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nd in His life。 Looking upon a nation of witnesses who were seeking occasion to condemn Him； He could say unchallenged； 〃Which of you convicteth Me of sin？〃 John 8：46； R。 V。
The Saviour had not come to set aside what patriarchs and prophets had spoken； for He Himself had spoken through these representative men。 All the truths of God's word came from Him。 But these priceless gems had been placed in false settings。 Their precious light had been made to minister to error。 God desired them to be removed from their
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settings of error and replaced in the framework of truth。 This work only a divine hand could accomplish。 By its connection with error； the truth had been serving the cause of the enemy of God and man。 Christ had come to place it where it would glorify God； and work the salvation of humanity。
〃The Sabbath was made for man； and not man for the Sabbath；〃 Jesus said。 The institutions that God has established are for the benefit of mankind。 〃All things are for your sakes。〃 〃Whether Paul； or Apollos； or Cephas； or the world； or life； or death； or things present； or things to come； all are yours； and ye are Christ's； and Christ is God's。〃 2 Cor。 4：15； 1 Cor。 3：22； 23。 The law of Ten Commandments； of which the Sabbath forms a part； God gave to His people as a blessing。 〃The Lord commanded us；〃 said Moses； 〃to do all these statutes； to fear the Lord our God； for our good always； that He might preserve us alive。〃 Deut。 6：24。 And through the psalmist the message was given to Israel； 〃Serve the Lord with gladness： come before His presence with singing。 Know ye that the Lord He is God： it is He that hath made us； and not we ourselves； we are His people； and the sheep of His pasture。 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving； and into His courts with praise。〃 Ps。 100：2…4。 And of all who keep 〃the Sabbath from polluting it；〃 the Lord declares； 〃Even them will I bring to My holy mountain； and make them joyful in My house of prayer。〃 Isa。 56：6； 7。
〃Wherefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath。〃 These words are full of instruction and comfort。 Because the Sabbath was made for man； it is the Lord's day。 It belongs to Christ。 For 〃all things were made by Him； and without Him was not anything made that was made。〃 John 1：3。 Since He made all things； He made the Sabbath。 By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation。 It points to Him as both the Creator and the Sanctifier。 It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth； and by whom all things hold together； is the head of the church； and that by His power we are reconciled to God。 For； speaking of Israel； He said； 〃I gave them My Sabbaths； to be a sign between Me and them； that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them；〃make them holy。 Ezek。 20：12。 Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ's power to make us holy。 And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy。 As a sign of His sanctifying power； the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God。
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And the Lord says； 〃If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath； from doing thy pleasure on My holy day； and call the Sabbath a delight； the holy of the Lord； honorable； 。 。 。 then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord。〃 Isa。 58：13； 14。 To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ's creative and redeeming power； it will be a delight。 Seeing Christ in it； they delight themselves in Him。 The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption。 While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden； it tells of peace restored through the Saviour。 And every object in nature repeats His invitation； 〃Come unto Me； all ye that labor and are heavy…laden； and I will give you rest。〃 Matt 11：28。
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Chapter 30
〃He Ordained Twelve〃
〃And He goeth up into a mountain； and calleth unto Him whom He would： and they came unto Him。 And He ordained twelve； that they should be with Him； and that He might send them forth to preach。〃
It was beneath the sheltering trees of the mountainside； but a little distance from the Sea of Galilee； that the twelve were called to the apostolate； and the Sermon on the Mount was given。 The fields and hills were the favorite resorts of Jesus； and much of His teaching was given under the open sky； rather than in the temple or the synagogues。 No synagogue could have received the throngs that followed Him； but not for this reason only did He choose to teach in the fields and groves。 Jesus loved the scenes of nature。 To Him each quiet retreat was a sacred temple。
It was under the trees of Eden that the first dwellers on earth had chosen their sanctuary。 There Christ had communed with the father of mankind。 When banished from Paradise； our first parents still worshiped in the fields and groves； and there Christ met them with the gospel of His grace。 It was Christ who spoke with Abraham under the
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oaks at Mamre； with Isaac as he went out to pray in the fields at the eventide； with Jacob on the hillside at Bethel； with Moses among the mountains of Midian； and with the boy David as he watched his flocks。 It was at Christ's direction that for fifteen centuries the Hebrew people had left their homes for one week every year； and had dwelt in booths formed from the green branches 〃of goodly trees； branches of palm trees； and boughs of thick trees； and willows of the brook。〃 Lev。 23：40。
In training His disciples； Jesus chose to withdraw from the confusion of the city to the quiet of the fields and hills； as more in harmony with the lessons of self…abnegation He desired to teach them。 And during His ministry He loved to gather the people about Him under the blue heavens； on some grassy hillside； or on the beach beside the lake。 Here； surrounded by the works of His own creation； He could turn the thoughts of His hearers from the artificial to the natural。 In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom。 As men should lift up their eyes to the hills of God； and behold the wonderful works of His hands； they could learn precious lessons of divine truth。 Christ's teaching would be repeated to them in the things of nature。 So it is with all who go into the fields with Christ in their hearts。 They will feel themselves surrounded with a holy influence。 The things of nature take up the parables of our Lord； and repeat His counsels。 By communion with God in nature； the mind is uplifted； and the heart finds rest。
The first step was now to be taken in the organization of the church that after Christ's departure was to be His representative on earth。 No costly sanctuary was at their command； but the Saviour led His disciples to the retreat He loved； and in their minds the sacred experiences of that day were forever linked with the beauty of mountain and vale and sea。
Jesus had called His disciples that He might send them forth as His witnesses； to declare to the world what they had seen and heard of Him。 Their office was the most important to which