Ver. 18.-The 'fJJO'rld hating tlie servants of JesU3. Jesus speaks here of love and fo1t-e, and of no third thing lying between them, and being neither one thing nor another. Wbat looks like indifference is only sleeping love or sleeping bate. 'fhere are those who only need sufficient stirring up in order to become devoted lovers of Jesus and his cause. And so with the stirring up of hatred to Jesus. Character and <lispoHition must in due season come out to the full light of day. The sleeping tiger is none the less a tiger for being asleep. I. THOSE WHO POSSIBLY MAY BE HATED. Christians may be hated because of their Christianity. Private malice is not at all in the question. Some of these disciples may have had enemies already; if not, they were very likely to have them in nbundance soon. Observe how Jesus puts the thing hypothetically. Much depends on oursdves. If we are consistent, resolute, lively, energetic, perfectly uncompromising and open in our attachment to Jesus, we must mn.ke ready for hatred; but if, professing to love Jesus, we do not love him with all our heart, and soul, and strength, and mind, the world will not trouble to hate us. It may despise us and laugh at us, but it will not hate. Why should the world hate us, if we do nothing to inconvenience it, nothing to peril its aims, its possessions, and its pleasures? This is a very astonishing thing, that the world should hate us the better we are. If our hearts are filled with the spirit of love, if we desire only the good of everybody, why should we be hated? The truth is, Jesus understands human nature far better than the shrewdest of us. He, the best that ever trod the earth, was treated as if the worst. And similar experience, in a less conspicuous way, happ,'ned to his servants, e.g. Paul at Philippi and at Ephesus. And, underlying all these illustrations, there lies one common cause for the hostility in this-that Jesus must, by the very nature of his light-bringing work, interfere with the vested interests of men in darkness. II. THE rECULli.B DESCRil'TION OF 'THE HATERS. They are described compendiously as the world. They are not to be singled out in their individual capacity. Individuals arc constantly passing over from the world to the side of Jesus, but the Hpirit of the world remains unchanged, unchangeable. And this spirit is to be dealt with indirectly for the most part. Argument, expostulation, and entreaty are not the main weapons of success. The victory that overcometh the world is mai!!.ly to be gained in our own character. Jesus wnnts o_pposition to be swallowed up in reconciliation to him and to his truth. Wha.t we want to bear up against the world's hatred is: 1. Faitli. We live amidst an unbelieving wurld, as it were amidst east winds and north winds, and all sorts of unfavourable climatic conditions. The colder the weather is, the more must we look after everything that will keep up vital heat. When earth is dull and stubborn to us, we must refresh ourselves Crom heaven. 2. Oowra,ge. We must go on. So we shall find out what a poor, foundationless thing the opposition of the world is. Its first appearance is its best appearance. It may hurt the outer skin, but cannot touch the heart and citadel of life. We must needs know the worst of the world in order that we ma.y know the beet of Jesus. 3. Mulcnesa. Faith and courage, bathed and penetrated with gentleness-this is to win the world. 'l'he world has no gentle- ness unless fair-spoken craftiness be so called. Our ma.in spirit must be that of Jesua on the cross: "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do."-Y. Vere. 26, 21.-TM;'oint witnu&ing. Christianity is not a religion to be propagated by force or by sedulous tradition. Nothing but the force of truth planted Christianity; and only the force of truth preserves it, extends it, and ensures the prospect of its universality. Not without significance is this constant reference to witnessing found ir, the New Testament. Jesus submits his gospel to the keenest examination. He come~ before the world as a well-equipped suitor goes int.o a court of justice, sure that he has witnesses ample for the success of his cause. Christianity presents phenomena the.t shirk no scrutiny. It has no weak and treacberoua places to be kept as much u on. xvi. 1-33.J 'JIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 209
possible from view. A witness, to be all a witness ought to be, muet have nothing t.o conceal, nothing to avoid, J. 'l'HERE MUST BE THE RIGHT SPIRIT IN THOSE WHO LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY, The minds of men may be set against truth and the search for truth, and then where will the witnesses be? The gospel presumes on the part of man an awakening to the need of reality, stability, and continuance in all that he may rightly aim to make hie own. Men have believed the world and believed their own hearts, and they have been disappointed; and now, if they seek Jesus, it is with the assurance meeting them that they shall not be disappointed again. If men fail to be attracted by JesUB or profess to be disappointed wiLh him, it is because they are disinclined to take the trouble of seeking deop enough. II. EACH WITNESS BAB ms OWN TESTIMONY. There is a witnessing by the Spirit of Jesus which cannot be effected by any multiplication of human witnesses. And similarly a testimony comes by reading the evangelists and Epistles, which is felt to be something independent of the force which comes on 113 by the operation o! the Spirit. How many, reading the New Testament just with thoughtful earnestness, have said to themselves, "Here is something to be searched into. Here is a part of some great possibility,and I must seek for the other part" 1 Careful and repeated reading of what apostles have written is very likely to drive a man to his knees, seeking to have the full body of testimony completed, by what the Holy Spirit will impress on his heart, We should ever be on the outlook for testimony to JesllB and his truth. The more we expect it the more it will come, fortifying us against our own doubts, cheering us with hopes of coming certainties, and making us more ardent in persuading others to like precious faith. III. THE RESPONSIBILITY THUS LAID ON us. Unbelief deludes itself with the plea that there is lack of evidence. Nay, in its more arrogant forms it will even maintain that the evidence is the other way. What if we be in the position of those who clamour for more, and will not use what they have ? If we are not to be persuaded by the joint witnessing of the Spirit and the apostles, neither shall we be persuaded though one rose from the dead. IV. Oun OWN WITNESS-DEARING, We may and ought to be joined to the cloud of witnesses. If Jesus told the first company of disciples that they were to be witnesses, then assuredly there must be something of the witness-bearing faculty in us.-Y.