And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 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. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 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. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.-LUKE x. 17–22. WISE and good men have attempted to and respect wherever he went? "There present an artificial arrangement of the se- followed him great multitudes of people from veral events recorded in the history of our Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from JeruLord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or what they | salem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jorcall a Harmony of the Gospels. It is both dan." Out of those multitudes he selected a pleasing and an useful ainusement to as- first twelve, with the peculiar designation of certain the dates and to settle the order of disciples and apostles, to whom he imparted events; and labours of this kind merit high a portion of his spirit and power: "He gave commendation. But the native majesty and them authority over all devils, and to cure simplicity of Scripture stand in no need of diseases, to preach the kingdom of God, and artificial arrangement. The whole spiritual to heal the sick." Afterwards "he appointbuilding is august and venerable, and each ed other seventy, and sent them two and particular part has its peculiar beauty and two before his face into every city and place excellency. To be assured that such things whither he himself would come.' It was on were done, is of infinitely higher importance occasion of the return of those seventy, after than to determine the exact series of suc- having fulfilled their mission, and upon the cession. Every line of the history of Christ report which they made of their success, that is a radiant display of divine perfection; Jesus broke out into this holy rapture: "In every step he takes leaves an impress of be- that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I nignity behind it. It was predicted concern- thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and ing him, that he should be "a man of sor-earth, that thou hast hid these things from rows and acquainted with grief." But it was the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them likewise predicted that he should "see of the unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemtravail of his soul and be satisfied." Theed good in thy sight." Let us trace the prowords which have been read contain the access. complishment of this last prophecy. In all our affliction he was afflicted; let us weep with him: and when he "rejoices in spirit," let us also "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls." The followers of Christ had now increased to a great multitude. And need we wonder, if such doctrine, supported by such purity and dignity of character, and by such mighty works, had the power of attracting attention The evangelist records, at full length, the commission granted to those seventy, but gives us no particulars respecting their progress. These must be collected from the account which they themselves give of it. The seventy returned again with joy. Every thinking man enters on a difficult or a hazardous enterprise with very mixed emotions. He feels the consequence attached to an arduous and important station; he feels the pressure of responsibility, and the solici tude of general expectation pointed towards him. The animating stimulus of hope is repressed by the dread of miscarriage. It is a terrible thing to return foiled, disappointed, discomfited. The eve of a battle is a season of solicitude. But when the conflict is over, when success is no longer doubtful, the soul enters into a state of perfect composure. Mournful is the reflection, "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain;" but how complete is the triumph of an apostle reviewing a successful ministry, and looking forward to the glorious recompense of reward. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me in that day." Such was the triumph of the seventy, having finished their circuit of the cities of Galilee. thence will I bring them down: and though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent and he shall bite them." The great Author and Finisher of our faith asserts to himself the same divine attribute, and connects with it perpetuity of duration, in the charge which he gave to his disciples before he ascended up into heaven: "Go ye and teach all nations;" there is a claim of universal power and presence; and he adds the gracious assurance; “and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Here are omnipresence, and endless, unchanging existence united. When the viper dropped harmlessly from the apostle's hand, in the island of Melita, there was the name, the presence, and the power of Christ. When Philip, in the desert of Gaza, "preached They express peculiar satisfaction in re- Jesus" to the Ethiopian eunuch, and convertporting to their divine Master, that "even ed him to the Christian faith, there was the the devils were subject to them, through his name, the presence, and the power of Christ. name." It was matter of great joy to them, When John, in the isle that is called Patmos, that their preaching had been acceptable and "heard a great voice, saying, I am Alpha and useful; that they had been the honoured in- Omega," there was the name, the presence, struments in his hand to "heal all manner of and the power of Christ. That presence, sickness, and all manner of disease;" to pre- my brethren, we hope and trust, is in the dispose the minds of men to receive the midst of this worshipping assembly, and prekingdom of God, by healing their bodies: siding over it; is to consecrate that table and but to prevail against the great adversary those elements of bread and wine; is to who had so long tyrannized over the nations, sanctify and ennoble our communion and felleading