must come within the circle of which Jesus is the Centre. Then shall we ever tend more nnd more toward tbe.t Centre.-Y. Ver. 36.-A warning to the traveller. I. A mNT THAT HE rs MAKING 1'0 PnotJnEss. Wo are in this life liko travellers, who have so much of their journey to <lo in so many hours. '!'here is ample time if only they will keep steadily on, remembering that the w.m does not stop, waiting on their convenience and their indolence. While th~se ,Jew.~ were disputing, doubting, and deferring, their opportunities were slipping away. They talked ns if their decision affected Jesus rather than themselves, as if thCJ validity of his position depended on their assent, whereas it waS the validity of their own position that came in questi(Jn. Jesus was the Christ; he needed not to discuss that point e.mong men, save us discussion made it clearer to them. And if men in their perversity chose to deny that Jesus was the Christ, assuredly they would get no other. We have to come to Jesus at last. We may think we have light among us, but if that light be darkness, then how· great will that darkness be. 1,Ve may be moving, but mere move- ment is not progress. Year after year finds no advance; we are older, that is all; buc nothing nearer to the reward and crown of all true work. II. WHAT MUST HAPPEN WHEilE THE LIGHT OF JESUS IS TRULY uSED. That light is not merely to exhibit what would otherwise be dark and hidden. Light comes that we may use our eyes, but use of eyes leads to use of hands and also use of feet. 'l'he word of Jesus here must be compared with bis similar word in eh. ix., where be says, "The night cometh, when no man can work." The light of Jesus is given to us that we may make safe and speedy progress in all the activities of life. Thus we make the very best that can be made out of life's short opportunities.-Y. Vers. 42, '43.-Believing yet not confessing. Here we have one of the mighty hindrances, one that explains a very great deal indeed, to the full acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Christ. Between the bold believers and the open unbelievers there is ii. very large class, which cannot but believe, yet will by no means avow its belief. Human beings are• not so stupid and insensible in the presence of Jesus as they often seem to be. None can see better the fallacies and follies of unbelief, but they lack the courage and self-denial which tum belief into a full and profitable act. Such were many ·of the chiefrulers of Jerusalem after the resurrection of Lazarus. I. ,VHAT THEY DID. They believed, but did not confess. If they confessed not, how did John know their belief? We find the answer in a very common experience; people will say things in private which you never can get them to utter in public. The now numerous companions of Jesus would be in constant communication with the out- side world. Thus they knew how there was really a great deal of secret admission that Jesus was the Christ. Aud this is just what we might expect. If Jesus did these things be is reported to have done, with ample means for knowing it by multitude, of people, then certainly many must have been convinced, whatever they did with their convictions. We are never to estimate the lodgment Jesus has in the minds of men just by the number who confess him. Many feel in their hearts that Jesus is right. They know that. if only they were brave and resolnte, and counted truth as dear a treasure as human heart can bold, then they would come out and be on bis side. Those who know they ought to be Christians, and yet are not, must be very many indeed. II. WHY THEY DID IT. Jahn goes into the whole matter, right down to the bottom of it. There is the reason people themselves would be ready to give, and there is also the real reason deep underneath the surface. People would be quite willing tc admit the.t they dare not risk being put out of the synagogue. To express it in modern language, they would be excommunicated. 'l'hey would be shut out from certain religious privileges. The doorkeepers of the temple would have orders to turn them away. The Pharisees knew what they were doing when they sent out word that if any man confessed Jesus to be the Christ, be should be put out of the synagogue. Though they could not stop people from believing, they might stop them from confessing. Nothing considerable has ever been done for Jesus without stirring up a nest of hornets. But John knows there is e. deeper reason the.n the fear of excommunication. Our attitude to Jesus is determined as much by wha.t we love as by what we fear. Those who b~lieved and did confess were drawn to Jesus by an irresistible affection, 'l'he 184 THE G-OSPEL AOOORDiNG 'l'O S't. JOtlN. [on. xm. 1-ffs.
e11me excommunicRtion hung over them, but it did not deter. The disciples might oot ~·et hR"e come to the perfect love that CllSts out fear; but they knew this mucli- ~hat faithful_ fellowsh!P, with Jesus. was a pearl of grea~ price, worthy to be kept, though rn the keepmg all VIBlble pos8ese1one and temporal interests had to be surrendered. Love, nol fear, must rule in our hearts, if we are lo keep faithful to Jesus. Jesus him- self was always above the thl'E'atenings of men, and he must lift hie followers to the 1<11me ele,ation. When we really love ,Tesue, nothing can separate him from our love. Threats operating powerfully upon the man of this world never move the Christian. . III. THE BEBULTS OF THIS SM?THERED CONFESSION. Some present gain, but an mcompRrable future loss. The evil day hs.s only been put off, to be more evil than ever. ·what most who hear the gospel need is courage and deci6ion. And those who do con~ess had belt.er look into things, and mRke sure that their confession is grounded in reality. It must not be a mere external and temporary consequence from the gregarious nature of mankind. We never can know the abiding gain without being ready for the passing l011S.-Y.