Danger of casting away our privileges. "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth," Matthew 8:11-12. (Preached by Rev Ivan Foster at the Lord's Day evening service in Kilskeery FPC on 29th June 1986.) The Centurion was a Gentile, a Roman soldier brought up in the darkness of heathendom. His posting to Israel had been a blessing in disguise. You can imagine how his wife and family, if he had such, reacted to the news of his transfer. Now, however, they sing of the merciful providence that planned it so. His approach to Christ and his forthright display of faith became the means of delivering a timely warning to a nation, Israel, greatly privileged and in danger of throwing their privileges away.