of the love that ia Reeking them; t.o hold before their gaze the reality of a kingdom which is, not a name in a book, not a Utopia of priest or poet, but a li-ving fnct, a kingdom vrhich "1s not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the lloly Ghost,"-this is the burden of the preaching-the free giving of that whick they have freely received. Condition tlw third: "Willingly, wholly, give yourselves to the work, trusting in the Lord whose it is." The pith of the Master's charge is, Bo not anxious &s to worldly provision-• purse, scrip, shoes.' Confer not with flesh and blood. Lo I I have sent you." Let us distinguish between the letter and the spirit, To act on the mere letter, in the conditions of nineteenth-century civilization, would be fanaticism. "The sterility of missionary labour," writes Dr. Farrar, "is a constant snbject of regret and discouragement among us. Would it be so if all our missions were carried out in this wise and conciliatory, in this simple and self-abandoning, in this faithful and dauntless spirit? Was a missionary ever unsuccessful who, being enabled by the grace of God to li,e in the light of such precepts as ·these, worked 8f St. Pan! worked, or Francis Xavier, or Henry Martyn, or .Adoniram Judson, or John Eliot, or Da.id Schwartz?" Undoubtedly not; yet, are Christian people to demand o1 missionaries whai they are not, in some measure, practisiug themselves? .Are !hey to insist that the missionary shall have all the self-denial whilst they take all the ease? Is it not better for each person to aim at levellicg up to the mark required of the mis- sionary? to ask what his or her Christianity amounts t.o? what is given for it? what lh'ing, working force is in it? what of self-sacrifice is really prompted by it? Oh for a more heroic trust in the King, and devotion to the kingdom I "Lord, here am I." And rondition the last: "Your whole conduct in the discharge of your mission is to be marked by courtesy." "Into whatsclever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house" (eh. x. 5). First-before the character of its inmates is declared. The house is the home of men and women. No matter what it may prove to be, it is to be treated with respect. Christ's disciples are to be pre-eminent for the kindly courtesies which are the beauty of Eastern life. Contrast the sketch in the Book of Ruth, of Boaz coming to the reapers, "The Lord be with you," and the reapers answering, "The Lord be with thee;" with the picture of our worlds of capital and labour, each too often adc.ressing the other in tones suspicious, if not defiant. .All that is rude and bitter in speech and thought should be alien to the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. 'l'here is a time to be firm. "The wisdom which cometh from ahove is first pnre, then peaceable." He who commands the gracious politeness tells the seventy that a;;ainst the city which will not receive them, they are to testify, •• 'l'he very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off arainst you." But first, and always, let the Cliristian see that the name of gentleman is not, in service for Christ, soiled by any "ignoble use." So much for the nature and con<litions of Christian ministry, Note, in conclusion: 1. The twelve and the seventy go in the strength of the Lord God, They are solemnly &iipointed to the work. God is a God of order; and ordinance is always honoured . .But, with the ordination, they receive the power; and the power is in Christ for tbrm, and from Christ into them. Let us recollect that Christ is risen. He bas received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost. 'l'he Church is his body-" the fulne~s of him who filleth all in all." 'l'be ~trength which inspired apostle and evangelist in the first days is waiting for all who will to serve the Lord. 2. Tl,e seventy are sent, two and two, before his/ace. Economy and helpfulness in ministry are thus secured. 'l'he vrder of the "two and two" in the ranks of the apostles is given hy St. Matthew- Sirnou and Andrew, Jame~ and John, Philip and Ihrtbolomew, Thomas and Matthew, James and Jude, Simon and the son of Carioth. By some law of affinity these com- 1,;mi on ships were formed. In the Church there are alliances also, For two are better than one, and mutual sympathy and tenderness are Christ's rule,
Ch. iL 10-23 and eh. x. 11-24.-Utterances on the return of the twelve, and of the ,eventy. These pa.,;,;acres are separated by an interval of time. But as the missions of ! l,e apostles and of the seventy were considered together, I.racing in them the great laws aud 1,rinciples of Christian miuistry, so let us connect the utterancPs called forth l,y il,e repur1s of the two companies, tracing in them the expression of all that is to be UwHL vividly realized by those who yicid to the comIUand, "Go work to-tlay iu my on. x. 1-42.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 2Pl