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SURELY THE SERPENT WILL BITE WITHOUT ENCHANTMENT; AND A BABBLER IS NO BETTER.-Eccles. x. 11.

JOHN iii. 6-11.

6 God. That which-is-born To gegevenμevor of the flesh is flesh; and that which-is-born 7 of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I-said unto-thee, Ye must de be-born again 8 avwbev. The wind bloweth where it-listeth, deλe and thou-hearest the sound thereof, but canst-not-tell whence it-cometh, and whither it-goeth: so is every-one that is-born 9 of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto-him, How can these-things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto-him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these11 things? Verily, verily, I-say unto-thee, We-speak that we-do-know, and testify that weSCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

6. born of the flesh- Adam begat a son in his own likeness,' Ge. v. 3-all flesh had corrupted his way,' vi. 5, 12-who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one,' Job xiv. 4-what is man... born of a woman, that he should be righteous? xv. 14-.6 -in my flesh dwelleth no good thing,' Rom. vii. 5, 18-the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,' 1 Co. ii. 14-as is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy,' &c., xv. 47-.9 the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,' Ga. v. 17-the works of the flesh,' ver. 19-21-by nature the children of wrath,' Ep. ii. 3 for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world,' 1 Jno. ii. 16.

13 gather unto me all the elders of your tribes,' xxxi. 28-30-see ch. xxxii., which contains the song rehearsed in their hearing, wherein is so strongly declared the need there would be in the latter days for Israel's being born again of the Spirit, ver. 1, 2 as making known the name of Him whose work is perfect, ver. 3, 4-so as to know Him to be their Father, who hath bought them, made them, established them, ver. 5, 6- They should have known what God had thus testified respecting the regeneration of his people: and afterwards by the prophets, as in Eze. xxxvi. 25-7; xxxvii. 3—10-but the spirit of deep sleep had fallen upon them, Is. xxix. 10-2 his watchmen are blind,' Ivi. 10-have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?' Je. viii. 8, 9-so our Lord afterward testified: hid these blind leaders,' &c., xv. 14. § 44-'ye do err, not things from the wise,' &c., Mt. xi. 25, § 29- they be knowing,' &c., xxii. 29, § 85 yet not conscious of their ignorance, Jno. ix. 39-41, § 55. God,' &c., Jno. i. 18, § 7- I speak that which I have 11. we speak that we do know no man hath seen seen with my Father,' viii. 38, § 55-see xii. 49, § 85; and Mt. xi. 27, § 29; Rev. i. 5-men are to testify that which they know, Is. xliii. 8-12; xlv. 19-22. NOTES.

8. the wind bloweth as on the day of Pentecost, Ac. ii. 2, 4 as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow,' &c., Ec. xi. 5. but canst not tell, &c.-this ignorance exemplified on the day of Pentecost, Ac. ii. 6-13-even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God,' Co. ii. 11-they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess,' &c., 1 Pe. iv. 4.

10. master of Israel-wise men made rulers, De. i.

[6. That which is born of the flesh. To shew the necessity of this change our Saviour directs the attention of Nicodemus to the natural condition of man. By that which is born of the flesh he evidently intends man as he is by nature, in the circumstances of his natural birth. As the parents are corrupt and sinful, so will be their descendants, Job xiv. 4. And as the parents are wholly corrupt by nature, so their children will be the same. The word flesh, here, is used to denote, corrupt, defiled, sinful.]

The flesh in the Scriptures is often used to denote the sinful propensities and passions of our nature, as those propensities have for their end the gratifica tion of the animal nature alone.-See Scripture Illustrations,' supra.

8. The wind bloweth where it listeth. The work of the Spirit is felt, but his way of working is a mystery. [The Holy Ghost is likened to wind or winds; incomprehensible in his nature; self-moved, powerful, convincing, quickening, comforting, and purifying in his influences. May not the north-wind figure out his convincing, and the south-wind his cherishing and comforting efficacy? In oveλe there seems an allusion to the freedom of Divine grace, both as to nations and to individuals.]

