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praise　of　the　glory　of　His　grace；　when　supported　by　a　Christ…like　life；　have　an　irresistible　power　that　works　for　the　salvation　of　souls。

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When　the　ten　lepers　came　to　Jesus　for　healing；　He　bade　them　go　and　show　themselves　to　the　priest。　On　the　way　they　were　cleansed；　but　only　one　of　them　returned　to　give　Him　glory。　The　others　went　their　way；　forgetting　Him　who　had　made　them　whole。　How　many　are　still　doing　the　same　thing！　The　Lord　works　continually　to　benefit　mankind。　He　is　ever　imparting　His　bounties。　He　raises　up　the　sick　from　beds　of　languishing；　He　delivers　men　from　peril　which　they　do　not　see；　He　commissions　heavenly　angels　to　save　them　from　calamity；　to　guard　them　from　〃the　pestilence　that　walketh　in　darkness〃　and　〃the　destruction　that　wasteth　at　noonday〃　（Ps。　91：6）；　but　their　hearts　are　unimpressed。　He　has　given　all　the　riches　of　heaven　to　redeem　them；　and　yet　they　are　unmindful　of　His　great　love。　By　their　ingratitude　they　close　their　hearts　against　the　grace　of　God。　Like　the　heath　in　the　desert　they　know　not　when　good　cometh；　and　their　souls　inhabit　the　parched　places　of　the　wilderness。

It　is　for　our　own　benefit　to　keep　every　gift　of　God　fresh　in　our　memory。　Thus　faith　is　strengthened　to　claim　and　to　receive　more　and　more。　There　is　greater　encouragement　for　us　in　the　least　blessing　we　ourselves　receive　from　God　than　in　all　the　accounts　we　can　read　of　the　faith　and　experience　of　others。　The　soul　that　responds　to　the　grace　of　God　shall　be　like　a　watered　garden。　His　health　shall　spring　forth　speedily；　his　light　shall　rise　in　obscurity；　and　the　glory　of　the　Lord　shall　be　seen　upon　him。　Let　us　then　remember　the　loving…kindness　of　the　Lord；　and　the　multitude　of　His　tender　mercies。　Like　the　people　of　Israel；　let　us　set　up　our　stones　of　witness；　and　inscribe　upon　them　the　precious　story　of　what　God　has　wrought　for　us。　And　as　we　review　His　dealings　with　us　in　our　pilgrimage；　let　us；　out　of　hearts　melted　with　gratitude；　declare；　〃What　shall　I　render　unto　the　Lord　for　all　His　benefits　toward　me？　I　will　take　the　cup　of　salvation；　and　call　upon　the　name　of　the　Lord。　I　will　pay　my　vows　unto　the　Lord　now　in　the　presence　of　all　His　people。〃　Ps。　116：12…14。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　37

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　First　Evangelists


The　apostles　were　members　of　the　family　of　Jesus；　and　they　had　accompanied　Him　as　He　traveled　on　foot　through　Galilee。　They　had　shared　with　Him　the　toils　and　hardships　that　overtook　them。　They　had　listened　to　His　discourses；　they　had　walked　and　talked　with　the　Son　of　God；　and　from　His　daily　instruction　they　had　learned　how　to　work　for　the　elevation　of　humanity。　As　Jesus　ministered　to　the　vast　multitudes　that　gathered　about　Him；　His　disciples　were　in　attendance；　eager　to　do　His　bidding　and　to　lighten　His　labor。　They　assisted　in　arranging　the　people；　bringing　the　afflicted　ones　to　the　Saviour；　and　promoting　the　comfort　of　all。　They　watched　for　interested　hearers；　explained　the　Scriptures　to　them；　and　in　various　ways　worked　for　their　spiritual　benefit。　They　taught　what　they　had　learned　of　Jesus；　and　were　every　day　obtaining　a　rich　experience。　But　they　needed　also　an　experience　in　laboring　alone。　They　were　still　in　need　of　much　instruction；　great　patience　and　tenderness。　Now；　while　He　was　personally　with　them；　to　point　out　their　errors；　and　counsel　and　correct　them；　the　Saviour　sent　them　forth　as　His　representatives。

While　they　had　been　with　Him；　the　disciples　had　often　been　perplexed　by　the　teaching　of　the　priests　and　Pharisees；　but　they　had　brought　their　perplexities　to　Jesus。　He　had　set　before　them　the　truths　of　Scripture　in　contrast　with　tradition。　Thus　He　had　strengthened　their　confidence　in　God's　word；　and　in　a　great　measure　had　set　them　free　from　their　fear　of　the　rabbis　and　their　bondage　to　tradition。　In　the

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training　of　the　disciples　the　example　of　the　Saviour's　life　was　far　more　effective　than　any　mere　doctrinal　instruction。　When　they　were　separated　from　Him；　every　look　and　tone　and　word　came　back　to　them。　Often　when　in　conflict　with　the　enemies　of　the　gospel；　they　repeated　His　words；　and　as　they　saw　their　effect　upon　the　people；　they　rejoiced　greatly。

Calling　the　twelve　about　Him；　Jesus　bade　them　go　out　two　and　two　through　the　towns　and　villages。　None　were　sent　forth　alone；　but　brother　was　associated　with　brother；　friend　with　friend。　Thus　they　could　help　and　encourage　each　other；　counseling　and　praying　together；　each　one's　strength　supplementing　the　other's　weakness。　In　the　same　manner　He　afterward　sent　forth　the　seventy。　It　was　the　Saviour's　purpose　that　the　messengers　of　the　gospel　should　be　associated　in　this　way。　In　our　own　time　evangelistic　work　would　be　far　more　successful　if　this　example　were　more　closely　followed。

