1 Then he called hiB twelve disci- ples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor Bcrii|, neither bread, nei- ther money ; neither have two coats
apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
6 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the Gospel, and healing every where.
These verses contain our Lord's instructions to
LUKE, CHAP. rx. VER. 1 — 6. 291
twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous powers which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects, they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles. They contain deep wisdom for Christian teachers and preachers, for all time.
Let us observe, that the commimon to the apostles con- tained special reference to the devil and hodily sickness. We read that Jesus gave them '' authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.^'
We see here, as in a glass, two of the principal parts of the Christian minister's business. We must not ex- pect him to cast out evil spirits, but we may fairly expect him to "resist the devil and all his works," and to keep up a constant warfare against the prince of this world. — ^We must not expect him to work mii'aculous cures, but we may expect him to take a special interest in all sick people, to visit them, sympathize with them, and help them, if needful, as far as he can. — The minister who neglects the sick members of his flock is no true pastor. He must not be surprised if people say that he cares for the fleece of his sheep more than for their health. The minister who allows drunkenness, blas- phemy, uncleanness, ^hting, revelling, and the like, to go on among his congregation unreproved, is omitting a plain duty of his office. He is not warring against the devil. He is no true successor of the apostles.