warm hearts, of all more or less conscious or unconscious cen« sures of the artless outgoings and acts of honest feelings, and of all narrow-hearted criticism of others according to our own mind and temper."
6. — [This he said not... cared for the poor.'} This is one of those parenthetical explanations or glosses, which are so frequent in St. John's Gospel. The Evangelist tells us the true character of Judas, and the reason he said what he did. He did not really care about the poor, but put their interest forward as a special and plausible argument for depreciating Mary's action, and dis- couraging such actions in others.
There is something very instructive in this. The argument of Judas is frequently reproduced in the present day. Hundreds of people excuse themselves from one class of duties by pre- tended zeal for others, and compensate for neglecting Christ's cause by affecting great concern for the poor. Yet in reality they care nothing for the poor, and only want to save their own money, and to be spared contributing to religious objects.
Some, for instance, will never give money to benefit the souls of their fellow-countrymen, and tell us we must first relieve their property and feed their bodies.— Some again will give nothing to help missions abroad, and tell us we must first mind the poor at home. — Even the shareholders of some great joint stock companies have been known to express great concern for the poor and working-classes, as an excuse for carrying on their business on Sundays.— The language of St. John about Judas Iscariot shows us that this apparent zeal for the poor should always be regarded with suspicion, and submitted to close analysis and cross-examination. He talked brave words about the poor, as if he cared more for them than any one ! Yet there is not the slightest proof in the Gospels that he cared more for them than others. Above all, the conclusion of the verse lets out the truth, and the unerring pen of inspiration reveals the man's true motives. These things are written for our learning. There are few greater impostors in the wrorld than some of those who are pretending perpetually to care about the poor. The truest and best friends of the working-classes and the poor, the people who give most and do most for them, will always be found among those who do most for Christ. It is the succes- sors of Mary of Bethany, and not of Judas Iscariot, who really " care for the poor." But they do not talk about it. While others talk and profess, they act.
[But because he was a thief.} This is strong language, and a very heavy accusation. It seems to indicate that this was the habitual character of Judas. He always had been, and always wras, a dishonest man. So saj's an inspired Apostle. In the face of this expression, it appears to me impossible to prove that Judas ever had the grace of God at any time, and that he only fell away at last. He was inwardly wrong at heart all the way through. Again, I find it impossible to believe that Judas was