is world are wiser in their generation than the children
of light." The word GENERATION in this place means _state_ or
_condition_ from which proceeds a given manner of life, and daily
attention to business. The men of the world are active as to their
works, and watchful as to their interests. This watchfulness and
activity is what our Lord calls their _wisdom_, and in its degree it
exceeds that of the children of light. Our minds and wills act as
freely in choosing the things of religion, and doing the duties
connected therewith, as they do in the things that belong to this life
only.

But we must not forget that every one who enters in by the narrow gate
is but a child in experience when he first enters. He is but a lamb.
But the Good Shepherd and Father go with him, leading him and feeding
him. Like Enoch, he walks with God.

The text does not say that the narrow way _is_ life; but that it
_leads_ unto life. To my mind it is clear that whenever the "sinner
forsakes his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," he then and
there enters in by the narrow gate. This is repentance. He returns to
the Lord by the narrow way: and the Lord is life.

It may well be asked why the gate and the way are narrow. The narrow
gate is the TRUTH of God's Word as it is first found and loved: and
the narrow way is the same TRUTH as it is followed and obeyed. Truth
is always a straight or narrow track, because any departure therefrom,
either to the right or left, is error and falsity.

Jesus says: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved." This door is just as narrow as the gate. He also says: "I am
the way." As such, he is so narrow that, as the prophet represents, it
is as if a fire of destruction were on the one hand and a flood of
wrath on the other. Ah, Brethren, the truth can never be made to bend.
It is as the builder's line to the foundation; and as the plumb line
to the column.

To such as walk in the narrow way our Lord says: "I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish." Is not this encouraging?
It is to be in the Lord, and the Lord in us. It is to be a live and
fruitful branch of the true Vine. It is to be a son of God, an heir of
God, and a joint heir with Christ. It is, when the coil of mortality
is laid aside, to shine as the sun in the kingdom of our Father in
heaven.

It would afford me much joy to find some here to-day ready to enter in
by the narrow gate. Do I hear some one sa