A.D. 29. own." -Abp. Leighton. its birth, we encounter it in moods tempestuous and turbulent. Here tearing wildly through some dark ravine, there dashing madly over some steep precipice; yet ever onwards, and ever broader, deeper, calmer, till in its might it marches unvexed and Opinion is a medium between undisturbed. And likened to this may be the conflict of opinion knowledge and which takes place in the breast of some earnest man who has ignorance."-anxiously confronted the great problems of life, death, time, fate -who has determined to attempt for himself their solution. Now opinion because in wandering mazes entirely lost-now clutching eagerly at some it is thine, and shadow which eludes his grasp-now shrinking in horror from not because it is conclusions which present themselves to his mind; yet always true, is to prefer struggling, always enduring. At length, light comes-firm ground truth."-Venning. is reached. And how welcome is that light, none know, save they who have groped in darkness; how welcome is that firm standingplace, none know, save they who have floundered about in the bogs and quagmires of error.d Plato. "To maintain an thyself above the c Stevens. d W. Bebbington. Jesus teaches in the Temple 14-16. now, prob. on a Sabbath. midst.. feast, good opportunity for teaching. Temple, the most public place, many people there, rulers, etc. marvelled, not only at His boldness, but, and esp., at His manner of teaching. letters, learning. b Jo. viii. 28; xii. Prob. the question was asked in contempt. learned, in their a Ma. xiii. 54. 49. "Thou defile them. Did schools; where, in truth, the teachers needed to be taught by seest Him. answered, justifying His manner and theme. Even some turn their supposing they were true teachers, how narrow of them to supback upon the public assemblies pose that another equally true teacher could not teach in any under a pretence style but theirs. doctrine, the chief matter, not the manner. of sinful mixtures His.. Me, He had learned of the God of all grace and wisdom. there that would The help of opposition.—A certain amount of opposition is a our Lord Jesus great help to a man. Kites rise against and not with the wind. do this? O, Even a head wind is better than none. No man ever worked his Christian, study passage anywhere in a dead calm. Let no man wax pale, theremore, and thou fore, because of opposition. Opposition is what he wants and wilt soon learn to must have, to be good for anything. Hardship is the native soil of manhood and self-reliance. He that cannot abide the storm without flinching or quailing, strips himself in the sunshine, and lies down by the wayside to be overlooked and forgotten. He who but braces himself to the struggle when the winds blow, gives up when they have done, and falls asleep in the stillness that follows.c Christ's life mend thine own." Gurnall c J. Neal. He charges them with seeking His life a Jo. viii. 43. b Jo. viii. 45. b 17-19. will.. doctrine," he who is willing to obey will be anxious to know. Capacity for Divine knowledge depends much on inclination. of himself, His own authority; a self-sent, unauthorised teacher. seeketh . . glory, or he would not speak at all. seeketh. . sent, one may seek without being sent; and being sent, not seek that glory. He who is both sent of God and seeking God's glory. true, worthy of trust; not a self-seeker. Moses, they made Christ's teaching a question of authority; pretending they would obey if He proved His authority. Now, they did not dispute the authority of M., yet did not obey his law. why.. kill,e hating truth, etc., under a hypocritical "Unless you be- pretence of regard for authority. The law says, "Thou shalt not lieve you will not kill." c Pr. xxv. 27. d Jo. i. 17; Ga. iii. 19; Ro. iii. 10-13. understand." Augustine. Saving knowledge the result of personal obedience.-I. The folly e Ma. xii. 14; Jo. of objecting to religion—the Christian religion—because it contains some mysteries which the teachers of the Gospel cannot solve: v. 16, 18. 1. This is aggravated when those mysteries are imputed as a fault to Him who utters them; 2. There is nothing obscure or perplexing in the road to heaven. II. The sure means of obtaining for ourselves an interest and a portion in its promises: 1. By tasting its sweetness; 2. By discerning the bitter consequences of neglecting A.D. 29. "When we per of form duties religion only to be seen and applauded of men, we make God our pre only tence, but men idols; and our we set up as many gods be and observers." Bp. Hopkins. it.e Unsanctified Reason: an allegory.