The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 426

Ilo holds the looking-glass of truth before the man, eo that he may see his moral image. And it is 11, great help to improve a man to let him see himself. (2) Tho revelation is made with solemn emphasis. "Verily, verily," etc. Indicating the absolute truth of the charge, and its po.ramount importance with regard to their destiny. (3) The revelation is in a reforming spirit. It is firm anrl condemnatory, still is mooerate-a simple nnd plain statement of facts; o.nd its evident intention was to benefit, correct, and improve them, elevate their tastes o.nd motives, raise them from the material to the spiritual, from body to the soul, and from the temporal to the eternal. "Ye seek me, not because ye saw the signs," etc. There you lost it. You must retrace your steps and look at me through the miracles, and not through your own low self-interest; through your spiritual nature, and not through your physical appetites. Then you will see that. the spiritual wants of your souls are infinitely more important than those of your bodies, and that I am divinely sent to feed and save you, LESSONS. 1. That Jesus could not be deaived by popdar demonstrations in his favour, And what would cheer religious teachers generally rather saddened him, for he could see the inward motives as well as the outward movements; he judged from within, and what a man was inwardly he was really to him. He found this wanting often, even when the outward was promising. 2. That Jesus, with regard to liis followers, went in for quality rather than quantity. He invited all, and would welcome all with equal readiness and joy. But only the genuine he would receive and encourage; the ungenuine he would reject and reprove. He preferred a few real followers to a multitude of "loafers." 3. On the great day of reve[tJ,tion it will be found that the religion of many was based upon selfish and worldly considerations, and not upon genuine faith and love, and warm attachment to the Saviour. 4. Inasmuch as purity and spirituality of motives and intentions are so essential in relation to Christ and the salvation of our souls, we cannot be too careful in this direction, especially when we consider that worldliness and selfishness are our most besetting and insidious sins. 'l'hey clandestinely entwine around our most sacred devotions and services, and appear often innocent and agreeable; but nothing can so efficiently separate from Christ. Hence the necessity of the prayer, "Create in me a clean heart," etc.-B. T. Vers. 37-40.-The Fathers1JJ1,1l and its Executor. We see: 1. That the majority of Christ's hearers disbelieved him. His verdict at last was, " Ye believe not; " " Ye will not come." 2. That they disbelieved him in spite of the greatest advantages to faith. (Ver. 36.) 3. That in spite of their obstinate imbelief and cruel rejection, the gracioua purposes of God and the mission of Jesus waz not be void. "For all that the Father giveth me," etc. Notice- !. THE FATJIER's WILL. We see in this will: 1. That he has given a certain number of the human fan:ily to Ohrist. In a general and a true sense all the human family have been given him; they are the objects of his saving love and grace. All are invited to the gospel-feast, and commanded to repent. The earth is lmmanuel's land, and the human race, without exception or partiality, are the objects of his saving mercy. But there are some specially given to Christ; they are spoken of as such : "All that the Father giveth me." 'l'hey have been given in the past in purpose; they are given in the present in fact. This suggests: (1) 'l'hat the salvation of the human famuy is carried Im according to the eternal purpose and plan of God. Everything bas been arranged from the beginning. Nothing happens by accident; neither the Father nor the Son is ever taken by surprise. (2) That the mission of Christ is not a speculation, but with regard to him an absolute CtJrtainty. Speculation is a term unapplicable to Divine proceedings; they are fixed and determined as to their mode and result. Jesus lived and acted on earth in the full consciousness of this. And who would not rejoice that the blessed Redeemer was not in this hostile world as the creature of chance and at the mercy of fate, but ever fortified with the knowledge of his Father's will and purpose, the consciousness of his Father's love, and the certainty of the success of his own mission? 2. That the Father gave these to <Jhrist, because he knew that they would come to him. Let it be remembered that the division of time, as past, present, and future, is nothing to God. All time to him is present. In his plans and election he experienced no difficulty arising from ignorance, but all was divinely clear to him. And we see that he ia not arbitrary in his selections. We know that his authority is abrolute; that he has  THE GOSPEL AOOORDINO TO BT. JORN. [OR, VI, 1-71,