He had gi,:~~ fr~gm_cnts nnd hints _of it bcrore to hie disciples dt1rlng hie miniBtty, but 1he full ed1t1on rn given them now 1n solemn comm1md, (2) New in lte per/eel ea:ample. 'I'hl' old example_ WRB self-love: "Love thy neighbour es thyself;" but the new and J){'rfcct enmple 1s the love of Christ. He lo,·ed them more than himself. 'l'hie example was wrought out towards them; it. was not merely within their observation, but within 1heir experience and consciousness. They were the immediate objects of his love, • As I loved you." Not, "As I loved the world at large, or your forefathere, but you personally 1rnd individually ; " and he gave himself as a Sacrifice for them, BB a match- less and perfect Example of self-sacrificing end unselfish love, (3) New in its mspiring motii-e."-motives arising from their ultimate relationship to Christ, from hie matchless love toWllrds them, and their indebtedness to him in consequence. Christ loved them in order that they should love one another. In order to teach and inspire them to this~ and in his life and death, he threw a new life and force to the command of love that it ,vas the experience of his followers afterwards, "The love of Christ constrain~th us." 'l'he command of love was getting old and withered amid the thunders and lightnings t1r Sinai and the formality of the former dispensation, but it assumed a new life and vigour in Gethsemane and on Calvary. What can inspire love so well as love itself l and what love so potent and inspiring as the pure and self-sacrificing love of Christ to us ? This makes the command really new and original to him, and, as a motive power, i~ exhaustless and irresistible. 4. .As it is the outward sign of OhrisUan discipleship, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (1) By this we can be and know ourselves thal we arc his disciples. Brotherly love is set forth in the New Testament as a test of discipleship-of love to God and transition from dea.th to life. "We know that we have pBBsed from death unto life," etc. "if a man i;a.y, I love God, and hateth his brother," etc. Thus you see that brotherly love is a test-point, and on it depends the momentous issues whether we love Christ, and have passed from dea.th into life or not. (2) By this can others know lhat we are hi, disciples. It is not only an inward proof to Christians themselves of their condition. but also an outward proof to others. Different classes of people are distinguished by different outward marks. The soldiers of different countries and their various regiments are known by their uniform. The public schools of antiquity had their public sign11 by which they were known. The Pharisees and Sadducees had their distinguishin~ phylacteries and ceremonies, and various kingdoms have their coats of arms. But Jesu11 of Nazareth chose as" the coat of arms" of his disciples "love to one another." "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Not if ye have this or that dress, not if ye have wealth or learning, not if ye have a long face, or a groaning tone, or a pious whine; but if ye have love one to another. A man may possess many good qUJ1.lities without being a disciple of Christ. A man cannot be a disciple of Cnrist without studiously respecting the laws of morality; but a man may be moral in the popular acceptation of the term without being a disciple of Christ. There are moral infidels, moral atheists, moral worldlings, and even the devil himself can appear very decent and proper and assume the garb of an angel of light. He CBJl even believe, tremble, and profess; but he cannot love, b0C9:use the ess_en~e of_hi~ natu!e is malice, envy, hatred, and revenge. Jesus chose as the sign of C~r1Bt1an d1sc~plesh1p a thina which the devil and his followers can never do, never wish to do, viz. love. They ~n imitate anything, but cannot love. If we wish to be known as the diSGiples of Christ, we must be distinguished by that which distinguished him, viz. love for othera If we wish to impress others that we are unaer his tuition, we must wear the badge of our Teacher and the insignia of his school. "By this shall all men know," etc. By this they have been known in every age and country. The followers of the Lamb, as set forth in the Book of Revelation, had their Father's Na.me written on their foreheads; and this was brotherly love, for God's Nam.e cannot be written with anything but love for God is love. In primitive times their affection for ea.eh other was so intense and' conBpicuous that the persecuting pagans exel~ed wi~h asto~is~~ent, ~• ~ee ho_w these Christians love one another! n Wha.t a convement sign of Chnst1an disc1plesh~p is this in every aae and under every circumstance? When Christians were most cruelly hated and persec~ted then the truth of their religion and their union with Obrist were most clearly seen by othel'I!. If they co?1d not meet to worship, to commemorate h!-9 love, and B!ng hie praise, they could love him and love one another; they could wave th.ia cu. xm. 1--38.J THE GOSPEL ACCOHDING TO ST. ,JOHN. 21T-
flng from the blazing faggots, nnd embrace and kiss each (,ther in the flames. "Ily this shall all men know," eto. It, is nil-important, not merely that we should realiz" our Christian discipleship, but that others should know it, that they may be taught to respect and obey our laws; and the most efficient wBy to communicate this knowledge to them is by loving each other BB he loved us. Thus the most charming feature of the Master will be ever seen in his disciples.-B. T.