[So is every one that is born of the Spirit. These words are intended to apply the compari on; mean. ing that there are points of resemblance between the effects of the wind in nature and those of the Spirit in him who is born of the Spirit; and that they are of a kind which every one must ascribe to the Author of all good. He cannot indeed trace the exact process by which that heavenly agency is employed for this effect; but he does not the less believe it.] 10. Art thou a master of Israel? The teacher of Israel.' Nicodemus was so called as compared with

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others. As such he ought to have understood this doctrine. It was clearly taught in the Old Testament.-See Scrip. Illus.,' supra; and Notes,' p. 83. And knowest not these things? The things which Jesus had been teaching, having been previously taught by the prophets, ought to have been known by Nicodemus. [Nicodemus having expressed his ignorance of what Jesus had said, our Lord refers to the words of the prophets, see Eze. xxxvi. 22-.8, who had prophesied that before God would receive Israel into the promised kingdom, he would sprinkle clean water upon them; and also that a new heart he would give them, and a right spirit he would put within them. He would put his Spirit within them: so they, being born again, shall be his people, and he will be their God. Nicodemus, who, as being a master of Israel,' ought to have known these things, still, in amazement, asks, How can these things be?' And our Lord proceeds to shew him how these things can be, by pointing to his being the Divine Saviour, the antitype of the brazen serpent, lifted up by Moses, for the healing of the people in the wilderness; by believing in whom, as given of the Father out of pure love to the world, we are renewed in his image, who was made after our likeness, the likeness of sinful flesh.] 11. We speak. Jesus, agreeable to the usage of persons in authority, see Mk. iv. 30, § 32, here speaks in the plural number. Nicodemus had said, (ver. 2,) 'We know that thou art,' &c., including himself and those with whom he acted.

We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen. Both are expressive of that complete knowledge which the Son, as united with God the Father, could not but possess. There is also implied knowledge by a virtue of his own, and not by revelation.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

6 ver. Men are by nature carnally-minded, and can only become spiritually-minded by being born of the Spirit. [7 ver. Man must have it deeply impressed upon him, that his being born into the kingdom of God must be from above: Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will,' &c.-See Jno. i. 13, § 7] 8 ver. Regeneration must be known by its effects, The Spirit of God operates freely as the wind. Its

coming and issue are not otherwise visible.

9 ver. Men will often admit facts on other subjects, and be greatly perplexed by similar facts in religion.

84]

Let us, whatever may be our standing, candidly ac-
knowledge our difficulties, not to puzzle the weak,
but that we may have the help of the strong.
[10 ver. Let the strong not be offended at the in-
quiries of the weak; but, like Jesus, persevere in
presenting the truth to inquiring minds, according
as they are able to bear it. Jesus, in teaching regene
ration by the word and Spirit of God, taught no new
doctrine, but that which had been taught by the
prophets: which it should have been the business of
Nicodemus, as a master of Israel, to make plain to
the people.-See as to water and spirit,' Eze. xxxvi.
25-7; as to word and spirit,' xxxvii. 1-10.]

A FOOL ALSO IS FULL OF WORDS.-Eccles. x. 14.

GIVE EAR, O YE HEAVENS, AND I WILL SPEAK; AND HEAR, O EARTH, THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH.-Deut. xxxii. 1.

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washing of regeneration, and renewing, &c. :-Tit. iii. 5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.'

it is the Spirit that quickeneth, &c. :-Jno. vi. 63, § 43. if any man, &c.:-Rom. viii. 9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'-See Scrip. Illus.,' p. opp.

6. BORN OF THE FLESH.

Adam begat, &c.:-Ge. v. 3, And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.'

all flesh had corrupted his way :-Ge. vi. 5, 12. 5, 'And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' 12, And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.'

