lost sight of. I came to bring it to light once more, and to be the King of all who receive it."
I think the " truth " in this sentence must be taken in the widest and fullest sense. The true doctrine about man, and God, and salvation, and sin, and holiness, was almost buried, lost, and gone, when Christ came into the world. To revive the dying light, and erect a new standard of godliness in a cor- rupt world, which neither Egypt, Assyria, Greece nor Rome could prevent rotting and decaying, was one grand end of Christ's mission. He did not come to gather armies, build cit- ies, amass treasure, and found a dynasty, as Pilate perhaps fancied. He came to be God's witness, and to lift up God's truth in the midst of a dark world. He that would know how miserably small is the amount of truth which even the most civilized nations know without Christianity, should examine the religion and morality of the Chinese and Hindoos in the present day.
Some think that " I was born "points to Christ's humanity, and " came into the world," to His divinity.
{Every one.. .of truth. ..Tiearetli my voice.'] I think that in this sentence our Lord tells Pilate who are His subjects, disciples, and followers. " Wouldest thou know who are the members of my kingdom ? I tell thee that it consists of all who really love the truth and desire to know more of God's truth. All such hear my voice, are pleased with my principles, and sub- jects of my kingdom." It is like our Lord's words to Nicode- mus : " He that doeth truth cometh to the light." (John ill. 21.)
Thus our Lord shows Pilate that His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom, that His business was not to wear a crown and found an earthly monarchy, but to proclaim truth ; and that His followers were not soldiers and warriors, but all earnest seekers after truth. Pilate therefore might dismiss from his mind all idea of His kingdom interfering with the au- thority of Rome.
Let us note that the position of Christ in the world must be the position of all Christians. Like our Master we must be witnesses for God and truth against sin and ignorance. We must not be afraid to stand alone. We must testify.
The expression " every one that is of the truth " is remarka- ble. It must mean every one that really and honestly desires to know the truth, receives my teaching, and follows Me as a Master. Does it not show that our Lord, when He appeared, gathered around Him all who were true-hearted lovers of God's revealed will, and were seeking, however feebly, to know more of it ? (Compare John iii. 20 ; and viii. 47.) that there were many such, like Nathanael, among the Jews, anxiously look- ing for a Redeemer, we cannot doubt. " These," says our Lord, "are my subjects and make up my kingdom." Just as when