and drink to Him. Many of His holiest servants in every age, I believe, conld testify much the same. The joy and happiness of spiiitual success has for the time lifted thf-m above all bodily wants, and supplied the place of material meat and drink. I see no reason why this may not have been the case with our Lord. He had a body in all respects constituted like our own.
The idea of some writers that these words show that our Lord's " thirst " was only simulated and pretended, seems to mo utterly unworthy of notice.
The application of the words which every believer ought to endeavour to make to himself, is familiar to every well-instructed Christian. He has supplies of spiritual nourishment and sup- port, which are hidden and unknown to the world. These sup- plies he ought to use at all times, and specially in times of sorrow and trial.
33. — [Therefore said.. .one to another, &c.'\ These words seem to have been spoken privately, or whispered one to another, by the disciples. Their inability to put any but a carnal sense on their Master's words, has been already remarked. In slowness to see a spiritual sense in His language they do not appear at all unlike Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. " What wonder is it," says Augustine, '' if the woman could not understand our Lord, speaking about living water, when the disciples could not under- stand Him speaking about meat ?"
The original Greek of the expression " hath any man brought him ought to eat," is remarkable. There is a negative left out in our translation. It seems to show that the question of the wo- man, at verse 29, would have been better rendered, " Is this the Cljrist ? Can this be the Christ ?"
34. — [Jesus saith, cfec] The leading idea of this verse is, " that do- ing G-od's wiU, and finishing God's work, was so soul-refreshing and pleasant to our Lord that He found it equivalent to meat and drink."
The Greek expression rendered " to do," and " to finish," would have been more literally rendered, " that I should do," and, " that I should finish." But there can be little doubt, as Winer remarks, thiit the language is intended to have an infini- tive sense. Precisely the same construction is employed in ano- ther remarkable place, John xvii. 3. It seems matter of regret that our translators did not render that verse as they have ren- dered the verse before us. It should have been, " this is life eternal to know thee, &c."
The " will of God," which it was Christ's meat to " do," must mecui God's will, that salvation by faith in a Saviour should be