flow like JoWs popularity but was alwajrs the same. That Friend was our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is comfort here for all believers who are sus- pectedy slandered, and falsely accused. Few are the children of God who do not suffer in this way, at some time or other. The accuser of the brethren knows well that character is one of the points in which he can most easily wound a Christian. He knows well that slanders are easily called into existence, greedily received and propagated, and seldom entirely silenced. Lies and false reports are the chosen weapons by which he la- bours to injure the Christian's usefulness, and destroy his peace. But let all who are assaulted in their charac- ters rest in the thought that they have an Advocate in heaven who knows their sorrows. That same Jesus who maintained the character of His imprisoned servant before a Jewish crowd, will never desert any of His people. The world may frown on them. Their names may be cast out as evil by man. But Jesus never changes, and will one day plead their cause before the whole world.
The second point which demands our attention in these verses is, the met superiority of the privileges enjoyed by believers under the New Testament, compared to those of believers under the Old. This is a lesson which appears to be taught by one expression used by our Lord respecting John the Baptist. After commending his graces and gifts. He adds these remarkable words, " He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
Our Lord's meaning in using this expression appears to be simply this. He declares that the religious Hght of the least disciple who lived after His crucifixion and re-