And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of
Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.'-
And see ch. xxxii., infra.

see Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.
afterwards by the prophets:-Eze. xxxvi. 25-7-see ch.
xxxvi. p. (83); xxxvii. 3-10-see ch. xxxvii. p. (30).
but the spirit of deep sleep, &c. :-Is. xxix. 10-2. 10,
For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of
deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and
your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11, And the vi-
sion of all is become unto you as the words of a book that
is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, say-
ing, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for
it is sealed: 12, and the book is delivered to him that is
not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith,
I am not learned."

his watchmen are blind:-Is. lvi. 10, His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Je. viii. 8, 9. 8, How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. 9, The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them ?' so our Lord afterward testified:-see Scripture Illus

11. WE SPEAK THAT WE DO KNOW.

see Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.-Rev. i. 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.'

men are to testify that which they know:-Is. xliii. 8-12 see ch. xliii. p. (27).-xiv. 19-22-see ch. xlv. p. (22).

who can bring, &c.:-Job xiv. 4, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.'-xv. 14-.6. 14, 'What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15, Be-trations,' page opposite. hold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16, How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?'-Rom. vii. 5, 18. 5, For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.' 18, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.-1 Co. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.'-xv. 47-.9. 47, The first man is of the earth, earthy the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48, As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49, And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.'-Ga. v. 17, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.'ver. 18-21. 18, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.'-Ep. ii. 3, Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.'-1 Jno. ii. 16, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.'

8. THE WIND BLOWETH.

as on the day of Pentecost-Ac. ii. 2-4. 2, And suddenly there came a sound from,' &c.

as thou knowest not, &c.:-Ec. xi. 5, As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.'

BUT CANST NOT TELL. &c.

this ignorance exemplified on the day of Pentecost:-Ac. ii. 6-13-see ch. ii. p. (35).-1 Co. ii. 11, For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.'-1 Pe. iv. 4, Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.'

10. MASTER OF ISRAEL.

wise men made rulers :-De. i. 13, Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.'

gather me all the elders, &c. :-De. xxxi. 28-30. 28, Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. 29, For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. 30, a Heb. he hath corrupted to himself.

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DEUTERONOMY XXXII. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my 2 mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the ten3 der herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye great4 ness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth 5 and without iniquity, just and right is he. a They have corrupted themselves, b their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked gene6 ration. Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee? Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew 8 thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children 9 of Israel. For the LORD's portion is his people; Ja10 cob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he dled him about, he instructed him, he kept him as 11 the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, 12 taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with 13 him. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil 14 out of the flinty rock; butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

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But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, 16 and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with 17 abominations provoked they him to anger. They

sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom 18 your fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that 19 formed thee. And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and 20 of his daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no 21 faith. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them 22 to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, [Continued-see next page.]

b Or, that they are not his children, that is their blot.
Ör, despised. Or, hath burned.

d Or, compassed him about.

c Heb. cord.

[DEUTERONOMY XXXII continued.] and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set 23 on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon 24 them. They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poi25 son of serpents of the dust. The sword without, and terror e within, shall d destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray 26 hairs. I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from 27 among men : were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, "Our hand 28 is high, and the LORD hath not done all this. For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any 29 understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their 30 latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had 31 sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies them32 selves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes 33 are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. 34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up 35 among my treasures? To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things 36 that shall come upon them make haste. For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their 8 power is gone, 37 and there is none shut up, or left. And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, 38 which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and 39 help you, and be your protection. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there 40 any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up 41 my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, 42 and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the 43 enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

44

also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.' so Jesus afterward testified :-see Scrip. Illus.' 12. EARTHLY THINGS.

xxxvi. 25-38, p. (83). things which are to take place, &c. :—see as before Eze.

compare with Is. xxx. 18-25-see p. (88).-xlix. 18-23 -see ch. xlix. p. (23).-And Joel ii. 16-32-see p. (57). HEAVENLY THINGS.

Is. Ixiv. 4-see p. (55).-1 Co. ii. 9, 10. 9, 'But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10, But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.'-2 Ti. i. 10, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.'-Jno. xiv. 2, 3, § 87.-1 Th. iv. 16, .7. 16, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.'-He. xi. 16, But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.'-Rev. xxi. 10-27see ch. xxi. p. (19)-Rev. xxii. 5, And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.'

13. NO MAN:-Pr. xxx. 4, Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?' BUT HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. see Scripture Illustrations,' page opposite.

the Lord from heaven:-1 Co. xv. 47, The first man is heaven.' of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from

when the fulness, &c. :-Ga. iv. 4, 'But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.'

descended:-Ep. iv. 8-10.

14. AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT:-Nu. xxi. 7-9. 7, Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and k Hoshea the son 45 of Nun. And Moses made an end of speaking all these, And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery ser46 words to all Israel: and he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to 47 observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the 48 land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

And

the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, 49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give 50 unto the children of Israel for a possession: and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount 51 Hor, and was gathered unto his people: because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the 52 children of Israel. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

11. RECEIVE NOT OUR WITNESS. so had they been forewarned:-Is. i. 2, 'Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.'-liii. I, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?'-xlviii. 8, Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.'-lxv. 2, I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.'-lxvi. 4, 'I

a Or, hath consumed. b Heb. burning coals. Our high hand, and not the Lord, hath done all this. h Heb. an hiding for you.

pent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9, And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.'

this sign abused, Hezekiah destroyed it :-2 Ki. xviii. 4, He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.'-[MARG.:-that is, a piece of brass.]

Jesus again referred to his being lifted up:-no. viii. 28, § 55; xii. 32-4, § 82.

cursed is every one that, &c. :-Ga. iii. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.'-2 Co. v. 21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.'

15. WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH.

thus Abraham:-Ge. xv. 6, And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.'— Rom. iv.

thus all the ends of the earth are invited :-Is. xlv. 22, earth: for I am God, and there is none else.' 'Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the

upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of they shall look, &c.-Zec. xii. 10, And I will pour they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

[Continued-see next page.]

e Heb. from the chambers.
d Heb. bereave.
f Or, is worse than the vine of Sodom, &c.
i Or, Praise his people, ye nations: or, Sing ye. k Or, Joshua.

• Or,

8 Heb. hand.

HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN;

JOHN iii. 12-.5

12 have-seen; and ye-receive not our witness. If I-have-told you earthly-things, Tа жYea and ye-believe not, how shall-ye-believe, if I-tell you of heavenly-things? Tа εжоνρаиа. 13 And no-man hath-ascended-up to heaven, but he that-came-down from heaven, even the 14 Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted-up woe the serpent in the 15 wilderness, even-so must the Son of man be-lifted-up wenva: that whosoever be SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

11. receive not our witness-so had they been forewarned-none to answer,' Is. 1. 2- who hath believed our report?' liii. 1-yea, thou heardest not,' xlviii. 8-a rebellious people,' lxv. 2-when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear,' lxvi. 4-so Jesus afterward testified, Ye will not come to me,' &c., Jno. v. 40, .3, § 23-Ye would not,' Mt. xxiii. 37, § 85.

12. earthly things-things which are to take place upon earth, in preparation for the heavenly glory, which shall come to the people as waiting for the King-see as before, Eze. xxxvi. 25-38-comp. with Is. xxx. 18-25; xlix. 18-23; and Joel ii. 16-32. heavenly things-neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him,' Is. lxiv. 4-but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit,' 1 Co. ii. 9, 10'our Saviour Jesus Christ... hath brought life and,' &c., 2 Ti. i. 10-I go to prepare a place for you, I will come,' &c., Jno. xiv. 2, 3, § 87-we shall be caught up together,' &c., I Th. iv. 16, .7-he hath prepared for them a city,' He. xi. 16 that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,' Rev. xxi. 10-27-they shall reign for ever and ever,' Rev. xxii. 5.

but he that came down from heaven-'the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,' &c., Jno. vi. 33, .8, 51, § 43- where he was before,' ver. 62, § ib. -from above,' viii. 23, § 55- from God,' ver. 42, § ib.; xiii. 3, § 87-came forth from the Father,' xvi. 3-8, Sib. with thee before the world was,' xvii. 5, § ib.

the Lord from heaven,' 1 Co. xv. 47-' when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his

Son,' &c., Ga. iv. 4- descended,' Ep. iv. 8-10.

14. as Moses lifted up the serpent-described, Nu. xxi. 7-9-this sign abused, like that of the cross among many professing Christians- Hezekiah destroyed it, 2 Ki. xviii. 4-Jesus again referred to his being lifted up, Jno. viii. 28, § 55; xii. 32-.4, § 82'cursed is every one that,' &c., Ga. iii. 13-made him to be sin for us, who,' &c., 2 Co. v. 21.

