Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I am come, not to send peace, but a sword'; or, as another Evangelist has it less picturesquely, in the parallel passage, not peace, but rather division.' Again, His epilogue to the great story of the blind man who was made to see, and was then cast out by the blind men that would not see, is, for judgment am I come into the world, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind.'
Jesus was under no illusions as to the issue of His work, Purpose is one thing; result is altogether another. The mission had but one intention, but it has a twofold consequence; because man's freewill comes in, and even infinite Love could not ensure that all men should accept the ransom from captivity, or all should be enkindled by the leaping fire of the divine Spirit. How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!' That is the wall of thwarted Omnipotence; the tears of blood dropped by wounded, infinite Love. All through the ages the same issue is being realised; and it is being realised here and now. Some believed the word that was spoken, and some believed not.' Thus the aged Simeon's prophetic vision is fulfilled: This Child is set for the rise and fall of many in Israel.' Though the mission has one purpose it has a double result.
So let me urge on you, dear friends, to take Christ's words, and to take them all. There is no warrant for the common practice of picking and choosing amongst them, and rejecting one of two sayings which come to us attested by precisely the same evidence, while we accept the other, on the ground that the one fits our notions and the other does not. All in all, or not at all,' should be our principle in dealing with the words of the Incarnate Truth.
As clearly as tongue can speak, He has asserted that He came forth from God, and came into the world.' That is the foundation of the Apostolic doctrine of the Incarnation. As clearly as tongue can speak, He has asserted that the purpose of His coming is to save the lost, to vivify the dead, to give light to them that sit in darkness.' That is the foundation of the Apostolic doctrine of man's sin and danger. As clearly as tongue can speak He has declared that the manner of His accomplishing His purpose is to minister,' to bear witness to the truth,' to call sinners to repentance,' to give His life a ransom for many.' That is the foundation of the Apostolic doctrine of the Atonement. As clearly as tongue can speak He has asserted that after His Cross He will flood the world with fire. That is the foundation of the Apostolic doctrine of an indwelling Spirit. As clearly as tongue can speak He has asserted that sight or blindness, life or death, depends on the reception or rejection of His words. That is the foundation of the Apostolic doctrine of the tremendous issues of salvation or of loss, which hang on our listening to Him or our turning from Him.
And it is the reason why I venture, dear brethren, to come to you now, and as Christ's unworthy ambassador beseech you in His stead that you listen to Him.
God Himself has spoken from heaven: This is My beloved Son; hear Him.' See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh' to us still; for if they escaped not who turned away from Him that spake on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him that' now speaketh from heaven.'
