miracles), their outward conduct, and their usefulness. On one occasion, Judas seemed to be the most excellent of all the Apostles : for, when a very precious box of ointment, which might have been sold for three hundred pence (almost ten pounds) and been given to the poor, was poured upon the head and feet of our blessed Lord, he loas the first to complain of the waste ; and he it was who inspired all the rest of the Apostles with " indignation against it," as an act of insuffer- able extravagance. True, indeed, his motives were not very pure (as we are told1); but of them the Apostles neither knew, nor suspected any thing. On the contrary, when, at the close of our Saviour's life, he told his Disciples that one of them would betray him, every one of them suspected himself rather than Judas, so correct had been his outward deportment during the whole period of our Lord's ministry on earth. But during that whole time, Judas, who had been entrusted by our Lord as the purse-bearer for them all, had pilfered money in small quantities from the bag (had he stolen largely, the money would have been missed) ; and so hardened did he become through his dishonest practices, that at last he sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver, and delivered him up into the hands of his enemies. This reigning lust of covetousness shewed, that, in the midst of all his professions, he was at heart no better than a devil, and that he might be justly designated by that opprobrious name.]
And may we not consider this warning, II. As delivered to us —
Yes, we also are God's chosen people — [As Christians, we are chosen above all the rest of the world, not one-sixth part of which has ever heard of the name of Christ. As Protestants, too, we are favoured of Almighty God to be delivered from the superstitions of Popery, and from the deplorable bondage in which the Popish community is held. And to whom do we owe it that we were not born of heathen, or Mahometan, or Popish parents ? To whom is it owing, that our lot is cast in this happy land of light and liberty ? Can we trace these mercies to any thing but the sovereign grace, and the electing love, of God ? And may I not go further still, and say, that you, my dear brethren, are favoured with a ministration of the Gospel as clear and as faithful as any around you ? I trust I may, without vanity and without boasting, call God to record, that I have " never kept back any thing which I conceived to be profitable for youk."
1 Compare Matt. xxvi. 7 — 9. with John xii. .3 — 6. k Acts xx. 20.