National Privileges
Charles Kingsley., John Keble. Luke 10:23-24 And he turned him to his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see:… This is a noble text, and yet an awful one, for if it does not increase our godliness, it will certainly increase our condemnation. It tells us that we, even the meanest amongst us, are more favoured by God than the kings, and judges, and conquerors of the old world; that we have more light and knowledge of God than even the prophets David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, to whom God's glory appeared in visible shape. It tells us that we see things which they longed to see and could not; that words are spoken to us for which their ears longed in vain; that they, though they died in hope, yet received not the promises, God having provided some better things for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 1. Now, what was this which they longed for, and had not, and yet we have? It is this — a Saviour and a Saviour's kingdom. All wise and holy hearts for ages — as well heathen as Jews — had has this longing. They wanted a Saviour — one who should free them from sin and conquer evil. They longed for a heavenly kingdom also. They saw that men got worse and worse as time rolled on, and that all the laws in the world could never make them good. They longed for a kingdom of God, a golden age, a regeneration of the world, as they called it, and rightly. 2. And now this kingdom is come, and the King of it, the Saviour of men, is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Long men prayed, and long men waited, and at last, in the fulness of God's good time, just when the night seemed darkest, and, under the abominations of the Roman Empire, religion, honesty, and common decency seemed to have died out, the Sun of Righteousness rose on the dead and rotten world, to bring life and immortality to light. 3. And that we might not doubt that we too belonged to this kingdom, God has placed in this land His ministers and teachers, Christ's Sacraments, Christ's Churches, Christ's Bible; that from our cradle to our grave we might see that we belonged, as sworn servants and faithful children, to the great Father in heaven and Jesus Christ, the King of the earth. 4. Thus, all that all men have longed for we possess; we want no more, and we shall have no more. If, under the present state of things, we cannot be holy, we shall never be holy. Blessed indeed are the eyes which see what you see, and hear what you bear; prophets and kings have desired to see and hear them, and have not seen or heard 1 But if you, cradled among all these despised honours and means of grace, bring forth no fruit in your lives — shut out from yourselves the thought of your high calling in Christ Jesus, what shall be your end but ruin? He that despises Christ, Christ will despise him. And say not to yourselves as many do, "We are church-goers — we are all safe." I say to you, God is able — aye, God is able of these stones to raise up children, while those of you, the children of the kingdom, who lived in the Church of your fathers, and never used or loved her or Christ her King, shall be cast into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Charles Kingsley.) Vainly they tried the deeps to sound Even of their own prophetic thought, When of Christ crucified and crowned His Spirit in them taught: But He their aching gaze repressed Which sought behind the veil to see, For not without us fully blessed Or perfect might they be. The rays of the Almighty's face No sinner's eye might then receive; Only the meekest man found grace To see His skirts and live. But we as in a glass espy The glory of His countenance, Not in a whirlwind hurrying by The two presumptuous glance. But with mild radiance every hour From our dear Saviour's face benign Bent on us with transforming power, Till we, too, faintly shine. Sprinkled with His atoning blood Safely before our God we stand, As on the rock the prophet stood, Beneath His shadowing hand. Blessed eyes which see the things we see! And yet this tree of life hath proved To many a soul a poison-tree, Beheld, and not beloved. (John Keble.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: WEB: Turning to the disciples, he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,