MAY  28.]  THE  NEVER-DYING  WORM.  247


Mark  IX  43  to  end. — Christ  warns  his  disciples  against  the  un-
quenchable Jire,  and  never-dying  wm'm.
The  Lord  ended  his  private  conversation  with  his  own  disciples  in
this  awful  manner.  He  knew  that  ambition  was  not  cast  out  of  their
hearts.  It  was  ambition  that  led  them  to  dispute  who  should  be  the
greatest,  and  that  caused  them  to  forbid  the  man  who  followed  them
not.  They  were  full  of  self-importance,  and  of  worldly  desires.
Though  they  did  possess  some  living  faith  and  some  sincere  love  ;  yet
how  weak  was  that  faith,  how  cold  was  that  love !

Their  Master  knew  that  if  they  continued  to  cherish  a  w^orldly  and
proud  spirit,  they  could  not  obtain  a  place  in  his  kingdom  ;  herefore
he  earnestly  warned  them  to  mortify  the  sinful  desires  of  their  hearts.
He  compared  those  desires  to  hands,  feet,  and  eyes  ;  because  it  is  as
painful  for  a  person  to  mortify  a  darling  passion  of  the  heart,  as  to  cut
off  a  precious  limb  from  the  body.
