7. But lest any should fancy
that this was granted only to the twelve, see also what Luke
relateth: “After these things,” saith he, “the Lord chose
also other seventy and two, and sent them by two and two before His
face into every city and place whither He was about to come. And He
said unto them, The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers
few: ask ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send
forth laborers into His harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you
as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry neither purse nor scrip nor
shoes, and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house ye shall
enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace
be there, your peace shall rest upon him: if not, it shall return
to you. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such
things as are with them: for the workman is worthy of his
hire.” Here it
appears that these things were not commanded, but permitted, that
whoso should choose to use, might use that which was lawful unto
him by the Lord’s appointment; but if any should not choose to
use it, he would not do contrary to a thing commanded, but would be
yielding up his own right, by demeaning himself more
mercifully and laboriously in the Gospel in the which he
would not accept even the hire which was his due. Otherwise the
Apostle did contrary to a command of the Lord: for, after he had
shown it to be lawful unto him, he hath straightway subjoined, “But yet have I not used this power.”