59. And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

He wished to stay till his father's death. This was a plausible pretence for not setting about Christ's work immediately but the call of Jesus will admit of no delay.

:

60. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

These persons of whom Christ so speaks were worldlings, and therefore dead. Let us learn to think and speak of ourselves as Christ does.

61. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee: but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Christ is still at a word with us, and will hear of no delay, or looking back to the world. Christ's plough, like all others, requires a fixed and steady eye. Have these sayings reached thee, O minister?

SECTION XXXIV.

Chap. x. ver. 1—16.

CHRIST SENDETH OUT THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES.

1. After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Christ was, probably, now on his way to Jerusalem, where he was going for the last time. See chap. ix. 51. So He first sends his messengers, and then comes himself by his Holy Spirit. Are we looking and praying for this coming?

it is now.

2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but

the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

O how dear are souls to Christ! Pray, says he, and whatever else you pray for, pray that God would send labourers for them. How few can pray with acceptance to God? Certainly not those who do not pray heartily for their own salvation. None but those who have a portion of Christ's spirit.

3. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

This is Christ's character of mankind! Are these the creatures of whom God said, "Let us make man in our own image?" O how fallen! And they are wolves, more especially to those who tell them what they are, and put them upon the means of getting their nature changed. Here is also an admonition to those whom Christ sends, to go notwithstanding; and whatever they are, to be as lambs among them.

4. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

They had not a moment to spare, which they could afford to lose; and therefore the paying of common civilities was not innocent to them. All may learn something from hence: ministers to keep close to their work; and others to redeem all the time they can, for their souls.

5. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

That is, we pray God, that his peace may come to it.

6. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

The son of peace is a person disposed to entertain Christ's minister, and his message. On such an one, the peace which Christ's apostle comes to offer in his name shall rest. The peace which a minister of Christ offers to a house, if

not accepted, he is to take back; and leave that house, to itself. O wretched house!

7. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before

you:

9. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Know your advantage, and bless God for it. They were to say, and under those circumstances only could say, that the kingdom of God, in which he receives men to grace and favour, rules over them, and prepares them for his everlasting kingdom in heaven, by Jesus Christ, was come nigh, or coming. We live when it is come, and all is told us. O it is an important question! Am I in Christ? Am I of his kingdom, or not? Think how you can belong to it: you cannot indeed, except by your own choice, and hearty acceptance of it.

10. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

11. Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

12. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city

13. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Woe unto all persons, and places, which continue hardened under loud calls to repentance, and under powerful means of grace.

14. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

15. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

This was true of the city, either on account of its flourishing condition, or of Christ's presence and preaching. "Shalt be thrust down to hell," to the lowest depths of misery here, and of hell hereafter, for slighting its advantages. Unreformed Christians are more abominable in the sight of God, and will have a heavier doom than others.

16. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent

me.

Christ here teaches us, that he sends and speaks by his apostles. When ministers of the gospel say, Repent, and believe the gospel, the words are Christ's, and must be received as coming immediately from his mouth. Despising them is despising God and Christ. Despise Christ! Despise God! Yes; all do, till they hear, and believe; and unbelievers say in the bottom of their hearts, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." May God grant that those who never knew their guilt before, may know it now before it be too late.

SECTION XXXV.

Chap. x. ver. 17—24.

THE RETURN OF THE SEVENTY.

17. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

What can we not do for ourselves in the virtue of this all-powerful name, when we trust in that name?

18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Swift as lightning: Christ saw him fall from his power and dominion in the air, by the preaching of the gospel;

which, and which only, is Satan's destruction in every soul where it is received in truth.

19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Christ gave this power to the disciples for themselves, and for the benefit of others: and he still gives it to every one of his disciples for himself.

Nothing shall hurt Christ's ministers, in their eternal interests. Christ knew that they would be tormented, and would suffer in their bodies; but in his account, we are never hurt in our souls. Think so yourselves, and then you have Christ's knowledge.

20. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Let us inquire what is our joy? Is it to please ourselves, and to have our fill of the world, or to think that we belong to Christ, and are giving all diligence to make our calling and election sure?

21. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

own.

Let us deprecate the judgment, that this wisdom should be hid from us: if it be, the wisest must perish in their But if they do not see, it is because they will not. And, farther, it is an awakening truth, which is here conveyed to us. There is no such pity in God for the wilfully blind as we imagine. He will be glorified in them that are lost, as well as in them that are saved. Observe, that Christ thanks God for the blindness, and consequent destruction, of those who would not see.

And hast revealed them unto babes:" to those that know that they have no wisdom of their own in divine things, and who submit to be taught of God, with the sim