The truth, here shadowed forth, has long ago been clearly revealed and assuredly brought to pass: "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God:" (Ps. xcviii. 3.) and we are of the number of those Gentiles, who have already been graciously and signally blessed. In the midst of our joy and thanksgivings, and to increase the fervour of them, let us never forget that precious sacrifice, by which the door of salvation was opened to us, and we were admitted within the pale of God's church and people: it was by the humiliation and sufferings and death of His only begotten and beloved Son. We are here plainly told, that the blood of Jesus shed upon the cross, was indispensably necessary, to make atonement for sin, and to gather unto Himself a holy family of believers out of all the corners of the world. And what was needful

order that He might

for our atoning Redeemer, in bestow upon us the privilege of eternal life, and "bring many sons to glory," is also destined for us, His followers, before we enter into that life: we also must die, and rise again. And St. Paul explains and illustrates this great truth by a figure similar to that which our Lord has used. "That which thou sowest is

not quickened (has no life) except it die," (1 Cor. xv. 36.) but when it has perished, as to its former shape and substance, it springs up and bears fruit abundantly; so shall the body, after it has been buried in the earth, be quickened and raised and glorified. Let us then be content to follow the Lord, through suffering and through death, so that we may be of the number

of His redeemed children, and follow Him to glory. Let us be ready, if required, to give up life itself, our short temporal life, "to spend and be spent," so that we may enter into His everlasting kingdom. But in the mean time, we are privileged to pray to our heavenly Father, under all our afflictions and trials, for comfort and deliverance; provided we pray, as Jesus prayed, with a spirit of humble and perfect resignation; desiring relief only in so far as our Father sees it best for us; desiring even to suffer, if His glory should be thereby promoted. Thus, in all our sorrows, we shall be comforted and blest: and though we hear not a voice from heaven, for our encouragement and assurance, yet will there be a whisper of peace in our bosom for "the Spirit itself, (which helpeth our infirmites,) will bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Rom. viii. 16, 26.)

LECTURE XLV.

Jesus is still discoursing with His disciples and others, and explaining to them the nature and consequences of those things which were coming to pass.

CHAP. XII. 31.

31. Now is the judgment of this world: Luke 10. 18. now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Chap. 3. 14.

Satan is called the prince of this world, and the god of this world, because he holds the world in his power; because it is in slavish subjection to him; and the time was coming, when a blow would be given to his wicked dominion, by the death of Jesus as an offering for sin, and as a means of bringing men to righteousness and to God. This is called a judgment; the the powers of evil would be judged and tried, and made to submit to the power grace of Christ.

and

32. And I, if I be lifted up, when I am lifted up, from the earth, will draw all men Rom. 5. 18. unto me. 33. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Jesus meant that He should be lifted up upon the cross, and that men would be drawn to look to Him, as their crucified Redeemer, for life and salvation.

34. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of

man?

The Scriptures, which are sometimes called the law, had certainly represented the Messiah in this manner. David said of Him, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of MelchiPsalm 110. 4.zedek." and thus the prophet Daniel: "His dominon is an everlasting dominion, which

shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which

shall not be destroyed." And from these, and Dan. 7. 14, other like words, it had been concluded that the Messiah would never die. This made them ask Him, whether, by calling Himself the Son of man, He meant that He was the Messiah; for if so, how could He die ? But they did not understand the meaning of their prophecies, which spake not of an earthly, but of a spiritual kingdom in this world, and an eternal kingdom in heaven; which spake of their Messiah as God as well as man; as man, He would die ; as God, He liveth for evermore.

35. Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little

Jer. 13, 16.

while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: Eph. 5. 8. for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

We may explain it thus: While ye have the light of My presence, of My doctrine, of My works, do your utmost to gain a true knowledge of Me and My kingdom; that ye may thus be converted and sanctified, and so made children of light; with such believing hearts and such characters, as the light, when received, produces.

37. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

These words are the beginning of Isai. liii. The prophet complains, that the people of his day did not believe his message from the Lord; and that they did not perceive the arm (i. e. the grace and power) of the Lord then revealed to them: they did not honour and understand him as the prophet of the Messiah. But St. John here tells us, that Isaiah spoke these words not of his own day and his own people only, but also as foreshewing what would take place, when the Messiah should come upon earth, and preach His gospel to the Jewish nation; that they would then refuse to believe on Him, as their forefathers had disbelieved His prophet; and that the grace and power of the Lord would not be efféctually revealed to them, because they would shut their eyes against the light of truth. When we read that they did this, in order" that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled," it does not mean that they were compelled to fulfil it, that they might not have believed if they chose; but that thus the prophecy was fulfilled, as God foresaw it would