And Jesus answering, said
After the Samaritan had paid his respects to him, and made his
acknowledgments in this grateful way:
were there not ten cleansed?
so many applied for a cure, and so many had it:
but where are the nine?
or nine of them; here was one, but where were the rest? they went
and showed themselves to the priests, and then returned to their
several places of abode, and took no notice of their physician
and Saviour, to make any returns to him. They are many, that are
cleansed by the blood of Christ; his blood was shed for many, for
the remission of sins; and by his righteousness, he justifies
many; at least there are many who profess themselves to be
cleansed by him, and yet there are but few that glorify him, by
keeping close to the rule of his word, by giving up themselves to
the churches of Christ, and by walking with them in the
ordinances of the Gospel: Christ's flock, which is separated from
the world, and walks in Gospel order, within the inclosures of
it, is but a little flock; they are but a few names in Sardis,
who have not defiled themselves, with corruptions in doctrine and
discipline; and these few are often such, who have been the worst
of men, the vilest of sinners, from whom it has been least
expected, they should glorify Christ: publicans and harlots go
into the kingdom of heaven, the Gospel church state, embrace its
doctrines, and submit to its ordinances, when the Scribes and
Pharisees, self-righteous persons, do not: ingratitude is a crime
many are guilty of, and it is highly resented by Christ;
instances of gratitude are few, but as one in ten; now and then a
single Samaritan, a stranger, one that has been a vile sinner,
comes and acknowledges the grace of Christ in cleansing him;
comes to the ministers of Christ, and to the churches, and tells
them what God has done for his soul: but where are the rest, the
many others, who have received spiritual advantages, and never
come to relate them, and express by words and deeds, thankfulness
for them?