if our Lord had done any wrong, either in word or deed. A deserter from our Lord's company, a betrayer of Him into the hands of His enemies, it was his interest for his own character's sake, to prove Jesus guilty. It would extenuate and excuse his own conduct, if he could make out that His former master was an offender, and an impostor.
Why then did not Judas Iscariot come forward ? Why did he not stand forth before the Jewish council, and specify his charges, if he had any to make ? Why did he not venture to accompany the chief priests to Pilate, and prove to the Komans that Jesus was a malefactor ? — • There is but one answer to these questions. Judas did not come forward as a witness, because his conscience would not let him. Bad as he was, he knew he could prove nothing against Christ. Wicked as he was, he knew well that his Master was holy, harmless, innocent, blameless, and true. Let this never be forgotten. The absence of Judas Iscariot at our Lord's trial, is one among many proofs that the Lamb of God was without blemish, — a sinless man.
We see, for another thing, in the end of Judas, that there is such a thing as repentance luhich is too late. We are told plainly that " Judas repented himself." We are even told that he went to the priests, and said, '^ I have sinned." And yet it is clear that he did not repent unto salvation.
This is a point which deserves special attention. It is a common saying, " that it is never too late to repent." The saying, no doubt, is true, if repentance be true ; but unhappily late repentance is often not genuine. It is possible for a man to feel his sins, and be sorry for them,