Messiahship; not a summary of his doctrine; neither a creed nor a sermon; but,—“Go and show John those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."* He announced a mission to the poor, to the infirm, the diseased, and the dying; and yet the missionary was so poor himself, he had not where to lay his head. Of this world's goods it does not appear that he had any. The chosen assistants of his ministry were selected not only from among the poor, but from among those engaged in the humblest and most despised employments. They were ignorant and unlearned men, and were even readily recognised to be such after the resurrection of Christ.f That they had high qualifications or aptness for the duties to which they were called, we cannot doubt, for they were chosen by that

* Matt. xi. 3, 4, 5.

† Acts iv. 13.

discrimination which never errs: and yet that fitness did not consist in clearness of apprehension nor powers of intellect; for it is apparent that some of these disciples did not comprehend many of their Master's plainest teachings until after his crucifixion. Under these instructions they made almost no progress in theology: their labours, like those of their master, were works of exhortation and charity. The personal efforts of Christ being chiefly among the poor, his instruments were chosen for that purpose. The Love of God, and the Love of Man, are the keys of all his doctrines, and the text of his life and labours. He came to the poor, because they were the most numerous, the most suffering, the most humble, the most helpless, and the most`ignorant. He regarded the poor as the most hopeful, because least wedded to this world. Not only so, but he taught that the door of poverty was the safest way to heaven. "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to

go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."* He taught that those who trust in riches must give up that trust, which is selfishness, and become "poor in spirit," before they can enter the kingdom of heaven. He never wearied in affording succour, consolation, and instruction to the poor. He exhorted them to lay up for themselves treasures in heaven, and not upon earth. He encouraged them-" Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore ye are of more value than many sparrows."+ He taught that the widow's mite was more than all the offerings of the rich. How beautifully did his life illustrate this lesson!" Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, neither for the body, what ye shall put on. Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap: which

Mark x. 23-25.

† Luke xii. 6, 7.

have neither store-house nor barn; and God feedeth them. How much more are ye better than the fowls ?"-" Consider the lilies how they grow they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, 0 ye of little faith."*

His miraculous power was chiefly exerted in behalf of the poor, in healing diseases, casting out devils, in feeding the hungry, in calming the tempest. His parables of the Prodigal Son, and the Good Samaritan, touchingly enforce our duty to the destitute and forsaken. But whilst his mission and ministrations were chiefly among the poor, the rich and the great, were not forgotten, but were also objects of solicitude. His warnings to them are solemn and awful. For their sakes his parable of Lazarus the beggar, who died in the street,

* Luke xii. 22-28.

covered with sores, and went to Abraham's bosom, institutes a dialogue between an inhabitant of heaven, and one in the regions of eternal despair, in which the rich are plainly told, that if they will not believe Moses and the prophets, neither would they believe though one rise from the dead to warn them. To the rich ruler, who had kept all the commandments from his youth up, Christ said, "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."* Our Lord did not by this teach that there should be no individual property, or that goods should be in common. The special instruction was for the particular man. His general doctrine is, "How hardly shall they that trust in riches enter into the kingdom of God! But what is impossible with man, is possible with God." He that trusts in riches cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Every disciple of Christ must be God's steward,

* Luke xviii. 22. Mark x. 21.