E resent and his best self (Mt 18^') ; the tree must ave visible form if it is to shelter men in its branches (Mt 13^-, Lk 13^*j, though its vital force may be a hidden mystery, permeating, as it does, the whole body, as the leaven does the bread (Mt 13^, Lk 13^^). Jesus accepted the organization of the past, and made u.se of it. He referred to the rights of the Sanhedrin (Mt 5^), He honoured the Temple-sanctuary and the altar (23^*--), He sent rhe lepers to the priests to fulfil the Law (S'), He attended the synagogue on the Sabbath • as his custom was ' (Lk 4^^). His race had learned in the Captivity and the Dispersion the value of some out- ward conformity, especially of holy seasons, holy books, and meetings for worship and edification, all aiming at that unity expres^d in Ac 4^ ' they had one heart and soul.'
His first step was to form a circle of disciples, learners {fm0Tp-ai), those who would differ from the crowd of listeners by their whole-hearted obedi- ence, becoming imitators {fufj.rjTcu), actually doing the things taught after the Teachers example ('if ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples, Jn 8^^). Much of His teaching is given directly to them : they are distinguished as ' the ' disciples, or
' my ■ disciples (Mt 5^ W 12^, Mk 5- , Lk S-, Jn 3- etc. ) ; and, thotigh they may ultimately almost form a school of tradition, inheriting certain teach- ings (Ac 2*^1, stiU they remain learners in the school of Christ, rejecting the title of ' Rabbi ' (' teacher,' ' master j, and keep their name of ■ dis- ciples' well into the next generation (Ac 6- 9-^ 11^ 21* ^*). Jesus may call them 'ser\-ants'' (Mt KP*), ' labourers ' (Mt 9^, Lk 9*-), • the salt of the earth,' 'the light of the world' (Mt 5'*-"), but the two most distinctive titles He bestows are ' disciple ' and ' apostle.' They are first to learn of Him (Mt ir^; the secret of calm inward strength of peace, and then they shall become heralds, messengers, apostles of that peace to the world. The Apos- tolate has no status except for its missionary pur- pose, and though the Apostles may have the power to forgive sins (Jn 20^), or to exorcize e^ll spirits (Mk 6'), or to heal the sick (Mt 10*), these are secondary to the work of preaching (Mk 6*^ '^).
In f oanding this first great order in His Church, a whole night of prayer significantly precedes the all-important choice. Next day the Twtive are chosen, and after them Seventy' ior special and local service, and sent to preach repentance and the Kingdom ot God, and to heal (Mt 31^ «, Mt lOi. Lk 9i, Mt 111 ['teach and preach,' as though to indicate the true fervour which win give wings to the doctrine]). They are to lead men to rejjentance (Mk o^^ over which the joy of the angels is in- creased (Lk 15'- 1*, endmg in the parable of the Prodigal Son)u Tbey are to sow the seed of the word of life broadcast, on all soils (Lk S-i-i^) ; and the thought which wiD sustain them, even when the seed seems utterly fruitless, is that tbey are His repre- sentatives, and speak nith His authority behind tbem ('He that heareth yon heareth me,' Mt !()«>, Lk l(fi6. i», Jn 13»), fw are they not His 'servants,' and 'of his hooseh(M'?(Mt 10^ He points to one, possibly as indicating all, and says tliat upon him, ux>on the living rock of hnman foith and enthusiasm, and not upon the dead heights of Sinai or rock of Zion, wiD He build His Church (Mt 161^ That Church n-as to be distin- guished by its component members. It should reveal to the wmld a type of chancter new in the combination of its qualities and representative of tie Society's ideaL This perfect Taeaiber- ship was of the future, and not inuuediate. Even in the inner circle of Hi< associates Christ had to admit the lapses of the Bcnoeiges or of Peter ; tbey had to learn slowiy what it meant to be members of tbe Church as (Thrist conceived it. The diac^e most bear himself with an nnswervii^ attitude towards the worid, beji^ filled xnth one overmasteiii^ idea and service (Mt 631, Lk 1^3), from which be must never look back (Lk 9^ So complete is to be his obedience and devotion, that the nearest human ties must be broken if they conflict wiib this vocation (Lk 15*, Mt 103^ and entire renunciation of ' all that he hath ' become his rule (Lk 14®), though not with the impulse of a blind ^naticism, but with tbe cahn and measured reasoning of the king going to war, or the builder of a tower (Lk 14*-53) ; for calmness, trust in (lOd, absence of fretful anxiety, is the note of tbe sii^te-minded disciple (Mt 6^^. Hence he wiO need to make no daborate apol<^es for bis faith, for (?od will inspire him when the time for utterance arrives, propbecv being one of the marks of primitive disciplediip (Mt 1019 Mk 13", Lk 12"). As a soldier, he must look for hardship as his lot, expect no ready welcome everywhere, not bid the fire of heaven fall on those who heed him not (Lk 9^^X but anticipate the burden of the cross (Lk 14^ submit to be 'hated of all men for my sake (Mt 10^ feailesaly endurii^ posecotion even unto death (v.33)l As beii^ on active service, eadi member must guard against encambraiices, poaaessioBS that, aoenmnlating, hinder. If the rich young man would be a 'perfect' disciple, he must part with'that which now shares his care and att^tion (Mt 19^, Lk 1^^ : the disciple must go forth wastii^ no thought upon purse, wallet, or dothes, losing no time in mere gossip, ' saluta- tions by the way' (Lk 10*, Mk 6^, Mt lOiO). He renounces for tbe sake of his h^fa niissi<Mi, not for tbe boastful and purpose- less oontonpt of aa Esaene. His atooCneaB from possessions is consecrated by tbe lowly mafiBdty of his spirit, wfak^ already dwelliiK in tbe Eingdmn of heaven, proclaims it with the ait- lesBoesB of a Uttle dbUd (Mt ISi, Mk 9iu, U 9f^ and with the same generoos desire to share all his possessions, q»ritnal as wdl as temporal, with others (Ac 2** 4^ and the Pauline com- ment Gsd 39). He may find himself a lamb among wolves (Lk 103), but he win stiU show his disdpleship by that love of men which first commiasi<Mied him (Jn 1355). He win learn to see brothers in aU workers for good, wfaatev^ name they bear, for 'he that is not against us is for vb' (Mk 938, i^ gs^ and the ' false i»0irtiets' be wffl easily discem by their q>iritaal tmfmit- fulneas, tfaougfa tbey caU on the Name and work miracles (Mt 7^ These signs of the perfect monber of the body of Cfaiist win be the gradual outcome of the bidden inward bfe : no school can n^e it ; it will spring from the inner sincerity of devotion and character, the 'prarer, afans, fastii^' 'in secret ' of Mt 61 1«.