clay. Others are upright in their conversation, while yet their views of divine truth -are very imperfect. Such the Apostles shewed themselves all the time of our Lord's sojourning on earth : nor could the plainest instructions wholly eradicate the errors in which they had been educated from their earliest years. Our Lord had just informed them, that he was about to die, and to go to his Father ; and that he would soon come again and receive them to him- self, that they might be with him for ever. And, knowing that, in general, they were acquainted with his intentions, he said, " Whither I go, ye know ; and the way ye know." But, alas ! though this was true in the general, their minds were at present so engrossed with the notion of an earthly kingdom, that they supposed him to be speaking of some great palace, where he was about to erect his standard. Hence St. Thomas requested further information : to which our Lord replied in the explicit manner related in the text.
In discoursing on his words, it will be proper to consider, I. Our Lord's description of himself —
He speaks of himself as,
1. The way — [The first way to heaven was, by the covenant of works. But, when man had sinned, that way was closed for evera. From that time another way was opened, through the incar- nation and sufferings of God's only Son. This was announced to the unhappy pair, who were informed, that " the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head." To him there- fore they were to look as their mediator and advocate, and through him they wero to obtain reconciliation with God. There were two obstacles to their re-admission to the divine favour : these were, guilt and corruption. But both of these were to be removed by Jesus ; the former by his blood, the latter by his Spirit. Tims is Christ our way also to the Father, making atonement for us by his meritorious death, and re- newing us by his all-sufficient graceb.]
a Gen. iii. 24.
b Amidst ;i multitude of passages to this effect, see Ephes. ii. 18, 16, 18. and Heb. x. 19, 20.