The great majority of them are
the victims of their own low instincts. They have chosen the broad and
easy road of animalism, which leads to destruction. They have sown to
the flesh, and they will of the flesh reap corruption. For the laws of
God are inexorable; and the curse of the law is sure, namely, "The wages
of sin are death." Neither dare I encourage too vast hopes and say, If
we had money enough, if we had machinery enough, if we had zeal enough,
we might convert them all, and save them all. I dare not believe it.
The many, I fear, will always go the broad road; the few the narrow one.
And all we dare say is, if we have faith enough, we can convert some. We
can at least fulfil our ordination vow. We can seek out Christ's sheep
scattered abroad about this naughty world, and tell them of His fold, and
try to bring them home.
But how shall we know Christ's sheep when we see them? How, but by the
very test which Christ has laid down, it seems to me, in this very
parable? Is there in one of them the high instincts--even the desire to
do a merciful act? Let us watch for that: and when in the most brutal
man, and--alas that I should have to use the words--in the most brutal
woman, we see any touch of nobleness, justice, benevolence, pity,
tenderness--in one word, any touch, however momentary, of unselfishness,-
-let us spring at that, knowing that there is the soul we seek; there is
a lost sheep of Christ; there is Christ Himself, working unknown upon a
human soul; there is a soul ready for the gospel, and not far from the
kingdom of God.
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