-I saw a very young child one day, with the pieces of a large dissected map in a confused pile before him. The child's father was standing behind him, though the little one did not know it, and was watching him with a father's interest. The little fellow took up a piece of the map fore Him as we in one hand, and looked at its curious shape-its point projecting have spectators here, and its indentations running in like a bay there-and wondered what these angles and points could all mean. He then took up another piece in his other hand, and tried to fit them to grand contradicone another; but they were not meant to fit, and he could not join tion, that fatal them. He then threw down that piece and took up another, paradox in the life of man; his which, as he thought, seemed more likely to dovetail, but it was very being conno better. He looked at both pieces, and then, thinking that one sists in rationwould fit the other exactly if only a little corner, which provok-ality, his acting ingly stood out, were broken off, he snapped it off and put the is contrary to all pieces together; still they did not fit. He then took up another world. Man only "This is that the reason in the maintains a con reason of his - Bp. suade men that they are innocent, but to show them they are guilty." Sumner. Abp. e Rev T. Dale piece, looked at it attentively, and, as if he had got hold of the was created unsecret, snapped the piece in two, and throwing aside one of the der the law of broken halves, laid the other down, and placed one piece after reason; man only another to it, as if he was now sure he could put the map together; stant opposition but he could not. He succeeded, indeed, in placing a few of the to the law and larger and more simple parts together-some of the long, straight, creation." outline pieces which formed the outside-but after trying for S. Ward. some time he gave it up. My dear little child," said the father, Use the law for as the child turned to go away, "you should not have broken off its proper purthose points and snapped that piece of the map in half. Every poses, not to perpiece in that map is made so as to fit exactly to that which is meant to be joined to it. The person who cut that map into pieces, when he made one piece to have points and corners, made another to have inlets which exactly fit the points and corners. There is not a single piece which has not its own place in that map, and which is not meant to fill that place; and if a single M.A. corner, however small, is broken off, the whole would be incom-f Rev. W. W. plete. You should not have broken off those little corners; you Champneys, M.A. will see that they are not little, but very important pieces when I "Nature worketh in us all a love put that map together. You should have waited patiently. You to our own counshould have felt that you were but a little child, and that you sels; the contraknow very little. You should have said, 'My father can put it diction of others all together, though I cannot; and you should have been sure flame that love." that though you cannot see why these pieces are shaped as they-Hooker. are, because you are a child, he who made the map made it as a "I have whole, and made every separate piece so that it exactly fits its men who, I next pieces, and all the pieces so that they can be joined together." That little child is unsanctified Reason, judging the deep things of God. It takes up the separate parts of God's great plan; and because it cannot understand how they can be joined, concludes that they are not meant to fit, and throws aside one and mutilates another.... The Bible must perplex all system-makers; but to wicked, that it the simple-minded and humble, who know that they "know cost more for nothing yet as they ought to know," and "know (at best) but in them to be de is a fan to in seen thought, ought to have a whole conversion for each one of their faculties. Their natures were so unmitigatedly inconsistent view of the Sabbath part," each portion is plain when they TRY TO DO IT; and, while they can no more measure its depths with their mind than fathom the Straits of Gibraltar with a packthread, they work more earnestly because they know and feel that God is working in them, "both to will and do" what is well-pleasing in His own sight. a 20-23. people, who could not believe their rulers had such a purpose. It would not suit the purpose of the rulers to regard Him as one possessed. done.. work, at the pool of Bethesda. b Le. xii. 3; cf. circumcise, I heal, you wound a man on the Sabbath. angry, yet wh. work is the more Sabbatical of the two. The one speaks of law, the other of mercy. a Jo. viii. 48. Ge. xvii. 10. c Jo. v. 8. "God's honour is neither in Thou hast a devil.-I. The ignominy to which the Jews wished creased by our by these words to subject our Lord. II. The fearful blasphemy speaking well of contained in them: 1. Against Christ Himself; 2. Against God Him, nor lessen- as His Father; 3. Against the Holy Spirit. III. The great meeked by our speaking evil of Him."ness shown by Christ in not noticing the words.d -Bernard. "There is no part of a man's nature wh. the wh. it does not hallow... Christ did not cast six and leave one; the seven. The power of prejudice.-Dr. Taylor, of Norwich, once said to me, "Sir, I have collated every word in the Hebrew Scriptures seventeen times: and it is very strange if the doctrine of the Gospel does not atonement you hold should not have been found by me." I am purify, no rela- not surprised at this. I once went to light my candle with the tion of his life extinguisher on it. Now, prejudice from education, learning, etc., often proves an extinguisher. It is not enough that you bring the candle: you must remove the extinguisher.e devils out of Unconscious prejudice.