points. The brightest saint is the man who has the most heart-searching sense of his own sinfulness, and the liveliest sense of his own complete acceptance in Christ.
Let ns observe, fourthly, what was the first place at which the disciples were to begin preaching. They were to begin " at Jerusalem."
This is a striking fact, and one full of instruction. It teaches us that none are to be reckoned too wicked for salvation to be offered to them, and that no degree of spiritual disease is beyond the reach of the Gospel remedy. Jerusalem was the wickedest city on earth when our Lord left the world. It was a city which had stoned the pro- phets and killed those whom God sent to call it to repentance. It was a city fall of pride, unbelief, self- righteousness, and desperate hardness of heart. It was a city which had just crowned all its transgressions by crucifying the JLord of glory. And yet Jerusalem was the place at which the first proclamation of repentance and pardon was to be made. — ^The command of Christ was plain ; — " Begin at Jerusalem."
We see in these wondrous words, the length, and breadth, and depth, and height of Christ's compassion towards sinners. We must never despair of any one being saved, however bad and profligate he may have been. We must open the door of repentance to the chief of sinners. We must not be afraid to invite the worst of men to repent, believe, and live. It is the glory of our Great Physician, that He can heal incurable cases. The things that seem impossible to men are possible with Christ.
Let us observe, lastly, the peculiar position which be-
520 BXPosnoRT thoughts.
lievers, and especially ministers, are meant to occupy in this world. Our Lord defines it in one expressive word. He says, " Ye are witnesses/*
If we are true, disciples of Christ, we must bear a continual testimony in the midst of an evil world. We must testify to the truth of our Master's Gospel, — the graciousness of our Master's heart, — the happiness of our Master's service, — ^the excellence of our Master's rules of life, — and the enormous danger and wickedness of the ways of the world. Such testimony will doubtless bring down upon us the displeasure of man. The world will hate us, as it did our Master, because we " testify of it, that its works are evil." (John vii. 7.) Such testimony will doubtless be believed by few comparatively, and will be thought by many oflfensive and extreme. But the duty of a witness is to bear his testimony, whether he is be- lieved or not. If we bear a faithful testimony, we have done our duty, although, like Noah, and Elijah, and Jeremiah, we stand almost alone.
What do we know of this witnessing character ? What kind of testimony do we bear ? What evidence do we give that we are disciples of a crucified Saviour, and, like Him, are " not of the world ? " (John xvii. 14.) What marks do we shew of belonging to Him who said, " I came that I should bear witness unto the truth ? " (John xviii. 7.) Happy is he who can give a satisfactory answer to these questions, and whose life declares plainly that he »" seeks a country."- (Heb. xi. 14.)
Notes. Lum XXIV. 44-49.
44. — [These are the words, <Bc.] This expression must be paraphra- sed, in order to give the full meaning of it Alford renders it,