A.D. 29. "O Lord, be Thou light unto mine eyes, music to my ears, unto my taste, and a full con 2. They shall have the Light of life. The world's Light.—I. The Divine Light revealing humanity to itself: 1. In its actual and degraded condition; 2. In its ennobled and ideal state. II. The Divine Light revealing itself to humanity: 1. In its hatred of sin; sweetness 2. In His love for the sinner; 3. As the Guide unto all truth.e The beauty of light.-The value and excellence of the phototentment to my grapher's plate which is hidden within the camera does not conheart; be Thou sist in what it is, but upon its susceptibility when the object-glass my sunshine in of the camera is open to that light which streams upon it. If it the day, my food į at the table, my is unprepared, and is like the common glass, all beauty might sit repose in the before it, and no change would be produced by the streaming of night season, my light. The glass might be as good in the first case as in the second, with the exception that, when it is prepared, the photoin all grapher's glass reveals the impression of beauty made upon it by necessities."--Bp. the light. Light on the way home.-On the banks of the Ganges, at certain seasons, large numbers of priests may be seen engaged in lighting small lamps, and then sending them afloat on the surface of the river. When asked what they are doing, they will reply, "We are trying to give light to our departed friends. You know that the other world is all dark, that they have no light there, and we are lighting these lamps to try to dispel the darkness which surrounds our departed friends." And this is all that heathenism can do for its votaries; but "he that followeth Me," says Jesus," shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life." clothing in nakedness, and my success Cosin. d Rev. C. Simeon. e Rev. S. Slocombe. f Rev. H. W. Beecher. If we would fully enjoy the light, deeds that we de let us have no sire to cover. Christ's mission not to judge, but save a Jo. vii. 29. b Jo. iii. 17; xii. 47. c1 S. xvi. 7. d v. 22; Jo. xvi. 22. "A good judge does nothing of his will, or the purpose of his private choice, but pronounces according to the law and public 14-16. though, even if it were as you say. true, and none the less true, even if no witness beside myself. know, etc., I have absolute, distinct, certain knowledge. whence.. whither," His origin, incarnation, etc., mysteries to them. judge, even Divine things, sacred mysteries. flesh, carnal, worldly standard. judge Iman, though the Judge of all, His time for official judging had not yet come. His work was then to save. true, for the same reason that His record is true, i.e., bec. of His certain knowledge. not alone, though He had few human followers. I.. Father, united in one person. The judgment of the world and of Christ.-I. The judgment of the world: 1. It is carnal; 2. False; 3. Unjust. II. The judg ment of Christ: 1. It is true; 2. In it the Father concurs.-Anon. Internal evidence of the Divinity of Christ.-As there can be no right; he obeys argument of chemistry in proof of odours like a present perfume the sanctions of itself; as the shining of the stars is a better proof of their existthe law, giving no ence than the figures of an astronomer; as the restored health of way to his own his patients is a better argument of skill in a physician than will; he brings laboured examinations and certificates; as the testimony of the home prepared almanack that summer comes with June is not so convincing as and deliberated; is the coming of summer itself in the sky, in the air, in the fields, so he judges."- on hill and mountain; so the power of Christ upon the human soul is to the soul evidence of His Divinity, based upon a living experience, and transcending in conclusiveness any convictions of the intellect alone, founded upon a contemplation of mere ideas, however just and sound.-Rev. H. W. Beecher. nothing from but, as he hears, Ambrose. the law of evidence 17-20. in.. law," in which they had boasted and trusted (v. 5). two, wh. num. He has. one.. myself, ref. to His twoa De. xvii. 9; xix. fold nature. This was not evidence they would be likely to accept. where.. Father ? some think the Jews meant a human father 15. in thus speaking. Me.. Father also, both bec. He is one with the Father, and the way to the Father. treasurye [i. 345]. come, they were not wanting in evil purpose, but in power and permission. man.. Jesus at the bar of human prejudice.-I. The court-1. The place: (1) The Temple-for prayer; (2) Treasury-place for offerings of benevolence; 2. The persons-the Pharisees who had prejudiced the case. II. The witnesses: 1. The Father-the God of truth; 2. Christ-the Truth. III. Their testimony-that Christ was the Son of God. IV. The verdict-that Christ was guilty of blasphemy. A.D. 29. Jo. v. 37; cf. xvi. 3; xvii. 25. c Augustine (Stier, e Mk. xii. 41. Jo. vii. 30. "The carnaminded would reach Christ, but will not have no care to The English law relating to evidence.