Saint Paul, to "know no man after the flesh," and never more to boast of any worldly connexions. Nay, if you could claim any carnal relation to the Saviour himself, you should place no dependence upon it but pray, that, being joined to him by his Spirit, you may now be conformed to his image, and finally "behold his face in righteousness."

Amen..

JUDAS THE TRAITOR.

CHAP. IV.

Judas, appointed an apostle-dishoneft-cenfured Mary for waste of ointment-warned by Jefus-betrayed him for money-destroyed himself.

HAVING concluded the hiftory of the Saviour, we may now pay a more minute attention to fome of his chief companions. Twelve perfons were felected to be his intimate affociates, the men of his counfel, and appointed to the high and important office of the Apoftlefhip. All these were upright, and eminent in holiness, excepting one: an indelible mark of infamy is left upon the name of Judas Ifcariot. The eleven others had their failings, but Judas poffeffed nothing truly good: he was wrong throughout, unfound from firft to laft, a finished hypocrite, who, under the cloke of religion, concealed the bafeft principles. Though a follower, a preacher, and an Apoftle of Chrift, he felt no fincere regard for him, but fought only to make gain of godliness.

This is a tremendous fubject, and ought to excite great fearchings of heart. The character before us ftands as an awful admonition, not to trust in any favourable appearances or reputation for fanctity. Even in a facred function, with admired gifts, and acknowledged usefulness, we may act as traitors to the caufe of Chrift, and finally perifh. Sooner or later the diffembler with God will be detected, and receive his juft reward. Every plant, which our

heavenly

heavenly Father hath not planted, fhall be rooted up Thus alfo the Saviour declares, "Many: will fay to me in that day, Lord, Lord; have we not prophefied in thy name? and in thy name have caft out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profefs unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity +.' Let us judge ourselves; and furrender up our whole hearts to God, "without partiality and without hypocrify." So fhall we be preferved from the fatal

volence, and even caft out devils, while he himself remained the flave of Satan.

In the defignation of Judas to this facred office, our Lord was not impofed on. He well understood, what were the mifcreant's motives and purposes, and forefaw the whole of his future conduct. It may seem wonderful therefore, that he should choose him. We confefs, thofe are most awful difpenfations, by which hypocrites and perfons of bafe characters are brought forward to minifter in holy things, and posfefs power in the Church. Yet these cases every where occur, and the Lord does not prevent them; nay, he fo orders things in his providence, that they must infallibly take place. He does not influence any man to do wickedly; but, though he continueth holy, he is pleased to allow finners full opportunity for purfuing and accomplishing their own plans. Thus he dealt with Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and: thus he deals with many, who are of the worft dif pofition, at this very time. He raises them to fitua tions, in which they are capable of doing extensive mifchief, difgracing, oppofing, or corrupting the Gofpel, which they profefs to patronife or preach. Yet wife ends are answered: the extreme depravity of human nature is more clearly demonftrated, the faith and patience of the faints are tried and improved,. and God himself manifefts both his forbearance and his justice.

Jefus and his difciples, in their various removals,, had one common stock for their fupport. This money was committed to Judas: he carried the bag, which contained chiefly the charitable contributions of others, who miniftered unto them. He was intrufted, then, with the fecular affairs of this little, houfhold, and bought in their provifions. It was not much which they poffeffed; yet Judas took care to embezzle fomething for himfelf. Probably, he.

had

had fought and obtained the office, with a view of practifing his difhonefty.

Out of their small fund, it should feem, a part was defigned for the poor. But Judas made his advantage of the kind intentions of his Mafter: while he was ready to fecond every propofal of relieving the neceffitous, he contrived to appropriate the alms to his own use. Juft before the last paffover, when Mary, Lazarus's fifter, anointed the feet of her dear Lord with coftly perfumes, out of the warmth of her affection, Judas raifed the objection, and complained with the greatest vehemence, "Why was not this ointment fold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" We might have concluded, that he was a man of extreme tenderness and liberality but this was a bafe pretence. He felt not for the miseries of his fellow-creatures; he wifhed only for the opportunity of fecuring to himfelf the three hundred pence.

Hypocrites are generally very cenforious, and forward to condemn the fervour of zeal as extravagance.. Many, likewife, gratify their own penurious difpo-. fition, while they allege their intentions of making. a referve for charitable purposes. They would be thought compaffionate and kind, and yet confult chiefly, how they fhall enrich themselves. Alas! with a heart enflaved to covetoufnefs, it is difficult. to be strictly honeft. The ftrongest barriers are infufficient to restrain such temper, and hence it is,. that the most facred trufts are frequently betrayed. Men break through every folemn obligation, in order to obtain a paltry fum: and they hoard up gold and filver, "the rust of which fhall be a witness against them, and fhall eat their flesh, as it were fire +.

Let not that, therefore, be cenfured as a finful or needless expense, which is laid out in the cause of

* John xii. 1-8. xiii, 29.

† James v. 3.

Chrift,