them" captive at his will," this filled lowship. But it is not confined to this place. up the measure of their joy. At the same It is at this moment diffusing light, and life, time, they modestly disclaim all personal me- and joy over myriads of worshippers in the rit. They humbly ascribe the glory of all east, in the west, in the south, in the north. this wonderful success to the potent name of It is "the confidence of all the ends of the their almighty Lord. Jesus himself exer- earth, and of them that are afar off upon the cises underived power over universal nature. sea:"" in all places where I record my name "What a word is this!" exclaimed the asto- I will come unto thee and bless thee." nished multitudes, "for with authority and" Where two or three are gathered together power he commandeth the unclean spirits, in my name, there am I in the midst of and they come out:" but the disciples have power, and prevail only through virtue communicated to them. "Without me," says he, "ye can do nothing:" and then is the believer most strong when he rests on imparted strength. Now those disciples were speedily to be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, carrying with them the doctrine and the name, that is the wonderworking power of their Master. Wherever, therefore, virtue accompanied that name, there was Christ himself present; and of whom but of Deity can it be affirmed that he is in more than one place, in many places, in all space at once? God challenges omnipresence as his own: "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord: do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." "Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, them." This subjection of the devils to the disciples, through the name of Christ, Jesus in his reply contemplates as the beginning of Satan's complete and final overthrow, as a step toward the total subversion of his kingdom. "He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven;" "when I sent you forth armed with my commission, and furnished you with power to execute it, I saw swift destruction overtaking the destroyer. You have begun a conquest which I am proceeding to accomplish. You have subjected his mischievous agents. I shall bruise Satan himself under your feet shortly." His usurped dominion," as "the God of this world," as "the prince of the power of the air," as "the ruler of the darkness of this world," is hastening "to expire. Rooted, established as it may seem to be, it shall vanish in a moment, rapid as a flash of lightning, which disappears before it is well seen." 66 The expression is in use with both the sacred and profane authors. The downfal of the king of Babylon is, by the prophet, represented under this bold imagery: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning how art thou cut down to the ground!" The Roman orator says of Anthony, "thou hast dragged down thy colleague from heaven," and when Pompey the Great was hurled from his proud preeminence, Cicero represents him as having "fallen from the stars."" The time to favour a darkened, enslaved world was now come, and Jesus triumphs in the near prospect of the conversion of the Gentile nations "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." honourable and unspeakably grateful to be invested with authority to control evil spirits, to cure inveterate distemper, and quicken the dead, and to enjoy perfect personal security amidst snares, and dangers, and the shadow of death, to speak with tongues and instruct the ignorant. But these and other choice gifts of God have been conferred on the unworthy. Great talents are not always sanctified to the possessor. Beneficial to others they may be unprofitable or even pernicious to the man himself. He may speak with the tongues of men and of angels: he may have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge: he may have all faith so as to be able to remove mountains; he may lay out his whole estate in works of The former mission of the seventy was charity, and even submit to suffer martyrdom, limited to "the cities and places, whither he and after all remain destitute of that princihimself would come;" now their sphere is ple which alone admits into the kingdom of enlarged, and with an extended commission heaven. The magicians of Egypt performed fresh assurances are given of divine protec- wonders, but they served only to harden the tion wherever they went. "Behold I give heart against God. Balaam was a true unto you power to tread on serpents and prophet, but "he loved the wages of unscorpions, and over all the power of the righteousness:" he knew and approved the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt better course, but he deliberately persevered you." After the resurrection from the dead, in the worse. Simon had the art of bewitchan unbounded career is set before them, the ing the people of Samaria with sorceries; vast globe is spread out as the scene of ac- "to him they all gave heed, from the least tion, the whole human race, through all ages to the greatest, saying, this man is the great and generations is the grand object of the power of God." "He himself believed also, gospel ministry, and powers adequate to the and was baptized," but his "heart was not undertaking are granted. "Go ye into all right in the sight of God;" he was still "in the world, and preach the gospel to every the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of creature"-" and these signs shall follow iniquity." "Not every one that saith unto them that believe; in my name shall they me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom cast out devils; they shall speak with new of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if Father which is in heaven. Many will say they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not them they shall lay hands on the sick, and prophesied in thy name? and in thy name they shall recover." Here every obstruction have cast out devils? and in