^ I do not think we mark sufficiently the traces of autobio- graphy in the sacred writers. The favourite word of St. John is "life." He dwells upon it more than on any other conception. And it seems to me that there is great appropriateness in the selection. To the men of his generation he was essentially the man of life. He had so much vitality about him that his con- temporaries said he would never die. He says himself that if a man had in him the Spirit of Christ he would have in him the spirit of immortal youth, or what he calls Eternal Life. Where did he get that conception ? From his own experience. He felt every morning as if he were born afresh into the world. He felt something within him like the springing up of living waters. Nay, he felt as if he had already passed the rubicon of death and had even now entered the world of the immortals. I think if you and I had met St. John the thing that would have impressed us above all other things would have been the vitality of his spirit. We see this manifestation exhibited in some of our fellow-men. There are those whom we describe as " full of life " ; and if you ask the source of this life you will find that in every case it is originated by something outside. St. John says that in his case the flow of vitality came from the name of Jesus. The flow of vitality always comes from a human interest, and is generally awakened by a name. The names " liberty," " equality," "fraternity," stimulated the French Eevolution — a vital force that shook the world. Many a heart has been vitalized by a name. You sit in a crowded drawing-room and hear a buzz of inarticulate voices. Suddenly, a voice not louder than the rest becomes articulate; it pronounces a name, a name you love. " Have you heard he is coming home ? " Before that name broke upon your ear you were listless, apathetic, dead. But when you heard the prophecy of its owner's advent, a new life rose within you. The eye sparkled ; the cheek mantled ; the pulse quickened ; the room became radiant; the languor vanished; the hours received wings. Even such to the beloved disciple was the mention of the name of Jesus. It made him young again — nay,
Love and Service.
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414 CHIEF PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL
rather it kept him from ever growing old. It constituted him an evergreen; it gave him Hfe eternal. It not only prolonged his years ; it made them perpetual spring — elastic with energy, bounding with hope, buoyant with the promise of to-morrow. It retained within him the heart of a child.^
^ G. Matheson, Messages of Hojpe, 73.
Literature.
Ballard (F.), Does it Matter what a Man Believes ? 63. Barrett (G. S.), Musings for Quiet Hours, 61. Beeching (H. C), The Grace of Episcopacy, 163. Brougliton (L. G.), Table Talks of Jesus, 85. Campbell (J. M.), Bible Questions, 110.
„ (R. J.), The Making of an Apostle, 113. Carpenter (W. B.), The Son of Man among the Sons of Men, 93. Darlow (T. H.), The Upward Calling, 319. Furse (C. W.), The Beauty of Holiness, 32. Gibbon (J. M.), The Children's Year, 261. Gray (W. H.), The Children's Friend, 17. Hammond (E. P.), Early Conversion, 61. Harris (J. R.), Memoranda Sacra, 61. Harrison (W.), Clovelly Sermons, 62. Hopps (J. P.), Sermons of Life and Love, 1. Hort (F. J. A.), Village Sermons in Outline, 257. Howatt (J. R.), Jesus the Poet, 278.
Jeffrey (J.), The Personal Ministry of the Son of Man, 288. Knight (G. H.), The Master's Questions to His Disciples, 353. Lewis (Z. H.), Petros, 143. Mackennal (A.), Clirist's Healing Touch, 171. Maclaren (A.), After the Resurrection, 77. Mortimer (A. G.), Jesus and the Resurrection, 236. Moule (H. C. G.), The Secret of the Presence, 143. Murray (A.), The Children for Christ, 328. Rigg (J. H.), Scenes and Studies in the Ministry of our Lord, 178. Roberts (W. P.), Law and God, 76. Salmon (G.), Cathedral and University Sermons, 50. Skrine (J. H.), Saints and IVorthies, 1.
„ „ Sermons to Pastors and Masters, 192.
Smith (W. C), Sermons, 295. Stone (D.), The Discipline of Faith, 155. Watson (J.), The Inspiration of our Faith, 167.
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Love and Service.
So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him. Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him. Feed my lambs. He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me ? He saith unto him. Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him. Tend my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things ; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him. Feed my sheep. — John xxi. 15-17.
Who that takes any delight at all in the Bible does not take delight in the twenty-first chapter of St. John ? Who has not felt the benignant spell of that narrative, in its indescribable simplicity and depth, its gracious beauty and its soul-penetrating power ? Willingly we follow the last Apostle as he recounts to us, in his uttermost age, with the photographic precision of an old man's recollection of his prime, that wonderful memory. He leads us as if into the very landscape of the Syrian lake. We embark with him in the boat, as if we heard the rattle of the oars, and the lap of the ripples on the sides. We " ply the watery task " with him and his comrades, as if we saw the vernal stars reflected under our eyes in the dusky mirror of the deep. Their weariness and disappointment, as the night wanes and they have taken nothing, are as if our own. And then comes up the morning over the dark hills of Moab, and there stands a Figure on the solitary beach, and there are callings to and fro between beach and boat ; and the nets are full and heavy on a sudden, and the disciple plunges into the water, to swim and wade to his master's feet. The whole group soon gathers round the fire of coals ; the fast is broken ; and then there is a colloquy about love, and labour, and martyrdom, and following. We have seen it, heard it, shared it all.