The Charge
Mission of the Seventy.
(The Gospel History, Section 85)
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes: and salute no man on the way. And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again. And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we do wipe off against you: howbeit know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
The Charge
(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book I Poem XI)
For you, go on your way and have no fear;
As lambs amongst the wolves do ye appear?
Shall not your Shepherd guard you, ever near!
But ye must go in My name, nor provide
Those things to ease your way another guide
Would bid you carry, lest ye be denied:
Nor shoes nor purse nor wallet are for you;
Your course with naught provided ye pursue
Who would fulfil Mine errand, servants true:
Nor civil salutations shall ye make
Tho’ rich and poor pass by their ways to take;
My service brooks no dallying for their sake.
What house ye enter, cry, “Peace to this house!”
Where any son of peace within allows,
Your peace shall rest, a blessing on that house:
But if, like Noah’s dove, your gift shall find
No place of rest, be not of troubled mind;
Your peace returns to bless you and to bind:
They make you welcome, bid you take your seat?
Take such things as they offer, gladly eat;
The labourer is worthy of his meat.
But not self-pleasing shall My servant be,
Faring from house to house quick-eyed to see
Which neighbour gives to guest the best bounty:
If city ye have come to doth receive,
Take heed the men in you no greed perceive;
Eat that is set before you, by their leave:
To them who give to you with liberal hand
Shall ye give healings, teachings; understand,
Ye shall not fail of any just demand:
Go, tell those friendly men the mighty news,
Shall save who hears, condemn who dares refuse,—
“The Kingdom of God is here—to win or lose!”
Do they reject, go ye into the street
And shake that city’s dust from off your feet,—
That they know their offence through symbol meet!
Think you since Sodom fell no city’s failed
To hear the call to judgment, nor assailed
God’s prophets, whose high message naught availed?
I tell you, yea, full many have transgressed:
But worse for who My messengers molest
Than for contumacious Sodom,—sin possess’d.
St. Luke x. 3–12.
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