happeneth and is past; the other endureth and worketh continually in their souls1." Our Redeemer knows that we are most strongly affected by the things which we see; and therefore he has chosen to exhibit himself visibly, not however in images made by human hands, such as the heathen worshipped, nor yet in sacramental symbols, the vehicles of his grace, but in the lives of his saints. These are the lively images, in which he reveals himself to mankind. It is in this way that he is still "evidently set forth," crucified among us. For this cause we are exhorted to attain unto the measure of the stature of Christ, not only that we may be perfect ourselves, but that Christ may, through us, be made known unto others.

And these remarks apply to us not merely as a nation, called to convert the heathen, but individually to every one of us, whether we be among the shepherds or the sheep of the flock, and whatever be our worldly estate and condition. We all pray that God's kingdom may come, that his will may be done in earth as it is in heaven. And each of us has opportunities afforded him, in one way or an

1

Chrys. Homil. in Rom. XVIII.; and see Neander's Life of Chrys. p. 294. (Engl. transl.)

2 Gal. iii. 1.

other, of promoting that consummation. But our prayers will be comparatively lifeless, and our opportunities will assuredly be wasted, and so far from our saving the souls of others, our own souls will be put in jeopardy, unless we labour to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things1;" in all things "approving ourselves as the ministers of God;" for such indeed we all are, or ought to be, having been called by him to be "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people3."

1 Tit. ii. 10.

22 Cor. vi. 4.

* 1 Pet. ii. 9.

LECTURE VI.

THE EFFECTS OF PERSECUTION.

MATTHEW X. 16.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of

THES

wolves.

HESE remarkable words were addressed by our Lord, on one occasion to the twelve apostles, and afterwards1 to the seventy disciples, when he sent them into the world to declare that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He made no concealment of the dangers which awaited them in the discharge of their ministry; he enumerated those dangers with a precision which mere human foresight could never have attained, and with a calmness, which betokened an almighty power, superior to the attacks of the enemy. He told them that they should be delivered up to the councils, and scourged in the synagogues, and brought before governors and kings for his sake; but that in such circumstances they should be under no concern on account of their ignorance and rudeness of speech, they would have no need to premeditate their defence, for it should be given them in that

1 Luke x. 3.

same hour what they should say. He spoke also of the domestic and social dissensions which should at first arise from the publication of the gospel of peace; how the brother should deliver the brother to death, and the father the child, and the child his parent. He declared that his own name should become a bye-word, ensuring for those who bore it the hatred of mankind. They were to be the servants of one who was himself opprobriously called Beelzebub; and the servants could not expect a better reception than that which had been given to their Lord. But that they might not be dismayed by these anticipations, he assured them, that they were followers of a Master who had overcome the world; that the death of the body was a thing by no means to be feared, since their souls could not be harmed, being held fast in his hand; and even as regards the body, he said that they who lost their life for his sake should find it, and live for ever.

66

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:" what good reason the Saviour had for giving this caution to his "little flock," the event but too clearly proved. There was, however, a prediction, delivered many ages previously by the prophet Isaiah, that under the Gospel dispensation the wolf should "dwell

with the lamb;" "the wolf and the lamb should feed together." This also has had its fulfilment, in so far as the meek and gentle spirit of the Gospel has subdued the savage and brutal passions of mankind. But this did not come to pass without a deadly struggle. The wolf did not all at once forego his wolfish nature, but tore those sheep of Christ, who of their own accord exposed themselves to his fury. Full of zeal in their Master's service, they fearlessly carried the message with which they were charged into the abodes of sin and superstition; they boldly invoked the enmity which they had been prepared to expect. All honour and reverence be to the memory of those mighty spirits, mighty with a strength that was not their own, who, whether in the former or the latter times, after asserting the truth with the wisdom of the serpent and the innocence of the dove, have sealed their testimony with their blood. The recollection of their great examples may make us painfully conscious of our own cowardice and faintness of heart; may it also elevate our spirits, and provoke us to a heavenly daring, and encourage us to remain, under our various trials, stedfast to the end.

In my last lecture, I took notice of the 'Isai. xi. 6; lxv. 25.