how great an honour this was, and yet his modesty would not suffer him to mention his name.

24. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

25. He then, lying on Jesus' breast, saith unto him, 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.

In preference to the rest. Can we be mistaken in supposing that this was intended to work upon him, to bring him to contrition and repentance?

27. And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

The more kindness was shown to Judas, and the more calls he had, the more he was hardened; and now was Satan's time for taking full possession of him. He was given up to the wickedness of his own heart, and must run headlong into destruction. Jesus was ready to suffer. We see in this man what we are, when all restraining grace is gone.

28. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

Except John, and he but imperfectly.

29. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

30. He then, having received the sop, went immediately out; and it was night.

Thus Judas parted with the friendship of Christ, and a good conscience, and renounced the company of Christ's disciples, and lent himself to become the betrayer of Jesus.-Edit.

SECTION LVII.

Chap. xiii. ver. 31–38.

HE BIDS HIS DISCIPLES TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

31. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

Jesus spake these words not immediately upon the going out of Judas after supper that evening, but some time the next morning after cock-crowing; for else there would have been a morning, after cock-crowing, before St. Peter's denial of him, verse 38. "Now is the Son of man glorified," and in him every son of man who chooses it. Observe, his inconceivable sufferings, and accursed death, were nothing to him; nay, he accounts them part of his glory. So dear was our salvation to him!" And God is glorified in him," by his oblation of himself for the redempof mankind from sin and misery.

32. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

By raising him from the dead, and giving him all power in heaven and earth, for our benefit. Let us consider, that God is glorified, and Christ is glorified, in the manifestation of that rich goodness, which is the glory of the Divine nature, and always the same in itself, whether we are better for it, or not. How could God stoop lower, than by speaking of our salvation and recovery, as his glory? How can we rise higher than by suffering it to take place in us? If it is not our steady aim, and great wish that it may, let our hearts tell us so this moment.

13. Little children, vet a little while I am with you. Ye shall

seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come: so now I say to you.

You cannot come immediately; he had a work for them to do first. Either we can go to him now, or we cannot. What are we doing? Is our work finished? Is it in good forwardness? Is it begun?

34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

And how did he love us? By laying down his life for us. This takes in all the properties of charity mentioned in 1 Cor. chap. xiii. Whenever we are called to lay down our lives for the spiritual good of others, not one of them can be wanting. The words are plain, but the duty is hard; and can have no place but in a regenerate soul, warmed with a sense of redeeming mercy. The human heart, in its natural state, is too cold a soil for this heavenly plant to grow in. But why does he call this a new commandment?

1st, In respect to the degree of love required. Perhaps it was never so understood before.

2ndly, It was a new, or most peculiar command, in respect of the stress laid upon it.

3rdly, In respect of their ability to fulfil it. 1 John ii. 7, 8.

Let us think whether it is not quite new to some of us, and whether we are not amazed to hear it.

35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If we have, we are happy at once, with heaven in our hearts. But will not our baptism, christian profession, and a tolerably smooth life, be a sufficient proof in this case? No, nothing but such love as his; and whatever the world sees in us, or thinks of us, hereby we must know ourselves to be his disciples. Here beneficent actions will put in their claim. But they are an easy substitute for

love in the heart, and may be nothing but an artifice to quiet conscience in the want of it, a bait for applause, or a tribute paid to self. One single consideration might set us right on this point. What concern do we feel, what means do we use, for the salvation of others?

36. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

What Christ had said, "Whither I go ye cannot come," seems to have made a deeper impression on Peter, than the "new commandment." He tells Peter," the time is not yet," and he further intimates that Peter was not fit for the duty. But he tells him that he should follow him afterwards, to heaven, by martyrdom.

37. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Peter was a warm, sincere man, but promised too liberally on his own account, and failed wretchedly in the trial. Lord, keep us ever mindful of our weakness, that we may fly to thy strength, and be enabled to stand in the hour of temptation.

38. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

O Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.-Edit.

SECTION LVIII.

Chap. xiv. ver. 1—11.

CHRIST COMFORTS HIS DISCIPLES.

1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Thus Christ, in effect, speaks to all; this is blessed encouragement to every fainting soul; and with these words we should arm ourselves in afflictions, or desertions, and especially against the accusations of conscience. "Believe in me," for the forgiveness of sins, regeneration to newness of life, and future glory. The man who is in earnest to save his soul, believes in the all of Christ, his commands, example, quickening power, and eternal rewards, as well as forgiveness; and what he believes, he desires, and hopes to obtain, he endeavours after, and prays for.

2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

In

my Father's house are mansions for many, even for all whose hearts are set upon them. "If it were not so, I would have told you." He cannot deceive us, we may safely rely on his word; sinners as we are, heaven can receive us.

"I go to prepare a place for you," by taking possession of heaven in the human nature, for the human nature. Blessed Jesus! prepare us for it, and support us with this hope.

3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. One is as sure as the other. But this is no comfort, except to his faithful followers. O that we longed for his coming, and had a burning desire to be with him, in love to him, and chiefly for his own sake!

4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.