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CHAPTER IX.

MARCH 22, JULY 21, Nov. 17.

AND as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 'Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 'As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

3 Neither have he nor his parents, however they are like other men, offenders against God's perfect law, 80 conspicuously sinned, as to call down any special judgment. The occasion is an opportunity for my divine power to be mercifully exercised for his relief *.”

When he had

5 "My doctrines, like light, give guidance, safety, and comfort." (Ch. viii. 12.)

Means these, evidently so inade

quate, of themselves, to their pur

Thus

thus spoken, he spat on the
ground, and made clay of
the spittle, and he anointed
the eyes of the blind man
with the clay, and said unto
him, Go, wash in the pool of
Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way
therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours
therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was
blind, said, Is not this he

affording a test of faith and obedience
pose, that he used them only as
on the part of the blind man.
in all his benefits, the means by which
they are conferred, are as simple as
the benefit is great.

9 No false shame had room in his Gratitude is ever bold to

Therefore said they

that sat and begged? Some heart. said, This is he: others said, confess obligation. He is like him but he said, I am he. unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash :

* A certain sect of philosophers believed that the souls of men were pre-existent. So it is first asked, what sins had this man committed in his former state of existence, that he should, as a punishment, be born blind in this? For, being born blind, the infliction, if a punishment, must have had reference to a former state; the infant at birth not having committed actual sin. The next question supposed the son to suffer for some sin of his parents.

Christian, art thou afflicted-blind, or deaf, or sick, or in other misery? Fear not. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." O blessed word! The world, in all its power and greatness, can offer no comfort like this. The sick, and the afflicted in mind, body, or estate, have Almighty God as their friend.

Then said they
They brought
And it was

and I went and washed, and I received sight. unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the

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17 It was evident even to this illiterate person that Jesus was sent from God.

blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, he is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again. What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and

him.

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:

25 He leaves their own sense to determine the question, and recurs to the facts of the case, as supplying ample conviction.

30 The whole of this confession is most noble and affecting! noble in its courage, affecting in its gratitude.

said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if

eyes.

any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe 36 O the blessing of a willing mind and a ready faith!

on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no therefore your sin remaineth.

39 To judge, or discriminate between the righteous and the wicked. The Gentiles, hitherto in darkness, shall see; for they willingly receive the light. The Jews, who have the light, and therefore might see, are

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blind in unbelief.

41 Man's responsibility is in proportion to his powers. We shall all be judged according to our knowledge.

sin: but now ye say, We see ;

CHAPTER X.
MARCH 23, JULY 22, Nov. 18.

'VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep*. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

1 The Church-or the family of God-is compared to a sheepfold, of which Jesus keepeth the door. They who like the Pharisees pretend to admit men therein, not having commission from God so to do, are no shepherds.

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* And a stranger will they not

5 Those are called strangers, who are uncommissioned to their office.

* In the East, flocks of sheep are not driven; but they follow the shepherd, and are guided by his voice.

follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that

ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I

am the door by me if any

:

8"All pretenders to the Messiahship, plot only evil against my reli gion."

9 What a blessed word to those whose souls hunger and thirst after righteousness!

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10 False teachers destroy the soul; as did the Pharisees: teaching for doctrines the commandments of

man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might

men."

12 He, who attempts to guide my people, without that strength and courage which a consciousness of due authority gives, no sooner seeth danger, than fear masters him, and be

fleeth *.

have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it

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15 Thus far, our Lord applied this parable to his chosen, the Jews. 16 The Gentiles-we ourselves among the number-are now called into the fold.

18 All these things Jesus did+.

*It is the authority under which he is conscious of acting, which alone enables the minister of the Gospel to "speak the truth boldly, as he ought to speak"; and so, by divine blessing on his exertions, drive from the fold of Christ the enemies which attack it.

+ His death was voluntary: for his Will was free. He had power to die, for his human nature was perfect. He had power to resume the life he laid down; for he was perfect in his divine nature also. Thus was he "perfect God, and perfect man."

from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? "Others said, these are not 21 This was sound reasoning. Devils the words of him that hath do to men, all the harm they can. Jesus did only good.

them

a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? And it was at Jerusalem the feast* of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 26 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. swered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the

28 Happy tidings! Jesus is our defence. No fraud and malice of evil men or evil angels no efforts of others shall separate us from him.

Take we heed, not ourselves to cause the separation.

30 No language can more strongly express the essential unity of the Father and the Son.

Jesus an

35 If ye call your prophets divinely inspired; and allow that they spake, as from God; surely ye may allow my claim to be the Son of God, who thus do the works of my Father.

* This was a feast, instituted by Judas Maccabæus, to celebrate the restoration of the temple: in token that the people acknowledged the gracious providence of their God in so great a national mercy. As our Lord attended this feast, it appears right in a Christian country, on any national blessing, that there be held a public solemn assembly, in the house of the Lord, in token that HE “ruleth over all.”

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