November 5

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." — John 12:32

WHILE the former part of this verse presents the Saviour before us, in the anticipation of his sufferings, the latter part of it exhibits to our view

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS SUCCESS. Observe

The objects regarded. "Men." Why not angels? Here we see the sovereignty of God. "Verily he took not on him," or as the Greek word signifies, he took not hold of, "the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham." He assumed man's nature, that he might atone for man's sin.

The number included. "All men." One nation was to be blest in Abraham; but in his seed, and by virtue of the promised Messiah, all nations were to be blest. "To him," said Jacob, "shall the gathering of the people be." There is no limit to the atonement of Christ, but that which arises from our unbelief; this is the grand impediment that hinders the blessings of salvation from flowing into our souls.

The method employed. He will draw all men to him. Though he is a stumbling-stone to some, he is a loadstone to others. We lift up the cross as an ensign for the people, and blow the trumpet of the Gospel, that you may gather around it as a direction; pointing the way to glory, that you may draw near, and pursue the road to a blissful immortality.

The agent specified. "I will do it," says our Redeemer. "I once said to myself," says Cecil, "in the foolishness of my heart, what sort of a sermon must that have been, preached by St. Peter, when three thousand were converted? Such as other sermons, there was nothing in it extraordinary: the effect was not produced by his eloquence, but by the mighty power of God."

The destination mentioned. "Unto me." We are far from Christ by nature, but are brought near to him by grace. We are dead, and are drawn to him as our life; we are condemned, and come to him as the Lord our righteousness; we are unholy, and acknowledge him as our sanctification. Sinners are drawn to the cross, the closet, the sanctuary, the Lord's table, and finally to heaven itself.

The certainty expressed. "I will draw all men unto me." Thus he insures the ultimate success of his cause. The fields are white to harvest, and many a full ripe sheaf is being gathered in; there seems to be a general movement in all parts of the world; multitudes are starting up to catch the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness—the walls of China have been penetrated, and its inhabitants can read in their own language the wonderful works of God—light is advancing in the eastern Archipelago—the clouds are flying from the South Sea Islands—along the deserts of Africa the Rose of Sharon is seen to bloom—America is advancing in the light of the Lord, and from Christians in various parts of Europe the Gospel is sounding out. The Lord of the vineyard comes out to his laborers, and cries, "Work while it is called to-day. As truly as I live, the whole earth shall be filled with my glory."