sent an angel to inform Cornelius where he might find a minister competent to instruct him; and at the same time gave Peter repeated visions for the purpose of removing his religious scruples, and an audible voice from heaven, also, to authorize his going to a man that was uncircumcised. But what need was there of all these various operations? Why should not the angel declare the Gospel to Cornelius, instead of telling him where to send for a human instructor ? God had revealed other things by angels : and why should he not this ? The reason was, that, having ordained an established ministry, he would put honour on that ministry, and accomplish his purposes in that way which was best suited to the necessities of fallen man. In the case of the Ethiopian Eunuch, God did not use even his own revealed word for his conversion, without the intervention and ministry of Philip, whom he sent on pur- pose to instruct the inquiring student : and, in like manner, he sent Peter now, because he would have all to seek instruction through the instrumentality of those whom he himself had ordained to that high office. Let none, then, despise the ministry of the word, as though it might be dispensed with, or from a conceit that they can edify themselves to more advan- tage at home ; for " the Gospel is God's treasure, though it be in earthen vessels1;" and they only can hope to be enriched by it, who will receive it in God's appointed way. The waters of Jordan had no more intrinsic power than those of Abana and Pharpar : it was God's blessing alone that rendered them available for the curing of Naaman's leprosy : and it is that blessing also, which will alone prevail for the healing of our souls: and, if we will not seek that blessing in the channel where alone God has ordained it to flow, we shall in vain hope to obtain it through any other medium. To confirm this truth, Cornelius was ordered to send thirty or forty miles for Peter, to instruct him : and I hesitate not to say, that, as his labour was well repaid by the ministry of that holy man, so the labour of this blessed Apostle was richly recompensed by the success with which it was attended. And I may further say, that all the labour and expense attending either the stated ministry of the word, or the establishment of missions to heathen lands, are unworthy of a thought, in comparison of the benefits obtained by themm.]
2. The light in which ministers and hearers should regard each other —
[The particular process by which Peter and Cornelius
1 2 Cor. iv. 7.
m Here the blessings of a stated ministry might be set forth, or the importance of missions, as the case might require.
c c 2