We read of our Lord's appointing seventy persons of a rank inferior, it should seem, to the apostles, and sending them out by two and two, before his face, with authority to teach and to preach in the cities. (Luke 10:1, etc,) Some have thought that this was in honour of the seventy called the Septuagint, who were the first that translated the original Hebrew into Greek, in the time of Eleazin the High Priest, about 240 years before the manifestation of Christ in the flesh. But this is wholly conjectural. It is true that the church of God, by the Lord's appointment, is highly indebted to their ministry on this occasion, It is said to have been undertaken at the request of Ptolomeus Philodelphus, then King of Egypt. How truly blessed is it to minister in the Lord's service, in any and in every employment; yea, how truly honourable! A great and powerful King declared that he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house, of God, than to dwell in the richest tents of wickedness. (Psalms 84:10) And to be a hewer of wood, and a drawer of water, for the Lord's sanctuary, when appointed thereto by the great Master of the household is more honourable than the seats of the earth.


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