of others.

The triumph of conscience

was, on this occafion, complete: the eldeft, who had, we may suppose, most fins to anfwer for, retired firft; and the others followed, till no one remained to accufe her.

Would to God that none took upon themselves to judge others, but those who, after fuch examination, were pronounced by their conscience qualified for the office! then would scandal, detraction, and evilfpeaking, thofe great difturbers of the peace of fociety, be totally driven from our habitations, and their places fupplied by charity, mercy, and humanity.

It is no new remark, that the most upright people in their own conduct are the leaft prone to censure their neighbours, whilst those who indulge themselves in every vice to which their paffions excite them, are the most apt to condemn with feverity the frailties of their fellow-creatures: let fuch, however, remember that, in judgeing another, they pass sentence upon themselves, altho’their crimes fhould happen to be of a different nature. Is it not strange,

that

that man, who stands in need of hourly pardon from his Creator, (without which he must be subject to eternal misery) should be fo fevere to his fellow-finners, instead of endeavoring to reclaim them? yet this we fee to be daily the cafe. Let us contraft this with the conduct of our blessed Lord, to whom we ought to look up as a pattern. Having fhewn the unhappy woman the full extent of her guilt, by expofing her to the fentence of the law denounced against her crime, when her accufers, ftung by their own confciences, had withdrawn their prosecutions, he reminds her of the punishment she had escaped, and exhorts her to lead a better life in future: "Go, and fin no more:" as if he had faid, Let the paft prove a warning to you, never again to be guilty of a breach of the laws of your God, who has now fhewn fuch mercy to you; keep a strict guard over all your thoughts, words and actions, and, by the propriety of your future conduct, prove the fincerity of your repentance, and your firm deter

mination

mination to adhere invariably to the paths of virtue, that others who may have fallen like yourself, may, by the total change visible in your life, be induced to follow your good example.

"12. Then fpake Jefus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he "that followeth me fhall not walk in dark"nefs, but shall have the light of life.

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13. The Pharifees, therefore, faid un"to him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

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"14. Jefus anfwered and said unto them, "Though I bear record of myself, yet my "record is true: for I know whence I

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came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither 'I go."

Simeon foretold, in the fecond chapter of St. Luke, that our bleffed Lord fhould be "a light to lighten the Gentiles, " and the glory of his people Ifrael." Those who rejected fuch light must, of course,

Rr

course, walk in spiritual darkness: it was their wilful ignorance of whence he came, and whither he was going, that made them reject the record he gave of himself, as the light of the world.'

"16. And yet if I judge, my judgment "is true; for I am not alone, but I and "the Father that fent me.

17. It is alfo written in

your law, "that the testimony of two men is true. "18. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bear"eth witness of me."

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Chrift here points out to them, by a familiar reference to their own law, that they ought to believe in him. The Father had not only publicly declared him, at his baptifm, to be his only-begotten Son, but gave daily confirmation of it in the miracles he performed, which none but God could do: here, then,

were

were two witneffes, which was all the Jewish law required for the eftablishment of a fact.

66 19. Then faid they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jefus answered, Ye "neither know me, nor my Father: if ye "had known me, ye fhould have known my Father also.

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"20. These words fpake Jefus in the

Treasury, as he taught in the Temple : " and no man laid hands on him; for his ❝ hour was not yet come."

All our Lord's miracles had not availed to convince the Scribes and Pharifees of his divine origin: they still perfifted in confidering him merely as the fon of Joseph; to whom, from his fituation in life, they were not inclined to pay much respect: yet, the time appointed when Chrift fhould be delivered into their hands not being yet come, they could only infult him with their tongues.