ciples. Though they have the most active zeal, and the most resistless eloquence, if they have not charity they are nothing; if they have not that charity which "suffereth long, and is kind; that charity which envieth not; that charity which vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. " 1

(Matt. viii. 19-22.)

57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said nnto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 2

61. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go to bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62. And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

In these three answers, three different qualities are recommended to all who are actively engaged in the service of religion. In the first, consideration; in the second, devotedness; in the third,

1 See 1 Cor. xiii. 1-5.

2 Thy call is peculiar, and supersedes common duties. Let these be performed by such as are at present dead towards God, and religion, and the concerns of the soul. 19-22.

See on Matt. viii.

steady resolution and perseverance; as illustrated by the proverb, no man having put his hand to the plough, aud looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. As the man who has once set himself to the plough, must not look back, but forward, or his work is spoiled; so he who has made it his choice to devote himself to the service of Christ, must resolutely proceed. Had the apostles, for example, shrunk, from the dangers which assailed them when they asserted the resurrection of Jesus, they would have offended against this maxim. They had put their hand to the plough, when they left all, and followed Jesus, knowing that he had the words of eternal life. If they had afterwards yielded to the threats of the rulers, commanding them, "not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus," they would have looked buck, and so proved themselves not fit for the kingdom of God. St. Paul had put his hand to the plough when he was baptized in that name which before he had blasphemed, and began to "preach Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." 4 If afterwards he had obeyed the entreaties of his friends, when "they besought him not to go up to Jerusalem," or had shrunk from the "bonds and afflictions" which awaited him, he too would have been guilty of looking back after taking on himself the ministry of the kingdom.

3

The same sentence applies to every man. All have not the gospel to preach, but all have the gospel to obey. They too must consider; they too must resolve; they too must persevere. They must not look back on the things which they have left, or 4 Acts ix. 20.

3 Acts. iv. 18.

5 Acts xxi. 12.

the things which they have passed by, but must press steadily onward, remembering that "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." They who would inherit it must be resolute and stedfast. All that we read in Scripture assures us, that the faith which "lays hold on eternal life," as offered in the gospel, must undergo and endure a trial. Had any of the apostles' converts at Corinth or Thessalonica, who had been convinced, by what they saw and heard, that God had raised his Son Jesus from the dead, and had been baptized in his name for the remission of sin; had any of these returned to practices which, in their heathen state, they had reckoned lawful or indifferent; had they refused that discipline and self-denial which is needful to all the people of God; they would have had the guilt of looking back after putting their hand to the plough, and would have "lost the things which they had wrought," instead of receiving "the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls."

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation," whether it it comes from friends or enemies; from those of his own household, or those that are abroad; from the snares of the world, or the corruptions of his own heart. Blessed, therefore, is he to whom the Lord gives strength to resist such trials; and to say, in the spirit of Paul, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy:" may leave no evidence of unfaithfulness against my own soul, that I am not fit for the kingdom of God."

"6

6 Acts xx. 24.

LECTURE XXXV.

SEVENTY DISCIPLES SENT FORTH TO PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

LUKE X. 1-16.

1. After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.'

5. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

In addition to the twelve apostles, these seventy were also appointed to perform an office like that of John the Baptist, to prepare the minds of men for a visit from Christ himself, and to warn them that "the kingdom of heaven was at hand." They were to go as labourers into a field, where the harvest was ripe and plentiful, and few to gather it,

1 Let nothing divert you from similar injunction, 2 Kings iv. 29. being the same as those given to fully considered on Matt. x. 1-15.

your main business. See a The rest of these directions, the twelve apostles, are more

But they were to go not as ordinary labourers, supplied with their provision, but depending for support on him whose messengers they were.

Into whatsoever house they entered, their first salutation was, Peace be to this house. And this was not a sentence of courtesy alone. The gospel offers peace. Its first announcement promised "peace on earth, good-will towards men." Its voice is the voice of mercy, and its ministers are ministers of reconciliation.

The gospel says to

This is as true now as ever. every family, Peace be to this house. It brings the peace of God to all who receive Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. And it gives also peace at home;-peace within, and peace in our intercourse with others. The elements of strife and discord are removed, when a religion of charity, and humility, and mutual concession prevails: and where men are too much engaged in securing an eternal inheritance, to contend about the trifles which concern the present time.

It is strange, but it is too true, that men do not always perceive this; and that the religion of happiness and peace is sometimes feared as a danger, and treated as an enemy. All are not children of peace. This is implied in what follows:

2

6. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it if not, it shall turn to you again.

7. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

2 Son of peace, a Hebrew phrase. One of an "honest and good heart;" a heart "prepared of the Lord" to receive the words of truth.