this your son, who ye say was born blind? how 20 then doth he now see? His parents answered

them, and said, We know that this is our son, 21 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. 22 (His parents said this, because they feared the Jews: For the Jews had decreed already, that if any man should confess that he was Christ, 23 he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, He is of age; ask him.) 24 Then they again called the man who was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise; we 25 know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner, I know not of one thing I am certain, that having been 26 blind, now I see. Then they said to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine 27 eyes?* He answered them, I have told you already; did ye not hear? wherefore would ye have it repeated? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his 29 disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We

know that God spake unto Moses: as for this 30 fellow, we know not whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why this is a wonderful thing indeed, that ye know not whence he is, though he hath opened mine

* The Jews wished, if possible, by their cavils and questions, to make the man contradict himself. They could not deny the miracle; but wished to find some sort of inconsistency in the account, as an apology for their objections. But it was in vain. The relation of the mau is simple, plain and convincing.

31 eyes. We all know that God heareth not sin ners but if any man feareth God, and doeth32 his will, him he heareth. It was never before heard that any man opened the eyes of one who 33 was born blind. If this man were not of God, 34 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 35 out of the synagogue. Jesus heard that they

had cast him out: and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on 36 the Son of God? He answered and said, Who 37 is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And

Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, 38 and it is he who 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 who see not, might. see; and that they who see, might be made 40 blind.† And some of the Pharisees who were

with him heard these words, and said unto 41 him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin : but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. +

*You pretend to be wise men, and yet know not whether a man is assisted by God, who performs such miracles.

+ That they who feel their need of instruction, may be enlightened by coming to me: And that the vain and conceited, who reject my doctrine, may be given up to error on account of their pride and obstinacy.

If ye were really ignorant, and without the means of light, ye would be comparatively blameless; But as you think you have light and knowledge sufficient, you will of course reject me, and remain in error and sin.

1

CHAP. X.

VERILY, verily I say unto you, he who entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a 2 thief and a robber. But he who entereth in 3 by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voiee: and he calleth his own sheep by name, 4 and leadeth them out. And when he leadeth out his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know 5 his voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the 6 voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them, but they understood not what things 7 they were which he spake unto them. Then Jesus said unto them again, Verily, verily, I 8 say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me* are thieves and 9 robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved; and shall go in and out, and 10 find pasture. The thief cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might 11 have it more abundantly. I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd giveth his life 12 for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the

:

* All who had pretended to be the Messiah.

sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, 13 and scattereth the sheep. The hircling fleeth,

because he is an hireling, and careth not for 14 the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know 15 my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and 17 one shepherd. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might 18 take it again. No man taketh it 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 direction I have received of my Father.

19

Then there was a division again among the 20 Jews for these words. And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye 21 him?† Others said, These are not the words of a demoniac. Can a demon Can a demon open the eyes

of the blind?

22 Now this took place at Jerusalem, dui ing the feast of dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked the temple in Solomon's 24 porch. Then the Jews came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt ? If thou be the Christ, tell

*Could any prophet or apostle say this? "I have power," &c.

He has a demon, and is insane, or beside himself. See chap. viii. 48.

Literally-how long dost thou take away our mindthat is, keep us in anxiety and suspense.

25 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. 26 But ye believe not, for ye are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep, hear my voice; I know them, 28 and they follow me: I also give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my 29 hand. My Father who gave them me, is

greater than all; and none is able to pluck them 30 out of my Father's hand. I and the Father 31 are one.* Then the Jews took up stones 32 again to stone him. Jesus said unto them,

Many good works I have shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye 33 stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a 34 man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered

them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye 35 are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom

the word of God came, (and the scriptures 36 must not be broken ;) say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I 37 am the Son of God? If I do not the works 38 of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe that the Father 39 is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their

Are one in design and affection; our purpose and views are the same.