LXXVIII.

PROGRESSIVE ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE DIVINE CONDUCT.

JOHN Xiii. 7.

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

THIS declaration of our Lord immediately respects a particular circumstance of his gracious conduct towards his apostles, which took place the very evening before his last sufferings; when, in order to show his love to his disciples, and to set them an affecting example of mutual love and benevolence, He who knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto his Father; and that all things were given into his hands, "riseth from supper, laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself. After that, he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash his disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded." To this wonderful and instructive instance of humility and love, Peter inconsiderately and peremptorily objected. This transaction was also intended as an emblem of that more spiritual cleansing by the grace of Christ, which we daily need.

Our Lord suggests that he would more fully explain his conduct by and by, and that it would be the truest modesty to yield implicitly to his wisdom and will. But Peter rashly repeats his refusal with still greater vehemence, and yet is soon convinced of his folly, and glad to submit to his Lord's authority and grace.

This example is truly instructive, and should lead us to guard against frowardness, false humility, and self-will. And our Lord's declaration, instead of being confined to Peter, will be found applicable, in a variety of instances, to other sincere believers.

FIRST: Christ's own disciples, after that character justly belongs to them, may, for a while, be ignorant of the meaning and design of some parts of his conduct.

Some, at their first conversion, and for a considerable time afterward, may have but a very imperfect knowledge of the

doctrines of the gospel. How obscure the views of the apostles were, before the death of Christ took place, of the approach and designs of that important event: though so much instruction had been given in the Old-testament types and prophecies; and though our Lord himself so often, and expressly alluded to it! I consider this, indeed, as partly owing to the degenerate state of the Jewish church, and the corrupt ideas of the nature of the Messiah's kingdom which then prevailed among them, contrary to the faith of more ancient believers. And I conceive their ignorance of Christ's death and its glorious design, to be widely different from a denial of the atonement now, since that event has really taken place, and the doctrine is more clearly stated in the apostolic writings. Yet the dulness of their apprehensions on this head was really surprising, and this cause doubtless tended to make Peter more backward to understand his Lord.

Yet this example may convince us that there may be some grace, when there is great defect in doctrinal knowledge.

I may observe, moreover, That our views of our own defects, necessities, pollutions, and dangers are often very imperfect at first conversion. So it was with Peter, and therefore he was less ready to understand his master. But Peter knew afterwards, his need of daily cleansing; and so shall we, as we grow in grace and in acquaintance with our own hearts, and the spirituality of the divine law.

It is true, believers are at once justified, and at once renewed. But, though the former act admits of no increase, yet they need the daily application of the blood of Christ, to keep up a lively sense of pardon on their souls; and the work of sanctification is gradual, and needs carrying on daily. This seems to be taught expressly in ver. 10, which is more exactly rendered by Dr. Campbell, "He who hath been bathing, needeth only to wash his feet," and the Dr. observes, "It is an evident allusion to the ancient eastern custom, of bathing before they went to a feast, and afterwards washing their feet when they came in.”

Our ideas of our own duty are often very defective, and pre

vent our understanding those things by which the Lord would instruct us therein. Peter learned more humility, and more of the necessity of self-diffidence, and of condescension, after this. Then he better understood the lesson his Lord taught him on this occasion. Then he durst not pretend that he loved Christ more than his brethren did; and he exhorted others to be clothed with humility.

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Our views of divine providence are often very contracted, and we are frequently ready to wonder at events, or to complain of some which we see at length to have been ordered wisely, and to be very beneficial. So it was with all the disciples soon after this transaction, respecting that most important event of Christ's death. They spoke of it when it first took place, as if it had been the ruin of all their hopes; but how did they afterward rejoice therein, as the price of their redemption!

SECONDLY: What is now most mysterious and hidden, respecting the Lord's conduct towards his people, will at length be made apparent to their full satisfaction.

