LECTURE XXXIV.

THE APOSTLES SENT FORTH TO PREACH.

MARK Vi. 7-13.

7. And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8. And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse :

9. But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

At the beginning of his ministry Jesus had chosen twelve," that they might be with him," and that he might send them forth to preach the "gospel of the kingdom." He had recently reminded them of the purpose to which they were ordained: not merely to contemplate with their own eyes that light which had come into the world, but to hold it up to others; that the sun might shine out, and not be always hidden under a cloud. The time had now arrived when they should enter upon their work: so he called them, gave them their commission; sent them forth by two and two: for according to the words of Solomon, "two are better than one; for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow." He commanded

1 See ch. iii. 14.

Ch. iv. 21—26.

3 Eccl. iv. 9.

them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only: no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: thus obeying that precept to the letter, which in its spirit is the rule of all Christians: "Take no thought for the morrow, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for the body, what ye shall put on. Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" and going forth in his name, and pursuing the work which he has given you to do," all these things shall be added unto you." They who set out upon a journey at their own motion, or on their own business, must provide for the wants of that journey. But these apostles went forth on the mission of their Lord: and their mission would be of no avail, if for a moment they forgot that they were acting in his strength, and speaking in his This they could not forget, whilst daily reminded of their dependence on him. According to the degree of their faith, would be the extent of their success for the gospel which they preached could never make its way by the wisdom of man, but by the power of God. Faith, again, is strengthened by exercise, and confirmed by experience: their daily sense of need of support from above would give it daily exercise; and constant experience of the allsufficiency of their Lord would show them that " all things are possible to him that believeth."

name.

10. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet Matt. vi. 25-34.

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or a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12. And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."

Thus "the Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the word with signs following:"6 such signs of the power which they bore, and of the authority which they bore, that no eyes could be blind to it, unless obstinately closed. And woe to those who should so close their eyes, and resist " the grace of God which bringeth salvation." Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city. Ignorance, unawakened, unenlightened ignorance, is the destruction of many. But a far more awful destruction awaits the obstinately impenitent; those who shut their ears against "the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely." Their case is worse, because their sin is more without exAs the Lord said, concerning the scribes and Pharisees; "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin;" they would have been

cuse.

5 Oil was employed among the Jews as a symbol of plenty and of joy. Probably this gave rise to the custom of anointing the sick with oil. They brought relief; they brought gladness and comfort; and oil was an emblem of this. Thus St. James directs that "the elders of the church should pray over the sick, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord."

Ch. xvi. 20.

v. 12.

comparatively guiltless in the sight of God; " but now they have no cloke for their sin."7

This would be the condemnation of those houses which the apostle should enter, and those cities they should visit, where they were not received and listened to. They went forth, and preached that men should repent, and consider their ways, "for the kingdom of heaven was at hand." "God had remembered his mercy and truth towards the house of Israel." The Redeemer for whom they were waiting, was now come; the only begotten Son of God; "to give light to them that sat in darkness, to guide their feet into the way of peace.”

The question would soon arise, why should they believe that God had sent this message to them? The answer was at hand. They wrought works which no man could do except God were with him. They cast out many devils, and healed many that were sick. By these credentials they proved their claim to be heard.

Now if, after these warnings and testimonies, men persisted in their obstinate impenitence, their case became far more heinous in the sight of God, who does not reap where he has not sown, or gather where he has not strewed. Great wickedness prevailed in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha, and “ sudden destruction came upon them unawares," a signal proof of the divine anger. But to Sodom and Gomorrha no such warning had been given, as was now given to the inhabitants of Judea. Sodom and Gomorrha would have less to answer for at the day of

7 John xv. 22.

judgment, than those who should now refuse to receive and hear the messengers of Christ.

8

How little is this considered in the world! How little do men regard the responsibility which belongs to those who are surrounded by the light of the gospel! To close their eyes against that light, to reject the warnings and instructions which are multiplied upon them, is exactly the case contemplated in this passage. Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet, for a testimony against them: as an example of the way in which God will cast off from his mercy those who choose "darkness rather than light," though the light is evidently brought before them. For "that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the

more." 9

Acts xiii. 31. Matt. x. 14.

Luke xii. 47, 48.