or what, would you turn me ? — to the world ? I have found its emptiness. To sin ? I know its bitterness. To formality ? I have felt its incompetency to satisfy my mind and conscience. My God tells me that " Christ is all :" and I am constrained from daily experience to say to him, " Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee." Whatever advantages were proposed to us as an in- ducement to turn back from Christ, we should regard the proposal as absurd and impious as that which was made by the Israelites of old h — ]
2. The all-sufficiency of Christ —
[Our Lord had frequently asserted in the foregoing dis- course, that " he would give eternal life to those who should eat his flesh and drink his blood." Peter, in his answer, refers to that ; and professes confidently, in the name of all the other Apostles, that the words of Christ pointed out the only true way to life, and that Christ himself was that very Messiah, who was authorized and commissioned to bestow life : " Thou hast the words of eternal life ; and we believe, &c."
This was a glorious confession, and an ample reason for the determination they had formed to remain firm in his cause. Whither should they go for water, when they had the fountain near them ? " True it was, that at the present it was, in a measure, a fountain sealed;" yet not so sealed, but that it always afforded them an abundant supply for their present necessities ; and in due time it would be opened to the whole world, and flow unto the ends of the earth. They were per- suaded that he would impart to them living water ; and that, " if only they drank of the water that he should give them, they should never die." O that every Christian in this clay felt the same confident persuasion ! In vain would the world, and the flesh, and the devil combine their efforts to destroy him : he would determine with Joshua, that though the whole world should become servants to them, "he and his house would serve the Lord'."]
Application —
Who amongst you are disposed to walk with Jesus ?
[This may be done now in the exercise of faith and prayer, precisely as Enoch and Noah " walked with God" in the days of old. It is every Christian's privilege to do sok. Be assured, that, however the world may be offended at Christ, he is an able Instructor, a kind Master, a faithful Friend, and an alt- sufficient Saviour ]
h Numb. xiv. 3, 4. ' Josh. xxiv. 15. k 1 John i. 3.