WHAT striking contrasts may be witnessed in a great city like London! I was lately passing through one of its noble thoroughfares, where the mansions which line each side of the road are grand and lofty, showing by their style that the occupants must be persons of wealth and distinction. The internal decorations, too, which meet the eye of the passer-by, are mostly distinguished by refinement and elegance. The many carriages conveying ladies and gentlemen up and down the road also show the general character of the place. But notwithstanding all this respectability, there is, not far from this road, a dirty and wretched locality, inhabited by persons of the lowest class, where not only poverty prevails, but where degradation and crime seem to find a congenial soil.
As I was walking along the imposing thoroughfare to which I refer, there came from one of the side streets two policemen in charge of some miserable-looking little boys. As these passed I could but stay and look on them with pity and compassion. They were dirty, neglected, under-sized children, with that look of low cunning on their faces which evidences familiarity with wickedness and crime. I understood that they were young thieves, and that they were being taken to prison, in order that they might undergo the punishment which had been passed upon them for their offenses.
After these poor little criminals had passed away from my sight, I could but observe as I continued on my way how many respectable children I met. Here, were two or three young ladies out for a walk, with an attendant to take care of them, all of them tastefully dressed, showing at a glance that they were partakers of every comfort and even luxury of life. Then, there were some young gentlemen, who, not unlikely, were going to their grammar-school or to college. Others, too, I saw, who though, perhaps, bent on other objects, also evidently belonged to the educated and polished classes of society.
The contrast between the wretched little Arabs whom I had just seen, and these young ladies and gentlemen struck me forcibly; and I could not but confess that the comforts and refinements of life are by no means to be despised. In outward manners and appearance the two classes seemed scarcely to belong to the same race. How natural, thought I, would it be, if these young gentlefolks were to look down upon those miserable creatures. It would not surprise me if a self-righteous thought arose in their hearts, and that in the spirit of the Pharisee, of whom we read in Luke 18, they were to say to themselves, “I thank God that I am not as others are, or even as those bad children.”
Yet, after all, wherein does the difference consist? Truly, as before men, the difference is great. But, as before God, we are taught in the Scriptures, that there is NO difference; for ALL “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3). So that in himself the scion of a noble house is no better than a city Arab, and both must be saved in the same way. The most amiable and moral child must have his conscience purged by the precious blood of Christ, as well as the most evil and sinful, if he is to be a partaker of the Salvation of God. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 2). “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:3232I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)).
The case of the young man which is recorded in Luke 18 is very instructive upon this point. He had an abundance of natural advantages. He was very rich, moral, lovable, and religious. But when he was searched by the word of the Lord, he showed that he had no heart for Christ. The result was that he went away very sorrowful. How different is the instance of the thief on the cross. There was no question that he was a wicked man, and a law-breaker; but he at length turned to the Lord and trusted in Him, and had the blessed assurance from His holy lips, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with ME in paradise.”
Now, my dear young friends, do not misunderstand me. It is right to be moral and virtuous, and to use the many mercies which a gracious God has strewed about our path. Only remember that there is but one way in which to be saved, and that the precious blood of Christ is alike requisite to give the most naturally excellent and worthy person acceptance into the presence of God, and to make even a wretched city Arab a partaker of the same unspeakable blessing.
Are you thus washed, and made whiter than snow? Or, are you resting upon the sandy foundation of some fancied goodness or righteousness of your own?
T.