Town and Country Sermons | Page 9

he was one in spirit.
Him some of the evangelists saw, and by him all were inspired; and,
therefore, they toned their account of him to his likeness, and, as it
were, took their key-note from him, and made the very manner and
language of their gospels a pattern of his manners and his life.
And, if we wanted a fresh proof (as, thank God, needs not) that the
gospels are true, I think we might find it in this. For when a man is
inventing a wonderful story out of his own head, he is certain to dress it
up in fine words, fancies, shrewd reflections of his own, in order to
make people see, as he goes on, how wonderful it all is. Whereas, no
books on earth which describe wonderful events, true or false, are so

sober and simple as the gospels, which describe the most wonderful of
all events. And this is to me a plain proof (as I hope it will be to you)
that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not inventing but telling a
plain and true story, and dared not alter it in the least; and, again, a
story so strange and beautiful, that they dared not try to make it more
strange, or more beautiful, by any words of their own.
They had seen a person, to describe whom passed all their powers of
thought and memory, much more their power of words. A person of
whom even St. Paul could only say, 'that he was the brightness of his
Father's glory, and the express image of his person.'
Words in which to write of him failed them; for no words could suffice.
But the temper of mind in which to write of him did not fail them; for,
by gazing on the face of the Lord, they had been changed, more or less,
into the likeness of his glory; into that temper, simplicity, sobriety,
gentleness, modesty, which shone forth in him, and shines forth still in
their immortal words about him. God grant that it may shine forth in us.
God grant it truly. May we read their words till their spirit passes into
us. May we (as St. Paul expresses it) looking on the face of the Lord, as
into a glass, be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory. May he
who inspired them to write, inspire us to think and work, like our Lord,
soberly, quietly, simply. May God take out of us all pride and vanity,
boasting and forwardness; and give us the true courage which shows
itself by gentleness; the true wisdom which show itself by simplicity;
and the true power which show itself by modesty. Amen.

SERMON IV. A SOLDIER'S TRAINING

Luke vii. 2-9. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him,
was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto
him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and
heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him
instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For
he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went

with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion
sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am
not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither
thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my
servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having
under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another,
Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard these things he marvelled at him, and turned him
about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I
have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
There is something puzzling in this speech of the centurion's. One must
think twice, and more than twice, to understand clearly what he had in
his mind. I, indeed, am not quite sure that I altogether understand it.
But I may, perhaps, help you to understand it, by telling you what this
centurion was.
He was not a Jew. He was a Roman, and a heathen; a man of our race,
very likely. And he was a centurion, a captain in the army; and one,
mind, who had risen from the ranks, by good conduct, and good service.
Before he got his vine-stock, which was the mark of his authority over
a hundred men, he had, no doubt, marched many a weary mile under a
heavy load, and fought,