15. whosoever believeth-thus Abraham, Ge. xv. 6; Rom. iv.-thus all the ends of the earth are invited, Is. xlv. 22-they shall look,' &c., Zec. xii. 10- he that believeth on the Son,' &c., Jno. iii. 36, § 13though he were dead, yet,' &c., xi. 25, § 58-justified from all things,' Ac. xiii. 39-believe in thine heart that God hath,' &c., Rom. x. 9- am persuaded that he is able to keep,' &c., 2 Ti. i. 12.

eternal life- I give unto them eternal life,' Jno. x. 28-30, § 56 and this is life eternal, that,' &c., xvii. 2, 3, § 87- this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son,' &c., 1 Jno. v. 11.

13. no man who hath ascended up into heaven ?' Pr. xxx. 4-see also Jno. i. 18, §7; vi. 46, § 43-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, & the truth, & the life: no man cometh unto the Father,' &c., Jno. xiv. 6, § 87. NOTES.

Our witness. Our testimony. The evidence which is furnished by miracle, and the saving power of the gospel.

12. If I have told you earthly things, &c. If I have told you of that preparation which must be made upon earth, as introductory to the possession of the earthly portion of the inheritance, and yet you believe not things so evident, how shall you believe if I tell you of the unseen things of heaven?'

Heavenly things. The things belonging to the heavenly portion of the kingdom, to be enjoyed by the saints in resurrection glory.

13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven. To one alone, even the Son of man, belongs the knowledge of these heavenly things. He alone knoweth, and can declare the counsels of God.

[The expression must be taken figuratively to denote the investigation of hidden things, for which Christ, who came down from heaven, was peculiarly qualified. The phrase αναβαίνειν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν is here used agreeably to the language commonly employed of one who announced any revelation; q. d. that he had ascended into heaven, and fetched his knowledge from thence. No one knoweth the counsels of God, but he who came down from God.' De. xxx. 11, .2, comp. with Rom. x. 6. Christ, then, who literally was in heaven, is figuratively said to have ascended thither, because, being in the bosom of his Father, he had the fulness of knowledge in heavenly things.] 14. And as Moses. Jesus proceeds in this and the following verses to state the reason why he came into the world, and illustrates his design by a reference to the case recorded in Nu. xxi. 8, 9. The people were bitten by flying, fiery serpents. There was no cure for the bite. Moses was directed to make an image of the serpent, and place it in sight of the people, that they might look on it and be healed. PRACTICAL

[11 ver. He who hath Jesus for his teacher hath a teacher unlike many masters of Israel, who know not the things, nor the evidence of the things which they teach. He has a full knowledge of what he teaches; he testifies not by hearsay, but of what he hath seen.]

The disciples of Jesus should, like their Master, speak according to their knowledge, having for themselves full evidence of what they call upon others to believe.

12 ver. The change which Jesus had declared to Nicodemus, and the kingdom for which it is appointed a preparation, take place upon earth: but

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In the wilderness. Near the land of Edom. In the desert and desolate country to the south of mount Hor, Nu. xxi. 4. Even so. He here refers doubtless to his deathcomp. Jno. viii. 28, § 55; xii. 32, § 82.

The points of resemblance between his being lifted up, and that of the brazen serpent, seem to be these: 1st. In both cases, those who are to be benefited can be aided in no other way. The bite of the serpent manner. 2nd. The mode of their being lifted up. was deadly; and there is no cure for sin in any other The brazen serpent was set on a pole in the sight of the people. So Jesus was exalted from the earth; raised on a tree, or cross. 3rd. The design was similar. The one was to save the life: the other the soul. The one to save from temporal, the other from eternal death. 4th. The manner of the cure was similar. The people of Israel were to look on the serpent, and be healed. And so sinners are to look, or believe, on the Lord Jesus, that they may be saved. Must. It is proper, necessary, indispensable, if men are to be saved.-Comp. Lu. xxii. 42, § 88; xxiv. 26, § 94. The Son of man. The Messiah.

