SUCI DET Le rendered still more inveterate by viu żey joked apcc as a fresh offence; and not barry an immediate opportunity of visiting their inger on the principal person, they put in force a rule they had established by which the man who declared Lunsel have been healed was expelled from the synagg.

When this male an cutcast from the Jewish congregation, Jesus is related to have found him, and in so many words to have openly declared to him his true character: on which circumstance I have offered some observations at p. 7, note.

In the discourse which presently follows, to the Jews who did not believe, we find him twice to use the same expression (John x, 11, 15), that, as a good shepherd he should "lay down his life for his sheep ;" and the corresponding one; ver. 17; "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again:” in which it may be observed how pointedly his own consent is expressed; as also in the following; "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

He returns to Galilee, where he is met by the seventy disciples whom he had commissioned to

* John ix, 22; "For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”

make known his doctrine, and who are described as exulting in the success which had accompanied their ministry. It is not necessary to remark upon any of his actions recorded at this time, except that he was not deterred by the obloquy and danger he had incurred on former occasions from working, as it is stated, another miraculous cure on the sabbath-day (Luke" xiii, 13); nor does he abstain from reprobating very strongly the hypocrisy of the person, (the ruler of the synagogue), who had affected to condemn such an action on that day.

He proceeds once more to Jerusalem, to the feast, as it appears, of the Dedication; on his way to which through some parts of Galilee, he is told by the Pharisees that he should depart thence, or Herod, the sovereign of Galilee, would put him to death. Luke xiii, 32; "And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast

n See also another instance, Luke xiv, 1-6. The remark in the place before us of the irritated Ruler of the synagogue is observable: "There are six days in which men ought to work in them therefore come and be healed and not on the sabbath-day." xiii, 14.

The place was one of those cities of Galilee where our Lord was best known and most followed; and I cannot but regard the expression of the person in authority as an incidental testimony to the reality of the miracles wrought.

H

out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected"."

His purpose is more fully expressed in the following verse: "Nevertheless I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem."

He then mentally addresses the city in these memorable words: "O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not."

• See Hebrews ii, 10; "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Ib. v, 9; "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him."

"Nevertheless I must walk to-day and to-morrow and the day following:" These words appear to have been meant literally, and perhaps were intended also to admonish His disciples that it was not for the purpose of ultimately saving His own life that he would in fact depart so soon out of the territory of Herod.

A reference appears to be made to the second book of Esdras: "Thus saith the Almighty Lord; Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes, That ye

On this journey up to Jerusalem we find (Luke xiv, 25-33) that he was followed by great numbers; many of whom were probably little aware of his real object, and the real end of his mission. He emphatically forewarns them of the difficulty and danger of becoming his disciples, and by two apposite parables, instructs them to weigh well the cost telling them that they must be prepared to renounce their affection even for their nearest relatives, if they would follow Him; and once more using those characteristic words: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Luke xiv, 27.

Not to notice every particular,—immediately at the conclusion of his journey we find him using

would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father? I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto you?" i, 28, 29, 30.

St. Luke prefaces his account of our Lord's progress to Jerusalem, on this the last occasion of his quitting Galilee, and about four months before He suffered, by the following remark; "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." ix, 51.

Notwithstanding some apparent difficulties the time referred to in this passage appears to coincide with that of which we are speaking.

these expressions: "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it:" which at least intimates his approaching separation from those who heard him. Luke xvii, 22. Presently after, having announced his future and more glorious return, he adds, ver. 25; "But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation."

His subsequent expressions admonish his disciples of the danger to which they would be exposed.

The next circumstance we have occasion to remark took place at Jerusalem, during the feast of the Dedication, to which he had been proceeding, and in a most public spot, the part of the temple called Solomon's porch. John x, 24; "Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly:" (expressions which prove at least the reserve Jesus had maintained with regard to any open declaration of his character, by words): ver. 25; "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of mes."

* See note m, p. 7; where I have already touched upon this subject. Compare also John v, 36; "But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent