The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 358

ad~a?1'tage of thi's world as a spli.ere of mm-al government and discipline. The highc~t trB1D1Dg for a soldier is on the battle-field. The best traininu for a mariner is on tho ocean, cmd in an occasional storm; he cannot attain this on dry land. The beet ephero of moral discipline is in a world where there is good and evil. In hell there is only evil without any good, In heaven there is only good without any evil. In this world there are both, and it is specially advantageous to choose the one and reject the other. Ohristinnity keeps a man from Ain, and not sin from him; eradicates from his heart the love of it, and implants in its stead the love of purity. A chan"'e of world would not in itBelf change character. The elements of sin in the soul would break out in heaven itself. (2) Thie plnn is more in harmony with the ordinary arrangements of Provi- dence, It is an original arrangement of Providence that this world should be pnpu- lated, and that each man should live a certain number of years-the allotted perforl of time. Christ does not wish to interfere with this arrangement with regard to his followers, but let them Jive the lease of life out, to do battle with sin, as the salt of the earth and the light of the wor:d. The wheels of providence and grace 6t into each other and revolve in perfect harmony. There is no special warrant wanted to take them hence, no special train required to take them home. (3) 'l'his plan demonstrate.~ more clearly the courage of Jesus. Although he knew that earth and hell were gettin~ madder and madder aga.inst them, and would be madder still, yet he had no wish that they should be taken hence. He remained in the world to the last till he finished his work, and he had sufficient confidence that his followers wonld do the same. He is willing that they should undergo the same test. This is Divine heroism worthy of the Captain of our salvation, To keep them from the evil by their removal from the world would appea.r somewhat like beating a retreat; but the word "retreat" was not in bis vocabulary. (4) This plan more fully demonstrates the wisdom and moral power of Christianity. To make them victorious in the fight, and reach the desired haven in spite of the severest storms. Great power would be manifested in keeping the Babylonian youths from the fire, but a far greater power was manifested in keeping them in the fire from being injured by the flames. To take the disciples out of the world miraculously would manifest Divine power, but to keep them in the world from the evil manifested a. miracle of grace and of the moral power of Christianity. The one would be the skill of a clever retreat, but the other the !(lory of a moral victory. (5) This plan involves a completer and more glorious personal victory over evil and the evil O'lle. Jesus was very desirous that his disciples should be personally victorious, and conquer as he conquered. This must be done in the world in personal combat with the evil. There is no real and ultimate advantage in a mechanical or artificial diminution of evil, and strategic victory over the evil one. He will only gather his forces a.nd rush out with greater vehemence and success. The policy of our great General was to let him have fair play-let him appear in full size, in his own field, and have full swing, as in the case of Job; then let him be conquered under these circum- stances. The victory is final, complete, and most glorious. 4. To keep the disciples from the evil was now Jesus' chief concern. This was the strnggle of his life and death, and the burden of his parting prayer. "That thou shouldest keep," etc. As if he were to say, "Let them be poor and persecuted, tempest-tossed and homeless; let them be allied to want and wedded to death; but let them be kept from the evil. Not from hell, but from the evil; there is no hell but in the evil." How many there are who are more anxious to be kept from every evil than from the evil--from complete apostasy from the truth, and backsliding from Christ I '!'his was his chief concern for his followers, and should be the chief concern of his followers for themselves and for those under their care. 6. In order to be kept from the evil, the disciples must be within the mediatory prayer of Ghrist and the safe C'UStody of the Father. In order to be saved from a contagious disease, we must keep from it or have a powerful disinfectant. The world is full of the fever of sin, and we have to do continually with the patients ; we live in the same house. And there is but one disinfectant which can save us, i.e. the mediation of Jesus and the Father's loving care. Jesus knew the danger in which his disciples were-how weak and helpless they were in themselves, how prone and exposed to the evil. The evil one, " the roaring lion," watched for the departure of their Master in order to rush on them; but Rs a tender mother, in going from home, leaves her children in tho care of some trustworthy one, chMging such to keep them from JOHN,-U. 2 B 3i0 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST, JOHN. [en. xvn.1-26,