change in

way imply a to re- the constitheir tution of

the Mis

estate;

where they are alluded to in such a as, to a superficial reader, might seem peal them, and to substitute others in room it is as follows-" And he said unto sionary them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they answered, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.' If this passage referreth to the same object as the other, viz. the propagation of the kingdom of Christ, it doth make a remarkable alteration indeed; not only permitting the help of purse, and provisions of life, but also of instruments. of war; and while it gives a permission to the two former, makes the latter indispensable, requiring the Missionary, who is without a sword, to sell his garment to buy one. This but is availthe crusaders fulfilled to the letter, who con- end only to verted all their property into steel and armed the crumen, and went forth in panoply to spread the Gospel of peace. But as no one in these timest is disposed to fit out such an evangelical armainent, all confessing it to be against the spirit. and the letter of the Gospel, no use can be made of this passage to invalidate any part of the other. It cannot be in part taken and in part rejected. The mercenary spirit of these times will not lay hold of the purse and scrip, while they deny to the crusader the sword which is made peremptory, while the others are but licensed. So that we might dismiss the passage

able for that

saders.

The true intention of that passage,

as totally inapplicable to the propagation of the kingdom, and leave the man who useth it against the argument of this discourse, to deliver himself from the dilemma into which he brings himself, of converting every Christian Mission into a Crusade. But, that we may carry along with us as much conviction as possible, we shall interrupt our course for a moment to explain the true intention of our Saviour in this remarkable passage, which we have seen strangely employed both by the enemies and the friends of his cause.

It was spoken to the eleven after the institution of the supper, immediately before they arose and retired to the Garden of Gethsemane, where our Lord was straightway betrayed into the hands of his enemies; being the last words which he uttered to them before the hour and the power of darkness had the ascendency over him. For they had no sooner reached the Mount of Olives, where the garden was, than his agonies and temptations came hastening in thick array upon his innocent head. And it is to be regarded as a warning of the terrors which were closing in upon their Master and his cause, a permission to provide for their own safety, as best they could, and an intimation that the Son of Peace, which went with them on their former journey, standing them instead of purse and scrip and defensive arms, was now unable to defend himself, being about to bow his head and expire upon an accursed tree. Therefore, said he, Un

til these days of darkness be overpast, and times of refreshing have come from the presence of the Lord, let every one of you betake himself to his natural shifts, and consider himself no longer as the child of an invisible providence. And accordingly, while his cause continued under this eclipse, they were delivered each one into his own protection; and when he rose from the dead his first instructions to them was, to depart from the scene of danger into a retired mountain of Galilee (perhaps that same where they had been set apart), and wait there till he should come and take them out of the hands of this temporary expediency. But before ascending from them for ever, he was at pains to assure them that he had triumphed over his enemies, and that all power was given to him in Heaven and in earth, and that he would send them his Holy Spirit, a better comforter and provider than the former Son of Peace; therefore, restoring them again to their former divine liberty, he said, Go forth into all nations, and lo, I am with you unto the end of the world.

of the con

That these words, which he spoke on the proved, by eve of this hour of darkness, were intended an analysis only for the use of that awful season, is text, not a conjecture, but the result of a deep consideration and analysis of the context, which, for your further satisfaction, I shall not hesitate to lay before you. The supper, which in every word and action signified his immediate death, was instituted and ended; but his

disciples continued as steadfast as ever in their misapprehension and unbelief: which they manifested by beginning to dispute about precedency in that kingdom which they expected him to establish. With a delicacy and wisdom, which breathed in all he said, he first corrected their worldly ideas of dignity, and explained that their true dignity in his kingdom should consist in judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Thence pursuing the discourse, that they might be humbled out of their present disposition of pride, which is Satan's snare, he warned them of the danger to which they stood exposed from the temptations of Satan. This part of his discourse he addressed to Simon, foreseeing his fall, and wishing to administer to him comfort under the deep contrition and sorrow that was to follow it-" Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you (the twelve), that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." This brought forth Peter's protestation, and our Lord's prediction of his frailty, which is as it were a digression in the discourse with the twelve; whom having warned of Satan's snares, assured of his own prayers for their sakes, and advertised of their need to be strengthened, he immediately adds the passage under consideration, as his counsel to them in the emergency which he had foretold. Fearing lest they might trust to that same protection which

had been extended over them hitherto, and which had so wonderfully provided for their wants in their former journey, he turns their attention to their former experience by the question, "When ye went forth without purse or scrip, lacked ye any thing?" and they answered, "Nothing." Having thus fixed to be only their minds upon their former estate, in order to make the impending change of their cir- the cruci cumstances the more remarkable, he

for the dark period, from

fixion to the

add- ascension of

ed,
"But now he that hath a purse let him
take it, and his scrip, and he that hath no
sword let him sell his garment and buy one."
That is, trust not now, under these perilous
trials of Satan just coming on you, to be sup-
ported with any help supernatural. For my
kingdom is to suffer violence, and the violent
will take it by force. Therefore, look ye every
man to himself, and to his resources; and be
upon your guard from violence, which is more
to be dreaded by you than the wants of nature
and the inclemency of the skies; and though
you should sell your garment to provide a
defence for your lives, sell it and therewith
purchase that defence. "For," he immedi-
ately added, as the reason of the innovation,
and he addeth it in his most solemn man-
ner, For, I say unto you, that this that is
written must yet be accomplished in me, And
he was reckoned among the transgressors: for
the things concerning me have an end." If
any thing were wanting to confirm what
hath been said of this passage, it were to be

66

the Lord;