BOOK 5. THE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 3.
5.3.2. Of Christ's Ordination of his Apostles.
Of Christ's Ordination of his Apostles.
In the ordination of his apostles, are many considerable things: the evangelist Luke lays it down thus, Luke vi. 12, 13. "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God; and when it was day, he called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." Till now Christ taught alone; but because after his ascension he must needs have a ministry to the end of the world; in the first place, he chooseth out some whom he would have on purpose to wait upon him all the time of his ministry, till he was taken up into heaven. 1. In this election or ordination, here is first, the person by whom they are chosen, Jesus Christ. 2. The place where they are chosen, viz., in a mountain. 3. The time when they were chosen, after his watching and praying all night, and when it was day. 4. The company out of whom they were chosen, they were his disciples, and out of them he makes his election. 5. The number of them that were chosen, they were twelve, nor more nor less. 6. The end to which they were chosen, it was an apostleship; "he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles."
1. The person by whom they are chosen is Jesus Christ. They chose not themselves but were chosen of Christ. This call was immediate, and therefore most excellent; but now we look not after such calls, and therefore I shall not insist on that; only, by the way, ministers of the gospel must be ministers of Christ, either immediately or mediately called.
2. The place where they were chosen it was on a mountain: mountainous places have their situation nearest to heaven, which shows, that they were called to high and heavenly things. Mountains are open and in view, which shows their ministry must he public: they cannot lie hid in a mountain, a city that is set upon a hill is exposed to the view of all. Again, mountains are subject to winds and tempests, which shows their callings must meet with many oppositions; and this occasioned Christ to hold up their heart with cordials, Matt. v. 11, 12. "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, -- for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." The ministers of Christ are sure of opposition; the "disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord; if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?"
3. The time when they were chosen, when it was, "and after he had continued all night in prayer to God he goes not to election, but first he watches and prays all the night before. This shows the singular care that Christ had in this great employment; What? To set men apart to witness his name, and to publish to the world the gospel of Christ? This he would not do without much prayer. Sometimes we find Christ praying alone, as elsewhere "He went up into a mountain apart to pray," Matth. xiv. 23. And here on this mountain, without any of his disciples or domestics about him, he prays alone: thus, Matt. vi. 6. "When thou prayest enter into thy closet, (saith Christ) and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Sometimes we find Christ praying at night, Luke xxi. 37. "In the day time he was teaching in the temple, and at night he went out, and abode in the mount, that is called the Mount of Olives." See Christ in the exercise of his double office; he preacheth all day, and prays all night. This text tells us, "He continued all night in prayer." Night prayers have their special spiritual advantages.
(a). It is a time fitter for compunction and heart contrition, Psalm vi. 6. "All the night make I my bed to swim, I water my couch with my tears." As some things are by heat parched in the day, but cooled in the night, so many sins contracted in the day, are seasonably repented at night: night tears are as sweet dews that cool the heat and pride of our spirits.
(b). It is a time of silence, and free from distraction: then all tumults cease, and in the secret of our souls, we may silently go and speak with our heavenly Father. In this respect we have a blessed example of Christ praying at night, and especially now. O! he was about the great work of sending his ministers through all the world, and therefore he now spends all the night long in prayer to his Father. A great and extraordinary work is not to be set upon without extraordinary prayer.
4. The company out of whom they are chosen, "He called unto him his disciples, and out of them he chose twelve. A disciple of Christ is one thing, and an apostle of Christ is another thing; those were Christ's disciples that embraced Christ's doctrine of faith and repentance; it was not material to the constituting of a disciple of Christ whether they followed Christ as many did, or they returned to their own homes, as some others did. The man out of whom the legions of devils were cast "Besought Christ that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done to thee," Luke viii. 38, 39. I make no question but Christ at the election of his apostles, had many disciples both waiting on him and absent from him: and out of them that waited on him his apostles were chosen. Christ's ministers should first be disciples. O how unfit are they to take upon them the ministry of Christ, that were never yet the disciples of Christ! First, the grace of God within us, and then must that grace of God be discovered by us.
5. The number of them that were chosen, they were twelve; very probable it is, there was some peculiar reason in this account; the number (say some) was figured out to us in many particulars, as in the twelve patriarchs, Gen. xxxv. 22. In the twelve wells of Elim, Exod. xv. 27. In the twelve precious stones on the breast of the priest. In the twelve tribes of Israel. In the twelve hours of the day, Christ tells them of "sitting on twelve thrones, and judging the twelve tribes of Israel," Matt, xix, 28. But I delight not curiously to descant on these things. This I am sure, that the doings of Christ were done in weight, measure and number.
6. The end to which they were chosen, it was to apostleship, i.e. That they might be Christ's legates to the sons of men, that they might be sent up and down the world to persuade men to salvation. "The dispenser of God's word must look to their missions, they must not intrude upon so sacred a business before they are sent." Now, this mission is either extraordinary, by immediate instinct and revelation from God, which is ever accompanied with immediate and infused gifts, and this was the case of the apostles: or ordinary, by imposition of hands and ecclesiastical designation: and in this likewise is required fidelity and ability.
