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n of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan。 Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin。 He came to destroy the works of the devil； and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul； to keep him from sinning。
The tempter's agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act。 Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character。 It is these excuses that lead to sin。 There is no excuse for sinning。 A holy temper； a Christlike life； is accessible to every repenting； believing child of God。
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness。 As the Son of man was perfect in His life； so His followers are to be perfect in their life。 Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren。 He became flesh； even as we are。 He was hungry and thirsty and weary。 He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep。 He shared the lot of man； yet He was the blameless Son of God。 He was God in the flesh。 His character is to be ours。 The Lord says of those who believe in Him； 〃I will dwell in them； and walk in them； and I will be their God； and they shall be My people。〃 2 Cor。 6：16。
Christ is the ladder that Jacob saw； the base resting on the earth； and the topmost round reaching to the gate of heaven； to the very threshold of glory。 If that ladder had failed by a single step of reaching the earth； we should have been lost。 But Christ reaches us where we are。 He took our nature and overcame； that we through taking His
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nature might overcome。 Made 〃in the likeness of sinful flesh〃 （Rom。 8：3）； He lived a sinless life。 Now by His divinity He lays hold upon the throne of heaven； while by His humanity He reaches us。 He bids us by faith in Him attain to the glory of the character of God。 Therefore are we to be perfect； even as our 〃Father which is in heaven is perfect。〃
Jesus had shown in what righteousness consists； and had pointed to God as its source。 Now He turned to practical duties。 In almsgiving； in prayer； in fasting； He said； let nothing be done to attract attention or win praise to self。 Give in sincerity； for the benefit of the suffering poor。 In prayer； let the soul commune with God。 In fasting； go not with the head bowed down； and heart filled with thoughts of self。 The heart of the Pharisee is a barren and profitless soil； in which no seeds of divine life can flourish。 It is he who yields himself most unreservedly to God that will render Him the most acceptable service。 For through fellowship with God men become workers together with Him in presenting His character in humanity。
The service rendered in sincerity of heart has great recompense。 〃Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly。〃 By the life we live through the grace of Christ the character is formed。 The original loveliness begins to be restored to the soul。 The attributes of the character of Christ are imparted； and the image of the Divine begins to shine forth。 The faces of men and women who walk and work with God express the peace of heaven。 They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven。 For these souls the kingdom of God has begun。 They have Christ's joy； the joy of being a blessing to humanity。 They have the honor of being accepted for the Master's use； they are trusted to do His work in His name。
〃No man can serve two masters。〃 We cannot serve God with a divided heart。 Bible religion is not one influence among many others； its influence is to be supreme； pervading and controlling every other。 It is not to be like a dash of color brushed here and there upon the canvas； but it is to pervade the whole life； as if the canvas were dipped into the color； until every thread of the fabric were dyed a deep； unfading hue。
〃If therefore thine eye be single； thy whole body shall be full of light。 But if thine eye be evil； thy whole body shall be full of darkness。〃 Purity and steadfastness of purpose are the conditions of receiving light from God。 He who desires to know the truth must be willing to accept all that it reveals。 He can make no compromise with error。 To be
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wavering and halfhearted in allegiance to truth is to choose the darkness of error and satanic delusion。
Worldly policy and the undeviating principles of righteousness do not blend into each other imperceptibly； like the colors of the rainbow。 Between the two a broad； clear line is drawn by the eternal God。 The likeness of Christ stands out as distinct from that of Satan as midday in contrast with midnight。 And only those who live the life of Christ are His co…workers。 If one sin is cherished in the soul； or one wrong practice retained in the life； the whole being is contaminated。 The man becomes an instrument of unrighteousness。
All who have chosen God's service are to rest in His care。 Christ pointed to the birds flying in the heavens； to the flowers of the field； and bade His hearers consider these objects of God's creation。 〃Are not ye of much more value than they？〃 He said。 Matt。 6：26； R。 V。 The measure of divine attention bestowed on any object is proportionate to its rank in the scale of being。 The little brown sparrow is watched over by Providence。 The flowers of the field； the grass that carpets the earth； share the notice and care of our heavenly Father。 The great Master Artist has taken thought for the lilies； making them so beautiful that they outshine the glory of Solomon。 How much more does He care for man； who is the image and glory of God。 He longs to see His children reveal a character after His similitude。 As the sunbeam imparts to the flowers their varied and delicate tints； so does God impart to the soul the beauty of His own character。
All who choose Christ's kingdom of love and righteousness and peace； making its interest paramount to all other； are linked to the world above； and every blessing needed for this life is theirs。 In the book of God's providence； the volume of life； we are each given a page。 That page contains every particular of our history； even the hairs of the head are numbered。 God's children are never absent from His mind。
〃Be not therefore anxious for the morrow。〃 Matt。 6：34； R。 V。 We are to follow Christ day by day。 God does not bestow help for tomorrow。 He does not give His children all the directions for their life journey at once； lest they should become confused。 He tells them just as much as they can remember and perform。 The strength and wisdom imparted are for the present emergency。 〃If any of you lack wisdom；〃for today；〃let him ask of God； that giveth to all men liberally； and upbraideth not； and it shall be given him。〃 James 1：5。
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〃Judge not； that ye be not judged。〃 Do not think yourself better than other men； and set yourself up as their judge。 Since you cannot discern motive； you are incapable of judging another。 In criticizing him； you are passing sentence upon yourself； for you show that you are a participant with Satan； the accuser of the brethren。 The Lord says； 〃Examine yourselves； whether ye be in the faith； prove your own selves。〃 This is our work。 〃If we would judge ourselves； we should not be judged。〃 2 Cor。 13：5； 1 Cor。 11：31。
The good tree will produce good fruit。 If the fruit is unpalatable and worthless； the tree is evil。 So the fruit borne in the life testifies as to the condition of the heart and the excellence of the character。 Good works can never purchase salvation； but they are an evidence of the faith that acts by love and purifies the soul。 And though the eternal reward is not bestowed because of our merit； yet it will be in proportion to the work that has been done through the grace of Christ。
Thus Christ set forth the principles of His kingdom； and showed them to be the great rule of life。 To impress the lesson He adds an illustration。 It is not enough； He says； for you to hear My words。 By obedience you must make them the foundation of your character。 Self is but shifting sand。 If you build upon human theories and inventions； your house will fall。 By the winds of temptation； the tempests of trial； it will be swept away。 But these principles that I have given will endure。 Receive Me； build on My words。
〃Everyone therefore which heareth these words of Mine； and doeth them； shall be likened unto a wise man； which built his house upon the rock： and the rain descended； and the floods came； and the winds blew； and beat upon that house； and it fell not： for it was founded upon the rock。〃 Matt。 7：24； 25； R。V。
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Chapter 32
The Centurion
Christ had said to the nobleman whose son He healed； 〃Except ye see signs and wonders； ye will not believe。〃 John 4：48。 He was grieved that His own nation should require these outward signs of His Messiahship。 Again and again He had marveled at their unbelief。 But He marveled at the faith of the centurion who came to Him。 The centurion did not question the Saviour's power。 He did not even ask Him to come in person to perform the miracle。 〃Speak the word only；〃 he said； 〃and my s