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Jesus answered, "He it is, to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he had

dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop, Satan entered into him." Thus we are brought to notice very briefly

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II. THE INCIDENT RECORDED IN THE TEXT. With regard to the fact itself, it may be asked, 'But had not Satan entered into his heart before? Is it not expressly asserted, at the time when Judas covenanted with the chief priests?' I answer, undoubtedly it is; but the two statements nevertheless do not clash. I cannot more satisfactorily answer the objection than in the words of the pious Bishop Hall: Twice before had that evil spirit made a palpable entry into that lewd heart; first in his covetousness and theft; then in his damnable resolution and plot of so heinous a conspiracy against Christ. Yet now, as if it were anew to begin, it is said, " After the sop Satan entered into him." As in every gross sin which we entertain, we give harbour to that evil spirit: so in every degree of growth in wickedness, new hold is taken by him of the heart. No sooner is the foot over the threshold than we enter into the house; but only when we pass thence into the inner rooms do we make a perfect entrance. At first, Satan entered to make the house of Judas's heart his own; now he enters into it as his own. The first purpose of sin opens the gates to Satan ;

consent admits him into the entry; full resolution of sin gives up the keys to his hands, and puts him into absolute possession. What a plain difference, (he continues) betwixt the regenerate and evil heart! Satan lays siege to the best by his temptations, and sometimes, upon battery and breach made, enters; the other admits him by willing composition. When he is entered upon the regenerate, he is met with perpetual skirmishes, and by a holy violence at last repulsed; in the other he is readily received and freely commandeth.'

Before we close, I would notice, the particular time at which this final entry was made-" After the sop." So consummate was his hypocrisy, and so well did he wear the mask to the very last, that he would on no account absent himself from the celebration of the most solemn festival of the Jewish economy. His last act as a disciple was one of pretended devotion-an attempt to mock God! And let me warn you, brethren, that such are always vantage-seasons with the enemy. If, in your sacramental approaches to the table of the Lord, you do not draw near with a true penitent heart, a lively faith and an unfeigned charity, those sacred elements will prove to you what the sop did to Judas. My brethren, I judge you not. There is one that judgeth. Undoubtedly, if I knew of one who presented himself there, whose life was palpably and notoriously unbecoming the very name of Christ, I should feel bound at every

hazard to reject him from being a partaker. In like manner, with regard to the solemn office of sponsors, nothing should induce me to admit to that weighty charge, one whom I knew to be outwardly immoral-a drunkard for instance, or a blasphemer. But for the rest, I can only say in the language of our Church, and of the apostle, "Judge your own selves, that ye be not judged of the Lord." Upon your own head be the guilt of your own hypocrisy. Judas's partaking of the passover was his own act and deed. His Master did not exclude him from the ordinance though he knew his character, because as yet there had been no outward inconsistency. This I conceive is the example for our practice as ministers. At the same time we must charge you in the most solemn terms against hypocrisy. Fearful as this history is, it is a warning only to the Church. Judas was a professor— a disciple in name-an apostle by office-a saint by reputation. Judas could talk and preach and pray Judas could manifest his zeal by his censures of others-in short Judas wanted only one thing to make him a genuine and exalted believer. But that was the one thing needful: he wanted sincerity. My brethren, is there any Judas here? May God have mercy on him, ere Satan enters into him!

SERMON XIII.

LUKE XXII. 31, 32.

"" AND THE LORD SAID, SIMON, SIMON, BEHOLD, SATAN HATH DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, THAT HE MAY SIFT YOU AS WHEAT; BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT."

THE similitude is somewhat trite, but it is at the same time most significant, which compares the soul of man to a besieged fortress or a beleaguered city. Few analogies will bear being pressed more closely than this. We all understand the vigilance and constancy required by the one party, and the innumerable devices, as well as violent assaults to which they are exposed from the other. Now the attack is open, and the attempt is made to carry the citadel by stormnow there will be a seeming cessation of hostile operations, in order to lull the garrison into security, and so prepare them to be taken by surprisenow, when all may seem to proceed as usual, and when the besieged may be employed in observing

only the outward manœuvres of the enemy, and providing accordingly, by strengthening this tower, and fortifying that bulwark, there may be a secret mine making its stealthy and unsuspected advances, sapping the very foundation of the fastness itself, and ready, unless discovered and intercepted, to be sprung at any moment, and leave not one stone standing upon another. Thus it was with the little band, to one of whom Jesus addressed the words of the text. They all thought that their mountain stood so fast, that it could never be moved. They began indeed to anticipate opposition and danger: their master's repeated intimations on the point were too plain to be mistaken-but they flattered themselves that they were prepared for this exigency. They felt their courage was high, their faith strong, their love ardent, their victory certain. Little, however, did they dream of the insidious stratagems of their deadly enemy. Little did they think, that he was soon about to shake them to the very centre, and make the principles of the strongest of them to totter. Whilst they were idly employed, (as we find them in the 24th verse,) in striving for the pre-eminence, Satan watched his opportunity, and prepared for them such a sudden and fierce assault, as he hoped might effect a fatal breach. Happy for them that, whilst they were thus negligent and unguarded, there was one whose tender and provident care anticipated the attack, and gave the signal of alarm. Whatever other lesson we

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