the Holy Spirit of God can keep us from the defilement of sin for the time to come. Well may we pray with the psalmist, "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.'

XVII.

THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND.

"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." MATT. XV. 14; see also LUKE vi. 39.

HIS is one of the shortest and simplest of parables. Indeed, we should have rather

called it a proverb, had it not been called a parable by St. Luke. It seems to have been spoken by our Lord on two occasions, one recorded by St. Matthew, the other by St. Luke; but the words in the two gospels are almost the same.

As recorded by St. Matthew, the parable was spoken at the same time as the preceding one about defilement; in fact, it comes between that parable and our Lord's explanation of it to his disciples.

Certain scribes and Pharisees, who had come from Jerusalem, complained to our Lord that his disciples were in the habit of transgressing "the tradition of the elders"; "for," said they, "they wash not their hands when they eat bread." But our Lord in reply brought a much more serious accusation against them— "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition ?"

He then pointed out to them how they put the ordinances of men above the word of God, making the commandment of God of none effect

by their traditions; and then, calling the people to him, he warned them, in the presence of the scribes, against such false teaching. Afterwards hearing that the Pharisees were offended by what he had said, he added, "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead

the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

There is no difficulty therefore in understanding this short parable. The blind leaders mean the scribes and Pharisees; the blind who were led mean the ignorant Jews whom they taught; and by falling into the ditch we are to understand going astray as to spiritual things, wandering from true doctrine and practice, and so coming to ruin, or at least suffering danger and loss. The people therefore were not to follow such teachers; for, not knowing the way of God themselves, they could but lead others astray.

The only true spiritual light comes from God, and this light he has given in his word. The scribes and Pharisees were blind leaders, because they forsook the word of God. This was their fault, and it was this that made them unsafe teachers.

All who forsake or disregard the word of God are but blind leaders, for that word is still the only sure guide. Manners and customs, forms and ceremonies change, but the word of God remains the same. The Jews had but a portion of it, we have the whole. The light which they enjoyed, though true, was but faint and dim, compared with the light of the gospel. So that we may say, with even more confidence than David, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." For there we find light indeed, and no dark

ness the light of truth, the light of God, the light which never misleads, the light which guides, cheers, and comforts all who walk by it.

Yet there are still blind leaders, and for the same reason as of old: they do not take the word of God as their light.

Some pay so much attention to forms of man's invention, that their mind is drawn off from the word of God.

Some refuse to submit their understanding to the word. They doubt and cavil, and find fancied defects, and venture to set up their own little reason against the plain word of Scripture.

Some, though sincere, have never sought the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the main truths of the word of God are hidden from them. The light is before them, but the eyes of their understanding are darkened.

Some are careless. Though by profession teachers of others, their heart is not in their work. They have no knowledge or love of Christ in their hearts, no concern for souls, no earnest desire to lead them aright.

These are all blind leaders of the blind. They cannot teach what they do not know. They cannot lead others by a way which they have not found themselves. The poor and ignorant who go to them for guidance do not find what they seek. For surely one cannot lead another to Christ who has not sought him for himself, and it is hard to think that a soul can receive spiritual light by means of one who shows no sign of having received it himself.

Where a minister of the gospel preaches the truth of God faithfully, let him be heard, honoured, and

He may

followed, however small his gifts may be. have little power of attracting hearers, his talents may be small, his words void of eloquence, his speech ungraceful; yet, if the love of Christ be in his heart, and he deliver the simple message of the gospel, let him not be despised. He is God's servant, doing God's work. He is no blind leader.

Alas! such a teacher is often neglected for some preacher of showy style and attractive manner, who yet does not preach "the truth as it is in Jesus." There is in our day, perhaps there has been in all days, too much worship of talent, too little regard to truth. Hearers often forget that the object of hearing is, not to be pleased, but to be profited; not to have the mind and the senses gratified, but to learn the way of salvation, to increase in the knowledge of God, and to grow in grace.

The test to which all teaching should be brought is the Bible. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."* All religious teaching should be judged by this rule. Scriptural truth is the point of first importance; and no teaching can be really good and wholesome in which this is lacking or even obscured. As it would be the height of folly to trust oneself to the guidance of a blind man, so it cannot be right or wise to listen to unscriptural teaching. A proud, captious, criticising spirit must indeed be guarded against by hearers; but, in humility and sincerity, with an earnest desire to know the truth, and to be fed with spiritual food, it is not only their right, but their duty, to judge what they hear by the standard of the word of God.

Isa. viii. 20.