Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/353

 of money. Others say  that  the  scribe  wished  to  follow Christ out  of  ostentation,  because  he  thought  that  Christ would give  him  the  power  of  working  miracles. O, how many in  the  world  pretend  to  follow  Christ,  who  in  reality seek their  own  ends!

II. Consider the  answer  which  Christ  gave  the  scribe. " The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  nests, but  the  Son  of  Man  hath  not  whereon  to  lay  His  head." As if  He  wished  to  insinuate  this  sentiment — why  should you wish  to  follow  Me  for  worldly  wealth,  when  I  have no lodging  of  My  own,  being  more  poorly  provided  than the very  beasts  of  the  field  and  the  birds  of  the  air? O wonderful poverty  of  this  sovereign  King! This poverty, however, is  of  such  immense  value  as  to  be  able  to  purchase the  kingdom  of  heaven. " Blessed  are  the  poor  in spirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." (Matt. v.  3.)

III. The true  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ  ought,  like  their master, to  have  no  coffers  in  which  to  hoard  their  treasures (as  foxes  "have  their  holes"),  and  they  ought  not  to be  like  birds  who  build  their  nests  on  high;  that  is,  they ought not  to  seek  high  and  dignified  employment,  but court humility  and  obscurity. Their Master  was  "poor and  in  labors  from  His  youth." (Ps. lxxxvii. 16.)  Ponder the  import  of  the  Prophet's  words:  "Though  thou be  exalted  as  an  eagle,  and  though  thou  set  thy  nest among  the  stars,  thence  will  I  bring  thee  down,  saith  the Lord." (Abdias, 4.)

I. "Christ  said  to  another,  follow  Me,  and  he  said, Lord,  suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bury  my  father." (Luke