linked together (1 Pet. i. 11). (4) Tho Son will be glorified by the Father in heaven, RB ho himself glorified the Father on earth. II. THE APPROA0nINO SEPARATION 011' JEBUB ll'BOM HIS D18CIPLEB. "Littl9 chilrlren, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall Beek me: and ae I said unto the .Jews, Whither I go, yo c1mnot come; BO now I ~ay to you." 1. The lang1V1ge iB that of deep a.ffection and solicitude. Ho sympathizes with the disciples in their coming bereavement. '!'hey are soon to be orphans. 2. The disciples would experience a lQnging to rejoin him after the separation which was now at hand. 3. They were not yet ready to follow him. (1) The search of the disciples would not be finally in vain. "I will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye mny be also" (eh. xiv. 3). He doeR not say to his disciples what ho said to the Jews, "And ye shall not find me." (2) They had 11 task to accomplish. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another." (a) The period of hie absence was to he a season of spiritual growth. Love to one another, with the mutual sacrifices involved in it., would be the realization of his presence among them. (b) The commandment of love was new in its scope and motive, though love wns always the principle of the Decalogue. It wr1e new,(<>) a.q it was enjoined after 11 new model-" even as I have loved yon ; " (/3) as it was love to brethren-to "the new creation;" ('Y) as it arose out of a new necessity-" By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." This love was to be a. badge of discipleship. The world would thllS understaml the true meaning of Christianity. Ill. PETER'S ANXIETY TO KNOW OUR LORD'S DESTINATION, AND BIS EAGER~BS TO DIE WITH mM. "Lord, whither goest thou?" 1. The question marks the disciple's loving regard for his Master, from whom he would not be separated in life or in death. 2. Yet it suggests that his mind was occupied with the idea of his Lord's e:;tablishment of a temporal lcingdom. Where was he going? W a.s not Jerusalem to be the centre of the coming kingdom? ll. The answer of Jesus declares the separation to be inevitable, but only temporary. " Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now ; but thou shai; follow me afterwards." (1) 'fhe death of Christ was necessary to Peter's entrance into heaven. (2) Peter, besides, bad nn apostolic ministry of great moment to fulfil. 4. Peters determination to follow his Master to death. "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will.lay down my life for thy sake." (1) He evidently thought that Jesus was about to die, and that his death wa.s in some way to contribute to the establishment of his kingdom. (2) He thinks that he can lay down his life for Christ before Christ lays down hie life for him. He came afterwards to know that the two deaths must follow II different order (eh. xxi. 18, 19). (3) He does not dream that his faith might fail in the supremo crisis of his Lord's trial. 6. Our Lorifs prediction of Peter's fall. "The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice." (1) Our Lord does not doubt the sincerity of bis disciple, but his spiritnal strength and steadfastness. The best of men do not know their own strength till it is tested by temptation. (2) Our Lord rebukes the over-confidence of his disciple. None a.re so near a fall a.s those who are so confident of their standing. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (3) Our Lord's prediction bad such an overwhelming effect upon Peter tba~ he did not utter another word during e.11 the following discourses.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver,.1.-0hrist's constancy of love. IC there is any time when a man's attention is presumed to be necessarily and properly directed to himself, that time is the time when danger is present an<l when death approaches. But when our Saviour's hour wa.s come, when the shadow of the cross fell athwart his path, ho seems to have been sigt:ally unselfish in all his actions, and disinterested in his very thoughts. Humiliation, suffering, and death were immediately before him ; but it is beautiful, instructive, encouraging to see bow warmly his heart beat for his friends, and how anxious he was to use the closing days of his ministry for their spiritual profit. These words reveal to us Christ's constancy of love. I. ITs OBJECTS. Whom did ho love, and love unto tho end? 1, They were "his own,'' i.e. those who were called and chosen by him, who were loved and purchased by 202 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST, JOHN. [OB. :nn, 1-38.