m. As A WORTHY SERVICE TO OTHERS. By the constitution of human society, it ts the plain foty of each to promote to the utmost of his ability the well-being of all othors. The products of industrial toil, especially of handicraft, are useful In the highest degree. Without them the comfort of large communities must be greatly impaired. He, therefore, who iB called to labour," working with his hands" the thin,., that is good, is a useful and honourable servant of his race. 1. In the lowliest sphere~ the loftiest powers are not necessarily degraded. The "Christ of God" was a "car penter." 2. In those spheres the holiest sentiments may be cherished, and the holiest character remain untarnished. 3. Whilst in them the humblest labourer may know that his toil is honoured, for it was shared by his Lord.-G. Vers. 7-13.-The apostolic commission. " The harvest truly is plenteous" and:" the labourers are few," therefore "the Lord of the harvest" would "send forth labourers into his harvest." To this end "he called unto him the twelve," and gave them the grandest commission ever entrusted to man. Let us consider that commission in- L ITS IMPOSED COJIDITIONS. 1. In company : "by two and two." Thus for mutual encouragement and help. For the heart of the strongest may fail in presence of danger difficulties, and threatened death. 2. In poverty : "He charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse." The source of their power and influence with men was thus shown to be not of earth, while no false motives were present to draw men to them. And they, the teachers of faith in God, would be the highest examples of that faith. So in simple wisdom were they to go forth, and in eTery city seeking the man that was worthy, abide with him, honouring with their prayer of peace the house that judged t.hem worthy to enter. 3. In danger: "Ail sheep in the midst of wolves" shall ye be. They whom ye go to bless will become your foes. " Up to councils " shall ye be delivered ; "in their synagogues they will scourge you ; " "before governors and kings shall ye be brought ; " "hated of all men," ye shall be persecuted from city to city. 4. Yet in safety the life exposed for truth and righteousness is not wholly undefended. " The Spirit" of the .. Father speaketh iu" them in the hour of need; the patiently enduring" shall be saved." Even if men" kill the body,'' they" are not able to kill the soul;" and the Father, with- out whom not a sparrow shall fall on the ground, watches the minutest incident of the imperilled life-" the very hairs of your head are all numbered;" while at length the con- fessor of Christ among men will be also confess before his" Father which is in heaven." Moreover, in all this" the disciple" is but" as his Master "-that Master and Lord who will reward the least service done to himself, and punish their foes as his own-that Master and Lord who declared that the life lost in his cause should be most truly found. II. ITS TRUST ; or, the terms of the commission. How grand, how honourable, how precious to the world-the world of ignorant, suffering, sinful men I " He gave them authority over the unclean spirits." "As ye go," he said (Matt. x. 7, B)," preach, heal the i;ick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils." So the great mission has for its object the removal of the evils of human life. Its foulness, its suffering, its error, its subjugation to evil, are all to be combated. Truly this was" to preach the kingdom of God " (Luke ix. 2). Happy are the subjects of so good a King I III. !Ta LIMITATION. "Not into any way of the Gentiles, not into any city of the Samaritans," but solely "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,'' may they go. So the promises to the fathers are fulfilled. Truly " God did not cast off his people which he foreknew." Truly "all the day long" did he "spread out" his "hands" even to them who "as touching the election are beloved for the fathers' sake." Yet "the time is at hand" when "even to the Gentiles also God will grant repentance unto life;" and out of them will be take "a people for his name." But, according to hie will ; the order must be observed: to "the Jew first," and, seeing he is the God of Gentiles," also to the Gentile." Yet, "let the children first be filled." IV. ITB sucCESB. "And they went out, and preached that men should repent," and they preached the gospel, and cast out devils, and healed the sick. Few and simple are these words ; yet do they declare conquests greater than armies could gain, and works of service to men that lift these labourers to a pitch of unapproachable honour. When the world is won to true wisdom, these men and their works shall be magnified aLove every other; and when the Churcl awakes to her true wisdom, she will see that <111, v1, 1-56.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MA.RK. 2i3
herein is the patt~rn for all time of the chief principlee by which.the kingdom of God i■ to be extended in the earth.-0.