Many things will be cleared up to us by an increase of spiritual illumination. Let us therefore pray daily for more light, and for deliverance from sinful prejudice, endeavoring to study God's word impartially.

Other things will be illustrated by attending to the sequel of divine providence. God's way is often in the deep, and his footsteps unknown; while we are too apt to be hasty in our judgments. But, "better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." Eccl. vii. 8. We judge as by seeing the wrong side of a piece of tapestry.

Much may be learned by observation of events which take place around us, and histories recorded in the Holy Scriptures. How often does the prosperity of fools destroy them, while the afflictions of the righteous do them good. How did Jacob conceive all to be against him, when in fact, all was in a wonderful manner working for him. How did Job curse the day of his birth; when, nevertheless, his greatest prosperity was before him.

Present afflictions often incapacitate us for a while, from forming a distinct judgment of God's design in them like a trembling hand holding a telescope, to view distant objects. But they will be perceived better by and by. We perceive the inconvenience and pain of present circumstances, but do we know the more dangerous snares of a contrary situation? How much worse might we have fallen by a different sort of temptation !

What is not cleared up on earth, will be seen to our full satisfaction by the light of glory. There will be no night there; no gloom, no obscurity; but perfect, unclouded, uninterrupted day.

Yes, if we are Christians, who love the truth, what we know not now we shall know hereafter. At present we know but in part; but we should expect and desire to increase in our knowledge of divine truth, and search after it impartially and earnestly. When young Christians begin to attain a little doctrinal knowledge, they are too ready to be dogmatical and fierce in their zeal for opinions, and require all to agree with them in every punctilio; but the best Christians expect to be learners all their days, and bear with others as Christ bore with them. Yet, on the other hand, we should guard also against a sceptical spirit.

In order to our understanding the mysteries of providence, let us particularly consider God's end in all that befals his people, and endeavor to unite with him therein. This would solve many difficulties; as it would with regard to God's conduct towards Israel. Had he meant merely to humor and gratify them, he would have taken a different method. But he meant to glorify his name, and form a people for himself, to show forth his praise. To prove and humble them, and rectify them. So, why does God bereave us, or disappoint us, or try us, but to keep us from idols, to induce us to seek rest in himself, wean us from the world, and prepare us for heaven? And to make to himself a glorious name, by supplying, supporting, and delivering? We know not what is good for us, of all before us in this vain life.

All

In heaven, all error will be done away for ever. darkness will vanish, all prejudice be removed. We shall

make the most rapid progress in knowledge, holiness, and joy. Then shall we see that all God's conduct was wise and right, both as to the management of our own minute concerns, and as to the regulation of the vast affairs of the universe.

LXXIX.

MUTUAL LOVE A MARK OF CHRIST'S DISCIPLES.

JOHN xiii. 35.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

OUR blessed Lord, in his last conversation with his beloved disciples, when he was just about to leave them, and go to the Father, inculcated upon them, in a special manner, the duty of brotherly love.

The Evangelist, who so fully recorded these farewell discourses, and was admitted to a peculiar intimacy with his Master; who leaned on his bosom, and imbibed so much of his spirit, dwells largely on this subject in his Epistles, especially in the longest of them.

Our Lord calls this a new commandment, as a duty about to be enforced by new motives, and as he was setting up a new dispensation, in which this grace would be called into more extensive and distinguished exercise.

Under the Jewish dispensation, the chief attachment of good men, was nearly confined to their own countrymen, because hardly any worshippers of the true God were to be found, except of the land of Israel; and though they were taught, that God ultimately intended to bless all the families of the earth in the seed of Abraham, yet, they were not encouraged to expect that others would be brought to know and serve the Lord, till the advent of the Messiah. Then there would be more encouragement to active benevolence and philanthropy, and reason for a special complacency in all that should be actually gathered to Shiloh. And relation to Christ would be a closer bond of union, than relation to Abraham had been; and his image in regenerate souls, would be a proper ground of complacency.