any pnrt of Christinnity. The translators of the Authorir.ed Version went out of their way to render" one fold," for which there is no justification. The unity Christ desires is not a. unity of form, but of spirit; not a matter of mschaniAm, hut of vitality. One Church and nnothcr may claim the "note" of univers[l. lity, but the existence of such Churches side by side is a. dispruof of the claim. Arnl ev"n within separate Churches there nro parties, or schools, distingnisherl by peculiarities more or less important. But in tho spiritual, what is called the "invisible" Church, there is a unity of faith in Christ aml a. subjection to Christ. The temple is harmonious; it has its several parts, yet it is one. The body is symmetrical, a.ad each member has its function; yet it is one. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." V. THE HlliDBANCES TO THE MANIFESTATION OF THIS UNITY. 80 far as the people of Christ fail to exhibit the one spirit, it is owing mainly to these two causes: (1) tbe lack of devotion to the Lord; and (2) intolerance one towards another. The closer the flock draw around the Shepherd, the less is there of misunderstanding, and the more of fellowship. \Vatchfulnoss and prayer alone can check the spirit of dissension, and hasten the prevalence of peace. VI. THE PERFECTION OF TIIIS UNITY. That this is assured we gather from the emphatic words of Christ, "They shall become one flock." Deferred this glorious realization of the purposes of the Redeemer may be; yet it is certain. The predicted unity shall be accomplished in the brilliant and hoped-for future, of which we know but dimly the time, the scene, the circumstances. The wandering sheep shall be restored, the divided sbeep shall be united. And the one flock shall then witness to the faithfulness and the love of the one Shepherd, whose voice all at last shall recog- nize, and beneath whose sheltering care all shall at last "lie down in green pastures," and be led" beside the still waters."-T, Vers. 19-21.-0alumny confuted. Every faithful teacher, coming into a morally mixed society, meets with a twofold experience: he evokes the hostility of those who hate truth and righteousness, and he rallies to him those who are candid, just, and pure. Such was eminently the result ef our Lord's ministry among the Jews. It was foretold that, as a consequence of Christ's coming, "thoughts ont of many hearts should be revealed." Never was this more manifestly the case than during those discussions which arose between Jesus and the Jews towards the close of his ministry. ; I. THE 0ALUMNY ADVANCED AGAINST CHRIST. 1. The real and lasting ground of calumny. It was the truthfulness and purity of Christ's character; it was the justice and severity of his denunciations of formalism and hypocrisy, that incensed the Jewish leaders against the holy, outspoken, and fearless Prophet of Nazareth. 2. The imme- diate and special ground of calumny. It is noticeable that, on the several occasions upon which the slander mentioned in the context was uttered, Jesus had just been making some high claim to communion with his Divine Father, and to n consequent authority altogether above any wielded by created beings. 3. The real motive of the calumnies of the Jews was, therefore, their moral indisposition to tolerate the highest excellence. They loved darkness rather than light. 4. The nature of the calumny. It was said to Jesus, and of him, that he was possessed by a demon, and was insane. How it could be supposed that such gross slanders could meet with any credit, we are nt a. loss to say. It is certainly an instance of the malignity of sinners that such a calumny could be invented, and of the credulity of fools that it could be believed. 5. The purpose of the calumny. 'l'bis was to discredit Jesus, to weaken his influence with the people, and so to nid the Jews in their malevolent aim, which was, no doubt, to bring his ministry to a shameful and ,iolent close. II. 'l'HE CONFUTATION OF 'l'HE CALUMNY. 1. It is observable that this did not proceed from Jesus himself, or from his immediate friends and professed disciples. Its e.lfeot must have been all the greater from its origin in the minds of impartial spectators and auditors. 2. The sf\yings of Christ are declared incompatible with the supposition that Jesus was possessed by a demon. Their sobriety and reasonableness was a. refutation of the charge of madness; whilst their justice, their purity, their opposition to falsehood, error, and deceit, were conclusive against the foolish accusation that they were inspired by the prince of darkness. 3. 'l'he works of Christ were, if possible, even more exclusive of such an imagination, such nn invention as that referred 61 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [arr. x. 1-42.
to. sTerns had opened the eyes of a blind man, ho had wrought other mimcles of a nRture most benefiC'ent, he had reliered men from privations and sufferings, and re~t.ored them to health, to sanity, to b1tppine8s. It was incredible that such deeds of mercy RS these could be inspired by the emissary of the foe of man.-'l'.