-Persons often, from some cause or Mary Magdalene other, are under the influence of prejudice without even knowing He cast out all it. "Men," said a late writer," in general, and particularly He professional men, view objects through the media of their own did not partly pursuits, and express themselves accordingly. A gentleman man at the pool was thrown from a very restive horse in Hyde Park, and had the of Bethesda; He misfortune to break one of his legs. A crowd instantly collected made him every-around him, in which were a riding-master, a painter, a mathematician, a lawyer, and a clergyman, 'If this unfortunate man,' said the riding-master, 'had taken a few lessons in my school, that accident would not have happened.' 'How finely the figure was fore-shortened in falling!' said the painter. 'He made a parabolic curve,' said the mathematician. It is a hundred to one,' said the lawyer, if he has made his will.' 'Run for a surgeon,' said the clergyman, and let us assist the poor nan in getting home." "f cure the lame whit whole."-A. W. Hare. d J. Willis. e J. Newton. f T. Hughes. on forming opinions a De. i. 16, 17. b v. 48. c Ma. xiii. 55. "Think, ye are 24-27. judge,a from opinion, arrive at conclusions. appearance, outward form, show. but.. judgment, acc. to nature, spirit, intention. some.. Jerusalem, who knew the rulers better than the people (v. 20) who prob. coming fr. the country had a traditional reverence for the rulers. say nothing, men; deem it officially, by way of silencing Him, or, give no order for His not impossible arrest. rulers. Christ, have they changed their views? for you to err. Sift impartially howbeit, whatever the rulers do; we follow them, only when your own heart, they reject Christ. we. is, important knowledge to establish whether it be the claims of Christ. but.. is, this remark shows how little ing or vehemency they knew the Scriptures, wh. are so distinct on these points. force of reason с of affection which Soul adjudication.-The most important judgments are those hath bred and to be passed on-I. Man; II. Christianity, which is the essential these opinions in means of Spiritual life; III. Religion; IV. Providence. How to you. If truth do judge righteously.-I. Is it at all lawful for us to judge others? still doth feed A.D. 29. glorying with delusion; ac the greatness there of, and think it when the same doth prevail over your best victory tradictions-con to truth and reason, to God, to themselves, and to one another. uni 1. That the express prohibition may be safely qualified; 2. The Scriptural injunctions must be practically observed. II. How anywhere manican we best form a righteous judgment? 1. All judicial decisions fest itself, seek are supposed to be based on evidence; 2. With upright intentions. not to smother it III. What considerations may urge us to this Christian duty? 1. The eternal rule of Christian rectitude; 2. The remembrance know edge of our own infirmities; 3. The retributive justice of God.e False appearances.-If you go into a churchyard some snowy day, when the snow has been falling thick enough to cover every monument and tombstone, how beautiful and white does everything appear! But remove the snow, dig down beneath, and you you."-Hooker. find rottenness and putrefaction, "dead men's bones, and all "Sinners are uncleanness." How like that churchyard on such a day is the made up of conmere professor-fair outside; sinful, unholy within! The grass tradictions grows green upon the sides of a mountain that holds a volcano in its bowels-An Indian devotee.-A traveller in Canada was on a hunting expedition with a party of Indians. Before retiring to sleep, all knelt in prayer, rosary in hand. But the dogs, which, Virtue is to increase their fierceness, had been kept fasting, came prowling form, regular, into the cabin, and one happened to touch the heel of an Indian, constant and whose look was the devoutest and most self-absorbed. He im- Whichcote. mediately turned round to eject the intruder, and showering ad Dr. Thomas. volley of imprecations, finally drove him out, with circumstances of peculiar indignation. This done, he took a long puff at his pipe, and resumed his prayers. 28-31. know.. am, hence they were unconscious witnesses for Him. and myself, being what you know me to be, coming whence you know: it should be plain that I am what I profess to be. An impostor would conceal his origin. true, see Gk., genuine, original; c i.e., I am sent fr. no delegated authority, no human court or assembly. whom . . not, do not truly know Him. knowe [i. 77, 78], intimate relation. from Him, eternal vine," see Gk. Sonship. they, rulers, Sanhedrim. sought, charge, oppor-d Jo. i. 18; viii. tunity. man.. him, bec., as it seemed to them, the opportunity 55. was wanting. because, etc., the true reason unknown to them. e Ma. xi. 27; Jo. people, fr. Galilee, etc. said, their common sense a better x. 15. guide than the quibbles of others. b certain."-Dr. e Anon. f Dr. Guthrie. because of a Jo. v. 43. c Jo. xv.-"true f Mk. xi. 18; Lu. The hour of destiny.