Page:Memoir of the Reverend David Wilson (2).pdf/16

 and fed thee? or thirsty and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and unto thee? verse 37—39. He solves the seeming difficulty by his reply. 'In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me,' verse 40. In like manner as to those on the left hand he charges them with not doing what the others had done, 'I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not,' ver. 42, 43. And when they too express wonder that they should be charged with omitting what they never had opportunity to do, 'Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?' ver. 44. he explains and confirms the accusation, by a similar reply, 'In as much ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me', ver. 45.

Now the works enumerated, lead us, at once, into the characters of those who do them, and of those who do them not. Remark, particularly, their nature. They are works of charity, and labours of love, performed to the disciples or brethren of Jesus for his sake. Jesus considers them as done to himself; therefore they must be such works as are done for his sake. The performance of these works is the evidence of the operation of certain principles: the want of the works proves the absence of these principles.—When you speak of doing any thing for the sake of another, you mean, that you do it from love