15. Here consider-1st. The universality of the invitation, whosoever;' all need, and all may have salvation.-2nd. The medium of salvation, faith;" whosoever believeth.'-3rd. The object of faith, in whom is salvation, Jesus Christ the Son of God, as made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; 'whosoever believeth in him.'-4th. The danger of neglecting this great salvation: there is no other way of escape from perdition; should not perish.'-5th. That which is to be obtained through faith in the Saviour, life; it is the joy of the Holy Ghost now; it is eternal life,' Jno. iv. 14, § 13. It is an ever-blessed abiding in the presence of God. REFLECTIONS.

they are connected with still more wondrous things in the heavens.

[13 ver. That we be born again, it is necessary to see Jesus, as God, who both came down from heaven, and who yet was in heaven, at the same time that he was the Son of man talking with Nicodemus upon earth.]

14 ver. As it was in the wilderness that the lifting up of the serpent took place, for the healing of the people who would otherwise have perished, so it is in the wilderness of this world now that the Son of man must be lifted up; that by him, through faith, the people may receive healing."

ASCRIBE YE GREATNESS UNTO OUR GOD.-Deut. xxxii. 3.

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THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.-2 Cor. v. 21.

IF WE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST, WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM.

Romans vi. 8.

JOHN iii. 16-.9.

16 lieveth in him should-not-perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should-not17 perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent areaTeXev not his Son into the world 18 to condemn the world; but that the world through him might-be-saved. He thatbelieveth on him is-not-condemned: but he that-believeth not is-condemned already, 19 because he-hath-not-believed in the name of-the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is-come into the world, and men loved darkness rather

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

16. so loved God commendeth his love toward us,' &c., Rom. v. 8 great love,' Ep. ii. 4, 5-hereby perceive we the love of God,' I Jno. iii. 16-' herein is love, not that we loved God,' &c., iv. 10-see ver. 7-21. he gave his only begotten Son-his well-beloved, he sent him,' Mk. xii. 6, § 84- spared not his own Son,' Rom. viii. 32.

sh. not perish the wages of sin,' &c., Rom. vi. 23. 17. sent not to condemn is come to save that which was lost,' Mt. xviii. 11, § 53-not to destroy men's lives, but to save,' Lu. ix. 56. § 59' came not to judge the world, but to save,' Jno. xii. 47. § 85 but he will come to judge, Mt. xxv. 31-46, § 86.

but that the world as before, on ver. 15-'the Christ, the Saviour of the world,' Jno. iv. 42, § 13; 1 Jno. iv. 14-the propitiation... for the sins of the whole world,' ii. 2 for us all,' Rom. viii. 32-died for all... reconciling the world unto himself,' 2 Co. v. 14, .5, .9 will have all men,' &c., 1 Ti. ii. 3-6.

18. he that believeth is not condemned that believing, ye might have life through his name,' Jno. xx. 31, § 100-being justified by faith,' &c., Rom. v. 1-no condemnation to them,' &c., viii. 1-' he that hath the Son hath life,' &c., | Jno. v. 12. believeth not-death to unbelieving Israel in the wilderness, Nu. xxxii. 11-a warning to those that should come after, Ps. xcv. 7-11-comp. with He. iii. 7-12; iv. 5-11-how shall we escape,' &c, He. ii. 3. 19. light is come into the world-'in him was life; and the life was,' &c., Jno. i. 4, § 7- he that fol loweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,' viii. 12, § 55. men loved darkness- say to the seers, See not,' Is. xxx. 10-did not like to retain God in their knowledge,' Rom. i. 28-received not the love of the truth, that,' &c., 2 Th. ii. 9, 10-if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie,' &c., 1 Jno. i. 5-8.

NOTES.

16. For God so loved. This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but was desirous of their happiness. A parent may love his child, and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child.

The world. All mankind, the race, who had rebelled, and deserved to die, Jno. vi. 33, § 43; xvii. § 98. That he gave. It was a free gift, unmerited. Man had no claim; and when there was no eye to pity, or arm to save, it pleased God to give his Son into the hands of man to die in their stead, Ga. i. 4; Rom. viii. 32; Lu. xxii. 19, § 87.

