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those who would welcome them heartily as if entertaining Christ Himself。 They were to enter the dwelling with the beautiful salutation； 〃Peace be to this house。〃 Luke 10：5。 That home would be blessed by their prayers； their
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songs of praise； and the opening of the Scriptures in the family circle。
These disciples were to be heralds of the truth； to prepare the way for the coming of their Master。 The message they had to bear was the word of eternal life； and the destiny of men depended upon their reception or rejection of it。 To impress the people with its solemnity； Jesus bade His disciples； 〃Whosoever shall not receive you； nor hear your words； when ye depart out of that house or city； shake off the dust of your feet。 Verily I say unto you； It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment； than for that city。〃
Now the Saviour's eye penetrates the future； He beholds the broader fields in which； after His death； the disciples are to be witnesses for Him。 His prophetic glance takes in the experience of His servants through all the ages till He shall come the second time。 He shows His followers the conflicts they must meet； He reveals the character and plan of the battle。 He lays open before them the perils they must encounter； the self…denial that will be required。 He desires them to count the cost； that they may not be taken unawares by the enemy。 Their warfare is not to be waged against flesh and blood； but 〃against the principalities； against the powers； against the world rulers of this darkness； against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places。〃 Eph。 6：12； R。 V。 They are to contend with supernatural forces； but they are assured of supernatural help。 All the intelligences of heaven are in this army。 And more than angels are in the ranks。 The Holy Spirit； the representative of the Captain of the Lord's host； comes down to direct the battle。 Our infirmities may be many； our sins and mistakes grievous； but the grace of God is for all who seek it with contrition。 The power of Omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those who trust in God。 353
〃Behold；〃 said Jesus； 〃I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves： be ye therefore wise as serpents； and harmless as doves。〃 Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth； but He spoke it always in love。 He exercised the greatest tact； and thoughtful； kind attention in His intercourse with the people。 He was never rude； never needlessly spoke a severe word； never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul。 He did not censure human weakness。 He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy； unbelief； and iniquity； but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes。 He wept over Jerusalem； the city He loved； that refused to receive Him； the Way； the Truth； and the Life。 They rejected Him； the Saviour； but He regarded them with pitying tenderness； and sorrow so deep that it broke His heart。 Every soul was precious in His eyes。 While He always bore Himself with divine dignity； He bowed with tenderest regard to every member of the family of God。 In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save。
The servants of Christ are not to act out the dictates of the natural heart。 They need to have close communion with God； lest； under provocation； self rise up； and they pour forth a torrent of words that are unbefitting； that are not as dew or the still showers that refresh the withering plants。 This is what Satan wants them to do； for these are his methods。 It is the dragon that is wroth； it is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusing。 But God's servants are to be representatives of Him。 He desires them to deal only in the currency of heaven； the truth that bears His own image and superscription。 The power by which they are to overcome evil is the power of Christ。 The glory of Christ is their strength。 They are to fix their eyes upon His loveliness。 Then they can present the gospel with divine tact and gentleness。 And the spirit that is kept gentle under provocation will speak more effectively in favor of the truth than will any argument； however forcible。
Those who are brought in controversy with the enemies of truth have to meet； not only men； but Satan and his agents。 Let them remember the Saviour's words； 〃Behold； I send you forth as lambs among wolves。〃 Luke 10：3。 Let them rest in the love of God； and the spirit will be kept calm； even under personal abuse。 The Lord will clothe them with a divine panoply。 His Holy Spirit will influence the mind and heart； so that their voices shall not catch the notes of the baying of the wolves。
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Continuing His instruction to His disciples； Jesus said； 〃Beware of men。〃 They were not to put implicit confidence in those who knew not God； and open to them their counsels； for this would give Satan's agents an advantage。 Man's inventions often counterwork God's plans。 Those who build the temple of the Lord are to build according to the pattern shown in the mount；the divine similitude。 God is dishonored and the gospel is betrayed when His servants depend on the counsel of men who are not under the guidance of the Holy Spirit。 Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God。 Those who rely upon it will surely err。
〃They will deliver you up to councils； 。 。 。 yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for My sake； for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles。〃 Matt。 10：17； 18； R。 V。 Persecution will spread the light。 The servants of Christ will be brought before the great men of the world； who； but for this； might never hear the gospel。 The truth has been misrepresented to these men。 They have listened to false charges concerning the faith of Christ's disciples。 Often their only means of learning its real character is the testimony of those who are brought to trial for their faith。 Under examination these are required to answer； and their judges to listen to the testimony borne。 God's grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency。 〃It shall be given you；〃 says Jesus； 〃in that same hour what ye shall speak。 For it is not ye that speak； but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you。〃 As the Spirit of God illuminates the minds of His servants； the truth will be presented in its divine power and preciousness。 Those who reject the truth will stand to accuse and oppress the disciples。 But under loss and suffering； even unto death； the Lord's children are to reveal the meekness of their divine Example。 Thus will be seen the contrast between Satan's agents and the representatives of Christ。 The Saviour will be lifted up before the rulers and the people。
The disciples were not endowed with the courage and fortitude of the martyrs until such grace was needed。 Then the Saviour's promise was fulfilled。 When Peter and John testified before the Sanhedrin council； men 〃marveled； and they took knowledge of them； that they had been with Jesus。〃 Acts 4：13。 Of Stephen it is written that 〃all that sat in the council； looking steadfastly on him； saw his face as it had been the face of an angel。〃 Men 〃were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake。〃 Acts 6：15； 10。 And Paul； writing of his own trial at the court of the Caesars； says； 〃At my first defense no one took my
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part； but all forsook me。 。 。 。 But the Lord stood by me； and strengthened me； that through me the message might be fully proclaimed； and that all the Gentiles might hear： and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion。〃 2 Tim。 4：16； 17； R。 V。
The servants of Christ were to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial。 Their preparation was to be made day by day in treasuring up the precious truths of God's word； and through prayer strengthening their faith。 When they were brought into trial； the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the very truths that would be needed。
A daily； earnest striving to know God； and Jesus Christ whom He has sent； would bring power and efficiency to the soul。 The knowledge obtained by diligent searching of the Scriptures would be flashed into the memory at the right time。 But if any had neglected to acquaint themselves with the words of Christ； if they had never tested the power of His grace in trial； they could not expect that the Holy Spirit would bring His words to their remembrance。 They were to serve God daily with undivided affection； and then trust Him。
So bitter would be the enmity to the gospel that even the tenderest earthly ties would be disregarded。 The disciples of Christ would be betrayed to death by the members of their own households。 〃Ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake；〃 He added； 〃but he that shall endure unto the end； the same shall be saved。〃 Mark 13：13。 But He bade them not to expose themselves unnecessarily to persecution。 He Himself often left one field of labor for another； in order to escape from those who were seeking His life。 When He was rejected at Nazareth； and His own townsmen tried to kill Him； He went down to Capernaum； and there the people were astonished at His teaching； 〃for His word was with power。〃 Luke 4：32。 So His serva