o stem it. Not so Christ.
The Temple was shortly to be destroyed, and it might seem to matter
little what practices were allowed in it; but the sounds of bargaining
and the greedy eye of trade could not be suffered by Him in His Father's
house: how much more shall He burn as a consuming fire when He cleanses
that Church for which He gave Himself that it might be without spot or
blemish. _He will cleanse it._ We may yield ourselves with gladness to
His sanctifying power, or we may rebelliously question His authority;
but cleansed the house of God must be.

VII.

_NICODEMUS._

"Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast,
many believed on His name, beholding His signs which He did. But
Jesus did not trust Himself unto them, for that He knew all men, and
because He needed not that any one should bear witness concerning
man; for He Himself knew what was in man. Now there was a man of the
Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came unto
Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a
teacher come from God: for no man can do these signs that Thou
doest, except God be with Him. Jesus answered and said unto him,
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew, he
cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a
man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his
mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where
it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born
of the Spirit."--JOHN ii. 23-iii. 8.

The first visit of Jesus to Jerusalem was not without considerable
effect on the popular mind. Many who saw the miracles He did believed
that He was a messenger from God. They saw that His miracles were not
the clever tricks of an impostor, and they were prepared to listen to
His teaching and enrol themselves as members of the kingdom He came to
found. Yet our Lord did not encourage them. He saw that they
misunderstood Him. He recognised their worldliness of heart and of aim,
and did not adm