there mentioned ae tending unto (•I•) death is regarded by some to be the act of denying Jesus to be the Ohrist, the Son of God, or the state of apostasy indicated by that act; others hold it to be apostasy from Christianity, combined with diabolical enmity, and that in the face of extraordinary evidence; but it appears to be a specific act of sin, of the commission of which the evidence is clear and convincing, distinct and precise- such e.n a.et of apostasy as blasphemes the Holy Ghost by aecribing his operations to Satanic power. This sin unto death is certainly the nearest approach to the unpardon- able sin, if it be not, e.s many hold it to be, identical with it. Of the three different readings, rcplO"•"'•• rcol1.1l0"•"'•• and l,.µ."f"'fiµ.c,-,os, the last ie the best supported ; while the expression "an eternal sin" signifies either a sin that is not pardoned or a. sin of which the punishment is not remitted. The connection of the aphoristic expression which immediately follows in St. Matthew, viz. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit," is briefly but correctly pointed out in the remark of Chrysostom, "Since they did not reprove the works, but calumniated him that did them, he shows that this accusation was contrary to the natural sequence of a.ffairs."-J. J. G. Vera. 31-35. Parallel passages: Matt. xii. 46-50; Luke viii. 19-21.-Tne real rel,a,tionship. L No SLIGHT INTENDED. The crowd that sat around prevented his rela- tives reaching him ; they therefore sent a message, to which his reply cannot with any propriety be twisted into an expression of contempt. His obedience to his pa.rents in the humble home at Nazareth during the years of youth, and Lhis tender solicitude for his apparently widowed mother when, as he hung on the cross, he commended her to the ea.re of the beloved disciple, preclude the possibility of such a meaning. II. HEAVENLY XINBHIP. He looked round in a circle; this expression of the look, like that of the sitting posture of the multitude, implies the report of a.n eye-witness. Looking round about him and directly into the face of every faithful follower sitting there, he announced a higher and holier relationship than that formed by an earthly tie; he acquainted them with the existence of kinship near and dear as that which unites the nearest and dearest of human kindred. The Church is Christ's family, and to every true member of that family he is bound by the tenderest bonds of love. What a privilege to be thus closely united to and tenderly loved by Christ I III. CONDITION OF THIS RELATIONSHIP, It is not the.·possession of varied knowledge of God's will and works and ways, though that is important; nor is it the possession of faith, though that is the root; nor is it the acceptance of Christ in the exercise of faith, though that is indispensable to salvation; but it is a more practical condition, and one more easily known and more readily discernible ;-it is doing the will of God. IV. THE MEASURE OF ENDEARMENT BELONGING TO THIS KINSHIP. The Saviour makes his natural affections the measure of his spiritual friendship. When we are enjoined to love our neighbour as ourselves, it does not mean that we should love our- selves less, but our neighbour more; so here, he does not love his mother and brothers and sisters less, but his true disciples more. The poorest and meanest as well a.s the richest may attain to this honour and she.re this love. We may obtain in this way a name better than that of sons 1nd daughters; we may be honoured with that new, best name of lova. "Behold th' amazing gift of love The Father bath bestow'd On us, the sinful sons of men, .ro call TIii sons of God." 1.l.G.
EXPOSITION. time our Lord's teaohing began to be more OHA.PTER IV. publio. The room and the little courtyard Ver. 1.-And again he began to tea.oh by no longer suffioed for the multitudes that the seaside. This return to tho seaside is came to him. The Authorized Version says menlioned by St. Mark only. From this that "a great multitude was gathered 1ll1iO 156 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on, tv. 1-41.