Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/434

 soldiers, and  I  say  to  one,  go  and  he  goeth,  and  to my  servant  do  this,  and  he  doeth  it."  (Luke  vii.  8.) His  meaning  was,  if  I,  who  am  but  an  inferior  officer, subject  to  higher  authority,  can  nevertheless  command my  soldiers  and  servants,  and  be  obeyed,  how  much  more will  all  creation  be  obedient  to  You,  its  Creator  and  Governor? This  was  an  honorable  confession  of  Christ's power.  Rejoice  at  His  greatness,  and  be  confounded that  servants  obey  their  temporal  masters  with  more promptness,  than  you  obey  God,  or  His  vicegerents.

II. Christ having  heard  these  expressions,  praised  the faith of  the  centurion  and  preferred  it  to  that  of  the Jews, although  the  centurion  was  a  Gentile. " I  have not  found,"  He  says,  "  so  great  faith  in  Israel "  (Matt.  viii. 10),  "  and  I  say  unto  you,  that  many  shall  come  from  the east  and  the  west,  but  the  children  of  the  kingdom  shall be  cast  out  into  exterior  darkness." The children  of  the kingdom of  Heaven  were,  formerly,  the  Jews,  but  they are now  outcasts,  because  they  would  not  obey  the  call of God;  but  Christians  are  children  of  that  kingdom  in a  special  manner,  "  a  chosen  generation,  a  royal  priesthood." (i Pet.  ii.  9.)  Let  us  therefore,  act  in  such  manner as  to  deserve  this  honor;  "  Hold  fast  that,  which  thou hast,  that  no  man  take  thy  crown." (Apoc. iii.  11.)

III. The request  of  the  centurion  was  granted;  "Go, and  as  thou  hast  believed,  so  be  it  done  to  thee." The Psalmist says,  "The  Lord  will  do  the  will  of  them,  that fear  Him,  and  He  will  hear  their  prayer." (Ps. cxliv. 19.)  Perhaps  you  possess  a  will,  spiritually  like  the  centurion's servant,  that  is,  slothful  and  sluggish. Imitate, therefore, the  fervor  and  humility  of  this  centurion,  and by means  of  your  spiritual  friends,  that  is,  the  angels  and saints, beg  that  God  would  cure  you. Especially when you go  to  communion,  use  the  words  of  the  centurion,