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beit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to take him but no man laid hands on him, because his hour wa not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shali not find me and where I am, thither ye cannot come? 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee ? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So

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37 Our Lord turns their thoughts from earthly to heavenly thingsfrom the water which refreshed the body to his doctrines which healed the soul; for such was the power his word, such the virtue of his Spirit *.

39 The Spirit was not poured out in its fulness till the day of Pentegost. (Acts ii. 4.)

41 Some there always will be whom no evidence satisfies; cavillers, who, because they hate the Gospel of Christ, which binds them to the love of God and man, choose to mock at its divine authority.

42 David dwelt at Bethlehem, with his father Jesse. (1 Sam. xvi. 1.)

* On this day, water from the pool of Siloam, which was at the foot of mount Zion, was taken with great pomp into the Temple. Hence our Lord's instructive address.

there was a division among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46 The officers answer- 46 A glorious instance of the force

ed, Never man spake like of truth. this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee ? Search, and look for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house.

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52 Every defender of the Saviour's honour must expect the taunts and scoffings of the wicked. Be thou above such attempts to draw thee from thy faithfulness.

53 God had divided their counsels

and confounded them. They could not agree even in their enmity against Christ. So inconsistent always is the conduct of the wicked.

CHAPTER VIII.

MARCH 21, JULY 20, Nov. 16.

JESUS went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. stooped down, and with his though he heard them not.

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But Jesus

finger wrote on the ground, as

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He let him first cast a stone at her. and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own

7 A searching appeal to conscience! Heed its whisperings; there will be no harsh judgments then. that is without sin among you, And again he stooped down,

Conscience made cowards of these accusers; they dared not, on those conditions, follow up their accusation.

conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw

none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are

those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? "She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do no more. 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go,

11 Jesus had no legal authority; yet solemn was his warning voice to repent! Go and sin no more. I condemn thee: go, and sin 12 Light affords a beautiful illus tration of the power of the Gospel, bringing safety and joy *.

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18 Witness the voice from heaven at his baptism.

21 O God! give me grace and strength so to die unto sin in life, that in death I may live unto right

eousness.

ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye

24 What an awful warning for those who believe not in Jesus Christ as the Lord their Saviour. There is none other to save; and they who

• How wondrous a structure is the eye! how marvellous are its powers! But utterly valueless are all those powers, unless there be light adapted to their exercise. Every effort of the eye, in darkness, is pain. Still more wonderful is the mind of man, his intellectual eye! passing wonder are its powers! Yet the exercise of these powers also is pain, unless there be light for their due direction. Witness the vague and unsatisfactory efforts after truth in the dark ages of heathenism and ignorance.

believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then

die in their sins unforgiven-alas ! like Dives, they die for ever!

said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these

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things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

29 So neither shall we be left alone of God, if we strive always "to do those things that please Him." This heavenly presence is worth the striving for.

As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the

32 Free from sin-from its power, its fear, its punishment. We shall no longer fear the world and man, but God only.

Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. "Ye are of 44 The first death was by a mur

42 As "children of God" by baptism, let us love that Jesus whom our heavenly Father hath so graciously

sent to us.

derer's hand, and the first murder was for envy. But Cain was tempted of the Devil to his work. The Devil deceived our first parents by a lie; and men now perish by the deceitful ness of sin.

speaketh of his own: for And because I tell you Which of you convinceth truth, why do ye not believe

your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he he is a liar, and the father of it. the truth, ye believe me not. me of sin? And if I say the me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 51 And I seek

47 The impure in heart and the reprobate in conduct cannot bear the pure and holy character of the Gospel of Christ.

51 This is spoken of spiritual death.

not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews

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56 The whole of the Jewish dispensation was typical of the Gospel of Christ, and the virtue of its sacrifices was derived from their reference to Him.

unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto 58 What a clear claim to the Godthem, Verily, verily, I say head.

unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Then took they up

stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

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