Ver~. 19, 20.-'l'he publicity of Chrisfa ministry. Had the high prirst 'Jllestione<l ~esue ID t~i~ manner from any renl desire to be his disciple, odrom an ordinary and intel- hgen~ cun?s1ty, hia inquiries would have been received in a very different manner from that ID winch Jesns did actually respond to them. But it was plain that the whole purpos.e of tho interrogator was to induce Jesus to criminate himself and his disciples. '.rhue it was that Jesus, taking no notice of the question concerning his a,dherentll, r~furre~ the high priest, for information regarding his teaching, to those who ha,d heard h1~ discourse and converse. There could be no difficulty in obtaining evidence upon this; for, as Jesus asserted, his teaching bad been open and public, and multitudes of the Jews had heard his doctrine. I. AB A llliTTER OF FACT, OUR LORD FULFILLED HIS MINISTRY AS A PUBLIC TEACHER, '\VITR UNDENIABLE PUDLIOITY. In the country districts he taught in the synagogues, the places appointed for public religious instruction and worship. In the metropoliio he was wont to frequent the precincts of the temple, not only upon ordinary occasions, but at the great national festivals. He expressly witnessed that his open instructions had been intended for the benefit of the Jews and of the world at large. IJ. As A RELIGIOUS TEACHER, JESUS RAD NOTHING TO CONCEAL AND EVERYTHING TO PROCLAIM IN PUBLIC. He had nothing to be ashamed of in the whole cycle of his doctrine. And knowing that his communications were adapted to benefit all mankind, Jesus benevolently desired to bring as many as possible under the sound of his voice, under the i.ufluence of his revelations, counsels, and promises. His lessons were as the living waters of the brook, which flow in a ceaseless stream, so that all may drink of them and be refreshed. III. THE PUBLICITY OF CHRIST'S TEACHING SECURED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RIB INNOCENCE AND OF THE INJUSTICE OF HIS FOES. If he had spoken aught secretly, an opening might have been left for the slanderous imputations of his foes. But all J ndrea and all Galilee were witnesses to his dcctrines concerning God, concerning man, concerning duty, sin, jndgment, forgiveness, and life eternal. Of high and holy doctrine unnumbered witnesses were able to testify. But none could be brought forward with any credible account of sayings subversive of order, of peace, of morality. Nothing could be clearer than the inability of Christ's foes to convict him of any teaching which might justify their charges. lV. lN THIS PUBLICITY CHRIST IS A HODEL FOR ALL HIS FOLLOWERS TO COPY. Christianity has no esoteric doctrines, no secret societies or guilds, no rites or ceremonies for private performance. Christianity is no sect, no party. A world-wide religion, it challenges the attention of all mankind. Those who teach and preach in Christ's name are bound to follow the example of their Lord-to discharge their ministry in public places wherever men resort. The language of the true preacher of wisdom and righteousness is this: "To you, 0 men, I call, and my voice is unto the sons of mcn."-T. Ver. 28.-De.filement, ceremonial and real. All religions recognize the twofold nature of man. As we nre body and soul, the requirements of religion respect both these parts of our being. The heart is the spring of conduct, and actions are the manifestation of the spiritual nature. It is obvious that an opening thus exists for hypocrisy ; it is possible that there may be the outward form where the inner reality is lacking. Such was the case with those Jews-chiefly priests and Pharisees-whose conduct is described in the text. 'l'hey felt no scruple in defiling their conscience with the crime of shedding the blood of the innocent; but they would on no account enter the Prretorinm, where leaven might be present in some of the rooms, lest they should bo polluted, anu unfitted for taking part in the solemnities of the approaching Passover. J, CEREMONIAL DEFILEMENT HAY BE AVOIDED WHILST REAL DEFILEMENT OF THE SOUL 1s CONTRACTED. The heathen religions of antiquity were in no vih1l way con- nected with morality. A mnn might be a very religious, nnd yet o. very ball, man; and THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. (011. xvm. 1-40,
that without any inconsistency. But the faith of the llebrewe was based upon rc,·elation, and oombined belief of the truth with practice of righteousness. It wae culpable in a high degree in men who enjoyed revelation so clear and full, to be led aside from the ways of justice at the very moment when they were carefully observing t.be requirements of the ceremonial law. It is an evidence of their depravity, and at the same time of their blunted sensibilities to wbat was right and reasonable, that they should so act. How much more deserving of condemnation are professed Ohristians who, whilst BCrupulously observing the ordinances of religion and the regulations of their Churches, at the same time are guilty of serious infractions of the moral law I Yet men are found who keep with outward strictness the clay of rest, who partake of the holy Eucharist, and yet are not ashamed t.Q act unjustly, to speak slanderously and to cherish a selfish and worldly spirit. ' II. CEREIIO~'IAL DKFD:.EMENT JIA Y BE OONTBACTED WHD:.ST BEAL DEFILEMENT OJ' THE SOUL IS AVOIDED. There are many cases in which "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." As David ate the sbewbread, as the disciples of Jesns plucked the ears of corn, and Jesus himself healed the sick on the sabbath, so men may often be justified in transgressing the letter of a commandment in order to keep the spirit of the law. The claims of humanity are rightly to be preferred to the requirements of an external character, which nevertheless have their place and their use. And good men may even frequent the society of the vicious, the criminal, the degraded, when, by so doing, they may make an opportunity for bringing the gospel of Christ's love before the minds of those to whom nothing but the gospel can bring rescue, salvation, and eternal life. Many methods may upon this principle be justified which would not on their own account be accepted and practised by the sensitive and fastidious. Sal,u popu1Ji sv,prema 1.«i:. If it is so in politics, surely in the religious life we may well be, like the apostle, "all things to all men, if by any me&nB we may win some."-T.