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38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

We have seen, perhaps, a wide field of corn, and a solitary reaper employed in it. Then the grain is shed, and the fowls of the air devour it before it can be gathered in. Such is, too often, the case in spiritual husbandry. Compared with the ignorance, the indifference, the wants of the people, the labourers are few, and yet the harvest is plenteous; of these ignorant and careless souls, many perhaps might be reaped and gathered into the heavenly garner, if they were diligently taught and affectionately warned.

God, indeed, had provided for the Jewish people that they should be tended and instructed. He had appointed an order of priests, whose "lips should keep knowledge, and the people seek instruction from their mouth."4 But this duty had been ill discharged. Long before, the prophet had received a command from God; 5 "Son of man, prophecy Israel, prophecy and say

against the shepherds of unto them; Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost: but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd:

4 Mal. ii. 7.

5 Ezek. xxxiv. 2-6.

and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill ; yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them."

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Such a state might well excite the compassion of Him, who was indeed "the good shepherd:" who came to seek and to save them that were lost," not to leave them in their wretchedness: and who was foretold under the same lowly image, as one who "should feed his flock like a shepherd; and gather the lambs in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." And going forth under his command, and following his example, St. Paul describes a practice very different from that of the priests and Levites rebuked by Ezekiel: when he appealed to "the elders of the church," "Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you both publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. For I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. Therefore watch, and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every man night and day with tears.”

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest: such labourers as faithful to their trust, shall "feed and provide for the Lord's family: shall seek for Christ's

6 Isa. xl. 16.

7 Acts xx. 17-31.

sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this sinful world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever." 8

LECTURE XLIV.

APPOINTMENT OF THE TWELVE.

MATT. X. 1-15.

1. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.1

2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother : James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

2

3. Philip and Bartholomew: Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaus; and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddeus: 3

4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.

6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

• Ordination Service.

1 See Luke x. 3-16.

2 Bartholomew is supposed to be the same as he whom St. John mentions under the name of Nathanael.-John i. 43-46.

3 Elsewhere called Jude, or Judas.

In accordance with what the Lord said to the Canaanitish woman, "I am not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, *—in accordance with what Paul said afterwards to his countrymen at Antioch, 5 "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken unto you :"-so now, in the will and providence of God, the word of God must first be spoken to these lost sheep; that as many as would listen to the call of the great Shepherd, might return to the fold and be saved. God "remembered his mercy, and helped his servant Israel, as he promised to their forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever." "" 6

It may be a useful warning, to consider who these lost sheep were. They were living in Judea; were Jews by circumcision and by profession, and probably reckoned themselves exclusively the people of God, secure in his favour. But in the mind and language of the Lord, they were lost sheep; as much lost, as if they were no longer within the fold; and needed that the shepherd should go after and recover them.

This may justly teach Christians to beware. Their outward privileges now, were then the outward privileges of the Jews: to them "pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the promises;" still let them beware; let them "examine themselves, whether they be in the faith;" whether they are living the life of faith; or whether He, whom they acknowledge as their Lord, as the Jews acknowledged Jehovah-if he were again on

4 Ch. xv. 24.

6 Luke i. 54.

5 Acts xiii. 46.

7 Rom ix. 4.

earth, would speak of them as lost, and find it needful to commission his apostles to restore them.

7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

9. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass, in your purses.

10. Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his

meat.

11. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

12. And when ye come into an house, salute it.

13. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to

you.

14. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

15. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

This passage enables us to understand the manner in which the minds of the people were to be awakened to the message of the gospel. The apostles were to visit whatever place might seem fittest for the purpose, and inquire, who in it was worthy : who, among the inhabitants, by his general character and attention to religion, was likely to receive one who came "in the name of the Lord." Here they were to preach, saying, The kingdom

See Neh. v. 12.

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