thy name done is removed, all opposition dies, every enemy many wonderful works? And then will I is subdued, and the scriptures are fulfilled, profess unto them, I never knew you: depart which say: "Every valley shall be exalted, from me, ye that work iniquity." Where and every mountain and hill shall be made God has bestowed much, he will expect low: and the crooked shall be made straight, much, and in proportion to the number and and the rough places plain:" "Thou shalt value of the gifts received is the account not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for that must be given. Who was equally the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the honoured with the apostle of the Gentiles, by pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for extraordinary communications from heaven? the destruction that wasteth at noon-day." but "it is not expedient for me," says he, "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: "to glory:" "of myself I will not glory, but the young lion and the dragon shalt thou in mine infirmities." In what then does a trample under feet." Thus was the serpent's Paul, in what does every believer chiefly rehead bruised, and the triumph of the Re-joice and glory? In the composing reflection, deemer completed. Compare spiritual things 'my name is written in the book of life." with spiritual, the commission of the great "I know whom I have believed, and I am Head of the Church with the execution of persuaded that he is able to keep that which it, the promised support of the apostles with I have committed unto him against that day." what they were enabled actually to achieve," Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown as the facts stand recorded in the book of their acts. But Jesus points out to his disciples a purer source of joy than even a grant of miracuLous powers could bestow. It was highly 66 of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Compared to this, what a poor trifle it is for a man to know that his name is in an opulent testator's will for a splendid bequest, were it even the reversion of a kingdom? This is that "peace of God which passeth all understanding, which shall keep the heart and mind through Christ Jesus, and which the world can neither give nor take away." inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay This is "the hour," the eventful hour when "Jesus rejoiced in spirit:" the hour when the great Sovereign of the universe was subjecting spiritual wickednesses to human agents, and perfecting praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings; when Having made this ascription of universal all the glories of the kingdom of heaven un- power, authority, and property to the Father, veiled themselves to his view, and the na- he represents himself as invested in an equal tions of the earth hastened into it. The extent of dominion, as sole and sovereign scenes of sorrow and suffering which must administrator of the world which he made, intervene are absorbed in contemplating the which he upholds, and which he came to blessed effects which they were to produce. redeem. "All things are delivered to me of "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and my Father." God is "Lord of heaven and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven earth." Now these two words imply all and earth, that thou hast hid these things space, with all the beings which inhabit the from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed worlds" visible and invisible, whether they them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or seemed good in thy sight." Here we behold powers." To the utmost extent of the words, our great pattern setting us the example of therefore, and of their import, the sovereignty referring every thing to God, as the first of God, Redeemer extends, and it is asserted cause and the last end of all; who acts by and ascribed neither in a single passage, his own uncontrollable, inexplicable supre- nor in doubtful terms. "All power," says macy, and with a view to his own glory. he, in another place, "is given unto me in But we are not to understand our Lord as heaven and in earth;" "authority to exegiving thanks that "the wise and prudent" cute judgment also;"" power over all flesh, were kept in a state of ignorance respecting to give eternal life." "The Father raiseth the things of God, but that while they were up the dead, and quickeneth them: even so so, while they remained under the power of the Son quickeneth whom he will. For wilful blindness, it had graciously pleased the Father judgeth no man; but hath comGod to manifest these things to the compara-mitted all judgment unto the Son; that all tively simple and illiterate. We have a si- men should honour the Son, even as they milar mode of expression, and which falls under the same mode of interpretation, in the epistle to the Romans, vi. 17, where the apostle says: "But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin;" meaning obviously, "that although, that whereas ye were the servants of sin, ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you:" So here, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that while the wise in their own conceits, and the prudent in the estimation of the world, neglect and despise the things which belong to their peace, their all-importance is discerned, felt, prized, and improved by persons, lowly in their own sight, contemptible in the eyes of men, but estimable in the eyes of Him who "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." 