Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

"33. Little children, yet a little while "I am with you. Ye fhall feek me: and " as I faid unto the Jews, Whither go

[merged small][ocr errors]

ye cannot come; fo now I fay unto you.".

The Son of man was to be glorified, by suffering for, and redeeming, mankind; by arifing from the dead, and afcending into Heaven. From the time, therefore, that Judas, conquering every remaining check of confcience, determined to deliver up his master to destruction, the act of mediation may be faid to have been completed; and, consequently, that the Son of man was then glorified;' that, by this trying act of his obedience, God was alfo 'glorified in him;' and that God glorified him, by giving into his hands all power and dominion over that world which he had redeemed.

his

of

Our bleffed Lord now, addreffing disciples by the endearing appellation little children,' endeavors, with all the tender care and folicitude of a fond father,

to

to prepare them for the lofs they müst fhortly fuftain; and to comfort them under the afflicting confideration, that they could not accompany him; as his bufiness on earth would be then accomplished--their's only beginning. He might alfo mean, by this term; to point out to them How much they flood in need of his conftant fupport and affiftance; without which they would be as unable to act for themfelves, as an infant would be, deferted by its parents.

[ocr errors]

66

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

[ocr errors][merged small]

66

35. By this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye have love one

to another."

The abfolute state of dependance of all human beings upon each other, proves that the Almighty, from the beginning, intended that mutual love and goodwill

Nnn 2

will should fubfift among them. The Jews, in many parts of holy Scripture, are commanded to love one another. It is exprefsly enjoined them, in Leviticus, (chap. xix. ver. 18.): "Thou fhalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the

66

66

children of thy people, but thou shalt "love thy neighbour as thyself." Now although this was an ancient law, yet the love here enjoined by our Lord might truly be called a new commandment ;' fince both the extent and motive of it were different the love and charity here recommended, was not to be confined to this or that particular country, or defcription of people; but to embrace the whole race of mankind, without diftinction; as compofing one great family, under God, their common Father.

It teaches us to be kind and affectionate to all our brethren; and ever ready to affift them in their wants and diftreffes, of whatever nature they may be for our Lord tells us, in another place, That every act of kindness fhewn to the leaft

of

of his brethren, he fhall confider as done to himself. But what exalts this commandment above whatever was before enjoined to the world, and which forms the great diftinguishing mark of Chriftianity, is, that it extends even to our enemies we are to bless them that curfe for them that despitefully So fublime an idea could never have entered into the conception of mere man, but could only have proceeded from that glorious Being, who facrificed his own life to fave his bitterest enemies from merited punishment.

us, and to pray
ufe us and perfecute us.

Our motive to the performance of this duty, ought to be gratitude to our blessed Saviour, for the ineftimable favors he has conferred upon us, and to fhew to all the world that we are his disciples, in faith and truth, and not in name only. True Christianity cannot fail to enlarge the mind, and root out all narrowness of heart, and that felf-love which hardens us against diftrefs; it produces in us a difpofition of mind which qualifies us to become the

humble

humble inftruments, in the hands of the Almighty, of converting the house of mourning and repining of want and wretchedness, into that of joy and gratitude of plenty and comfort: a difpofition which is not more a bleffing to others, than to ourselves.

“36. Simon-Peter faid unto him, Lord, "whither goeft thou? Jefus anfwered him, Whither I go thou canst not follow

66

[ocr errors]

me now; but thou fhalt follow me "afterwards.

66

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

38. Jefus anfwered him, Wilt thou' "lay down thy life for my fake? Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, The cock fhall "not crow till thou haft denied me thrice."

Peter, who had heard with great uneafinefs that his mafter was going away, and that they should not be permitted to follow him, now puts the question to

« ZurückWeiter »