(38) And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followed not us. (39) But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. (40) For he that is not against us is on our part. (41) For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (42) And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
I cannot offer a better improvement, on this very interesting passage, according to my view of it, and if so be the LORD the HOLY GHOST is the teacher, both of him that writes and him that reads, than to ob serve, that here is drawn, and by the LORD himself, the line of distinction, between what the Prophet, ages before declared, the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth GOD and him that serveth him not. Malachi 3:18. Every circumstance in the word of GOD tends to the confirmation, that the two grand distinctions in life, how diversified soever they may appear to our dim sighted view; are formed between the Church of CHRIST and the ungodly world, the seed of the woman, and the spirit which worketh in the children of disobedience. The language of CHRIST is decisive, he that is not against us, is on our part. And the LORD hath very largely set the same solemn truth forth in all his discourses. The good seed and the tares, the sheep and the goats, the wise virgins and the foolish. And as they are perfectly distinct in their origin, their nature, and connection, so are they in all their progress, condition, and termination. There is nothing that can be called neutral, or of a middle state. To one or the other of these different kingdom all belong, and so will remain to all eternity. Reader! it is blessed, when under the Spirit's teaching, we discover our union with CHRIST, and consequently our interest in CHRIST. Luke 12:32.