removal of the Lord to heaven. In fact, the ascension of the Lord Jesus was, in the Divine counsels, the condition and the occasion of the bestowal of the Holy Spirit, iz the manner and measure distinctive of the new, the Christian dispensation. He him- self had put this with great plainness before his disciples’ minds: “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.” This was a doctrinal statement of the nature of a revelation. What was the intelligible and manifest fact corresponding to it? Surely this—that the earthly mission of the Saviour being complete, the gospel was to be preached, and should be made, by a spiritual force acting on human natures, the means of awakening men to a new conscience of sin, a new yearning for holiness, a new purpose of an unselfish and unworldly life. It is no more unreasonable to attribute the fruits of the gospel to the Spirit of God, than it is to attribute human purposes to the spirit of man. It is a spiritual universe, and things material and outward actions are nothing but the garb and utterance of what is spiritual. If there be truth declared, revealed, and if there be a nature capable of receiving, feeling, responding to truth, there is one all-sufficient explanation of this wonderful and beneficent correspondence, and that is, the presence and the action of the Holy Spirit of God. The ascension of Christ changed the life of the apostles, and through them, the history of the world. 1. Now and henceforth there was an express theme for them to publish. This was the gospel, the good tidings, which only now was complete, and so divinely perfected by all that Jesus had done and suffered, that it was adapted to fulfil the purposes of Divine wisdom. Before, the disciples had directed attention to what was to come; now, to what had occurred actually and really. Christ had died for men’s sins, according to the Scriptures; he bad arisen from the dead for their justification and salvation. Around the great central facts of Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection gathered all the Divine truths which constituted the gospel. Accordingly, in the first place, the facts were related as facts abundantly attested, and as facts of interest and precious moment to all mankind. And, when these facts were believed, then they were explained, and (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit given from above) the inspired apostles taught their bearing upon the position and prospects of the sinful race of man. It should never be forgotten that our religion consists in something more than laws of life, sentiments of virtue, promises of help, hopes of immortality. In accordance with the constitution of things, all these depend upon and flow from the great central facts relating to the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Besides having a theme, the apostles of our Lord now had a commission which authorized them. They did not go unbidden, without instructions, without authority, upon this errand of mercy and blessing to mankind. He who had all power in heaven and in earth had given them their commission. He nad said “Go!” and they went; not in their own strength and wisdom, but in his. The same warrant and authentication abides with the Church of Christ throughout all the ages. The apostles were, as the name implies, those who were sent; in this respect, as distinguished from personal endowment and equipment, an apostolic mission is entrusted to the whole body of Christ’s followers to the end of time. 3.
sphere within which this commission was to be executed was world-wide. ‘Go ye into all the world,” Jesus had said, “and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” “ Make disciples of all nations.” A grand and noble design, worthy of the source whence it emanated, in the heart of him who is “ the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.” The habitable globe is the field in which the Christian missionary is called to work; for the human race is the object of Divine compassion, the destined participant in the bounty of the Divine beneficence. None, however large-hearted and compassionate, can complain that the operations of mercy and benevolence are restricted and restrained. 4. In fulfilling this commission, the heralds of Christ’s gospel were assured that they should enjoy, not only personal assistance, but the assistance involved in undoubted credentials, by which they and their message should be commended to the attention of men. (1) The Lord wrought with them. They were workers, but they were fellow-workers with him. What was to be done in the renewal of human hearts, and the transformation of human character, was not to be done by the exercise of merely human power. A Divine energy and operation were alone adequate to secure results so difficult, so glorious. (2) Signs followed. Signs, te, of a Divine presence and energy. There were such in abundance. as is evident
356 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAnK. (on. xvi 1—20
mn
from the record in the Acts of the Apostles. Signs outward, manifest, obvious to every eye, as in the case of those miracles of healing which accompanied the ministrations of the first Christian preachers. Signs of a less obtrusive, but of an even more convincing character, as in the case of those Jews who were delivered from formalism, those Gentiles who were emancipated from idolatry, those flagrant trans- gressors of the moral law who were turned from darkness unto light, and from the — service of Satan unto God. (3) Thus the Word was confirmed. Miracles, preaching, all were means to an end, and that end the establishment and extension of a spiritual kingdom. For the Word of God was no mere instrument of music to charm the ear and captivate the imagination; it was and is “the sword of the Spirit.” Its work is to conquer, to subdue, to govern; and this work it does with incomparable keenness of edge, with incomparable force and efficiency. It has been promised, “ My Word shall not return unto me void.” It has proved itself a Word of power, a Word of salvation, a Word of life.
AppiicaTion. 1. In heart, let Christ’s people ascend with their ascended Lord and Leader. “ Risen with Christ,” “set your affection upon things above.” 2. In life, let Christians seek to execute their Master’s parting commission. He has left them a trust to fulfil, a work to do; let them not be found slothful, but diligent and watch- ful. 3. In hope, let all who “love his appearing,” look forward to his return, For in like manner shall he come again, to receive his people to himself. “ Even 20, come, Lord Jesus!”
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.