Mark 6:7

We heard before, chap. 3, of our Saviour's solemn calling his apostles to their work and office; now he sends them forth to execute their office.

Where observe, 1. The person that sends them forth; Christ.

Learn thence, That none ought to take upon them the office of preaching, or any other ministerial function in the church, till thereunto lawfully called by Christ himself, and received the doctrine which they taught immediately from Christ's own mouth. His ministers now are called immediately, they receive their authority from Christ by the hands of the governors of his church.

Observe, 2. The manner of their sending, by two and two in. company: partly to make their message of more authority; partly to testify their mutual consent in the doctrine which they taught; and partly to comfort and encourage, to help and strengthen, to assist and support each other: in imitation of this example, the Jesuits send forth their emissaries by pairs.

Learn hence, That the ministers of the word do stand in great need of the mutual help and comfort, of the united assistance and encouragement of each other, in the weighty duties of their calling and function; like labourers in the harvest-field, they should help one another, the strong endeavouring to strengthen the hands of the weak.

But, Lord, what tears are sufficient to bewail the want of love and unity, yea, the prevalency of that fear and malignity which is found too often amongst the ministers of the gospel! So that instead of going forth by two and two, happy is he that is alone in. place. Well might Melancthon bless God, when he lay a-dying, that he was going to. place where he should be freed from the implacable hatred of divines. This is, and ought to be, for. lamentation.

Observe, 3. The power given by Christ to work miracles for confirming the doctrine of the gospel which his apostles preached; he gave them power over unclean spirits, and they cast out devils, and anointed with oil them that were sick, and healed them. This power to work miracles was necessary for the apostles; partly to procure reverence to their persons, being poor and unlearned men, but principally to gain credit and authority to their doctrine; for the doctrine of faith in the Messiah, as now come, and exhibited in the flesh, being. strange and new doctrine to the Jews, the truth and certainty of it was to be extraordinarily ratified by Christ's and his apostles' miracles, some of which were casting out of devils; and by anointing with oil, to heal and recover sick persons. This gift of healing remained some time in the church, as appeared by St. James, Is any sick? Anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, James 5:14.

Where observe, That the apostles did not use oil as the instrument and means of healing, (for then the cure had not been miraculous,) but only as. symbol of the cure, or as an outward sign and testimony of miraculous healing: which outward sign was for the strengthening of the faith of such as were healed; assuring them, that as certainly as their bodies were anointed, so certainly should their health and strength be restored.

The Papists upon this ground their sacrament of Extreme Unction; but very vainly: for the apostles anointed those that were sick, as. sign of their recovery: but the Papists anoint those that have the pangs of death upon them, that their sins may be blotted out, and the snares of the devil avoided.

Observe, 4. The charge given by Christ to his apostles at the time of their sending out. This is threefold: first, Touching their preparation for their journey, he bids them not take much care, nor spend much time in furnishing themselves with victuals, money, apparel, weapons of defence, and the like; only taking. walking-staff in their hands, because they were to finish their journey speedily, and to return again to Christ.

This command of our Saviour to his apostles, not to incumber themselves when going forth to preach the gospel, teaches his ministers their duty, to free themselves as much as possibly they can from worldly incumbrances, which may hinder them in the performance of their office and function, No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, 2 Timothy 2:4.

Secondly, Touching their lodging in their journey. Our Saviour advises them not to change it, during their stay in one place; but into whatsoever house they first entered, they should there continue till they departed out of that place; that so they might avoid all show of lightness and inconstancy, and testify all gravity and stayedness in their behaviour, this being. special mean to win authority to their persons and ministry.

Thirdly, Christ gives. charge to his apostles touching their carriage towards such as should refuse to give entertainment to them and their doctrine. They were to denounce the judgments of God against such contemners, by shaking off the dust of their feet for. testimony against them.

Thence learn, That the contempt of God's ministers, and especially of their ministry and doctrine, is an odious and execrable sin, detested by God, and which ought to be abhorred by man: Shake off the dust of your feet. This action was emblematical, signifying that Almighty God would in like manner shake them off as the vilest dust.

Learn, 2. That wherever the word is preached, it is for. testimony; either for or against. people. For if the dust of. minister's feet bear witness against the despisers of the gospel, their sermons much more.

Observe, lastly, The dreadful judgment denounced by our Saviour against the contemners of the apostles' doctrine: Verily it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Where note, 1. That there shall be. day of judgment.

2. That in the day of judgment some sinners shall fare worse than others.

3. That of all sinners the condition of such will be saddest at the day of judgment who having lived under the gospel, have died after all in impenitency and infidelity: Verily. say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.