God be merciful
to me a sinner! That such thoughts ought to pass through too many
persons' hearts in this generation, I fear is too certain. God grant
that they may do so before it is too late. But it is plain, at least,
that these are not the sheep of whom Christ speaks.
Again, there are another, and a very different kind of persons, who we
have a right to fancy, would answer the Lord somewhat thus: "Oh Lord,
speak not of it. It may be I have tried to do a little good to a poor
suffering creature here and there; to feed a few hungry, clothe a few
naked, visit a few sick and prisoners. But Lord, how could I do less?
after all that Thou hast done and suffered for me; and after Thy own
gracious saying, that inasmuch as I did anything to the least of Thy
brethren, I did it to Thee. What less could I do, Lord?--and after all,
what a pitifully small amount I have done! Thou did'st hunger for me--
for whom have I ever hungered? Thou did'st suffer for me--for whom have
I ever suffered? Thou did'st die for me--for whom have I ever died? And
I did not--I fear in the depth of my heart--do what I did really for
Thee; but for the very pleasure of doing it.
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