Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; — A ship's company rise against their officers, put them in chains, and take the command of the ship upon themselves. They agree to set the officers ashore on some uninhabited island, to sail to some distant port, dispose of the cargo, and divide the amount. After parting with their officers they find it necessary, for the sake of self-preservation, to establish some kind of laws and order. To these they adhere with punctuality, act upon honour with respect to each other, and propose to be very impartial in the distribution of their plunder. But while they are on their voyage one of the company relents and becomes very unhappy. They inquire the reason. He answers, "We are engaged in a wicked cause." They plead their justice, honour, and generosity to each other. He denies that there is any virtue in it. "Nay," he declares, "all our equity, while it is exercised in pursuit of a scheme which violates the great law of justice, is in itself a species of iniquity." "You talk extravagantly," they reply; "surely we might be worse than we are if we were to destroy each other as well as our officers." "Yes wickedness admits of degrees; but there is no virtue of goodness in all our doings; all has arisen from selfish motives. The same principles which led us to discard our officers would lead us, if it were not for our own sake, to destroy each other." "But you speak so very discouragingly; you destroy all motives to good order in the ship; what would you have us do? Repent; return to our injured officers and owners, and submit to mercy." "Oh, but this we cannot do: advise us to anything which concerns the good order of the ship, and we will hearken to you." "I cannot bear to advise in these matters. Return, return, and submit to mercy!" (A. Fuller.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; |
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