the Jews, among whom he preached, and wrought many miracles, and whom he often called to receive him as the Christ. This runs through St. John's gospel from the beginning to the end, or near the end of the twelfth chapter.

Even in the introduction, he says, ch. i. 7, "John came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. Ver. 8, He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. Ver. 9, That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." That is, he was designed to be an universal blessing: and he has done all that was fit to be done, to ' enlighten all men in the knowledge of God, and true reli'gion.' Ver. 14, "And we beheld his glory," we his disciples, and all who impartially attended," beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father:" that is, the glory peculiar to the promised Messiah. Again, at ver. 18, he styles him "the only-begotten son.' Here St. John may be supposed to declare his present faith, or to make a profession of the faith, which he had at the time of his writing. Having so done, he proceeds in the history. Ver. 19, 20, "And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, Who art thou." He answered, that he was not the Christ, but his harbinger, or fore-runner, the person spoken of by Isaiah. And he declares the transcendent greatness of him, who was about to appear, and was already among them, ver. 21-28. Then at ver. 29, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith: Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." Undoubtedly, by that character meaning the Messiah, and understood by all so to mean. See also ver. 30, 31, 32, 33. Then at ver. 34, "And I saw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God:" or the Christ. And ver. 35, 36, "Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples. And looking upon Jesus, as he walked, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God." He tells every body, that Jesus is the Christ, though not always in

• Priora duodecim capita evidentissime ea commemorent, quæ severum et tremendum illud Dei in Judæos judicium defendunt Talia enim facta et dicta continuo ordine proponunt, quæ non in obscuro angulo, sed coram totâ gente judaïcâ edita sunt, nullamque exceptionem patiuntur.--Atque hæc est ratio, cur Joannes secundum festa Judæorum historiam evangelicam digerat. Inde enim innotescit, Jesum ea diligenter frequentâsse, atque in iis publice coram toto populo judaïco se satis superque manifestâsse. Istud enim evangelistæ nostro plane privum est, ut ea potissimum narret, quæ a Domino nostro Hierosolymis, quin in ipso templo, gesta atque dicta sunt; paucis tantum interjectis, quæ eum etiam Judæam, Samariam, Galilæam, radiis gloriæ suæ cœlestis abunde illustrâsse, atque ita nullam partem regionis Judæorum vacuam reliquisse, probant. Lamp, Ibid. 1. 2. cap. 4. num. xxxiii. xxxiv,

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the same terms. And to finish our account of John the Baptist. In ch. iii. 25-36, is the last testimony borne by him to Jesus: and it is very strong and full. He declares he was not himself the Christ, "but was sent before him. To him," says he, " God giveth not the spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son, and hath put all things into his hands. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Having gone through the Baptist's testimony, as here recorded, we look back to ch. i. 4-42, where Andrew finds his brother Simon, and says to him: "We have found the Messiah." Then ver. 45-51, Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth." Nathanael likewise is convinced, and says: "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the king of Israel." So writes St. John, showing, that the pious and well-disposed among the Jews readily received Jesus as the Christ. And thereby showing likewise, the great unreasonableness, and extreme perverseness of those who did not believe in him after all the proofs which he set before them in the course of his most powerful ministry. As the evangelist most justly says, near the conclusion of this part of his gospel. Ch. xii. 37, "But though he had done so many miracles among them, yet they believed not on him." And see what follows there.

Ch. ii. 11. After the account of the miracle at Cana. "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory:" that is, the glory of the Messiah; "and his disciples believed on him:" or were confirmed in their belief that he was the Christ.

Soon after this, Jesus went up to Jerusalem at the passover, and cleansed the temple, saying: "Make not my Eather's house an house of merchandise," ch. ii. 13-17. By the work itself, and by his words, manifesting himself to be the Messiah. I omit other things in the remaining part of that chapter, which an attentive reader will take notice of.

Then, ch. iii. 1-21, is the history of Nicodemus, who, whilst Jesus was this time at Jerusalem, made him a private visit. He immediately professeth faith in him, as a prophet. But our Lord tells him plainly, that he was the Messiah, and demands a suitable regard from him. He likewise sets before Nicodemus the nature of his design, for preventing, or for removing all worldly expectations from him. He likewise intimates the call of the Gentiles, and the judgments

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coming upon the Jewish people, if they should persist in unbelief. For," says he, "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son," the Messiah, "into the world to condemn the world: but that through him the world," Gentiles as well as Jews, " might be sav ed." And what there follows.

Jesus going through Samaria, from Jerusalem, in his way to Galilee, meets with a woman of that country. Ch. iv. 19, "The woman saith unto him: Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet." -And ver. 25, 26, "The woman saith unto him: I know that the Messiah cometh," or is soon to appear..