His only begotten Son. This is the highest expression of love of which we can conceive. A parent who should give up his only son to die-if this could, or might, be done, would shew higher love than could be manifested in any other way. From the 17-21 ver. seems to be levelled against the Jewish notion, that Messiah would come for the benefit of the Jews only; nay, would rather destroy the Gentiles.

17. Not to condemn the world. Not to judge, or prodemuation; but God was willing that there should

nounce sentence on mankind. Man deserved conbe an offer of pardon, and the sentence of condemnation was delayed; and God was willing to put forth in mercy his arm of power, to rescue sinners from death. Though Jesus did not come then to condemn mankind, yet the time is coming when he will return to judge the quick and dead, Ac. xvii. 31; 2 Co. v. 10. 18. He that believeth. He that trusts to his merits and promises for salvation. To believe on him, is to go as lost sinners, and, relying on him, look to him only for salvation.

Is not condemned. Because believing on him, we are pardoned and delivered from deserved punishment. Jesus died in our stead. And by his sufferings God is satisfied, and our sins are expiated. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,' Rom. viii. 1.

PRACTICAL

[16 ver. Regeneration is of the free love of God the Father, who gave the dearest object he had, his only begotten Son,' that men might not have the reward of their own evil doings, but the recompense of His perfect work in their behalf-have the Spirit given them, which is life-life eternal.' Salvation is free to all who will have it, as confiding in Him who is God-man, given of the Father, lifted up for our redemption, that we might be regenerated through the power of his Spirit.]

17 ver. The mission of Jesus had not as its object that which might have been expected, the condemning of the world, but the enduring the curse of the law, that the world through him might be saved;

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He is condemned already. So certain is his destruction. He is condemned by law, and in the judgment of God; and not unfrequently he is condemned even of his own conscience.

Because he hath not believed. All men are by nature condemned. There is but one way of being free from this state; and that is by believing on Jesus. Those to whom the gospel comes greatly heighten their guilt and condemnation by rejecting the offers of mercy, and trampling under foot the blood of the Son of God, Mt. xi. 23, § 29; Lu. xii. 47, § 63; He. x. 29; Pr. i. 24-30.

19. This is the condemnation, that light, &c. [It is here intimated that unbelief is not a speculative mistake, into which any honest mind may be led, but originates in the enmity of the heart to God. This is the ground of the sinner's condemnationthat light is come into the world, but men refuse to receive the truth, though coming with the fullest evidence, and spurn the gracious offer of salvation. minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the In whom the god of this world hath blinded the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them,' 2 Co. iv. 4.]

[That light is come. Light often denotes instruction, teaching, doctrine, as that by which we see clearly the path of duty. All the instruction that God gives us by conscience, reason, or revelation, may thus be called light. But this word is used peculiarly to denote the Messiah, or the Christ, who is often spoken of as the light-see Is. ix. 2; lx. 1comp. Mt. iv. 16, § 16; also Note on Jno. i. 4, § 7, p. 46. It was doubtless this light to which Jesus here makes particular reference.]

Men loved darkness. Darkness is the emblem of iniquity, error, superstition: whatever is opposite to truth and piety. Men are said to love darkness more than they do light, when they are better pleased with error than truth; with sin than holiness; with Belial than Christ. REFLECTIONS.

teaching us to deal with men, not according to the severity of justice, but according to the law of the kingdom, which is LOVE.

18 ver. Jesus gave the clearest evidence of his being the truth itself, and was the purest exemplification of LOVE; and his mission was abundantly attested of God: those therefore who reject him, condemn themselves in so doing.-He that refuses to be saved through the merits of Jesus Christ, must remain in condemnation.

19 ver. Condemnation is aggravated by the abuse of privilege.-The great cause of unbelief is the love of that which the principles of the gospel condemn, viz., the love of this world and its riches.

HE THAT IS DEAD IS FREED FROM SIN.-Romans vi. 7.

FOR IN THAT HE DIED, HE DIED UNTO SIN ONCE; BUT IN THAT HE LIVETH, HE LIVETH UNTO GOD.-Romans vi. 10.

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