vin Faith outrunning its commission. 147 



faith was unspiritual and ignorant, yet Christ ap- 

 proved its simplicity and its strength. 



But by far the most remarkable instance of faith 

 outrunning its commission, and receiving Christ's ap- 

 proval, is that of the return of the Seventy. 1 Late in 

 His earthly career, He sent forth seventy of His dis- 

 ciples "into every city and place whither He Himself 

 was about to come " ; and said to them in His charge, 

 " Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you 

 . . . heal the sick that are therein." He did not 

 expressly confer any other miraculous power. They 

 knew, however, that, some time before, He had 

 sent forth the Twelve on a similar mission, but with 

 express authority not only to heal the sick, but to 

 cast out demons : 2 the Seventy tried to do the same, 

 and succeeded. They " returned with joy, saying, 

 Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through 

 Thy name." And Jesus "said unto them, I beheld 

 Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. Behold, I 

 have given you authority to tread upon serpents and 

 scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy " ; 

 which words may be thus paraphrased " Your 

 victories over the power of evil are Mine and My 

 Father's ; and I place all My earthly power at your 

 disposal, for the accomplishment of the work that I 

 have given you to do." Theirs was the victory of 

 faith. Compare, by way of contrast, the sons of 

 Sceva. 3 They, like Simon the sorcerer, 4 thought the 



1 Luke x. 2 Luke ix. 



3 Acts xix. 13 et seq. 4 Acts viii. 9 et scq. 



