to bring new tidings to the people's ears, but only to call their attention to the truth which had already been extensively circulated throughout the land.]
But in the execution of their commission, they were restricted to the house of Israel —
[They were " not to go into the way of the Gentiles, or to enter into any city of the Samaritans," but to give an ex- clusive attention to " the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The Jews, though professing to belong to God, were really " lost sheep," having gone astray from him, and wandered far from his fold.
But whence arose this restriction, and this extraordinary partiality towards the Jewish people ? It arose, I apprehend, partly from the relation in which they stood to God, and partly from the very tidings themselves ivhich were at that time to be proclaimed.
The Jews were God's peculiar people, with wliom he had entered into covenant, and who had been consecrated to him by the sacred rite of circumcision. They were regarded by God as "his first-born ;" who were therefore entitled to a priority in every thing which related to their Father's inherit- ance. Besides, they had been taught to expect the Messiah to be born among them, descended, like them, from Abraham, and of the family of David, whose throne he was destined to inherit. To them, therefore, the tidings would be welcome : and when he should have been received by them who were best capable of judging of his pretensions to the Messiahship, he might with greater propriety and credibility be commended to the Gentiles as their Saviour also: whereas, if he should be in the first instance proclaimed as a Saviour to the Gentiles, a suspicion might naturally arise, in the minds of those to whom he was proclaimed, that he was unwarrantably obtruded upon them, and that his title to that august character would not stand the test of careful inquiry.
In addition to this, it had been foretold, that " the law should go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusa- lem"^ ; and, consequently, the Gospel must first be established there, in order that it might proceed from thence. Hence, even after our Lord's resurrection, it was enjoined on the Apostles to preach the Gospel, "beginning at Jerusalem'':" and though the restriction before referred to was then withdrawn, a priority was still reserved to God's ancient peojDle ; " salvation being intended for the Jew first, and then for the Gentile ^"]
With thankfulness to God, we now proceed to notice,
<= Isai. ii. 3. <> Luke xxiv. 47. "^ Rom. i. 16.
1341.] THE LIMITED COMMlSSIOxN OF THE APOSTLES. 809
II. The liberty accorded to us —
The tidings which we are commissioned to declare are more full and complete than those which the Apostles were then authorized to announce —
\_They could declare only that " the kingdom of heaven was at hand :" but we proclaim, that it is actually established ; that the Lord Jesus Christ has vanquished all the powers of darkness, " triumphing over them openly upon his cross V' and, in his ascension, " leading captivity itself captive s." He is now enthroned at the right hand of God ; and will, in due sea- son, " put all enemies under his feet." True it is, that though his kingdom is at present but very limited, it shall be extended over the face of the globe, and all the kingdoms of the world be comprehended under it'\ This we, no less than the Apostles, are authorized to declare: and whilst our authority is the same,]
Our commission is far more extended than theirs —
[Wherever there is a lost sheep, whether amongst Jews or Gentiles, there are we at liberty to invite the perishing creature to the good Shepherd, and to bring him home to the fold of God. The commission given to us is, to "go into all the world, and to preach the Gospel to every creature :" and wherever there is a rebel against God, we may call upon him to lay down his arms, and to submit to the gentle yoke of Jesus, who is " King of kings, and Lord of lords." Nay more : we are authorized to assure every sinner under heaven, that if only he come to Jesus, " he shall in no wise be cast out." Cast out, do I say? He shall, from being an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, however far he may have been from God, he shall be brought nigh by the blood of Christ' : and, from being a " stranger and a foreigner, he shall be a fellow-citizen with the saints, and of the household of God'^." There is not a blessing enjoyed by any subject of the Redeemer's kingdom, which shall not be freely imparted unto him : and not in this world only, but also in the world to come. Every subject of the Redeemer's kingdom shall himself be made a king. He must fight indeed as " a good soldier of Jesus Christ :" but victory shall surely be secured to him ; and, hav- ing overcome his spiritual enemies, he shall be a partaker of his Savioui"'s glory, and " sit down with him upon his throne, even as he also overcame and is set down with his Father upon his throne." Such is the kingdom of God, as it was preached by St. PauP; and to a participation of it I invite every soul that hears me this day.] ..