soldiers, and I say to one, go and he goeth, and to my servant do this, and he doeth it." (Luke vii. 8.) His meaning was, if I, who am but an inferior officer, subject to higher authority, can nevertheless command my soldiers and servants, and be obeyed, how much more will all creation be obedient to You, its Creator and Governor? This was an honorable confession of Christ's power. Rejoice at His greatness, and be confounded that servants obey their temporal masters with more promptness, than you obey God, or His vicegerents.
II. Christ having heard these expressions, praised the faith of the centurion and preferred it to that of the Jews, although the centurion was a Gentile. " I have not found," He says, " so great faith in Israel " (Matt. viii. 10), " and I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into exterior darkness." The children of the kingdom of Heaven were, formerly, the Jews, but they are now outcasts, because they would not obey the call of God; but Christians are children of that kingdom in a special manner, " a chosen generation, a royal priesthood." (i Pet. ii. 9.) Let us therefore, act in such manner as to deserve this honor; " Hold fast that, which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Apoc. iii. 11.)
III. The request of the centurion was granted; "Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee." The Psalmist says, "The Lord will do the will of them, that fear Him, and He will hear their prayer." (Ps. cxliv. 19.) Perhaps you possess a will, spiritually like the centurion's servant, that is, slothful and sluggish. Imitate, therefore, the fervor and humility of this centurion, and by means of your spiritual friends, that is, the angels and saints, beg that God would cure you. Especially when you go to communion, use the words of the centurion,
