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21. Then faid Jefus again unto them, "I go my way, and ye fhall feek me, and "fhall die in your fins: whither I go, ye "cannot come."

Those who will not accept of proffered grace and pardon when held out to them, run great risques that, when they would feek it, it may be too late...

: "22. Then faid the Jews, Will he kill himfelf? because he faith, Whither I 66 go, ye cannot come.

"23. And he faid unto them, Ye are "from beneath; I am from above: ye "are of this world; I am not of this ❝ world.

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I faid, therefore, unto you, That ye fhall die in your fins: for if ye be"lieve not that I am he, ye fhall die in your fins."

The blindnefs of the Jews, as to the real character of our Saviour, led them into the moft abfurd and contradictory fuppofitions

fuppofitions concerning him. Yet one would have thought that, although they withheld their belief in him, they had had too many proofs of his blameless conduct, his piety, and strict adherence to the law, to suppose it poffible he could entertain the design of self-murder: a crime not only of the deepest die as it refpects our duty to God, but, of all others, the most fatal to ourselves, by cutting us off from all poffibility of repentance, without which the Gospel gives us no hope of pardon.

Our Saviour then condefcends to explain to them what they feemed not to have understood; namely, that if, notwithstanding all the proofs he had given them of his divine miffion, (proofs which could not leave a doubt in any mind which really fought for truth,) they still perfifted in their obftinacy and disbelief, they should die in their fins, and, confequently, whither he went they could not come; or, in other words, they could have no part in that happiness which he of fered to those who believed in him,

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25. Then faid they unto him, Who art thou? And Jefus faith unto them, “Even the fame that I said unto you from "the beginning.

"26. I have many things to fay and to judge of you but he that sent me is 06 true; and I speak to the world thofe things which I have heard of him.

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27. They underflood not that he fpake to them of the Father.

"28. Then faid Jefus unto them, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then fhall know that I am he, " and that I do nothing of myself; but as Father hath taught me, I fpeak thefe

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29. And he that fent me is with me: "the Father hath not left me alone; for "I do always those things that please him.

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30. As he fpake thefe words, many "believed on him.

31. Then faid Jefus to thofe Jews " which believed on him, If ye continue “in my word, then are ye my difciples " indeed;

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66 32. And shall know the truth, and "the truth fhall make you free."

If the Jews would have properly attended to the inftruction offered to them by our Lord, or even manifefted an inclination to receive it, he would have corrected all the errors and mistakes into which they had been led by the traditions of their forefathers, and their own. perverseness, respecting the kingdom of the messiah, as well as every thing relative to himself neceffary to falvation; but finding them too much influenced by pride and obftinacy to accept fo gracious an offer, he warns them of the judgment, or punishment, they were to expect at his hands. Some, however, as he foretels, escaped this dreadful threat, by becoming after his death converts to all those divine truths which he in vain offered them in his life-time. Amongst the multitude prefent, there were many upon whom this difcourfe produced its proper effect, and, by fixing their belief in him, insured to

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them his gracious promises, that they fhould, as his true difciples, be fully inftructed in the truth; and that the truth fhould make them free; that is, deliver them from the bondage of fin in which they had been before held.

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33. They anfwered him, We be "Abraham's feed, and were never in 'bondage to any man: how fayeft thou, "Ye fhall be made free?

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34. Jefus anfwered them, Verily, verily, I fay unto you, Whofoever committeth fin is the fervant of fin.

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35. And the fervant abideth not in "the house for ever; but the Son abideth "ever.

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"36. If the Son, therefore, fhall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

37. I know that ye are Abraham's "feed: but ye feek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

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"38. I fpeak that which I have feen "with my Father; and ye do that which have seen with your father."

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