-Evidence is so called they follow Him. bec. it makes evident the point in issue. It is of two kinds, parol, Though they or verbal, and written. Parol evidence is that which is given by much wish to word of mouth by witnesses. It is usually given upon oath; and find Him, they formerly Quakers, Moravians, and others who are forbidden by seek Him."their religion to take one, although they might give evidence upon Bernard. affirmation in a civil action, were incompetent to give testimony Albany Fonin a criminal court. By a recent Act of Parliament this dis- blanque. tinction is abolished, and persons who have conscientious objections to being sworn may make an affirmation that what they are about to say is the truth; after which, their evidence is admitted. It is a general rule that persons must be sworn in the manner most binding upon their conscience. Thus the Christian is sworn upon the New Testament, with his head uncovered; the Jew upon the five books of Moses, with his hat on; the Mahommedan upon the Koran; the Hindoo by the river Ganges; the Chinese by breaking a saucer, and praying that he may be similarly destroyed if he be guilty of a falsehood. Idiots, lunatics, and children who do not understand the nature of an oath, cannot be admitted to give evidence.g no "For the Son sees the Father showing what He does, before anything is done; and whatever is done by the Father through the Son, is done from the Father's and from the Son seeing what is shown."-Augus demonstration, tine. Christ in vain a Jo. vii. 34. 21-24. I.. way, I pursue My course to the end—death, and seeking aft. to heaven. seek mea (see notes vii. 33). die.. sins, salvation for those who reject Christ. ye..come, He foresaw that they would die impenitent. kill himself, another wresting of His words. beneath.. above, He and they belonged to dif. worlds, were governed by dif. motives, etc. therefore, etc., bec. He, the Divine, the Heaven-sent, the only Saviour, was rejected by them. b Job xx. 11; Ps. lxxiii. 18-20; Pr. xiv. 32; Is. lxv. 20; Ep. ii. 1. c Lu. xvi. 26. Mk. xvi. 16. "The whole life the author of all Danger of rejecting Christ.-I. What is comprehended in the faith here spoken of: 1. A full persuasion of His Messiahship; 2. A cordial acceptance of Him under that character; 3. An of unbelievers is entire devotion to Him, as His disciples. II. The importance of sin; good cannot it to our eternal welfare. Recommend (1) An inquiry into exist apart from persons' states, in relation to this matter; (2) A consideration of good."- Augusthe doom that awaits the unbelieving soul; (3) An attention to tine. the blessed truth which our text implies. "Infidelity Death of a rejector of Christ.-Voltaire spent his whole life in makes the death malignant but vain attempts to ridicule and overturn Christianity. of Christ to be He was the idol of a large portion of the French nation; but just death of an orwhen they were decreeing new honours for him, and loading him dinary man."with fresh applause, then the hour of his ignominy and shame Dr. Hammond. was fully come. In a moment the approach of death dissipated e Simeon. his delusive dreams, and filled his guilty soul with inexpressible horror. As if moved by magic, conscience started from her long slumbers, and unfolded before him the broad extended roll of all no more than the A.D. 29. f Whitecross. Jesus was not alone a Jo. iii. 14; xii. 32. b 1 Co. ii. 8. c Ma. xxvii. 54; Lu. xxiii. 47. d Ac. ii. 41; xxi. 20. "Do you seek any further reward beyond that of having pleased God? In truth, you do not know how great a good it is to please tom. "God finds plea sure in us when we find pleasure in God."-Augus his crimes. Ah! whither could he fly for relief? Fury and despair succeeded each other by turns, and he had more the appearance of a demon than a man. To his physician he said, "Doctor, I will give you half of what I am worth, if you will give me six months' life." The doctor answered, "Sir, you cannot live six weeks." Voltaire replied, "Then shall I go to hell, and you shall go with me;" and soon after expired. 25-29. who.. thou? insolent repetition of question. No need to ask at all. They might see. saith.. same, He has but one reply. many things, what He had told them was little as comp. with what He might have told had they received Him. I.. world, He yet speaks to the world wherever His Gospel is preached. understood, lit. knew. lifted up,a on the cross. then, not before some knew then, and many directly aft. with me, proved by His words, deeds, character. for, etc., for the same reason God is with all His faithful servants. Christ forecasting His death and destiny.-I. This language reveals sublime heroism of soul in the prospect of a terrible death. II. It expresses unshaken faith in the triumph of His cause. III. It implies a principle of conduct common in all history. Goodness, disregarded when living, and appreciated when gone. The Divine Fatherhood.--This word "Father" signifieth that Him."-Chrysos- we are Christ's brothers, and that God is our Father. He is the eldest Son, He is the Son of God by nature, we are His sons by adoption through His goodness, therefore He bids us call Him our Father, who is to be had in fresh memory and great reputation. For here we are admonished that we are "reconciled unto God."