morn! mimcles which from the throne or hie glory be bas b11m working throuah 0 the long Rges of the Christillll diepeneation.-T. Yer. 48.-SelfishMse blind& men to righteousness. It ta &ometimes brought., BB Bn Rrgument Rge.inet man's intuitive perception of right, that there are always to be found those who net spontaneously and without remorse in defiance of tho moral law. This argument would hold good were thero no principles in man's nature which milltate Rgainst righteousness. But the fact is th&t selfish and sinful passions, Bnd considerations whirh become evil motives, come into play in the human breast. And just ns lt is no v:i.lid argument against gravitation that bodies often, under other physicnl forces mol"e in contradict.ion to that u~iversa.l law, so in tbo moral realm there are impulses t~ action "·hich both conflict with and often overcome the conscience of right, and further, e,·ell succeed, as it were by clamour, in silencing the heavenly voice. We hnve a ~triking illustration of this complexity of human nature in the counsels and conduct of Cbri~t's enemies in the Jewish Sanhedrin. 1. 'l'HE LANGUAGE OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES IS IMl'LIOIT TESTIMONY DOTH TO THE Th"'NOCENOE AND THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS. If they ho.d possessed any information, or had even cherished any suspicion, that Jesus was In any way unworthy of confidence and respect, it is certain that charges against bis character would have been adduced, and that an effort would ha'°e been me.de to substantiate them. But it does not seem to have occurred to them that there was any evidence upon which they could found such charges. This goes a long way towards proving that our Lord was acknowledged to be of blameless character, and that his ministry was felt to be irreproachable and benevolent. At the same time, it was explicitly admitted that his miracles were genuine. The enemies of our Lord did not complain that he professed to wield miraculous power whilst all the time he only made a baseless boast. For the, ,,ery gravamen of their consultations was that Jesus did many miracles. They, at all events, admitted that superhuman authority resided in our Lord. lL CHRIST'S ENEMIES OONSIDERED ms :m1nsTBY KEJIELY IN THE LIGHT OF ITS CONSE- QUENCES, A.II THESE WOULD PROBABLY AFFECJT THEm OWN POSITION AND INTEBEBTO, When men look at condnct, not in its relation to principles, but in relation to results, they are usually in danger of error and of grievous practical misdeeds. It is better to think of actions as agreeing or disagreeing with a standard, than as involving results. The reasoning of Christ's foes was sound enough upon their own assumptions. They argued thus: Jesus works many miracles; the result of these will be the faith and adhesion of increasing numbers of the Jewish people; this will lead to popular excite- ment, which will give rise to tumults or, at all events, to manifestations of enthusiasm, and perhaps fanaticism; such movements will bring about the interference of the Roman authorities; and, as surely as this takes place, the Sanhedrin will be blamed for its inability to restrain the populace, the last remnants of national rule will disappear, and the subjection of Israel will be complete. It is not possible to regard this train of r08S()ning 88 motived by exalted patriotism. It was for themselves that the chief priests and rulers were concerned-for themselves chiefly, if not solely. It is easy to cloak selfishness in the garb of public spirit and love of country. The discerning and just mind can see through such hypocritical pretences. III.. CoNSIDEll..ATIONS OF BIGHTEOUSNESS ARE OF"l'EN LOST WHEN THE CONSIDERATIONS OF BELFISfil'EBB A.ND .illlllTION TAKE POSSESSION OF TB..E SOUL. After all said and done, Jesns was one single Person; his enemies were many. He was lowly in the world's esteem, and they were the dignified leaders and rulers of the people. He h&d no force to back him-at least, none that they were cognizant of-and they had their own armed men to support them, and could command the troops of the Roman procurator. Such being the case, why should they scruple to oppose J eijUS by fraud and by violence? Nothing prevented save the sense of justice; and this they silenced and stifled. Accord- ingly their decision was taken, their plane were laid, and in due time were executed, under the influence of selfish fears. It is all too true to human nature. Let self be lost eight of, and then justice, equity, fairness, may prevail. But let self be me.de pro- minent, and alas I how often will the right be sacrificed as of no account I A lesson t.his as to the importance of cherishing a high standard of morality; and a lesson, too, of the proneness from which we all suffer to give heed to the counsels of interest and of OD. XI. 1-67,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 113
personnl a<lvanoemont. Let nil men beware lest, beginning with indulging foolish views of the importance of persomal aims, they end by "crucifying the Son. of God afrcah."-T.