-I. Christ's hour was Divinely predesti- xx. 19; Jo. viii. nated: 1. The numerous predictions of Scripture; 2. The long- 37. suffering of God in the preservation of the human race; 3. The g Jo. iv. 39. influence which this hour has exerted on the condition of the "There are, I back their lives, cannot produce many instances both of the devil's policy, in fitting them with occa world-prove this. II. His hour was above all contingency and believe, but few human interference. This fact shows-1. The universality of men who, if they Divine providence; 2. The futility of human opposition to it; 3. will but examine The steadfastness of the Divine plan. III. His hour did not affect the moral freedom of His conduct: 1. He chose this hour; 2. This proves His infinite love for us; 3. The manner in which Christ submitted to this destiny is a sublime model for us." Judging rightly. An ingenious device is attributed in the Talmud to King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba, attracted by the reputation of his wisdom, one day presented herself before him, holding in her hands two wreaths, the one of exquisite natural flowers, the other of artificial. The artificial wreath was arranged emergent affairs, with so much taste and skill, the delicate form of the flowers so some unexpected perfectly imitated, and the minutest shades of colour so wonder- action, to interfully blended, that the wise king, at the distance at which they them fr. those sions and opportunities of sin, and providence, in of God's causing some pose and hinder A.D. 29. sins that they purposed."-Bp. Hopkins. were held, was unable to determine which was really the work of the Divine Artist. For a moment he seemed baffled; the Jewish court looked on in melancholy astonishment; then his eyes turned towards a window, near which a swarm of bees was hovering. He commanded it to be opened; the bees rushed into the court, and immediately alighted on one of the wreaths; whilst not a single i D'Israeli's Cur. one fixed on the other. Thus was the great monarch's wisdom vindicated, and a lesson taught, capable of various applications, in elucidation of the text.i h P. L. Davies, А.М. of Lit. His depar ture and its consequences xvi. 16. b Ho. v. 6; Jo. viii. 21. c Is. xi. 12; Ja. i. 1; 1 Pe. i. 1. "To feel the pains, but not the guilt of sin, is the wretched state of judi 32-36. murmured, whispered among themselves. sent.. take, alarmed by these popular views. Jesus," aware of these plots. them, continuing His address to the people. I go, etc., ref. to His ascension. seek,' as Messiah, when too late. where am, in My heavenly kingdom. ye.. come, rejection of Christ on earth excludes fr. His presence in heaven. whither Him, they did not know that He ref. to removal fr. earth. dispersed, Jews scattered among the Gentiles. Gentiles, will He try to make proselytes of them? what manner, etc., what does it mean? What is His purpose? Christ may be sought too late.-I. The importance of inquiring cially hardened into Divine truth in general. II. The importance of ascertaining sinners in this the meaning of "this saying" in particular-1. In reference to His followers; 2. In reference to ourselves. III. We may then without learn "what manner of saying this is." It is-1. Instructive; 2. hope of mercy, Comfortable; 3. Terrific.-Rev. C. Simeon. world; to feel both pain and guilt, state of the 66 There thing else but perpetual va is the desperate Experience better than theory.—I have bought tropical morningdamned."-Wogan glory seeds for the green-house with the assurance of the seedsare, man that I could not raise them out of doors. I did raise them whose life is no- out of doors; that is the answer I gave to him. "But," he says, "it is impossible, in our summer, to raise them;" but I did riety of wicked- it. "The summer is not long enough, or warm enough, to raise ness, and they them here." I have raised them, and I shall not give up my will quickly make up their argument upon that question. If a man says that there never account; the con- was a Christ, or that He was only a man, I answer that I have stancy inflames found Him of whom Moses and the prophets spake. I have asked the reckoning, Him, "What wilt Thou?" and He has told me; I have put my advance mighti- soul and my heart, as He has commanded me, into His hand. ly; how know Will any man now undertake to reason me out of the result? I they but the next know in whom I have trusted, and know what He has done for me. Is the music of my life, the inspiration of every faculty, the tudes may fill up transformation of my views, the regeneration of my hopes-are these the score? To nothing? Am I to go back eighteen hundred years, with the such now only sceptical philosopher, to reason about Jerusalem, and about the may be the accepted time." Lord Jesus Christ, and not reason upon my own actual daily posi tive experience?-H. W. Beecher. and the sum does of any of these greater magni Dr. Allestry. the great day of the feast a Nu. xxix. 18— 36; Is. lv. 1. 37-39. last. . feast," the feast itself was called the greatest, this eighth day, celebrated with great pomp. thirst.. drink, all. to water drawn in golden vase fr. Siloam, at foot of Mt. Sion, by priests, and poured on the gt. altar, when the people sang the "On this, the gt. Hallel,d acc. to words of Isaiah, as a memorial of the smitten bullock was to be rock,and typical of living water of the Spirit wh. would be poured offered: whereas forth when the true Rocks had been smitten." he.. said, etc. on the first day he shall have a perennial fount. of refreshment in himself. Spirit . receive, the indwelling Spirit, Comforter,' earnest of inherit |