veil of obscurity over them, and served as a touch- stone to try the spirits of those who heard him. His statement of the new birth was for a time a stumbling- block to Nicodemus, who knew not what interpreta- tion to put upon his words : and in like manner, his discourse respecting " eating his flesh and drinking his blood " offended many ; insomuch that " they went back, and walked no more with him." His own Apostles scarcely knew how to receive his word ; so that it seemed as if they also would depart from him. But they were of a more humble and teachable spirit; and therefore, when our Lord asked, if they also intended to forsake him, they expressed their abhor- rence of such an idea, and their determination to adhere to him at all events.
I. The question which our Lord put to his Disciples demands our first consideration —
Though it related to one particular occasion, it is suited to convey much general instruction. It shews us,
1. That the best of men are liable to depart from God—
[This is a truth of infinite importance, which yet many are very averse to hear. But who can doubt it in reference to himself? Who does not feel that he himself may fall, and that too into grievous sin, and into final condemnation ? Advocates for human systems may say what they please on this subject; but there is not an humble Christian in the universe who does not feel this to be true in reference to himself: and if any choose to deny it, we shall oppose to him the example of the Apostle Paul, who " kept his body under, and brought it into subjection, lest by any means, after having preached to others, he himself should be a cast-away a." In ourselves we are weak as new-born babes : it is God alone " that can keep us from falling ;" and if ever we be saved at all, we must be " kept by the power of God unto salvation b."
But there is not that opposition between this doctrine and that of the perseverance of the saints that some imagine. A mother's care is a pledge for the security of her child : but that does not set aside the liability of the child to perish by hunger or cold, or a thousand other accidents ; any of which things
« ] Cor. ix. 27. " Jude, ver. 24. 1 Pet. i. 5.