Page:The Faith as Unfolded by Many Prophets.djvu/92

 ; and when, believing that he was soon to die for his religion, he wrote to his friends of his hope and joy in the faith? Where was there ever greater fervor than in Peter, when he first taught the Gospel to the Gentiles; or greater purity than in his Epistles to the brethren? Whose love was ever more gentle than the love of John? And where was ever seen another band of brethren who devoted life and met death in like manner, through faith in God and love to man? Many wise men, many holy, many benignant, has God sent into the world; but the chiefest of these, except the Lord Jesus, were the Apostles.

Why then was Judas among them? asked Havilah.

Of all the witnesses of Christ, replied Eber, none has testified to him more effectually than Judas; though the testimony was against his own will. Judas was chosen, not that he might preach the Gospel and rejoice in it, as his brethren; for Christ knew from the beginning that the heart of Judas was unfaithful. He was chosen, that through him it might be shown that the deeds and words of Jesus were pure, since no accusation could be brought against him by one who had dwelt with him and beheld