disciple, will equally meet his approbation whereever it is found.

2. John's leaning on Jesus's bosom, denotes intimacy and familiarity.

Between Christ and his other disciples there was an endearing friendship. He allowed them near access to him, and communicated to them many things, which he imparted not to the world. He says, I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth; but I have called you friends, for all things which I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. To them he expounded in private many things, which he had publicly delivered in parables. To them he foretold many events, of which he gave no general notice. To them he opened the mysteries of the kingdom of God, before he saw fit to reveal them to the multitude. He admitted them to join with him in his prayers. He often retired with them for devotion, and they well knew the place whither he usually resorted. With them he celebrated the last passover, and the first supper. He conversed with them freely, attended to their inquiries, and resolved their doubts. Thus familiar was he with them all. But John enjoyed a peculiar intimacy. While they sat at the passover, he took his seat by Jesus's side, and reclined on his bosom : And in this nearness to his Lord, he enjoyed a converse which was unknown to his brethren.

When Christ testified to them, saying, One of you shall betray me, they knew not whom he meant. Peter beckoned to John, to ask him who the traitor was. His beckoning to John on this occasion, is an evidence that John had, before now, enjoyed special intimacy and freedom with his master. John asked him, of whom he spake this. Jesus said, It is he to whom I shall give the sop, when I have dipped it. This conversation was not heard by the other disci

ples. John was the first who knew Judas to be the traitor the first who was relieved from the torturing anxiety, lest he himself were the unhappy man. When Christ had given Judas the sop, he said to him. What thou dost, do quickly. To what intent he spake this, none at the table knew, except John. Some of them thought, that, because Judas had the bag, Christ meant that he should go and buy the things which were necessary for the seven ensuing days of the feast; or that he should give something to the poor, as was customary at the time of the passover. As Christ's general premonition had pointed out no particular person, they were exceeding sorrowful, and began, each for himself, to inquire, Lord, Is it I?-Lord, Is it I? Jesus now distinguishes the traitor. Judas's hand was in the same dish, out of which Jesus was eating: At this instant Christ says, It is he, who is dipping his hand with me in the dish. This was the first sign, by which they knew who should betray their Lord. John only knew this before, by the token of the sop. We see, that Christ's beloved disciples enjoy the privilege of intimate communion with him. All sincere Christians have this privilege; but some have it in a more sensible manner than others. John, in this respect, was privileged above his brethren. The greater is our love and fidelity to Christ, the nearer access may we find. How happy is the devout, humble, fervent Christian! Whatever are his burdens, he may lean on Christ's bosom-may whisper to him his inward sorrows and secret desires, and may receive from him kind and seasonable answers, in a manner unobserved by others. This intimacy with the Saviour depends much on our likeness to him. If we have in us that temper of love and goodness, humility and meekness, devotion and heavenliness, which was in him, we shall know where to find him-we may come even to his VOL. I. M

seat-we may express our desires in groans and aspirations, which cannot be uttered-we may hear his still small voice, and feel the gentle illapses of his grace; while those around us, know not what is passing between us and our heavenly friend.

We think John was highly privileged in being admitted so near to Christ. But our Lord can hear us, as easily as he heard him. From his throne in the heavens, he bends down his gracious ear to receive our prayers. He attends to the sincere, though silent language of the heart. His love to pious souls he manifests by the secret communications of comfort, strength and peace. The secret of the Lord is with them who fear him, and he will shew them his covenant.

3. John, by leaning on Jesus's bosom, expressed his love to his Saviour. He chose to be as near him as possible; not only to take a seat by his side, but to recline on his breast.

In the writings of this Apostle, love to Christ is characteristick of a sincere disciple. Saint Peter, writing to believers, many of whom had not seen Christ in the flesh, says, Though ye have not seen him, yet ye love him; and though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice in him. Those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, are, by Saint Paul, pronounced the subjects of his grace.

This love is not a sensitive passion, awakened by the imaginary view of a beautiful form, or of some resplendent external glory. It is a calm, rational approbation of that holy character in which the gospel represents the redeemer-It is a deliberate choice of his doctrines, precepts and example-a grateful sense of his goodness and compassion to a perishing world-an esteem of him, and complacence in him, as the image of the invisible God, the only Mediator, an allsufficient and most suitable Saviour.

This love to Christ will express itself in obedience to his commands in an imitation of his example-in doing good to his friends in acknowledgments of his love-in promoting the interest of his kingdom-in frequent converse with him and especially in a ready attendance on those ordinances, which are the appointed means of communion with him. It was at the ordinance of the passover, which immediately preceded the institution of the supper, that John was seen leaning on his Saviour. The paschal supper prefigured, and the sacramental supper commemorates, the death of Christ. They both had the same general design, with this difference only; one looked forward to a future event, the other respects that event already past. The gospel supper is appointed in remembrace of Christ's dying love. The Christian, under the influence of love to his Saviour, delights to attend on this institution, that he may have a more lively view of this. once suffering, and now exalted friend-may stir up in his heart warmer affections to him, and more firmly fix his resolutions of obedience.

A careless neglect of so kind an institution, indicates a heart dead to pious and grateful sentiments. True love may indeed be attended with such selfdistrust, as will deter some timorous and tender minds from this ordinance. But a careless neglect: of, and habitual indifference to this gracious and dying institution of Christ, proves the intire want of love to him.

4. John's posture at supper, bespoke a grief of heart under the apprehension of approaching trials... Leaning on the bosom of a friend, is an attitude expressive of sorrow and languishment.

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Jesus had often warned his disciples, that he must. suffer death at Jerusalem. As the time drew near, his warnings were more frequent and explicit. He had just intimated to them, that this was the last passover which he should celebrate with them. With desire, says he, have I desired to eat this passover with you, before I suffer. The thought of the approaching trial deeply affected them all, and especially the beloved disciple. His trouble was increased by the premonition, that Jesus would be betrayed by one of his own family; and he knew not yet but himself might be the man. Contemplating the sad scene which was before him; compassionating his dearest friend who was soon to suffer in an unexampled manner; and, at the same time, anticipating the solitary and dangerous condition, in which he and his brethren would be left, he sunk into his Saviour's arms, unable to sustain the weight of his sorrow.

As his heart was more affectionate, and his love to Jesus more ardent, than that of his brethren, so his grief under present apprehensions, bore, with peculiar weight, on his spirits. This might be one reason why Christ saw fit to satisfy him before the rest, that he would not be the traitor.

The sincere believer is affected at the consideration of Christ's sufferings. But what especially affects him, in the contemplation of this subject, is, that Jesus suffered for the sins of men, and that he, by his own sins, has crucified the Son of God afresh. When he views the Redeemer dying on the cross, he reflects, "Jesus was wounded for my transgressions, and bruised for my iniquities. He has borne my sins, in his own body, on the tree, that with his stripes I might be healed." The contemplation of Christ's death, awakens in him an abhorrence of sin. While he meditates on this sad scene, his great consolation is a consciousness of his sincere repentance, a hope of his interest in the purchased salvation, and a vigorous resolution, that he will not offend any more.