99 honour the Father." Now this is either mere pretension, unfounded as that of the devil over "all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them," or it is a claim of right: and who but God can support such a claim? Who but God can possess and exercise the power of quickening the dead, of executing judgment upon all, not only according to their works, but according to their most secret thoughts, and of bestowing eternal life? Is a creature, a mere man like ourselves, to be entrusted with, is he capable of managing such an empire? No; Where all power, then, is lodged, there is Deity; " in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him." Behold, Christian, and rejoice in spirit, the powers of darkness prostrate under the feet of the Prince of Peace: He "maketh his angels Jesus ascribes to the Father universality spirits, his ministers a flaming fire," and of dominion, under the title of " Lord of hea-" are they not all ministering spirits, sent ven and earth;" and he resolves all creatures and all events into divine sovereignty: "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.' "He giveth not account of any of his matters." "He doth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Behold the heathen given him for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession; "He must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet." We, my beloved brethren, are part of the all things which are delivered by the Father unto the Son; and the precious deposit is securely placed: Thine they were and thou gavest them me :-those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is "lost:" and you are going this day solemnly to deliver up yourselves to him, to be taught by his spirit, to be governed by his laws, to be protected by his arm, to be supplied by his providential care; therefore"ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." It is added, "and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." That is, the nature, excellency, and dignity of the Godhead can be known only by Deity. God is infinite in all his perfections, but in contemplating infinity all created understanding is lost. This reciprocal knowledge of the Father and of the Son is itself a mystery inscrutable, for it presents at once plurality and unity; which human reason sinks under. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." If man has been enabled to form any right notion of God, he is indebted for it to the revelation of Jesus Christ the Son of God. That revelation has unfolded God's purpose and grace, before the world began. That revelation has explained the history of Providence through ages and generations past. That revelation has disclosed an eternal duration to come, for unfolding, in endless succession, the inexhaustible treasure of the knowledge of "the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent." Every past, every present, every future discovery of the divine counsels, and of their execution, is the operation of the great light of the world; "for God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." If such were the honour and the power conferred on the twelve and on the seventy simple Galileans; if through the grace of Christ they not only exceeded the attainments of science, and the operations of art, but exercised authority over the devil and his angels, then what may not man become? What bounds shall be set to the progress of an immortal being, "the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness?" The eye of sense discerns a frail child of dust, sinking under a load of growing infirmity; "in heaviness through manifold temptations;" "through fear of death subjected to bondage." The eye of faith beholds in that same forlorn creature, one hastening unto the resurrection of the dead, about to assume a glorious body fashioned after the similitude of that of a risen and glorified Redeemer, arising "to meet the Lord in the air," triumphing over death, and "him who has the power of death," "with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, and changing into the same image from glory to glory." Christ has taught us, my brethren, to resort to the radical source of consolation; " rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." It is a pleasant and an honourable feeling to take complacency in an illustrious or even reputable descent; to reflect on the attainment of eminence of station by eminence in talent; to contemplate wealth earned by industry and fair dealing. But these, and such advantages as these are transient. They may be marred and embittered by untoward circumstances. But to meditate on an unalienable, unalterable good, running through the whole progress of duration, increasing continually in lustre and value; to think that all is the free gift of a Father, whose love is not liable to change, whose bounty is inexhaustible, whose power sustains the worlds visible and invisible, and whose existence is from everlasting to everlasting; this soothes the soul to peace, this sweetens the bitterest morsel, this quenches the flame of the fiery trial, this disarms the king of terrors. "These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars." "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels." The highest privileges which Christianity confers, and the fairest prospect which it opens, powerfully recommend the spirit of humility. Is thy name written in heaven? What hand wrote it there? Might not the hand that wrote blot it out again? Has not thy own right hand made many a dreadful attempt to erase the signature? If it has found a place on that hallowed page, if it has been permitted to remain there, if it has not in fatherly displeasure been for ever obliterated, it is all of free sovereign grace. Art thou an heir of "a kingdom which cannot be moved?" "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," have grace, whereby you may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." The highest and holiest are also the humblest of beings. With whom does "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy," delight to dwell? 66 "With him who is of a contrite and numble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." He who is most humble has the greatest similitude to his divine Master, and to be like Christ is to possess the highest glory which the creature is capable of attaining. "Lear |