Meeting of the Brethren
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his great inheritance, the kingdoms of Heaven and of earth. He wished
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them to understand at once how ample was his authority, and, as one
above all powers and principalities, he issued the great commission to
his chosen disciples:—
“Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
A wide door was thus thrown open before his amazed listeners,
who had heretofore been taught the most rigid seclusion from all save
their own nation. A new and fuller interpretation of the prophecies
dawned upon their minds; they labored to comprehend the work that
was assigned them. The world regarded Jesus as an impostor; only a
few hundreds ranked under his banner, and the faith of these had been
fearfully shaken by the fact of his death, and they had not been able
to settle upon any definite plan of action. Now Christ had revealed
himself to them in his resurrected form, and had given them a mission
so extensive that, with their limited views, they could scarcely com-
prehend it. It was difficult for them to realize that the faith which had
bound them to the side of Jesus should not only be the religion of the
Jews, but of all nations.
Superstition, tradition, bigotry, and idolatry ruled the world. The
Jews alone claimed to have a certain knowledge of God, and they were
so exclusive, both socially and religiously, that they were despised by
every other people. The high wall of separation which they had raised
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made the Jews a little world to themselves, and they called all other
classes heathen and dogs. But Jesus committed to his disciples the
scheme of making known their religion to all nations, tongues, and
people. It was the most sublime enterprise ever intrusted to man—to
preach a crucified and risen Saviour, and a full and free salvation to
all men, both rich and poor, learned and ignorant—to teach that Christ
came to the world to pardon the repentant, and to offer them a love
high as heaven, broad as the world, and enduring as eternity.
They were to teach the observance of all things whatsoever Jesus
had commanded them, and were to baptize in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Jesus was about to be removed from his
disciples; but he assured them that although he should ascend to his
Father, his Spirit and influence would be with them always, and with