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sinners "the terrors of the Lord; in order to awaken, convince, alarm them-to cast them prostrate in self-despair-to bring them into that state of mind, in which alone "the promise" can "be given" to them. And in this way that prophecy is fulfilled— They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them." 2 The terrors of God thus prove mercies-they are the wholesome rod, by which the lost sheep are driven back to that gracious fold, where they may remain safe, under the care of the good shepherd, Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, I ask,

ARE YOU NOT SINNERS? Methinks there should be no doubt on this head. Yet while they own the fact, many continue to feel satisfied with themselves. Is not this too much the case with you? Oh how can you be at peace one moment, while under arrest as a transgressor against the Almighty ?-But perhaps you profess to rely on his mercy: then I ask again.

IS SALVATION YET GIVEN TO YOU? In other words, Have you believed in Jesus Christ ?—No trifling question this-nor to be carelessly answered. Some evidence you must have, one way or the other. When did you begin to repent? When, to cast your soul on Christ? When, to enter on his willing service? -If none of these,

WHAT WILL YE DO IN THE END-that end which is shortly approaching-death-Judgment? Oh, 'tis an easy thing now to mock at Christian truths, Christian friends, Christian duties: but it is like criminals jesting in their fetters, sneering on the gallows!-Tremble, then, and repent! Pray, believe, and be saved!

1 2 Corinthians v. 11.

* Jeremiah xxxi. 9.

SERMON XIV.

JOHN xiii. 21.-When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

WE may consider these words in three points of view: first,

I. AS PREDICTING THE SIN OF JUDAS. 66 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." A prediction like this shews,

1. That Christ suffered as no other human being ever suffered. Great as are the trials and sorrows of Man, they are generally unforeseen; and by this circumstance more than half their weight is removed. For as the apprehension of evil is often found to be more distressing than the actual endurance of it, what would that apprehension be, if it were always accompanied by undoubted certainty? It was so in the case of Jesus. We are supported by hope, even on the brink of misery: Jesus foresaw all his woes, and he knew them to be unavoidable. Such was his anguish, endured for us!-This prediction shews, further,

2. That all hearts are open to the Son of God. It was not many days-perhaps not many hours-since Judas had made his agreement with the chief priests. He was sure not to have betrayed himself; and the same secrecy was equally needful to his accomplices. Yet how vain all their precautions! The traitor hears

his own purpose first exposed, by the very Being whom he would betray! How then can you hope to impose on Christ, and shun the eye of God? "They that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in the night : 1 but there is " no darkness or shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." 2 "Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off? saith the Lord. Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."-We learn, moreover,

3. That the most wicked actions of men unintentionally promote God's secret purposes of grace to mankind. He who foretold this crime, could have prevented its commission, or counteracted its success. But the act, though springing from the voluntary sin of Judas, was a part of God's plan for man's salvation; foreseenpermitted—over-ruled for good. Shall we murmur, then, even at the most mysterious dispensation, when He has promised that "all things shall work together for good to them that love him, to them that are called according to his purpose?" 4

These, then, are some of the reflections suggested by the text, if regarded simply as a prophecy. But it is to be viewed, secondly,

II. AS DESCRIBING THE AGGRAVATIONS OF THAT SIN. In this view, every word had a sting for the conscience of Judas, had not that conscience been hardened.

1. It was a sin of Treachery, which Christ foretold; a sin of that kind, which is held in abhorrence even by fallen man. To profess love, where injury is intended -to appear on the side of Christ, but to be really for 1 1 Thess. v.7. 2 Job xxxiv. 22. 3 Jer. xxiii. 24. 4 Rom. viii. 28.

his enemies to cry, Hail Master! in hope of escaping detection, while others do the wrong to kiss, and by that very action to betray ;-human nature itself shudders at the baseness. Nor is the case at all mended, by urging that Judas was moved by self-interest, and not by malice. The plea only adds detestable meanness to his character, where passion and revenge might have furnished (what men would call) a prouder excuse. No-every one will condemn the traitor!-And who is the traitor? has he no name but Judas? Alas!

his " name is Legion, for he is many." All, who uphold the "form of godliness" and "deny its power; "2 all, who consider habitual worldliness and sin to be not in the least inconsistent with their professing and calling themselves Christians-all, who bring to the Lord's table an unhumbled, sensual, hardened heart; all these, say what they will, are acting over again the part of Judas-betraying the cause of Christ to the contempt and scorn of his more open enemies.

2. It was treachery against the best of Friends: "One of you shall betray ME!" "The love of Christ," by the testimony of one who seems to have had deeper views of it than any, "passeth knowledge." 3 Surely, then, even those who enjoyed the least acquaintance with Christ, must have had abundant opportunities of observing that love. And this was unquestionably the case with Judas. He had seen miracles of healinghad heard discourses of love-had seen God Incarnate! The very dead had been raised to life in his presence, by this heavenly Friend of man; and then he goes and betrays him for thirty pieces of silver! Nay more— Judas had accepted a commission from his Friend, to teach and to preach in his name; and he abuses the privilege, the more readily to betray !

Which shall

3 Eph. iii. 19.

we more admire the folly or the baseness of such conduct? But is not the same Christ our friend too? Yes, he is! He had moreover our good in view, in all that he did on earth, as much or more than that of Judas. Yet multitudes still prefer the silver to Christ. Rather than lose the pleasures of sin for a season,' " they will forfeit their soul, their conscience, their peace, their best friend, their Saviour, their God, their All. Plead guilty, thou impenitent sinner! Oh, begin to tremble at the thought, that thou art betraying him whom good men love, whom angels adore, and whom the Father himself delighteth to honour.

-

3. It was the treachery of a highly privileged and confidential Servant. "One of YOU!" No, you cannot credit me. 1 must therefore speak more deliberately and solemnly-" Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of shall betray me!". you For three years had the Pharisees been seeking for such an accomplice: but the multitude would not-they saw that Jesus was indeed the Christ; the officers could notfor they were overawed, convinced, alarmed. These persecutors never dreamed of asking one of the Apostles -who would? when, to their great astonishment, he offers of his own accord ! The devil puts it into his heart, and he welcomes the idea. One of you! you are pale at the thought of my approaching deathone of you" is the traitor! All friends!—and yet one will betray me." Nay, you have all been joining in a fresh act of spiritual and mutual love, feeding by anticipation upon my body and blood-which blood nevertheless will not be shed, till one of you shall have betrayed me.' Who can wonder at the consternation of the eleven? Who can palliate such aggravated guilt? Yet how often is it repeated, when

1 Hebrews xi. 25.