Judas a reason for rejecting Christ: for the Scriptures, yea and Christ himself, foretold, that " one who should eat bread with him should lift up his heel against him." And do not the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament declare, that " false brethren should come in," and that " by means of them the way of truth should be evil spoken of?" The very existence therefore of traitors and hypocrites in the Church, is a proof of the truth of our religion ; and should confirm, rather than weaken, our attachment to it. If indeed the Gospel gave licence to such characters, that very circumstance would be a just ground for doubting its Divine authority, and withholding from it our approbation : but if it invariably inculcate holiness both in heart and life, then let the blame of hypocrisy rest on those only who are guilty of it ; and let the offence that is occasioned by some, be a stimulus to others to adorn the Gospel.]
2. Let us watch against our besetting sin —
[Judas from the very beginning was addicted to covetous- ness. To gratify this propensity, he took advantage of his office as the purse-bearer to steal from time to time a part of the money entrusted to his care. Had he been told on the first occasion to what this covetous disposition would ulti- mately lead, how little would he have been able to credit the assertion ! But thus it is with sin ; it is like a breach in a bank, which, if not stopped at first, will soon be widened by the current, till the whole country is overflowed. When once a man harbours any secret lust, it will gather streugth, and gradually obtain an entire ascendant over him. Whatever, then, be our besetting sin, whether lewdness, or covetousness, or any other, let us watch and pray against it : lest we prove at last a scandal to our profession, and, after having instructed others, ourselves be cast away.]
3. Let us get a real and firm attachment to Jesus Christ—
[There is a sense in which we may say to all of you, " Kiss him, apprehend him, hold him fast." The Psalmist bids us to " kiss the Son, lest he be angry ;" St. Paul speaks of " apprehending that for which he had been apprehended of God in Christ Jesus ;" and exhorts us to " lay hold on the hope set before us." We are commanded also to " cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart." And should not we be as earnest in this good work as Judas and his band were in their evil work ? If they plotted by day, and watched by night, to destroy the Lord Jesus, should we be averse to labour and watchfulness, to obtain an interest in his salvation? Let