LESSON ELEVENTH. LUKE XVII. 11—25. AND it came to pass, as he went to Je-rusa-lem, that he pass-ed through-out the midst of Sa-ma-ri-a and Gal-i-lee. And as he en-ter-ed in-to a cer-tain vil-lage, there met him ten men that were lep-ers, which stood a-far off; and they lifted up their voic-es, and said, "Je-sus, Mas-ter, have mer-cy on us." And when he saw them, he said un-to them, "Go, show your-selves un-to the priests." And it came to pass, that as they went, they were cleans-ed. And one of them, when he saw that he was heal-ed, turn-ed back, and with a loud voice glo-ri-fi-ed God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giv-ing him thanks: and he was a Sa-mar-i-tan. And Je-sus, answer-ing, said, "Were there not ten cleans. ed, but where are the nine? There are not found that re-turn-ed to give glory to God, save this stran-ger." And he said un-to him, "Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole." And when he was de-mand-ed of the Phar-i-sees, when the king-dom of God should come, he answer-ed them, and said, "The king-dom of God com-eth not with ob-ser-va-tion. Neither shall they say, 'Lo, here!' or 'Lo, there!' for, behold, the king-dom of God is with-in you." And he said un-to his dis-ci-ples," The days will come when ye shall de-sire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say un-to you, 'See here!' or, 'See there!' go not af-ter them, nor fol-low them. For as the light-ning that light-eneth out of the one part un-der heav-en, shin-eth un-to the oth-er part un-der heav-en, so al-so shall the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suf-fer ma-ny things, and be re-ject-ed of this gen-er-a-tion. QUESTIONS. As our Saviour was journeying towards Jerusalem, through what places did he pass? Samaria and Galilee. Who met him as he entered into a certain village? Ten men that were lepers. What did they do? They lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." What reply did the Saviour make? "Go, show yourselves unto the priests." What happened to them as they went? They were cleansed. What did one of them do ? He turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. Did not the others give thanks? No. Were not these nine very ungrateful? What did our Saviour say when he saw their ingratitude? "Were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? there are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." What did Christ say to the Samaritan who had returned to give thanks? "Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole." What did Jesus say when the Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God should come? "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation." What did our Saviour say must happen to him before his second coming? That he must suffer many things, and be rejected of that generation. What was this a prophecy of? Christ's suffering and death, and of his rejection by the Jews. On reading the account of the ten lepers, we wonder at their unthankfulness. These men, when they were distressed, and afflicted, and wanted our Lord's assistance, all lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” But one only, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God: their ingratitude seems indeed strange, and yet I fear we are many of us guilty of the same fault, for we are never thankful enough for the many blessings God has given us, and especially for having sent his Son into the world to save our souls and cleanse them from sin, which is a worse disease than even the leprosy. But where are the praise and devotion which these blessings should produce in us? Pray, then, to be made more grateful for the good things you daily and hourly receive from him; remember all that you owe to him; health, strength, food, raiment, are his gifts. His goodness is seen in all the works of creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy work." Well may we, with the Psalmist, praise God for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men. Oft as the leper's case I read, Sin is a leprosy indeed, Which none but Christ can heal. Come, lepers, seize the present hour The Saviour's grace to prove; |