The　disciples'　message　was　the　same　as　that　of　John　the　Baptist　and　of　Christ　Himself：　〃The　kingdom　of　heaven　is　at　hand。〃　They　were　to　enter　into　no　controversy　with　the　people　as　to　whether　Jesus　of　Nazareth　was　the　Messiah；　but　in　His　name　they　were　to　do　the　same　works　of　mercy　as　He　had　done。　He　bade　them；　〃Heal　the　sick；　cleanse　the　lepers；　raise　the　dead；　cast　out　devils：　freely　ye　have　received；　freely　give。〃

During　His　ministry　Jesus　devoted　more　time　to　healing　the　sick　than　to　preaching。　His　miracles　testified　to　the　truth　of　His　words；　that　He　came　not　to　destroy　but　to　save。　His　righteousness　went　before　Him；　and　the　glory　of　the　Lord　was　His　rearward。　Wherever　He　went；　the　tidings　of　His　mercy　preceded　Him。　Where　He　had　passed；　the　objects　of　His　compassion　were　rejoicing　in　health；　and　making　trial　of　their　new…found　powers。　Crowds　were　collecting　around　them　to　hear　from　their　lips　the　works　that　the　Lord　had　wrought。　His　voice　was　the　first　sound　that　many　had　ever　heard；　His　name　the　first　word　they　had　ever　spoken；　His　face　the　first　they　had　ever　looked　upon。　Why　should　they　not　love　Jesus；　and　sound　His　praise？　As　He　passed　through　the　towns　and　cities　He　was　like　a　vital　current；　diffusing　life　and　joy　wherever　He　went。

The　followers　of　Christ　are　to　labor　as　He　did。　We　are　to　feed　the　hungry；　clothe　the　naked；　and　comfort　the　suffering　and　afflicted。　We　are　to　minister　to　the　despairing；　and　inspire　hope　in　the　hopeless。　And　to　us　also　the　promise　will　be　fulfilled；　〃Thy　righteousness　shall　go　before　thee；　the　glory　of　the　Lord　shall　be　thy　rearward。〃　Isa。　58：8。　The　love　of　Christ；　manifested　in　unselfish　ministry；　will　be　more　effective　in　reforming　the　evildoer　than　will　the　sword　or　the　court　of

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justice。　These　are　necessary　to　strike　terror　to　the　lawbreaker；　but　the　loving　missionary　can　do　more　than　this。　Often　the　heart　will　harden　under　reproof；　but　it　will　melt　under　the　love　of　Christ。　The　missionary　cannot　only　relieve　physical　maladies；　but　he　can　lead　the　sinner　to　the　Great　Physician；　who　can　cleanse　the　soul　from　the　leprosy　of　sin。　Through　His　servants；　God　designs　that　the　sick；　the　unfortunate；　those　possessed　of　evil　spirits；　shall　hear　His　voice。　Through　His　human　agencies　He　desires　to　be　a　Comforter　such　as　the　world　knows　not。

The　disciples　on　their　first　missionary　tour　were　to　go　only　to　〃the　lost　sheep　of　the　house　of　Israel。〃　If　they　had　now　preached　the　gospel　to　the　Gentiles　or　the　Samaritans；　they　would　have　lost　their　influence　with　the　Jews。　By　exciting　the　prejudice　of　the　Pharisees　they　would　have　involved　themselves　in　controversy　which　would　have　discouraged　them　at　the　outset　of　their　labors。　Even　the　apostles　were　slow　to　understand　that　the　gospel　was　to　be　carried　to　all　nations。　Until　they　themselves　could　grasp　this　truth　they　were　not　prepared　to　labor　for　the　Gentiles。　If　the　Jews　would　receive　the　gospel；　God　purposed　to　make　them　His　messengers　to　the　Gentiles。　Therefore　they　were　first　to　hear　the　message。

All　over　the　field　of　Christ's　labor　there　were　souls　awakened　to　their　need；　and　hungering　and　thirsting　for　the　truth。　The　time　had　come　to　send　the　tidings　of　His　love　to　these　longing　hearts。　To　all　these　the　disciples　were　to　go　as　His　representatives。　The　believers　would　thus　be　led　to　look　upon　them　as　divinely　appointed　teachers；　and　when　the　Saviour　should　be　taken　from　them　they　would　not　be　left　without　instructors。

On　this　first　tour　the　disciples　were　to　go　only　where　Jesus　had　been　before　them；　and　had　made　friends。　Their　preparation　for　the　journey　was　to　be　of　the　simplest　kind。　Nothing　must　be　allowed　to　divert　their　minds　from　their　great　work；　or　in　any　way　excite　opposition　and　close　the　door　for　further　labor。　They　were　not　to　adopt　the　dress　of　the　religious　teachers；　nor　use　any　guise　in　apparel　to　distinguish　them　from　the　humble　peasants。　They　were　not　to　enter　into　the　synagogues　and　call　the　people　together　for　public　service；　their　efforts　were　to　be　put　forth　in　house…to…house　labor。　They　were　not　to　waste　time　in　needless　salutations；　or　in　going　from　house　to　house　for　entertainment。　But　in　every　place　they　were　to　accept　the　hospitality　of　those　who　were　worthy；　those　who　would　welcome　them　heartily　as　if　entertaining　Christ　Himself。　They　were　to　enter　the　dwel