SUNDAY READING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 249, 20 April 1912, Page 9

SUNDAY READING

By Rev. Frank Hales.

PASSING BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.

(Luke, 10-31). . Many would-be expositors have read into this simple and sublime storv spiritual meanings which destroy its beauty and significance. Without weaving into the story any fancies of votir own, it is evident 011 the very face of the narrative, that we have iiere portrayed, that perfect love for every man of which Jesus Christ is tile perfect example. But 1 coming more particularly to the words of the text we find that they suggest that guilty <>f negligence forms a large part of human sin Without doubt there is any amount of guilty ignorance in the world to-day. Men ought to know many tiling's of which they are ignorant. The pity is that so many give no time, and take no trouble, to become acquainted with the gieat realities of life, and redeeming elevating truths. But it is also true that a large proportion of human guilt is found in a culpable avoidance of plain and simple duty, and of obvious opportunity. Thousands are passing by that which they know should detain them. What a vast number of men leave amtouched that which they know full well should occupy their time, and call out their most strenuous exertion. Take the matter of public worship for instance ®ie only excuse that scores of men can give—legitimately give—for their absence from the house of God 011 Sunday is negligence. The reason why a good many men don't go to church' is that they are eaten up with negligence. They "pass by on the other side." This is also true in reference to the decisive choice of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the soul and the Lord of the life. The prevailing sin of to-day is negligence. Scores who do go to Church commit this sin. Jesus Christ is not the Saviour and He is not the Lord, of manv wTiio worship Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. Manv pass the Saviour by even in a church. ' There are many who love Christ and acknowledge His dominion but too often fail to give an open avowal of their attachment to Him. Sometimes when an opportunity occurs for them to witness for Him. they neglect it. and pass Him "by on the other side." This is also true iii the matter of the redress of the wrongs —political, social, or economical—which many of our fellows groan under. We do not concern ourselves enough about the wrongs of humanity. Wo are not ignorant of them—we 'know all about them. There are scores of professing Christians who are culpably unconcerned about some of the world's wounds. No man can worship God acceptably and neglect his own brother; such worship is only mockery. The service of man and the service of God should aflwavs blend. (Multitudes of men lie wounded on the highways of life and we pass "by on the other side." T n the story, of which the text forms a part, we find that both the priest and the Levite shrank from i getting close to their wronged and suffering brother. They with set purpose and deliberation veiled their obligations lest it should be too palpable and too pressing. In these modern times this habit is almost universal. The sinful soul tries to shut his eyes to what he knows is his duty. Duty is too often minimised. and opportunity shut out from sight. We have become adepts at passing , by "011 the other side." The practice of self-delusion is one of the commonest and one of the .saddest issues of life. After all. we seldom deceive God. Which of us has not known of many wounds that he might have healed: which of us has not known of many aching hearts that he might have eased': which of us has not known of many loads that he was strong enough to help bear? Our hearts are too often imaffected. The earth would become a paradise for many if we all attended to the sorrows that are before us. The deep simple truth of this parable is that 01 y uiaii the brother and the bor of every other man. be he black or white, rich or poor, learned or ignorant master or servant, Jesus Christ came to show us the unity of mankind. He absolutely forbade all limitations of mercy and help. He passed no man bv.

Christ walked the earth, and in Ilis heart arose And in His eyes calm stars that watched the throes Of men embroiled and cunning. And He wept. ITe gathered to Him all whom life had swept Nearer to earth—women who sold their soiled, Poor bodies, publicans, and men who toiled By night upon the Lake of Galilee Fishing and awed."

It is only when we have found in Jesus Christ the help and the pity that we need, that we shall go forth to help and bless our fellows. Too long they have been passed by. Lord ijot for light iu darkness do we pray, Not that the veil be lifted from our eyes, Not that the slow ascension from dav. Be otherwise. "Not these; we know the hemlock from the rose, The pure from stained, the noble from tin; base. The tranquil holy light of truth that glows On pity's face. "\A 0 know the paths wherein our feet should press. Across our hearts are written Thy decrees. Yet now. 0 Lord, be merciful to bless '■rant u~ the will to fashion as we feel. Grant us the strength to labor as we know. Grant us the purpose, ribbed and edsed with steel, 'I 0 strike the blow. Knowledge we ;isk not knowledge Thou has sent— But. Lord, the will—there lies our bitter need— Give to build above the deep intent. The deed, the deed."