November 14

"And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 8:11.

WE find in the context, that our Saviour was requested by a Roman centurion to heal his servant, who was sick of the palsy. The man discovered great humility and faith. Our Lord pronounced this eulogium on him: "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel;" and then uttered the language of our text, in which there are several topics for our consideration.

THE ACT. "Many shall come." We may inquire from and to what they shall come. From the worship of idols, to the service of God. When the dayspring from on high shall visit the heathen nations now sitting in darkness, they shall renounce idolatry, and embrace Christianity. To a sense of their sin and misery. We must come to a sense of our danger, before we can realize the blessings of salvation. The prodigal came to himself before he arose and went to his father. To Christ. To a knowledge of him, faith in him, love to him, and communion with him. To heaven. None but those who come to Christ here can expect to be with him in glory. This is the design of the Gospel, the end of our faith, and the realization of all our hopes, to come to the state of the blessed in heaven.

THE NUMBER. "Many shall come." Here are two ideas.

Greatness as to number. The Captain of our salvation brings many sons to glory. Our ideas on this subject are perhaps too limited. More will be saved than many seem to imagine. Great numbers have already come, and thousands more are on their way.

Diversity as to the individuals themselves. The Jews imagined that they only could be saved: the Pope pretended to take the keys, and shut the gates of heaven against all those who were not of the Catholic faith; but it must not be so with us. Christianity does not breathe the air of but one country, or bear the color of but one tribe of the human family, or pronounce the watchword of one party. She holds her throne in the world, and is throwing her golden chain around the universe, that all may touch it and be saved. Love, says one, is the central fire on the common altar of our

God, that melts down our differences, or conceals them in the flame of the holy sacrifice. Have I come to Christ? It matters not to me how many come, if I still remain at a distance.