(a). Fidelity; it is required of stewards, that a man be faithful, that he defraud not Christ of his purchase, which is the souls of men, nor men of their price and privilege, which is the blood of Christ: that he watch as a seer, that he speak as an oracle, that he feed as a shepherd, that he labour as an husbandman, that he be instant in season, and out of season, to exhort, rebuke, instruct, to do the work of an evangelist, to make full proof of his ministry, because he had an account to make.
(b). Ability both for right information of the consciences of men, and for the seasonable application of truth to particular circumstances, which is that which makes a wise builder. Ah! "Who is sufficient for these things?" 2 Cor. ii. l6. How should we but detest the presumption of those men, who run before they be sent, who leap from their manual trades into this sacred and dreadful office, unto which heretofore the most learned and pious men have trembled to approach?
Use. This may inform us of our duty, and this may inform you of your happiness.
1. Here is our duty, I mean ours of the ministry; Christ ordained his apostles to preach the gospel; and Paul's motto may be ours, 1 Cor. ix. 16: "Woeunto me if I preach not the gospel: what though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for a necessity is laid upon me." This day hath Christ set me on this errand, Matth. x. 7. "Go, preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." "Surely the Lord hath put this message into my mouth, Repent, swearers, repent, drunkards, repent, sinners, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Gospel discoveries are made every day; Christ is arising and shining in our horizon more and more clearly: this great design of God's love to our souls, is manifested in every sermon, on every sabbath; is not this gospel preaching? What is the gospel, but the treasure of God's love in Christ opened to us? Oh! it is a pleasant work in this respect to be a minister of the gospel, to be always searching into the treasures of love, and to make them known to poor souls for the gaining of them unto God.
2. Here is your happiness, Christ hath not erected any standing sanctuary, or city of refuge for men to fee to for their salvation, but he hath appointed ambassadors to carry this treasure unto men's houses, where he invites them, and intreats them, and requires them, and commands them, and compels them to come in. Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! (a). In respect of the messengers. (b). In respect of their message.
(a). In respect of the messengers, they were first apostles, now ministers, poor earthen vessels. Had Christ himself come in his glorified body, attended with his angels, it might in some measure have represented his majesty: but, alas! how would this have dazzled your weakness? Or if Christ had made use of his angels, as he did at his birth to preach the gospel; had they continually come in state and proclaimed salvation to the sons of men, this would have showed more glory; but, alas! How unsuitable had this been to your weak conditions? Here then is the riches of his grace, that earthen vessels should carry this treasure, that salvation should come out of the mouths of sinful creatures, that hearts should be broken, souls should believe, life should be infused by the ministerial breath of a weak, worthless man, 2 Cor. iv. 7. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." God's power is more honoured this way than if an angel had come in person: it may be in that case, a sinner's conversion would have been attributed to the power and efficacy of the angel; but, to prevent this, and to preserve the power of his glory and grace, Christ takes the treasure, and he puts it into earthen vessels; it is in the original, "Vessels of shell:" as precious pearls are found in shells, so the pearl is the gospel, and the shell or mother of pearl, are the apostles and pastors; it is true, they are vessels of small price, and subject to many knocks and falls, yet in them is the most excellent treasures of the wisdom of God, and of the gospel of Christ, And it is in them on purpose, that the excellency may reflect on God, and not on them.
(b). In respect of the message; O the unsearchable riches of Christ! What is the message of these men? What is the treasure they bring, but the blood of Christ, the promises of the gospel, the word of grace? I might sum up all in one word, "They bring unto men an invitation from heaven to heaven." Observe it, Christians, the gospel is a message; the Lord sends his Son up and down: carries him from place to place; he is set forth before men's eyes; he comes, and stands, and calls, and knocks at their doors, and beseecheth them to be reconciled: O the free grace of God! O that mercy, pardon, preferment, eternal life and salvation should go a begging, and suing for acceptance! O the love of sin, and madness of folly in wicked men, to trample on such pearls, and to neglect so great salvation when it is tendered unto them! O what a heavy charge will it be for men at the last day, to have the mercy of God, the humility of Christ, the entreaties of the Spirit, the proclamations of pardon, the approaches of salvation, the days, the years, the age, of peace, the ministry of the word, the book of God, the great mystery of godliness, to rise up in judgment, and to testify against their souls! O the condescensions of Christ! who are ye that the Lord should send after you? What need hath God of you? Suppose you should go on in the ways of death, and perish everlastingly, what shall God lose by it? Christ might say, "If you will go on, go on and perish; if you love sin so well, take your pleasure in it, and be damned evermore." Ah, no, saith the mercy of God, and the mercy of Christ, before that be, message after message. "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little," Isa. xxviii. 10. This was the design of Christ's choosing his apostles, Mark xvi. 15. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, that poor sinners may turn from sin, and be saved."