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To judge what is right, in the matter here under notice, is to form a right conclusion as to the question of questions, "What think ye of Christ?" And, you observe, our Lord speaks of a possibility of drawing the true answer, not from "evidences" commonly so called, not from "signs of the times," not from miracles, not from proofs of power exhibited to the senses, but from within — from something inside the man, saying to him, God is here. A distinction is made in the text between a discernment of truth by "signs," and a judgment upon it exercised from within. It is quite clear that the words "of yourselves" express something more intimate, more essential to the man, than that action of the mind upon external evidences for the want of which He has just reproved them. The "signs" are clear, He says, but you ought not to want them. There is that in you which ought to have "judged what is right," as to Me and My gospel, without waiting for other evidence of wonder or sign. Brethren, there is something in us to which Jesus Christ appeals, besides the mere intellect. It is quite clear that Jesus Christ, when He was upon earth, placed not one part but the whole of the man in the judgment-seat before which He pleaded. If He had been satisfied with a formal assent to His revelation; if His object had been to reckon His followers by millions, and to cover the inhabited world with churches, without further question as to the state of hearts towards God, or as to the character of lives in the view of eternity; He might have said, "How is it that, with evidence so conclusive, ye do not discern this time?" but He would never have gone on to say, "Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" This addresses that compound thing, that complex being, of which intellect is but one element, and not the noblest. Jesus Christ stands upon earth, and, seeing us as we are, as such speaks to us. When He has gained our first attention, if so it be, by miracles, He goes on to reason with us concerning ourselves. He reminds us that there is that in us which makes us first rebels against duty, and then cowards before conscience; rovers in pursuit of satisfactions which come not, and slaves in the prospect of inevitable death. He deals with us as persons not all intellect; persons whose life is lived in many homes and many regions, of thought and feeling, of memory and hope, of companionship and affection, making it indispensable that one who comes to us with an effectual treatment of our actual condition should not only convince our understandings as to his claims and his credentials, but also (and much more) draw our hearts towards himself as the very rest and home and satisfaction of our being. And as this is His aim, so this is His method. He stands here in the midst of us, and His first words are, "When ye pray, say, Our Father." Say it, whosoever you be, and whatsoever. It is a revelation, pure and simple — lie brings it to us out of the great heaven — and yet He is able to appeal to us, His audience, as to the self-evidencing character of this which He says. "Even of yourselves," He says, judge what I say. Is it not good? is it not true? is it not verified within? And so of the rest. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Does not He who thus speaks bring His own witness with Him? Well must lie know us. "Never man spake like this man." Try whether this word, which is so good, so pure, so lovely, has not, in the very being so, its evidence of Deity in the speaker. Is there not here the very knowledge of the Omniscient? Is there not here that very Fountain of goodness, whose thoughts are at once ours and not ours? Is not this what I mean by God? Shall I not rest and nestle at once under the shadow of this wing?

(Dean Vaughan.)

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KJV: And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

WEB: He said to the multitudes also, "When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.