"Jesus saith unto her: I that speak unto thee am he."

-The woman left him, and went into the city," and saith unto the men: Come, see a man that has told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ ?" Afterwards, ver. 42, "Many of that place said unto the woman: now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know, that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." Here is another instance of our Lord's freely declaring himself to be the Christ, and of his accepting a profession of faith in himself, as such. And the ready faith of these Samaritans aggravates the continued unbelief of the Jews, on whom more culture had been bestowed.

Ch. v. 1, "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." By many this is thought to be the passover. By others it is reckoned some other feast between the last-mentioned, and the next passover of our Lord's ministry. However that may be, at this season our Lord healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, on the sabbath day, and bid him carry his bed, and go home. "Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them: "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work," ver 16, 17. The Jews charge him with blasphemy. Our Lord vindicates himself, and claims the character of the Messiah in high terms: and assures them," that all judgment had been committed unto the Son," meaning himself, the Messiah: "that all men might honour the Son, even as they honour the Father," ver. 21-23. And, for proof, he refers to their scriptures, the testimony of John, and the works which he had wrought among them, in the Father's name, ver. 24-47.

Ch. vi. 1-3, We perceive our Lord to be in Galilee,

whither he had gone from Judea. Then at ver. 4, " And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh." After which follows the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, for feeding five thousand. "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle which Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet which should come into the world:" or the expected Messiah. Their notion of the kingdom, belonging to that character, being worldly and carnal, and they, looking for worldly advantages, "would have come, and taken him by force, to make him a king :" so that our Lord found it needful to" depart into a mountain himself alone." The disciples in the mean time took shipping, and he came to them walking upon the sea. When they had received him, "immediately the ship was at the land whither they were going," ver. 14-21. The people, having been disappointed, came to him as soon as they could at Capernaum ; where our Lord takes an opportunity to reprove their carnal temper, and instructs them in the design of the Messiah, and the nature of his kingdom. And still taking upon himself that character, and requiring faith in him as such, he says: "I am the bread of life.—And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.—I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If any man eat this bread, he shall live for ever. And the bread that I will give him is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.- -Many therefore of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” But Peter, in the name of the twelve, and, possibly, in the name also of some others, followers of Jesus, said: "To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure, that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," ver. 22-69.

Ch. vii. 1, 2, "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand."- -ver 14, "Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught." Ver. 25, 26, "Then said some of them of Jerusalem- -Do the rulers know indeed, that this is the very Christ?" Ver. 31, “ And many of the people believed on him, and said: When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these, which this man has done?" Ver. 37, 38, "In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood, and cried: If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink."He speaks of himself in the character of the Messiah, and calls on all men to come to

him, as such, and receive the great blessings, which he is able to bestow. And at ver. 40, 41, "Many of the people, therefore, when they heard this saying, said: This is the prophet. Others said: This is the Christ."

Ch. viii. 12-23, Our Lord is still at Jerusalem. And at ver 12, "Then spake Jesus unto them, saying: I am the light of the world:" claiming the character of the Messiah, and declaring also the advantages of believing in him, and the sad consequence of not receiving him. Ver. 21, "Then said Jesus again unto them; I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins." Ver. 24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins. For if ye believe not that I am he," the Messiah," ye shall die in your sins:" that is, ye will bring upon yourselves heavy judgments and calamities. Ver. 47," He that is of God, heareth God's words: ye therefore bear them not, because ye are not of God."—Ver. 56," Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day."-Does not our Lord in all this propose himself to them as the Messiah, require their faith in him as such, and plainly intimate the calamities that would befall them, if they should continue to reject him?

Nor is there any inconsistency in what is here observed, and the accounts of the other evangelists. After Peter had made a profession of his faith, it is said, Matt. xvi. 20, “Then charged he his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was the Christ." And compare Mark viii. 30, and Luke ix. 21. Nevertheless, he was not unwilling to be thought of in that character. When Simon Peter had said by way of answer to the question that had been put to the disciples, "thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God:" our Lord was greatly pleased, and pronounced him blessed upon that account: and he was desirous that all should receive him as the Messiah. It was the design of his own, and his forerunner's preaching, as recorded in all the evangelists, the first three, as well as St. John. They called upon all men "to repent, for the kingdom of heaven," or of God, by the Messiah," is at hand." So Mark i. 14, 15. And himself says, Matt. xii. 28, " If I cast out dæmons by the Spirit of God, then is the kingdom of God come unto you." And Luke xvii. 21," Behold the kingdom of God is among you," or in the midst of you, not within you, as we render it: but he tells them that the kingdom of the Messiah was already begun to be set up among them. When our Lord was baptized," there came a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Or, this is the Messiah: as recorded by all the first three evan