... So that it is a word of much importance and great reputation; for it confirms our faith when we call Him Father. Therefore our Saviour, when He teaches us to call God Father, teaches us to understand the fatherly affection which God bears towards us; which makes us bold and hearty to call upon Him, knowing that He bears a good will towards us, and that He will surely hear our prayers. tine. f Latimer. freedom b Ro. ii. 7; Col. i. c Ho. vi. 3. d Ps. cxix. 45; 30-32. spake.. words, bringing by means of them His works to their recollection. many.. him,a His patience and forbearance being additional proofs of His Divinity. continue, abide, dwell. then.. indeed, but not if ye are emotional, transient believers. know, increase in knowledge and experi ence. free, fr. error, prejudice, Satan's bondage, yoke of ceremonial law, sin, etc. Continuance in Christ's Word a mark of true discipleship.-L. The characteristics of a true disciple. II. Show the advantages Christ is no one peculiar to such a character. "And ye shall know the truth, and transient act, to the truth shall make you free."-1. That they should know this done once truth; 2. The promise is, that the truth so known shall make us only in a man's free.-Analysis of vv. 30-33.-Mark here (1) Superficial faith; calls coming to (2) True discipleship; (3) Genuine liberty; (4) Unconscious Him' He else- bondage. be life. What He by 'abiding in where expresses Perseverance.-Robert Bruce, restorer of the Scottish monarchy, Him,' and by being out one day looking at the enemies of his country, was 'continuing in obliged to seek refuge at night in a barn, which belonged to a His Word."-Bp. poor but honest cottager. In the morning, when he awoke, he "We must not saw a spider climbing up the beam of the roof. The spider fell put truth into down to the ground, but it immediately tried again, when it a Beveridge. means, but into second time fell to the ground. It made a third attempt, but did A.D. 29. not succeed. Twelve times did the little spider try to climb up the place of the beam, and twelve times it fell down again, but the thirteenth time it succeeded and gained the top of the beam. The king the place of an immediately got up from his lowly couch, and said, "This little end."--Dr. Whichspider has taught me perseverance. I will follow its example. Twelve times have I been beaten by the enemy; I will try once He did so, and won the next battle! The king was the more." spider's scholar. and, 33-37. they, prob. of those who did not believe. Abraham's seed, unworthy descendants of the "friend of God." never. man,a strange forgetfulness both of their past history and present state. whosoever sin, He spoke of a more degrading bondage and a higher freedom than they imagined. another reply to their boast. servant, prob. ref. to Ishmaelthe bond. abideth.. ever, being cast out, his descs. not to be regarded as the true seed. son, prob. ref. to Isaac-the free.de indeed, vital union with Christ alone the ground of true sonship and real freedom;e in the higher, spiritual sense-that to wh. the figure now passes. know, and admit. seed, acc. to the flesh; but I speak of a higher relation. seek, etc., faithful teaching the instrument of salvation, or the cause of deepest hatred. son.. 3. cote. e Anon. f Dr. Bonar. 9 S. G. Goodrich. Abraham's seed Ro. vi. 16, 20; 2 Pe. ii. 19. Ga. iv. 30; Ro. a Le. xxv. 42. ix. 6-12. "The mixture of are di vided,, is the mother of all error."-Hooker. "A good man, though he were a slave, is yet free; whereas, a wicked man, enslaved; nor is ders his case so are Real liberty.-I. What is liberty? II. Liberty is incompatible with sin, and a sinner is a slave. A slave in regard to-1. His understanding; 2. His will; 3. His conscience; 4. His conduct; 5. His condition. III. Our privileges through the salvation of Christ though he were are-1. A knowledge of the mysteries of God; 2. Evangelical a king, is yet holiness; 3. Union with God; 4. Triumph over death, hell, and he enslaved to the grave; 5. Immortal glory.-True freedom.-Inquire into-one master only, I. The proper idea of liberty. II. The liberty wherewith Christ but, which renmaketh free is true freedom. More particularly the way in which far worse, to as the Son of God makes us free is this: 1. He opens the prison many masters as doors; 2. He breaks our fetters; 3. He creates in us a new heart, he has lusts."— and renews in us a right spirit; 4. He admits us to the glorious Augustine. franchise of the "sons of God."-The place for the Word.-sin bargains with "The wages that I. What is the Word of Christ? The whole Scripture, especially the sinner the Gospels. II. What place this Word of Christ should have in life, pleasure, and us. In our-1. Understandings; 2. Minds and memories; profit; but the Hearts and affections; 4. Lives and conversations. wages it pays him III. Why are death, torthe Word of Christ hath not such place as it should have in those ment, and deIV. How this is the cause of all the wickedness of struction. He "Ye seek to kill me," etc. V. Application-1. Examina-derstand the tion; 2. Exhortation.h He sets the captive free.-Mr. Fleming, in his "Fulfilling of the deceit of sin, Scriptures," relates the case of a man who was a very great sinner, and for his horrible wickedness was put to death in the town of Ayr. This man had been so stupid and brutish a fellow, that all who knew him thought him beyond the reach of all ordinary means of grace; but while the man was in prison, the Lord wonderfully wrought on his heart, and in such a measure discovered to him his sinfulness, that after much serious exercise and sore wrestling, a most kindly work of repentance followed, with great assurance of mercy, insomuch, that when he came to the place of execution, he could not cease crying out to the people, under the sense of pardon, and the comforts of the A.D. 29. f Stevens. g Rev. E. Hall. Rev. P. Henry. i Dr. Cheever. children Father a Jo. xiv. 10, 24. b Ma. iii. 9. presence and favour of God,-"O, He is a forgiver! He is a great forgiver!" And he added the following words,-" Now hath perfect love cast out fear. I know God hath nothing to lay against me, for Jesus Christ hath paid all; and those are free whom the Son makes free." i 38-41. I.. Father,a mercy, truth, love. ye.. father resemble the (v. 44), envy, murder, etc. father, assuming that He ref. to Abraham. saith, showing that true sons should resemble their father. seek . . me, shrink not fr. greatest crime. man, Son of God, who, in human form, has come to save. told.. truth, they had fawned upon the speaker of a flattering falsehood. this Abraham, who, with less evidence, believed God even when obedience seemed to imperil all his hope. Father.. God, catching His idea of a spiritual relation, they now claim to be the children of God equally with Abraham. e Ro. ii. 28, 29; ix. 7; Ga. iii. 7, 29. d Ro. iv. 12. Is. lxiii. 16; lxiv. 8. The true children of Abraham.-Consider the text-I. For the informing of our judgment. It contains-1. A reasonable; 2. An impartial; 3. A certain test. II. For the trying of our state. "Ye arm your Application: 1. Make use then of this test, to ascertain your selves with the state; 2. Use also this example as a stimulus to your exername of a tions/ Church; and yet ye fight against the Church." Leo. "Hatred is the daughter of truth."-Bp. Hall ̧ "They said this because the worship of idols is often called in the Prophets fornication; for the same reason they add, 'we have one Father, even Clarius. "You are the first of your line," sneered an opponent to Cicero. The last days of Thomas Paine.-Stephen Grellet, the French Quaker, who devoted his life to works of Christian philanthropy in Europe and America, has left on record some notes of the latter days of Tom Paine. This miserable infidel, after diffusing his unbelief in Britain and America, died in the latter country. Grellet, hearing that Paine was ill, resolved to see him. He found the unhappy man in most destitute circumstances, neglected and forsaken by his friends and his companions, with no one to care for him-alone, friendless, hopeless, an abject picture of misery and mental degradation. Grellet had much of his Master's compassion for the lost; he became a good Samaritan, even to one who had bitterly opposed the God of heaven. He provided him with a nurse, and supplied a variety of necessaries for the sick God.'" Isidore man. "Paine was mostly," records Grellet, "in a state of stupor; but something that had passed between us had made such an impression upon him that, some days after my departure, he sent for me, and on being told that I was gone from home, he sent for another friend. This induced a valuable young friend (Mary Roscoe), who had resided in my family, and continued at Green"And you are wich during part of my absence, frequently to go and take him the last of yours." some little refreshment suitable for an invalid, furnished by a f Rev. C. Simeon. neighbour. Once, when he was there, three of his deistical associates came to the door, and, in a loud unfeeling manner, said, Tom Paine, it is said you are turning a Christian, but we hope you will die as you have lived;' and then went which, turning to Mary Roscoe, he said, 'You see what miserable comforters they are.' Once, he asked her if she had ever read any of his writings; and on being told that she had read but very little of them, he inquired what she thought of them, adding, 'from such a one as you I expect a correct answer.' at it; for if we him she had commenced reading The Age of Reason; but it had should believe so distressed her that she threw it into the fire. I wish all had only such things done as you,' replied Paine; for if the devil has ever had any to our reason, we agency in any work, he has had it in my writing that book.' Miss assent to the Roscoe stated that, when going to carry him some refreshment, He retorted, "As we are ob liged to obey the Divine law, though our will murmur against it; so are we obliged to believe the Word of God, though our reason be shocked as are agreeable away. On She told |