not only the rich and great, not only His own people generally, but even His relatives reproached and opposed Him, in their distrust and unbelief. Verily the Lord received neither help nor honour from men; verily the gospel made its own way, by His own divine power, without them and against them; it was not of man, but of God.

6. Then said Jesus unto them, My time for going up to this feast, is not yet come : but your time is alway ready. 7. The world cannot hate you; you do nothing that is offensive to it; but me it hateth, because I Ch. 3. 19. testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.

& 5, 17.

Jesus intended to go up to the feast in Matt. 3. 15. obedience to the law, for He "fulfilled all righteousness" but He would not go with His kindred, because they wished to proclaim Him as king, and to make for Him a public entrance into Jerusalem: this was contrary to the nature and purpose of His kingdom; and would have drawn upon Him the indignation of the Jews, who sought to destroy Him. Therefore He remained quietly in Galilee, till they were gone.

10. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12. And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: : for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

No man dared to defend Him publicly: His enemies were open and loud in their objections and accusations; but they who thought favourably of Him, were silent; or contented themselves with a private testimony. And even in these our days, and this our land, of peace and safety, too many of us are ashamed or afraid openly to confess Christ and His gospel. Truly, we have no excuse for our backwardness and silence; nor can they proceed from an honest and good heart. Now let us apply what we have been reading.

Our Lord said to His kinsmen, "The world cannot hate you" They had not profited from the opportunities afforded them by their familiar acquaintance with Jesus; their minds were full of earthly views, and their hearts full of prejudice against the purifying and humbling truths of the gospel; they felt no dis

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pleasure at the world, and had nothing to say against it: and the world always honours with its approbation those who approve of its vanities, and whose conduct does not condemn it. But Jesus it hated: and why? for any wrong or injury that He had done? any sin or offence that He had committed? Nay: He "did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth;” (1 Pet. ii. 22.) and this, strange to say, was the very foundation of the world's hatred: He did no sin, abhorred all sin, protested against it wherever He went; and this is an offence, which the children of the wicked one can never bear or overlook. O! the dreadful and deplorable corruption of man's nature. That which should render the Saviour more honourable and lovely in our eyes, brings Him to be despised; renders Him unwelcome and forbidding. This is not seldom the case toward His faithful ministers: they are often hated, only because they are faithful reprovers, and will not leave men quiet in their sins; will not let them live and die without disturbance and warning. People find fault on many pretended and foolish grounds; the words of the minister are not suitable, his address and manner are unpleasing; but the real cause of dislike is, that he hurts the pride, exposes the sin, wrings the conscience, condemns the guilt and folly of the sinner. The wicked king said of the righteous prophet; "I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” (1 Kings xxii. 8.) Be we never set against any man for the strictness of his principle or his life; or for the faithfulness of

his reproof. Even if he be scrupulous beyond necessity, it is the safer error; it is better than falling short : and if his rebuke should wound us too deeply, he is more to be loved than if he left us at ease and in danger; for his faithful testimony can proceed only from the command which God has laid upon him, and from regard to our souls. They that love holiness, love holy men; they that humbly and sincerely desire to walk with God, will be thankful to every one that brings them nearer to Him. "He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding." (Prov. xv. 32.) Hear and live.

LECTURE XXV.

Jesus teacheth in the temple, and justifieth Himself in healing on the Sabbath-day.

CHAP. VII. 14.

14. Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, how has He so much knowledge, having never learned? in any of our famous schools. 16. Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine, my teaching, is not mine, but his that sent me.

Though I have not learned in your schools, I am not preaching on My own mere authority, but also according to the will of my Father who sent Me. 17. If any wan will do, if any man is desirous of doing, his will, he Hos. 6.3. shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

This verse opens to us a very important consideration. No man can form a proper judgment of any teaching, if his mind is set against it. If there were certain things which the Jews were determined not to do, they would not admit that such things were taught from God; no matter how clear it was, their hearts were blinded by their selfishness. Had they sincerely desired to do God's will, whatever it might be, however contrary to their notions or expectations, then their minds would have been open to receive the truth. The appearance and preaching of Jesus did not agree with their views and wishes; no matter what He might say or do, they settled it among themselves that He was not the Messiah, and they would not accept Him; and this prejudice entirely prevented them from understanding the truth. It is so with us, and with all; a hearty desire to perform the will of God, whether suited to our ideas and inclinations or not, is the sure way to know it: God will teach those persons every thing needful who are ready to learn, and to do