longer, and thus be fully prepared for truths which, with their ignorance and Jewish notions, they would not have been able to receive. Having kept them for about three years with him, taking advantage of every event to instruct them and to correct them, sometimes reproving and even chiding them, but always treating them with affection, the time came for him to leave them; and we may easily imagine the sorrow with which the announcement of that purpose filled their hearts. The account of the farewell scenes between him and them, beginning with the celebration of the last passover, and his discourse to them, and the last prayer on that occasion, are not surpassed in interest and instructiveness by any thing in the Saviour's life. He finally stood with them on Mount Olivet, and gave them their great commission go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature'; and it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven, and a cloud received him out of their sight.

to

At an early meeting after the ascension of their Lord, they proceeded to fill the vacancy made by the apostasy and death of Judas, and chose Matthias by lot; but no mention is afterward made of him; and this has led some strangely to question whether they did not transcend their duty and the necessities of the case, and whether it was not intended that the place

of Judas should continue vacant, or be filled by the apostle Paul. But all this implies a doubt of their inspiration. The New Testament is also silent with regard to the life and labors of Bartholomew, and Simon Zelotes. That the place of Judas was to be filled, we learn from the Psalm quoted by Peter at the election of a new apostle; quoted, surely, not as a verse of poetry, having a mere accidental resemblance to the case, but as an inspired prophecy, saying of Judas, "Let his habitation be desolate, and his bishopric let another take." Paul was appointed independently of any connection with the original apostles, for special reasons, as a new, independent witness for Christ, which he takes pains to insist upon, where he says, that, when it pleased God who had separated him from his birth, " to reveal his Son in me, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went I up to Jerusalem, to them that were apostles before me." We cannot reasonably question that Matthias was divinely designated to complete the number of the twelve, after that Judas had gone to his own place. Fame or notoriety is not essential to usefulness or acceptableness with God. The labors and faith of those apostles who have no reward in the applause of men, were not disregarded or forgotten by Him unto whom belongeth mercy; for he rendereth to every man according to his work.'

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II. THE FIRST APOSTLES ARE AN ILLUSTRATION OF THAT SOVEREIGN LOVE IN CHRIST WHICH IS INDEPENDENT OF HUMAN MERIT.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,

and ordained fruit, and that your fruit should remain." John says of Christ, We love him because he first loved us. If David had occasion, as the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, to say, in wonder at God's covenant promises to him, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" surely the fishermen of Galilee, and Matthew the publican, might exclaim, with, at least, equal wonder and humility, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

you that ye should go and bring forth

Here were two men, Andrew and Peter, busy at their work, spreading their net in the sea. They had already seen Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write; and now, as they plied their task as fishermen, perhaps they talked together of Him whom kings and prophets had desired to see, but had not seen him, while these two fishermen had seen where he dwelt and had abode with him for a part of a day. They were brothers. They were kind brothers. The first thing which Andrew did, when John the Baptist pointed out Christ to him, was, to find his own brother Simon. No family quarrel, or

As

small jealousy, or alienated affection, severed them; but Andrew brought his brother, Simon, to Jesus; and now, as they go back to their lake and their nets, behold, how good and pleasant they find it for brethren to dwell together in unity. Jesus called them as brothers, and blessed them as brothers. they cast out their net together into the lake, intent only on the shoal of fishes which they see, or expect, in that place, a voice behind them, from the shore, speaks, "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men." It is their new Friend. Some irresistible influence accompanied the word; "and straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who also were in the ship, mending their nets," with their father and hired servants. The busy group, at work on their fishing tackle, lifted up their heads at the sound of a strange, but wonderworking voice, directed to those two brothers, commanding them to follow. And they left their father, Zebedee, in the ship, with the hired servants, and went after him. Two brothers, again, coming together to Christ, to spend life and eternity together, in his service. In the last chapter of John, we read of Judas, the brother of James, and, turning to the Epistle of this Judas, or Jude, we also read, ‘Jude, the servant of Christ, and brother of James.'

Three

pairs of brothers, then, among the first twelve apostles. Brothers, Christ has consecrated your relationship. He loves to have brothers joined in his service.

There is another apostle, still, whom Christ must find, and for that purpose he would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. What condescension and kindness, to go after him, as though he were a personage of importance.

Again he passes by the place where the customs, or taxes, are payable; a man sits there, with his parchments and writing materials around him, and Christ says to him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

O Saviour, the prophecy is fulfilled in thee: “I am sought of them that asked not for me, I am found of them that sought me not; I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." Behold, thus thou shalt call a nation which thou knewest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee.'

There is no one of us, Christian brethren and friends, who is not, in like manner, an instance of sovereign, selecting mercy. Never, while memory remains, can you cease to say,

"Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God."