EPC Australia

What did he mean by his coming to John? It may be understood three ways.

• Of his coming by a natural death; and he was the only apostle who did not suffer a violent end.
• Of his coming to destroy Jerusalem; and he survived that event.
• Of his coming at the last day; in which case he answers Peter, by the supposition of a miracle. "What if I choose that he should continue on earth till I come to judge the world?" In this sense it was taken.

But observe how it was mis-reported. Jesus only supposed a case, and it was turned into an assertion. He only said, What if I will that he tarry till I come? and it was circulated that he should so tarry, and the saying went abroad among the brethren that he should not die. Who has not heard the absurd story of the wandering Jew? Whether any now believe such a delusion, we know not; but we see what influence the notion had in the early ages. Beza mentions an impostor in his time, at Paris, who gave out that he was the deathless John, and was burnt at Toulouse.

But see how ready people are to credit things strange and wonderful. O that they were equally ready to receive the witness of God.

How many mistakes have arisen from deviating by little and little from the language of revelation. Many errors might be prevented, and many rectified, if we could bring the parties to the very words the Holy Ghost useth. Let us distinguish between Divine truth, and men's explanations of it. Let us not take up with the statements of Calvin, or Arminius, or any other reporter, while we can go to the Scripture itself. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

But let us make a moral use of this misrepresentation, and learn the importance of accuracy in our statements. It is owing to the neglect of this that there is so much circumstantial falsehood. We refer to the relations of facts, true in substance, but false in circumstances. Some seldom ever apprehend things distinctly; and how can they report them accurately? Some have memories that rarely retain perfectly what they hear. Some are careless. Some mind not morally what they say. Some are full of eagerness and feeling, and love to excite; and for this purpose they love to enlarge and enhance. From one cause or another, many, who would shrink back from a direct lie, occasion deception by those omissions or additions which can give an erroneous turn or effect to the case spoken of. By this means, what aid is given to slander, and what injury is often done to character, where there is no risk on the one side, and no redress on the other!

Look at the text, and see what consequences may result from the substitution of a shall, for an if, and always make conscience of your speech. Distinguish things that differ. What you know as probable, state as probable; and state as certain, only what you know to be certain. As a good remedy for this, and every other evil of the tongue, Let us be swift to hear, but slow to speak; Let us remember, that in the multitude of words, there wanteth not sin; Let us believe, that by our words we are to be justified or condemned; Let us keep our hearts with all diligence, for out of them are the issues of life; Let us pray, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips.

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay