eeeldng in 1111 its forms. In nll the work theso diRciples l1a<l hit,herto been rloing, they wore t!Jinking of themselves rather than of JesuR nn<l others. That is the way of eorvico according to a worldly spirit. We must learn to act as Jes11s himself would net if ho were one of his own servants; and that can only be done when wo give JesuA full opportunity of opening hirnscll' lo us ns n man opens himself to a friend. ]II. 'l'UOSE WIIOM JESUS OALLB FRIENDS HE REALl,Y TREATS AS FHIENDS. Ail this concluding discourse proves the depth and tenderness of tho feeling. He could nfJt eo lmvo 9pokon before. Partly such words were best with a farewell flavour in them. Partly the disciples ho.d to grow into fitness for hearing them. And even when they did hoar, much wns appreciated in n very imperfect way. Still, Jesus treats them as friends; for all things he has heard from his Father he makes known to them. Ilis disciples shall be sharers in his purposes and plans as far as they are able. It is as if the person for whom a great house is being built should call together all who are to be concerned in the erection, and show to them the plan e.nd exi:,lain the purpose. Apostles and prophets lay the foundation-stone. Thousands of those whom Jesus honours with the tiLle and treatment of friend are joined in building it, and then, when all is done, Jesus and his friends are to dwell in it togcther.-Y. Ver. 16.-Jesus, the Decider and Provider. We ha.~e here the statement of a. plain historical fact. Jesus, from the general body of his di~ciples, did pick out a special company for special work. No doubt they also had to choose, but their choice simply amounted to recognition; they could not put any one else in the place which Jesus held. And he invites them here to a retrospect of the hour in which he had chosen them. They would have liked in most things, practically in all things, to get their own way; and this was just what they could not do. Jesus did not visit the world to fall in with the wishes of ignorant and short-sighted men. Underneath all our choices, and all the changes of our moods, there is the purpose, the choice, and the expectation of Jesus. "liVe be.ve- I. JEsus DECIDING. It was all the doing of Jesus. These men were to be stamped with his sending. They were in his employment. The call of the Lord Jesus consti- tuted their authority and their claim. And the essence of this choosing still remains. Every one trying to do work for the sake of Jesus and in the Name of Jesus must have something of this feeling that he has been chosen; that a constraining hand has been upon him, first of all arresting bis footsteps in the old way, and then pointing them into a new one. In ranging ourselves under Jesus, we indeed cannot escape a great decision, but it will be made with a feeling that we coul<l not help making it; and this feeling will only deepen as the years of service and devotion roll on. Christian8 ne\·er l:iave any misgivings about the right of Jesus to grasp and direct. If any profess themselves never to have felt that Jesus wanted them, never sa?d "Follow me," such must be asked whether the truth does not lie here, that they are fertile in the spirit of excuses. There will at least be an indubitable picking out, by-and-by, of the sheep from the goats. Effort and self-denial are required to lind out what Jesus has a right to claim, and what he really wants. '!'here is such a thing as having ears and yet not being able to hear. II. JEsus PROVIDING. As Jesus claims the right of deciding, so he also takes the responsibility of providing. He has so situated and surrounded his servants, that they may bring forth fruit, and abiding fruit. Every branch in the vine has its own place, but all aro provided for in a common life and e. common growth. The decision and the provisiox; go together. Jesus is not really Decider unless he is also allowed to be Provider. Each soldier of the army is not allowed to make provision for bim~elf. If be had this to do, his fighting would be of little use. The king who sends thE' army out makes provision for the sustaining of the army. Christians have to be more than others, do more than others, and thus their resources must exceed those of others. How is the grape of the wilderness to become the grape of the vineyard, unless it is planted in the vineyard? Wild fruit, growing as it will, can never become like the fruit that i~ cultivated and watched. III. JEsus EXPECTING. The disciples were full of vexation because of hopes and imaginings overthrown; but Jesus knew what would come. Jesus is above all clouds that darken the present and prevent a right view of the futuro. Theoe very men, so 298 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [ctt. xv. 1-27.
troubled now, would before long be joying and rejoicing abundantly that they were counted wort,hy to s~ffer for their MMter. What great things may bo expected, what u~efulnes~ and happmeBB are at the dawn, when once self gets an effectual crippling I The branches of this vine will be as the stars of the alcy for multitude. a.nd aa the sa.nd by the sea-shore innumere.ble.-Y.