them in still stronger terms- They shall put you out of the synagogue, yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service". On the supposition, therefore, that the apostles believed their Master's words, they could not have hoped to reap popularity from the execution of their ministerial office, and if they met with sufferance, it would be acknowledged with thankfulness as a good which they had no reason to expect. So far, then, from feeling their faith shaken in consequence of the rejection of the Christian doctrines by the great majority of those who heard them, whether Jew or Gentile, they would only perceive in this fact the fulfilment of prophecy, and a strong additional confirmation of the truth of their Master. As men, they might be discouraged and dejected; but as Christians, they would rejoice in tribulations, and consider the present distress as an earnest of future glory.

6 John, xv. 20. xvi. 2.

For ourselves, we may learn to estimate the strength of that conviction, which could, animate men to struggle in a despised cause, not only against incidental opposition, but against foreseen and certain persecution-and to persevere, in spite of penalties and imprisonments, even unto death, in the propagation of a religion, the triumphs of which they distinctly knew it was destined they should never witness.

2. Our Lord's ministry, considered in its effects, reveals the truest source of encouragement for those who watch over the souls of others as men who must give account. It teaches them where and when to look for the reward of their work--and that though the seed be sometimes apparently cast upon the waters,' yet the faithful labourer will not eventually toil without a recompense.

In order, however, to prevent perpetual disappointment, we must learn to extend our views. To seek for the real harvest produced by spiritual labours, only in their immediate

and visible results, would be not less absurd than to take our measure of infinite space from that limited prospect which the mortal eye can reach, or to estimate the never ending ages of eternity by a transitory moment of present time. This, in fact, is a subject on which the ordinary calculations of human sagacity are often confounded, and on which God shows plainly, that his thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. The shortness of John the Baptist's ministry is a striking instance of the inscrutability of the divine counsels. His chosen servant, appointed while yet in his mo ther's womb to be his instrument, was cut off at a moment when, to all human appearance, he had but just begun to run his course. But there is a remarkable passage, John, iv. 36-38, worthy the attention of all ministers, which seems to give some insight into the plan of God's dealings in one of his most mysterious dispensations. He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, one

soweth and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour; other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.' It would appear to the foolishness of human wisdom, that where much labour was bestowed, there would be a proportionate return-where the talent employed in the service of Christ was great, the effect would also be important and in large measure. But Providence has ordered, that the battle should not be always to the strong, or the race always to the swift, as men count strength and swiftness. "The wisdom of God sees it fit that all his servants in the work of the ministry do not meet with the same difficulties, nor enjoy the same success. Some are laborious sowers, others joyful reapers; some labour all their days with little visible success; others bring in many to Christ, perhaps by a single sermon ; some labour even with weariness, and reap little others enter into their labours and reap much?.'

7 Burkitt on the New Test. p. 286.

Indeed, it often happens that God withholds his blessing for a time, in order that when the

net is cast ' on the right side,' it may be clearly seen that the multitude of fishes' inclosed are of the Lord's giving, lest men should attribute their success to a wrong cause, and should 'sacrifice unto their own net, and burn incense unto their own drag.' We are not to faint and be weary in doing our own work, though another agent may be raised up, to whom a larger measure of success and talents of greater influence may seem to have been dealt. John did not slacken in his own appointed sphere of action, though all men came unto Christ.' He rather mourned that the unspeakable gift of God had not been more thankfully received by his prejudiced countrymen. What he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth,' exclaimed the Holy Baptist, but no man receiveth his testimony '.' And when his disciples, through their affection for their first master, were slow to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah, he took

Habak. i. 16.

9 John, iii. 32.