Let us obsenre, lastly, in these verses, that one whom our Lord chose to be an apostky was a fcUse discipk and a traitor. That man was Judas Iscariot.
We cannot for a moment doubt, that in choosing Judas Iscariot, our Lord Jesus knew well what He was doing. He who could read hearts, certainly saw from the beginning that, notwithstanding his profession of piety, Judas was a graceless man, and would one day betray Him. Why then did He appoint him to be an apostle P The question is one which has perplexed many. Yet it admits of a satisfactory answer. Like everything which our Lord did, it was done advisedly, deliberately, and with deep wisdom. It conveyed lessons of high im- portance to the whole Church of Christ.
The choice of Judas was meant to teach ministers humility. They are not to suppose that ordination necessarily conveys grace, or that once ordained they cannot err. On the contrary, they are to remember, that one ordained by Christ Himself was a wretched hypocrite. Let the minister who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.
Again, the choice of Judas was meant to teach the lay-members of the Church, not to make idols of minis- ters. They are to esteem them highly in love for their work's sake, but they are not to bow down to them as infallible, and honour them with an unscriptural honour. They are to remember that ministers may be successors of Judas Iscariot, as well as of Peter and Paul. The name of Judas should be a standing warning to '' cease from man." Let no man glory in men. (1 Cor. iii. 21.)
Finally, our Lord's choice of Judas was meant to teach