The narrative of the ministry of our beloved Master as given to us in the four Gospels is much more than the story of a few years in the earthly life of the purest and most Godlike man that ever trod this globe. Every Christian who would be worthy of the name admits that he must take it for his guidance in his daily life, and only as he proves that he is following faithfully in his Master's footsteps can he hope to find the way which leads to eternal Life. Accepting Christ Jesus as his Teacher and his Guide, he finds that the Master required all his followers to love God and to keep His commandments, which include love to one's neighbor. Here the searcher pauses for a moment, perhaps to ask the question, "And how is this to be done? With clarion clearness comes the answer, "Go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
It is impossible to suppose that he who gave this imperative command failed to give at the same time the necessary instructions as to how it was to be carried out. We know that he often took his disciples apart and taught them privately; that he said to them, "It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven;" and that on one occasion at least he upbraided them for their failure to heal a case of disease which had been brought to them —a rebuke which would scarcely have been just had they not been instructed in the method of healing practised by himself. Thus the new recruit finds his duty laid down clearly enough, and the Bible tells him plainly that nineteen hundred years ago there were some who knew how to perform it. But alas! for him the method seems to have been lost, and though he pray never so earnestly he finds the answers to his prayers are but few, and those far between. Discouraged and disheartened, he concludes that he asks and receives not, because, somehow, he asks amiss. Perhaps in one of those wonderful scientific utterances of Shakespeare he cries.
My words fly up; my thoughts remain below;
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
