The Place for Successful Inquiry

’ When He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.” — Mark vii. 17.

There are times for religious inquiry. Strange to say, they are the times not of mental tossing, but of mental rest. It was when Jesus was entered into His own house and when the door was shut against the noise of the multitude, that His disciples began to question Him. The reverse view is the popular one. The prevalent notion is that the spirit of inquiry is fostered by the noise of antagonism, that the real place for it is outside the house of Jesus. That is a grand mistake. The psalmist of Israel knew better; he expressed the wish to dwell in God’s house and see His beauty in order that he might “inquire.” He felt that no man is qualified to get an answer if he is in a state of tumult. And is he not right? Is it not a matter of daily experience that the mind which inquires successfully must be a mind at rest? “Be still, and know!” cries the Divine oracle. You will 261 never come to know by being violent. If you want to hear an answer to your questioning, you must come inside the house and escape the clamour of the multitude. Neither you nor Elijah can hear God when the heart is convulsed by thunder and earthquake and fire. Many a message to the soul has been lost by the soul’s own storm. The world did not hear the coming of its Christ. Why? Because the world’s heart was in great unrest. Mary did not recognise the form of the risen Lord. Why? Because Mary’s soul was in deep despair. Martha did not catch the sweet words at Bethany. Why? Because Martha’s spirit was careful and troubled about many things. Our crowns of glory often need to be “laid up” for us. They are lying at our feet, and we do not lift them. We believe them to be stones on the causeway. We miss the glitter of their gems; we see not the sparkle of their gold. We are too distraught to recognise them — too close to the clamour, too near to the multitude. We must get inside if we would find our crown; we must enter the house with Jesus. We must get the calm mind, the placid conscience, the rested heart, the bending will, the quiet patience, the tranquil faith, the underlying peace, the optimistic love; then shall we hear the answer to the questioning of our souls. 262

Bring me into Thy house, O Lord, that goodness and mercy may follow me! Goodness and mercy have been with me all the days of my life; but when they first come I do not see them; they have to “follow me.” It is only when I have entered Thy house that I really recognise them. It is only in the peace of Thy home, in the calm of my spirit, that I know how great have been my benefits. I thought I was speaking to the gardener; when I entered Thy house I found that it was Jesus. I thought I was walking to Emmaus with a stranger — mine eyes were blinded with grief; when I entered Thy house I found it was the risen Lord. I thought I was clothing a child in a manger; when I entered Thy house I found I had been robing the Son of Man. I thought I was giving drink to a suppliant at the well of Samaria; when I entered Thy house I found that I had met the answerer of prayer. I thought that Calvary had crucified the Christ; when I entered Thy house I saw that it had crowned Him. I thought that the box of ointment was wasted when it was broken; when I entered Thy house every corner was filled with its fragrance. I have seen the mercies of the midday only by the cool of evening; I have learned the world’s beauty in the quiet of Thy home.