whose heart is honest, the man who is truly converted, however weak and ignorant, and whose heart and actions are consequently true and right in the sight of God. Tlie phrase is frequently found in St. Joljn's writings. (S-'e John xviii. 37 ; 1 Tohn i. G— 8; ii. 4; iii. 19; 2 John i. ; 3 Jolm iii. 4.) Every such peison will always come to Christ and embrace His Gospel when it is brought near him. He will have an honest desire that " hia deeds may be made manifest," and that his real character may be discovered to himself and others. He will have an honest wish to know whether his habits of life are really godly, or " wrought in God."
The principle here laid down is of great importance, and expe- rience shows that the assertion of the text is always confirmed by facts. I believe there was not a truly gpod man among the Jews in our Lord's day, who did not at once receive Christ, and welcome Christ's Gospel, as soon as it was brought before him. Nathanael was an example. He was a man "■ Avho did truth " under the obscure light of the law of Moses, as ministered by Scribes and Pharisees. But the moment the Messiah was brought before him, he received Him and believed. — So also, I beheve, when the Gospel comes into a church, a parish, or a congregation, it is always gladly received and embraced by any whose hearts are true. To be a truly godly man, anl yet to refuse to come to Christ, is an impossibility. He that hears of Christ and does not come to Him, and believe on Him as God's appointed way of salvation, has something fatally wrong about him. He is not really '' doing truth." He is not a converted man. Gospel light is a mighty magnet. If there is any one that has true religion within its sphere, it will attract to itself that person. To be truly religious and not to gravitate towards Him who is the great centre of all light and truth, is impossible. If a man re- fuses Christ, he cannot be a godly man.
The application of the two last verses to the case of Nicodemus and those Jews who were in the same >tate of mind as Nicode- mus, is plain and obvious. Our Lord leaves on the Pharisee's mir.d a solemn and heart-searching conclusion. " Think not that you can stay away from me after hearing this discourse and be saved. If you are a really earnest inquirer after truth, and your heart is honest and sincere, you must go on, you must come to the light and embrace the light, and you will do so, however great your present ignorance. If on the other hand you are not really desirous to serve God, you will piove it by keeping away from my Gospel, and by not confes.sing me as the Messiah." It is a pleasant reflection, that after events proved that Nicodemus was one who " did truth." He used the light our Lord graciously imparted to him. He came forward and spoke for Christ in the council. And at last, when he boldly