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53. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

54. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

55. And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

56. And whithersoever he entered into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment and as many as touched him were made whole.

Thus easily is attention drawn to temporal blessings; thus readily do men avail themselves of present advantages. We need that faith which is “the evidence of things not seen," that we may be no less earnest in applying the remedy which is offered for the diseases of the soul; that we may beseech him whom "God sent to bless us," "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." "Deliver me from guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness."

• Ps. li. 14.

LECTURE XL.

DANGER OF TRADITIONS.

MARK Vii. 1-13.

1. Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

2. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled (that is to say, with unwashen) hands, they found fault.

3. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

4. And when they come from the market, except they wash they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.

5. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from

me.

7. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do.

1 St. Mark wrote his gospel for circulation in heathen countries. Therefore he explains the Jewish customs to those who were strangers to them. This St. Matthew did not.

2

God had given strict command that nothing should be added to his law. "Whatsoever thing I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." And with great reason. Whenever his word is added to, in the end the real commandment is laid aside, and gives place to the addition. So it had been with these purifications and ablutions, which the Pharisees had added to the law. They do not ask, Why do ye not cultivate purity of heart, but the question is, Why do ye eat bread with unwashen hands?

Thus it has proved with regard to other corruptions. Take, for example, the practice so widely prevailing in the Christian church, of abstaining from meat on certain days. This might seem innocent; nay laudable: it is good to accustom men to self-denial. The apostle allows, concerning these things, that they "have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body." Soon, however, appears the evil of adding to the divine word. Not to fast on certain days, comes to be reckoned and treated as an offence no less heinous, than the transgression of a moral duty. Sometimes the pride, and sometimes the interests of men are concerned in exaggerating such offences; till by degrees "the weightier matters of the law" are neglected; the commandment of God is laid aside; the tradition of men observed.

Our Lord proceeds to show how this process had taken place among the Jews. It was an acknowledged command of God that men should 3 See Col. ii. 23.

2 Deut. xii. 32.

honour their parents. The Pharisees would avow this. But in practice, they made it a graver offence to forego the gift to the treasury, than to deny support to a parent.

9. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father, or mother, let him die the death.

11. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

The parent, here, demands relief from his son, which the commandment would require him to supply for Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother. The son, however, answers, that what he should otherwise allow to his parent, he had devoted as corban, that is to say, a gift, to the treaAnd the scribes pronounce that man free from the obligation of the divine command.

sury.

In such perversions of right judgment, self-interest is often most concerned. These teachers had a share of what came into the treasury. But so it is that corruption insinuates itself, gradually, and under some specious pretence, whenever the principle is once admitted of teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

A Syriac word it is devoted to the treasury.

:

Therefore we are warned against this error. St. Paul reproved it at a very early period: writing to the Colossians, "Wherefore are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not, taste not, handle not; which all are to perish with the using,) after the commandments and doctrines of men ?" 5 He had also an ex

warn the Church "The Spirit

press revelation, enjoining him to against similar errors in later times. speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils: forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." 6

We are not ignorant of the sad fulfilment of this prophecy. Useless things, even pernicious things have been required as sacred duties. Men have been diverted from truth, and occupied in vanities, till the "power of godliness" has been utterly destroyed.

Perhaps it may be thought that this is not the danger of our country, or of the present age. Superstitious rites and unauthorized ordinances are not likely to mislead us. But it is still possible to make the word of God of none effect through our tradition. There is still a sort of traditional religion which prevails, and is very agreeable to the corruption of human nature. There is still a tradition of common opinion, which is held sufficient by others, or was thought sufficient by our fathers. Such a tradition, as leaves what are called the mysteries of religion for the learned, or the clergy. Such a tra5 Col. ii. 22, &c. 61 Tim. iv. 13.

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