In the meantime, let us pause upon what we have learned already. How truly did the Lord Jesus say, "I am meek and lowly in heart!" (Matt. xi. 29.) How marvellous, on the present occasion, was His lowliness and meekness! How perfect a pattern is here exhibited, not only for our wonder, but also for our imitation. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant. (Phil. ii. 5-7.) He regards and loves His disciples, in proportion as they are like Him. Be it then our "hearts' desire and prayer," that we may imitate and resemble Him more and more ; that His holy image may be formed within us; that we "mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate." (Rom. xii. 16.) His whole life indeed was a lesson of humility: God grant, that it may not be lost upon us; that we may so learn and practice it, as to have a well-grounded hope of our Lord's abiding love. "He is faithful which called us;" His love is sealed to His humble and obedient servants, by a bond which cannot be broken: He will love them that love Him, even unto the end: He will defend them from every danger, and be their sure refuge through life and in death. "Because He hath set His love upon them, therefore will He deliver them. He shall give His angels charge over them to keep them in all their ways." (Ps. xci. 11,14.) Assailed and tempted they will be; nor can they, " by reason of the

frailty of their nature, always stand upright." But if their hearts are with Him, His love will be with them : He will pity their failings; He will condescend to their weaknesses; He will give them the grace of repentance, and raise them from their falls. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." (James iv. 7, 8.)

LECTURE XLVIII.

Our blessed Lord proceeds to shew the further instruction, which He desired the disciples to gather from the lowly office which He had performed.

Matt. 23. 8,

CHAP. XIII. 12.

12. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Understand ye the purof it? 13. Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your 1 Pet. 5. 5. feet; ye also ought to wash one another's Phil. 2. 5. feet. 15. For I have given you an example,

10.

pose

that ye should do as I have done to you.

It is not to be supposed, that Jesus intended merely, that they should wash one another's feet: this they might do, and have none of that

condescension and love, which dwelt in Him: this many have done, for nothing but outward shew, for a cloke of humility to cover vanity and pride; wickedly and foolishly pretending, that they were imitating the Lord. Jesus designed to teach them this: that they should shew such kindness to one another, as He had shewn to them: that they should cherish no high or lordly spirit, but be ready at all times to stoop to the meanest offices for the help and comfort of each other. None could be so much below them, as they were below Him; indeed, all disciples were their brethren, all equal in the sight of their Lord and Master; let them all therefore learn from Him, how to keep down the risings of pride and self-consequence, and be kind to the poorest and meanest, according to their need not necessarily in the washing of their feet, which they might never be required to do; but in such exercises of sincere and humble love, as they had opportunity to perform.

16. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him, neither you who are sent by Me, greater than I who send you. 17. If ye know, since ye know, these things, happy are ye if ye do James 1. 25. them. 18. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen, as My faithful Apostles: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He

Psal. 41. 9.

to 17.

that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

The scripture alluded to is the word of David. It was probably spoken, in the first place, of the traitor Ahithophel, and was also a remark2 Sachable prophecy of Judas, whose character was like Ahithophel's. To eat bread together, was esteemed a token of friendship, by the people of that country." Lifting up the heel," alludes to an animal doing so, to the person who feeds it.

very

19. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he, that I am the Messiah, the Son of God, and know all things which shall come to pass. 20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Matt. 10.40. He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth

& 25. 40.

Mark 14. 18

me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. 21. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one Matt. 26. 21.of you shall betray me. 22. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

Luke 22. 21.

"On Jesus' bosom." The custom of the Romans at meals, which prevailed among the

Jews at that time, was to lie on couches, supporting themselves on the left elbow, so that the head of one was against the bosom of the person who was next above him." Whom Jesus loved," namely St. John, the writer of this Gospel, who would not mention himself by name, but frequently describes himself as the beloved of Jesus. Some have supposed,20! that the spirit of the gospel requires us to love all men alike; but the love of Jesus for St. John has been justly brought as a good argument and authority for private and peculiar friendship. We are indeed to "love all men," but it does not follow that we should love all men alike.

25. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, privately, Lord, who is it? 26. Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Ch. 19. 26. 20. 2. 21.7,20.

The sop was perhaps a piece of bread, which He dipped in the sauce used at the passover: it might be usual for the master of the feast to do this; for certainly it does not seem to have, drawn the attention of the apostles generally.

O that we may never forget the blessed instruction, which our Lord has here afforded us by His own merci

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