A Little Book, Yet Volumes of Meaning
After the writer of the "Acts of the Apostles" gives us a few sentences of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, he adds, "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." This reminds us how small a portion of the sermons of Jesus and his apostles were recorded for preservation. Only here and there a few expressions—a doctrine, a caution, a reproof, a warning, a token, an encouragement, an incentive to faith, a ray of light and hope, a promise, a benediction, an expression of praise or thanksgiving, a prayer—interspersed with deeds of love and mercy; these are all that is left to us of the "gracious words" that fell from their lips. So little, and yet how much. A little book would contain the words, yet volumes would not contain the meaning. The liberation of the world from sin and death is comprehended in the scope. The lesson is indeed short, but the analysis is everlasting life.