apostles. We do not know the names of any of these disciples. Their subsequent history has not been revealed to us. But the instructions with which they are sent forth are deeply interesting, and deserve the close atten- tion of all ministers and teachers of the Gospel.
The first point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples is the importance of prayer and intercession. This is the leading thought with which our Lord opens His address. Before He tells His ambassadors what to do, He first bids them to pray. " Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.''
Prayer is one of the best and most powerful means of helping forward the cause of Christ in the world. It is a means within the reach of all who have the Spirit of adoption. JTot all believers have money to give to mis- sions. Very few have great intellectual gifts, or exten- sive influence among men. But all believers can pray for the success of the Gospel, — and they ought to pray for it daily. Many and marvellous are the answers to prayer which are recorded for our learning in the Bible. " The efiectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'' (James v. 16.)
Prayer is one of the principal weapons which the minister of the Gospel ought to use. To be a true successor of the apostles, he must give himself to prayer as well as to the ministry of the word. (Acts vi. 4.) He must not only use the sword of the Spirit, biit pray always, with all prayer and supplication. (Eph. vi. 17, 18.) This is the way to win a blessing on his own ministry. This, above all, is the way to procure helpers to carry on Christ's work. Col-