a bridegroom over his bride d. His delight in all his people is as great as language can possibly expresse. As a mother forgets her pangs when she beholds her first-bom, so is our Lord satisfied with the travail of his soul, when he beholds those whom he has redeemed with his blood f. The prospect of saving them was his great support when he endured all the shame and misery of crucifixion s. Now, if his Disciples should turn back from the faith, his soul can have no more pleasure in them11. But he is not willing to resign this happiness, and to feel all the painful sensations which their apostasy would occasion. He wept even over his blood-thirsty enemies : how much more would his soul be filled with anguish if any of his elect were left to perish! To guard effectually against this calamity, he shewed to his Disciples, and left on record for our instruction, both the privilege and the duty of all his followers ; the privilege, to " abide in him ;" the duty, to " obey his com- mandments."
As he rejoices in his Disciples, so do they in him. It is the most distinguishing feature of true " Christians, that they rejoice in Christ Jesus1." Some are so highly favoured that they rejoice in him with an unspeakable and glorified joyk. Nor would Jesus wish them ever to lose that joy. He would rather that what they now possess should be perfected in heaven. But, alas! how would it all vanish in an instant, if by any means they should be " moved from their steadfast- ness !" That they might never thus " cast away the rejoicing of their hope," but " hold it firm unto the end," and finally " obtain a full reward," he opened to them whatever might conduce to the comfort of their minds or the encouragement of their souls.]
His instructions were admirably calculated to pro- mote this end —
[What could be more encouraging to his Disciples at that time, or indeed at any time, than to know that there was a fulness of grace treasured up for them in him? What more consoling than to know that they were united to him as branches to a vine ? How trivial would they think any losses that they might sustain, or any trials they might endure, when they had such provision and security in Christ Jesus ! The caution also that was given them would of necessity ope- rate to make them watchful. Thus would they be preserved
d See the figurative representations, Luke xv. 4, 9, 24. but espe- cially Isai. lxii. 5.
e Isai. lxv. 18, 19. Zeph. iii. 17. f Isai. liii. 11. B Heb. xii. 2. h Heb. x. 38.
I Phil. iii. .'5. k 1 Pet. i. 8.