He that loveth his life more than Christ, or gives the preference in his esteem to this world, and its advantages, shall lose it eternally: and he that hateth his life in this world, by dying to the world in will and affection, for the hope that is set before him in Christ, shall keep it unto eternal life.

26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Let him follow me in the way marked out for all, if he will serve me. "If any man serve me, him will my Father honour." Both the duty and reward are now before us. Think what honour from God is, and whether it will not be an abundant recompence, for all we can do, or suffer, in this world.

27. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

O! that we might have some touch, or feeling, upon our spirits of that, of which Christ had such a sharp, piercing sight; as he was then going to bear the malignity and curse of sin! How shall we lie under the weight of it for ever! There is a whole volume of instruction in these few words of the blessed Jesus: "Now is my soul troubled.”

28. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

God the Father says, "I have glorified it," by sending Christ into the world for the redemption of mankind, and owning Christ for my Son, by miracles; and now the third time, by a voice from heaven. " And will glorify it again" by his death; and the glory that shall follow in his resurrection, and intercession at the right hand of God, and in his recovery of souls to me, his heavenly Father. The thought which here offers itself, is, God's love to man. The manifestation of it by Christ, he calls his glory. Blessed God! thy nature is thy glory, whether we glorify thee by our conversation, or not.

29. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

30. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

And for our sakes it was recorded, that the name of God might be glorified in us, by our honouring and accepting of the Son.

SECTION LIII.

Chap. xii. ver. 31—41.

CHRIST EXHORTS US TO WALK IN THE LIGHT WHILE WE HAVE IT.

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

Now is the trial, to whom this world shall belong. "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out," from his possession of the souls of men, and his dominion over them. We are Christ's by purchase, and may be his by our own free choice.

32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men

unto me.

The guilt of sin, which was Satan's right and power in us, was expiated by Christ in his death; and without the removal of this grand obstacle, there could be no access to him, or to God by him. Certainly this is a very happy alteration in the condition of mankind; but then, observe, it is by the sole mercy of God, and by the merits of Christ and could not possibly be by any will or works of our own. Is the question still to ask, whose are we, and whether we have been drawn to Christ in the exercises of humility, self-knowledge, and faith?

33. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

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 ?

We are told what his lifting up was, and how he who was lifted up, "abideth ever ;" and therefore our ignorance

will be less excusable than theirs. He could not so well explain the matter to them, before his death; but he proceeds to advise them, and in them all others, to know their opportunity, and to make use of the light while they have it.

35. Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: 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.

Let the world pretend what it will, humble believers are the children of God's light; and all others, with all their advantages and improvements, of nature and education, are in the grossest darkness.

37. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him :

Here we read our own condemnation, if we do not believe. They are told us for this end, and if they do not open our eyes, it is owing to the same hardness of heart in us, as in them.

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 ?

How few in every place, have believed this report ? What are we, who now hear this! Are we baptized heathens, or new men in Christ, by the power of a divine faith?

39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

They would not see when they might, and being left to

themselves could not see if they would.

We need not

wade any farther into this depth, and may employ ourselves better in searching into our own hearts.

41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

That is, of Christ.

But in the passage referred to, Isaiah, chapter vi., the prophet evidently speaks of God; and therefore the conclusion is undeniable, that Christ is God.

SECTION LIV.

Chap. xii. ver. 42-50.

CHRIST DEMANDS CONFESSION OF FAITH.

42. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue :

The fear of man, and the love of truth, cannot dwell together.

43. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

This is a grievous charge, but very common, and may be our own case. As we dread everlasting shame from Christ, let us never think what men will say, when we are convinced what we ought to do.

44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

Whatever men may think, there is no way of believing on God, but by believing on Christ. It is impossible that we should know anything of him truly, but as he has revealed himself.

45. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

But what is seeing Christ? It is not seeing him with our bodily eyes; for those who did were no better for that sight. It is therefore receiving him into our hearts by faith, seeing him in the beauty and glory of his salvation, and in him all the mercy and love of God.

46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Observe, he says, abide, therefore we are first in darkness, the darkness of sin. None know this so well as those who are brought into the light. They see both states, and by what they are, know what they were.

47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

I do not give him up instantly to condemnation, who hears my words, and does not believe in me. I came not to judge the world, though it is always ripe for judgment, and I justly might: but to declare God's mercy to sinners of mankind, to put them in the way of it, and to make their salvation possible, by dying for them. O my soul! now is thy day of grace; bless thy God, that it is allowed thee, and know that the time of judgment is

come.

48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

The word of Christ shall be the rule of his condemnation; and the justice of his sentence will then be dreadfully manifest to his conscience, from that very word which he now despiseth.

49. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

We have no doubt of this. We believe that Christ's words, are God's words, the light of heaven, the soul's guide, health, and sweetness and yet how many shut their