16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harm- less as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
IS^Ahd ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak : for it shall be given you in tnat same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speak- eth in you.
21 Aiid the brother shall deliver up the brother to deatli, and the father the child; and the children shall ri;^e up against tJielr parents, and cause tliem to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake ; but he that en- dureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another : for verily I say unto you. Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
The truths contained in these verses should be pondered by all who try to do good in the world. To the selfish man, who cares for nothing but his own ease or comfort, there may seem to be little in them. To the minister of the Gospel, and to every one who seeks to save souls, these verses ought to be full of interest. No doubt there is much in them, which applies specially to the days of the apostles. But there is much also which applies to all times.
We see, for one thing, that those ivho would do good to souls, must he moderate in their exjjectations. They must not think that universal success will attend their labors. They must reckon on meeting with much oppo- sition. They must make up their minds to " be hated," persecuted, and ill-used, and that too by their nearest relations. They will often find themselves like " sheep in the midst of wolves." - ^ac «r? ^^^v^ ^t^^^ /t£^^^
iet us bear this in mind continually. Whether we preach, or teach, or visit from house to house, — whether we write or give counsel, or whatever we do, let it be a
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settled principle with us not to expect more than Scrip- ture and experience warrant. Human nature is far more wicked and corrupt than we think. The power of evil is far greater than we suppose. It is vain to imagine that everybody will see what is good for them, and beKeve what we tell them. It is expecting what we shall not find, and will only end in disappointment. Happy is that laborer for Christ, who knows these things at his first starting, and has not to learn them by bitter experience ! Here lies the secret cause why many have turned back, who once seemed full of zeal to do good. They began with extravagant expectations. They did not count the cost. They fell into the mistake of the great German Reformer, who confessed he forgot at one time, that " old Adam was too strong for young Melancthon.'"
We see, for another thing, that those who would do good have need to pray for wisdom, good sense, and a sound mind. Our Lord tells his disciples to be " wise as serpents, and harmless as cloves." He tells them that when they are persecuted in one place, they may law- fully "^ flee to another."
There are few of our Lord's instructions which it is so difficult to use rightly as this. There is a line marked out for us between two extremes ; but one that it re- quires great judgment to define. To avoid persecution by holding our tongues, and keeping our religion entirely 7^^^^ to ourselves, is one extreme. We are not to err in that •^^*** direction. — To court persecution, and thrust our religion ^'^ upon every one we meet, without regard to place, time, 6^w«^ or circumstances, is another extreme. In this direction T^s^ also we are warned not to err any more than in the ^^*