by showing what we have cause to dread, by showing what we are bound to love. These are the thoughts and motives which the Holy Spirit employs, and so leads the heart to a lively faith, a thankful acquiescence in the revealed word. In every age, in every country, and in every class, the love of God towards mankind as displayed in the Gospel of Christ, is the argument which "effectually works in them that believe," to "bring forth fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." And the Son of man, when crucified, effected that which he did not effect whilst present to the eyes of men, "full of grace and truth;" whilst astonishing the people by his words and by his miracles, and striking his adversaries to the ground by the majesty of his countenance. And so likewise the apostles, going forth as they were commissioned to go, and "preaching the Gospel to every creature," weak as they were, and without influence in themselves, had an argument to urge which the Lord himself could not have employed. He came "to give his life a ransom." But the ransom had not been actually paid. He had not yet "suffered, the just for the unjust, that he might bring unto God "8 those who were alienated from him by ignorance and sin.

And therefore he looks onward to the time, not far distant, when "he shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied:" when many should come from the east and from the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. He looks onward to the time, when "the promise of the Father "" should be fulfilled, and he should send the Holy Ghost to 8 1 Pet. iii. 18.

9 Luke xxiv. 49.

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open the hearts which would otherwise be closed: when, as the Israelites looked up to the brazen serpent raised by Moses in the wilderness, and as many as looked on it were healed of their wounds, so multitudes of all nations and kindreds and tongues should look towards the Son of man lifted up upon the cross, and his prophetic words should be explained by their accomplishment, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.'

"2

XVI.

THE APOSTLES COMMISSIONED.

MATT. xxviii. 16-20.

16. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17. And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.

THE apostles, who at first doubted, had been now convinced. Even Thomas acknowledged the truth which he was slow to receive, and "because he had seen, he believed." Those therefore who now doubted, were probably some of the five hundred brethren to whom, as St. Paul relates, Jesus appeared before his ascension, on some occasion not mentioned by any of

1 John iii. 14.

2 John xii. 32.

3 John xx. 24-29.

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the Evangelists. * Their doubts are our certainty. We have the satisfaction of knowing that they were not so transported with joy at the glorious event which they had not dared to expect, as to believe because they wished to believe. And though many things happened after the resurrection which have not been related, many things which we should gladly know if it had seemed good to the Holy Spirit to preserve them to us— this has been recorded, that some doubted, and could hardly be persuaded that Jesus himself stood before them.

18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;

20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

All things had been accomplished, which were to prepare for the establishment of the kingdom of Christ : his ministry, his death, his resurrection. Now the fruits were to appear; and he commissions his apostles that they go out and gather them. He had laboured, and he sends them to enter into his labours. All power, he says, is given unto me in heaven and in earth: power to send the Holy Spirit; power to convert the hearts of those who hear the word; power to assign to every man his place throughout eternity; power to bestow "the crown of righteousness" on those who, "by patient 4 1 Cor. xv. 6.

continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality." Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations ; (make disciples of them :) baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Instruct them, that there is one God and Father of all; and that "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Instruct them, that there is "one Mediator between God and man:" He is "the way, the truth, and the life:" "no man cometh unto the Father but

by him." Instruct them, that the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, will purify the hearts of all who come to God through Christ Jesus, and will enable them to "live righteously, soberly, and godly," as becometh those who are looking for a heavenly kingdom. In the name of this TRIUNE GOD baptize them that they may be born again of water and of the Holy Ghost, and being cleansed from their sins, may be renewed in the spirit of their minds. For such is the appointed entrance into the covenant which God is pleased to make with man through Jesus Christ, that as many as believe in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

A gracious encouragement attends this command. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. This was a needful promise. Without it, the apostles might naturally have felt within themselves, Who are we, that we should go and teach all nations? Who are we, that we should oppose the authority of the chief priests and magistrates, should encounter the bigotry of the Pharisees and the enmity of the Sadducees? Who are we, that, leaving our own country, we should

venture into the idolatrous world, and call upon men to give up "the vain traditions received from their fathers?" Who are we, that "the strong man armed" should yield up to us his palace and his goods, which he has so long held in undisturbed possession?

The promise which accompanied that command would alone answer those just and natural feelings. Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. I came upon this earth, to give my "life a ransom," to redeem to myself a people. And now I send forth you, and others after you, to bear the glad tidings of this salvation, to be the heralds of divine mercy, the messengers of peace; to overcome the power of Satan, not with a strong hand or a mighty arm, but with the still small voice of pardon. And certainly I will be with you, and "give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries shall be able to gainsay or to resist." The wise shall be confounded; "the scribe, the disputer, of this world shall be silent before you; they that are weak and despised shall bring to nought the things which men esteem and honour. Because "the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."5

Such was the promise to which the apostles trusted : and trusting to which, they went forth to contend against prejudice and malice, and authority and power. Trusting to this promise, a few weeks after it had been given Peter and John stood up in an assembly of their countrymen, and accused them of their wickedness in crucifying and slaying Him whom God "had sent to be a Prince and a Saviour." And what followed?

5 See 1 Cor. i. 23-25.