of these things, the concerns of time and sense are lighter than the dust upon the balance. Earthly things indeed appear of greater magnitude, because they are nearer to us : but if spiritual truths are brought nigh by faith, they eclipse every other object, as the meridian sun hides by its splendour the feebler radiance of the stars.]
They should therefore be inquired into with all diligence —
[We should not be satisfied with a general acknowledg- ment of their truth, but should examine into the precise import of them, with a view to ascertain what is the state of our own souls before God. When we hear our Lord affirm so solemnly and so repeatedly, that " unless we be born again we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven ;" should we not pause, and consider, and inquire what is meant by the new birth, and whether we have ever experienced the change implied in it ? When we read, that " except we eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, there is no life in us," should we not use all possible means to understand it, and to learn whether we are in a state of life or of death ? Can we suppose, that, because these assertions are conveyed under metaphorical expressions, they mean nothing; or, that we have no concern with them? Will our ignorance of their import make them void ? or will our contempt of them pre- vent the execution of the Divine judgments agreeably to them? We ought, then, as our Lord enjoins us, to " search the Scriptures," to weigh every expression contained in them, and to seek a conformity to them in the whole of our prin- ciples and conduct.]
But not to dwell any longer on general truths, let us consider,
II. The importance of ascertaining the meaning of " this saying" in particular —
Scarcely any expression so frequently occurs to- wards the close of our Saviour's ministry as this ; from whence we may be assured, that it deserved the special attention of his followers. Let us then examine its meaning,
1. In reference to them —
[Our Lord was speedily to be put to death. His death indeed was voluntary on his part ; " No man could take his life from him, but he laid it down of himself:" and therefore he said, " I go to Him that sent me." But on their part, it was the effect of murderous rage : for this their iniquity the