We ought to notice, firstly, in these verses, the parting commission which our Lord gives to His apostles. He is addressing them for the last time. He marks out their work till He comes again, in words of wide and deep significance, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
The Lord Jesus would have us know that all the world needs the Gospel. In every quarter of the glohe man is the same, sinful, corrupt, and alienated from God. Civilized or uncivilized, in China, or in Africa, he is by nature everywhere the same, without knowledge, without holiness, without faith, and without love. Wherever we see a child of Adam, whatever be his color, we see one whose heart is wicked, and who needs the blood of Christ, the renewing of the Holy Ghost, and reconcilia- tion with God.
The Lord Jesus would have us know that the salvation of the Gospel is to be offered freely to all mankind. The glad tidings that " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son/' and that " Christ has died for the ungodly," is to be proclaimed freely " to every creature." We are not justified in making any exception in the proclamation. We have no warrant for limiting the offer to the elect. We come short of the fulness of Christ's words, and take away from the breadth of His sayings, if we shrink from telling any one, " God is full of love to you, Christ is willing to save you." " Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. xx. 17.)
Let us see in these words of Christ, the strongest argument in favor of missionary work, both at home and abroad. Remembering these words, let us be un-