and St. Luke, the basis of the work is a continuous series of short expositions, intended for family or private read ing, or for the use of those who visit the sick and the poor. But, unlike the previous volumes, the work now in the reader's hands contains full explanatory notes on every verse of the portions expounded, forming, in fact, a complete Commentary.
This "Commentary" is so extensive that it occupies far more space than tll§ " Expository Thoughts," and is, I must honestl}^ confess, the principal part of the work. To some it may appear far too long and full. But the circumstances of the times are my justification.* We live in a day of abounding vagueness and indistinctness on doctrinal subjects in religion. ISTow, if ever, it is the duty of all advocates of clear, well-defined, sharply-cut theolog}^, to supply proof that their views are thoroughly borne out by Scripture. I have endeavoured to do so in this Commentar}^ I hold that the Gospel of St. John, rightly interpreted, is the best and simplest answer to those who profess to admire a vague and indistinct Chris- tianity.
* The expectations of Bengel, the German commentator, appear likely to be fulfilled with curious accuracy in the present day. He said, in the year A. D. 1740, — "Though Socinianism and Popery at present appear mutually aloof, they will in process of time form a mighty confluence, that will burst all bounds, and bring everything to a crisis. "We may expect it in the following way. The residue of heavenly influence on the professing Church, as a body, wUl have utterly evaporated, its holy things having been already more and more prostituted to the spirit of this world. The IToly Spirit being thus withdrawn from the camp at large, the world A\'ill deem its own victory and triumph secured. Now, therefore, a spirit of liberal Latitudinarianism will prevail everywhere, — a notion that every one may be right in his own way of thinking, and consequently that all is well with the Jew, the Turk, and the Pagan. Ideas of this kind will wonderfully prepare men for embracing the false prophet." {Life of Bengel, Walker's edition, page 322.) How painfully correct these prog:nostications, made 125 jears ago, have proved, any one who observes the state of rehgious feeling in England must know only too well 1