[Footnote 4:  Matt. xix. 12.]

[Footnote 5:  Matt. xviii. 8, 9.  Cf.  Talmud of Babylon, Niddah, 13 b.]

[Footnote 6:  Matt. xxii. 30; Mark xii. 25; Luke xx. 35; Ebionite Gospel, entitled “Of the Egyptians,” in Clem. of Alex., Strom. iii. 9, 13, and Clem.  Rom., Epist. ii. 12.]

Never, we perceive, would this primitive Church have formed a lasting society but for the great variety of germs deposited by Jesus in his teaching.  It required more than a century for the true Christian Church—­that which has converted the world—­to disengage itself from this little sect of “latter-day saints,” and to become a framework applicable to the whole of human society.  The same thing, indeed, took place in Buddhism, which at first was founded only for monks.  The same thing would have happened in the order of St. Francis, if that order had succeeded in its pretension of becoming the rule of the whole of human society.  Essentially Utopian in their origin, and succeeding by their very exaggeration, the great systems of which we have just spoken have only laid hold of the world by being profoundly modified, and by abandoning their excesses.  Jesus did not advance beyond this first and entirely monachal period, in which it was believed that the impossible could be attempted with impunity.  He made no concession to necessity.  He boldly preached war against nature, and total severance from ties of blood.  “Verily I say unto you,” said he, “there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."[1]

[Footnote 1:  Luke xviii. 20, 30.]

The teachings which Jesus is reputed to have given to his disciples breathe the same exaltation.[1] He who was so tolerant to the world outside, he who contented himself sometimes with half adhesions,[2] exercised toward his own an extreme rigor.  He would have no “all buts.”  We should call it an “order,” constituted by the most austere rules.  Faithful to his idea that the cares of life trouble man, and draw him downward, Jesus required from his associates a complete detachment from the earth, an absolute devotion to his work.  They were not to carry with them either money or provisions for the way, not even a scrip, or change of raiment.  They must practise absolute poverty, live on alms and hospitality.  “Freely ye have received, freely give,"[3] said he, in his beautiful language.  Arrested and arraigned before the judges, they were not to prepare their defence; the Peraklit, the heavenly advocate, would inspire them with what they ought to say.  The Father would send them his Spirit from on high, which would become the principle of all their acts, the director of their thoughts, and their guide through the world.[4] If driven from any town, they were to shake the dust from their shoes, declaring always the proximity of the kingdom of God, that none might plead ignorance.  “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel,” added he, “till the Son of man be come.”