Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-03-23

en- Text, Luke Il. s-Cominentary by tina
Rev. ID. M. stearns.
1. After these things the Lord appoint
ed other seventy also and sent them two
and two before His face into every city and
place, whittier He Himself would come. "
Again, as on former occasions, we choose
without hesitation the missionary lesson,
believing that the great business OF every
saved soul Is to live TO make known the
love OF God to sinners as far as possible
and as quickly as possible, throughout the
whole world, thus helping to answer our
continual prayer, Thy kingdom come"
For the time OF the kingdom when the
will OF God shall be done on earth as In
Heaven cannot come until the King shall
return, as may be clearly seen from the
portion following last weeks lesson (Luke
xix, IL, 12). Jesus had previously sent
out the ls. suggestive OF a sufficient testi-
mony for the 10 tribes of Israel Now He
sends 20, suggestive Of sufficient tosti-
mony for all the world, for the nations
which peopled the earth after the doluge
were 20. as In Gen. <, and the church,
which is His body, to be completed before
the national salvation Of Israel, Is to be
gathered from all nations. The Lord APP
pointed these messengers and unless He
appoints the messengers always they will
run In vain.
2. Therefore said He unto them: The
harvest truly is great, but the laborers are
few. Pray We therefore the Lord of the har-
vest, that He would send forth laborers
into His harvest" Compare John Nv, 80,
where He said on another occasion that
the fields were white to the harvest. In
d - hn aaad2 o
laborers, and we are to pray the Lord to
send them forth, which implies readi-
ness to be sent ourselves, for the 12 (Math.
*, 81, 8S) as well rs the 20, who were
taught to pray thus, were all sent forth
themselves. What an indescribable honor
to be privileged to be n laborer with God
Il Cor fiji, %, yet what multitudes Of
saved people, ut least OF protesting Chris
tians, seem to think that salvation means
that they are saved from hell and made sure
Of heaven, and that is all. The thought
Of laboring with God TO save Others does
not enter their minds.
8. go your ways. Behold send You
forth as lambs among wolves" So He
said also to the 10 (Math. K, 16). Observe
the words II send you" and compare
John XIX, 81; xvii, IS, with Jer. 1, 2, s.,
and let every believer appropriate the mes
sage to jeremiah along with Elk. iv, ~.
and say with Isaiah, Here am /; send
me" lisa. vi, 81. Notice the realities to
which He calls their attention, Lambs
among wolves, plainly I, ing them what
to expect, or, as He said even moro plainly
to the 10, Fear not them which kill the
body" (Math. K, 2S). The night before He
was cruciled He told them that they
would be put out of the synagogue and
even slain for His names sake.
4. Garry neither purse nor slip nor
shoes, and salute no man by the way. F"
They are not to give anxious thought to
temporal things, but be sure that IL they
are faithful to Him He will see to them,
as He said and is still saying in Math. vi,
8S, that II we make His kingdom and His
righteousness our first concern He will see
that we have food and raiment. Neither
are we to give time and thought to the
fashionable formalities of life, but let dead
people see to dead things luke TX, COZ. Let
the dead in sins give their time to the
things that are not of God, but let those
who have life In Christ be wholly for Him
and the things Of His kingdom.
8. "And into whatsoever house We enter
first say, Peace be to this house." He who
sent them was tho Prince of Peace lisa. TX,
81. When He came as babe in Bethle-
hem, the angels sang, GLORY to God In
the highest, and on earth peace" duke
ii, lad. When He stood in the midst Of
them the first night after the resurrection,
His greeting was 'peace be unto you"
duke xiv, 86), and His last gift to them
before He died was His peace John xiv,
a7).
6. "And II the Son of peace be there
your peace shall rest upon 1t; II not, IL
shall turn 10 you again" Jesus has made
peace through the blood of His cross, and
all who are far off and without God and
hope may be made nigh through Him who
is ready and willing to be their peace Col.
1, 20; Eph. II, IS, lad. 1t is the high priv
ilege of every believer Co go forth in His
name or send forth, preaching peace by
Jesus Christ and proclalming in His name
the forgiveness of sins to all who will re-
ceive Him (Acts x, 49, xiii. 3s, 800. 1t is
ours TO make the proclamation; IL is His
to see to the results. The preachers will
be unto God sweet SAVIOR of Christ In
them that are saved and in them that per-
ish (II Cor. II, 15). We can offer Christ
to all; that is our part. God will out of
those who are called complete the body OF
Christ
z. And In the same house remain, eat
ing and drinking such things as they give.
for the laborer Is worthy of his hire GO
not from house TO house." 1t is all right
to go from house to house preaching the
word as Paul did (Acts Xxx. S0), but 1t Ia
not the mind of Christ to roam from house
to house for the sake Of eating and drink
ing, for 1.-THE kingdom of God is not meat
and drink. but righteousness and peace
and joy In the Holy Ghost from. xiv,
I'D. Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word OF God (Luke iy, ~.
and IL Is possible to esteem the words of
His mouth more than our daily food (Job
xiii, lS). John the Baptist was content
with locusts and wild honey, and when
the food Of Jesus Himself is mentioned we
read only of bread and fish and honey
comb.
8. And into whatsoever city We enter,
and they receive you, eat such things as
are set before you" No such thing as
asking help from those who viii mot re-
ceive you. What . strange sight IL isl
might safely say, what a monstrous thing.
what q dishonor to God, to see the chill
dren Of God going to those who are the en-
emies of God for help to carry on the work
Of Godi
Q. And heal the sick that are therein
and say unto them. The kingdom Of God
Ia come nigh unto you. Instead Of going
as beggars, they were 70 go MS royal givers,
giving health and peace and Joy to all who
were willing to receive them God gave
His Son; the Son gave Himself; both have
given the spiriti the Trinity give as al
things richly to enjoy and commission M
70 60 In the mighty name Of jesus and lie
the almnnprs OF their bcunfies to all whom