July 29

"Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of these works do ye stone me?"—John 10:32.

WE have noticed in these words, God's greatest mercy. Let us now consider

MAN'S BLACKEST CRIME. For the good works our Lord performed, the Jews took up stones to stone him. Can we conceive of any thing more awful, and which so much tends to show that degraded state into which human nature has sunk? For these good works they ought to have admired, loved, and received him; but how different was the conduct they evinced! Notice here

The depravity of man. The Jews furnished a dreadful exhibition of it. But it is not confined to them; how many are there, who, as it were, stone the Saviour again, crucify him afresh, and put him to an open shame! He is stoned in his religion, in his cause, in his people. An injury done to them he considers as done to himself. Thus he said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" What good things religion engages to do for man! It would reclaim him in his wandering from God, restore him to the Divine favor and image, open to him the only source of happiness, dignify and ennoble his spirit, elevate him beyond the trifling things of time, and prepare him for a glorious immortality; these are good works, and for these it is stoned.

The forbearance of God. Here is a wonderful instance of it. Why were they not immediately struck dead, by an act of his signal vengeance? To give a display of his amazing patience, and prove to us the fact of a judgment to come. Persecutors oftentimes go long unpunished, not because the Almighty cannot inflict it on them, but to give them time to repent, and show us that he is not willing that any should perish. Account the long-suffering of God salvation.

The mildness of the Saviour. He asked, "For which of the seworks do ye stone me?" How well was it said of him, "full of grace and truth"! If he taught with authority, that authority was tempered with kindness; it was not the power of the hammer breaking the rock in pieces, but that of the spring melting the rigor of winter, changing the severity of the frost, and drawing out all into life and loveliness. Let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach.