190 CONVERSION OF LEVI The call given.-"Follow me." This was a merciful call. Levi was a sinner, and needing pardon; he was following a dangerous employment, and needed a change; he was not happy in his mind, and needed peace and love there. Hence, the call of Christ was truly merciful. He acted the part of the good Samaritan to Levi, as he does to every sinner in the gospel. It was a call requiring sacrifices. Levi must sacrifice his sinful indulgences, he must give up his love to the world, and he must devote himself to the good of others. So every sinner, in obeying the call of Christ, must part with his darling sins and lusts; must renounce the world as his portion, and sell all that he has to get Christ. It was an effectual call. Christ's word was with power, and Levi saw that he must obey it or perish; and so he resolved to be a disciple and apostle of Christ. Reader, "the Master has come, and calleth for thee." The call obeyed.-"He arose and followed him." He decided immediately to become a disciple of Christ. Instead of inventing excuses, as many do; instead of halting or procrastinating, he resolved at once to abandon a life of sin, and cast in his lot with Christ. He conferred not with flesh and blood, but chose Jesus for his Teacher and his Saviour. He decided immediately to obey the commandments of Christ. Those who follow him as a Saviour must also follow him as a Master, and give prompt, sincere, and persevering obedience to all his requirements. He decided also to follow him as an example. "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps." And he expected an abundant reward. "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be." THE DEATH-WATCH. 191 APRIL 26. The Death-watch. "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning.”— Mark, xiii, 35. HERE we have the Master's coming-our duty-and the reason assigned. The Master's coming. "The master of the house cometh." The church is Christ's house, purchased with his blood, and reared by his Spirit. All believers in this house are Christ's servants, and he can dispose of them as he pleaseth and when he pleaseth. Christ is the sole Master of the house. He gives to it all its laws. He rules over it as his own house, and can have no rival, substitute, or colleague. "He hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." He cometh by means of death. To every one in the house his coming in this way is certain, often sudden, very solemn, and great in its consequences. How many put the coming of Christ far away, when by means of death he is at the door! This duty is Our duty." Watch ye therefore." enjoined on all without exception. We should watch for Christ by believing daily in him as our Saviour, by obeying all his commandments, and by expecting him to call us to account for all our privileges. Unless we keep in the way of duty, we cannot watch for Christ. We should watch against our foes. We have sin, Satan, the world, and death always ready to surprise us, and draw us away from Christ. Surely we require our best armour when we have such formidable foes. Surely we require to hold the Saviour fast, and follow hard after him. We should 192 THE DEATH-WATCH. watch to do good. We have duties which we owe to our families, to the church, and to the world, and surely we would not wish the Master to come and find us neglecting duty? He who does not with all his might what his hand findeth to do, may go down under a cloud, and darken the countenances of all his friends. The reason assigned.-"For ye know not when, at even, or at midnight, or at cock crowing, or in the morning." That the approach of death is uncertain, we know from the testimony of Scripture. "Know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." The Jews divided their night into four watches, and as Jesus might come at any moment, all were to be ready, and always ready. We know it from the evidence of our senses. suddenly died, and what is it from our own experience. How many known to us have our security? And we know How often are our calcula tions wrong, and our hopes dashed to the dust! Truly we know not what a day may bring forth. APRIL 27. Rich and Poor Equal. "The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all."— Prov. xxii. 2. THE equality of rich and poor appears in their creation. "The Lord is the maker of them all." "Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?" "God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Men differ in colour, in RICH AND POOR EQUAL. 193 form, in physical and mental power; but one Lord made them all. They are made of one material. They originate in dust, and they end in dust. In body and soul they are alike precious in the eye of the great Creator. All dwell in houses of clay, and their foundation is the dust. How humiliating to the great and noble! The mightiest monarch is no better dust than the poorest beggar. Their equality appears in their depravity. All inherit sin and death. Every one must say, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." All are chargeable with actual transgressions. "There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not." All are justly exposed to condemnation and wrath. "We were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Our danger is alike great and imminent. Think of the lightning of that eye, whose radiant flame may in a moment scorch and destroy. Their equality appears in their salvation. One Saviour by his death procured it, and there is salvation in no other. One gospel proclaims it, and how shall any escape who neglect so great salvation? One Spirit applies and seals it, and God gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Thus all who are saved are saved by grace, and there is no respect of persons with God. They are equal at a throne of grace. In the season of danger all naturally cry for help, and who can help like our Father in heaven. Every one is privileged to ask, and if he has not, it is because he asks not, or asks amiss. Jesus is the one medium of acceptance, and through him God is ready to hear the cry of the poor as well as the rich. "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." They are equal in the church of God. There men of all ranks and characters hear the same glorious gospel, join in the same praises, and offer the same petitions to N 194 RICH AND POOR EQUAL. the hearer of prayer. There the professed friends of Jesus sit down at the same table, and eat the same bread, and drink the same cup, and commemorate the same death, and enjoy the same foretaste of heavenly bliss. They are equal in the grave. Every one must say, "The grave is mine house." During life, ambitious man may grasp at acres, estates, kingdoms; yet, in a short time, he must be satisfied with six feet by two. Corruption and worms pay no respect to the ashes of the great. Surely, then, pride is folly. "Corruption, thou art my father. Worm, thou art my mother, and my sister." APRIL 28. Christians Observed. "Did not I see thee in the garden with him ?"—John, xviii. 26. HERE we have the place the company-and the notice taken. The place." The garden." This was the garden of Gethsemane, the ever-memorable scene of Christ's anguish, when he suffered in his soul, and when he had the bloody sweat. But Christians are still in the garden with Christ, when they are in his church. "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse." Separated from the world, and specially dear to God, he watches over his church, and makes it like a well-watered garden. "I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." Often have the wicked tried to waste the garden of the Lord, but he hath protected and preserved it, to the wonder of friends, and the greater wonder of foes. "For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." He disposes all events, and controls all |