all those fine but indescribable emotions and energies which are enjoyed when a person recovers from disease and enjoys health and strength again.

Observe what was their conduct finally. The conduct of one of them was very praiseworthy. “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God and fell down at his feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.” And what said the Saviour to him? “Arise, go thy way;” but he seemed glued to the very ground whereon our Saviour stood. He seemed to imagine that he might have been allowed to remain with him as a servant, to do his pleasure as a monument of his power, as a trophy of his goodness, and to accompany him on his journey. But no, the religion of the Saviour is a religion adapted to human nature. “No,” said Jesus, “‘go thy way; thy place is vacant,-it is asking for thee; thy family, thy friends, thy condition- they are all waiting for thee. Go and walk among them, and show forth the praises of thy Deliverer.”

Nor was this all, but he gave him a very important assurance: “Thy faith hath saved thee;” tending to encourage his future confidence in him; not meaning that his faith had done this efficiently, but that this was the medium through which he chose to convey to him a cure. And this is most strikingly the case with regard to ourselves; we therefore read everywhere of the importance of faith; we read that by faith we walk, we live, we are justified, we are sanctified, “we are saved by grace through faith.”

Hence it is worthy of remark that the very same things in the Scriptures which are ascribed to Christ are also ascribed to faith; not in the same way, indeed; they are ascribed to him meritoriously, but they are equally ascribed to faith instrumentally. He is indeed a refuge; but a refuge is nothing unless it be entered, and it can only be entered by faith.

He is the remedy; but the remedy is nothing unapplied, and it can only he applied by faith. He is the food of the soul; but however excellent in itself, this cannot nourish us unless it be eaten, and it is only to be eaten by faith. “He that eateth me, even he shall live by me.”

But the conduct of the rest was, oh, how blameable! “Jesus answering, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”