passions are a well that is never exhausted. His love is " a love that passeth knowledge."
Let no man be afraid of beginning with Christ, if he desires to be saved. The chief of sinners may come to Him with boldness, and trust Him for pardon with con- fidence. This loving Saviour is One who delights to "receive sinners." (Luke xv. 2.) Let no man be afraid of going on with Christ after he has once come to Him and believed. Let him not fancy that Christ will cast him off because of failures, and dismiss him into his former hopelessness on account of infirmities. Such thoughts are entirely unwarranted by anything in the Scriptures. Jesus will never reject any servant because of feeble service and weak performance. Those whom He receives He always keeps. Those whom He loves at first He loves at last. His promise shall never be broken, and it is for saints as well as sinners : " Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." (John vi. 37.)
We learn, for another thing, from these verses, what deep corruption may sometimes he found in the heart of a great professor of religion. It is written that " the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Christ."
This Judas, we must always remember, was one of the twelve Apostles. He had been chosen by Christ Himself, at the same time with Peter, James, John, and their companions. ■ For three years he had walked in Christ's society, had seen His miracles, had heard His preaching, had experienced many proofs of His loving- kindness. He had even preached himself and wrought miracles in Christ's name ; and when our Lord sent out Plis disciples two and two, Judas Iscariot no doubt must have been one of some couple that was sent. Yet here