Let ns however never forget that there are plain practical consequences flowing from the passage, which we can never grasp too firmly, or know too well.
Would we know, for one thing, the exceeding sinfulness of sin? Let ns often read these first five verses of St. John's Gospel. Let us mark what kind of Being the Redeemer of mankind must needs be, in order to provide eternal redemption for sinners. If no one less than the Eternal God, the Cre-ator and Preserver of all things, could take away the sin of the, world, sin must be a far more abominable thing in the sight of God than most men suppose. The right measure of sin's sinfulness is the dig- nity of Him who came into the world to save sinners. If Christ is so great, then sin must indeed be sinful !
Would we know, for another thing, the strength of a true Christian's foundation for hope ? Let us often read these first five verses of St. John's Gospel. Let us mark that the Saviour in whom the believer is bid to trust is nothing less than the Eternal God, One able to save to the uttermost all that come to the Father by Him. He that was " with God," and " was God," is also " Emmanuel, God with us." Let us thank God that our help is laid on One that is mighty. (Psalm Ixxxix. 19.) In ourselves we are great sinners. But in Jesus Christ we have a great Saviour, He is a strong foundation-stone, able to bear the weight of a world's sin. He that believeth on Him shall not be con- founded. (1 Peter ii. 6.)
Notes. John I. 1 — 5.
[T7ie Gospel according to St. John.] The following prefatory remarks on St. John's Gospel, may prove useful to some readers.
Firstly. — There is no doubt that this Gospel was written by John, the Apostle, the son of Zebodee, and brother of James, once a fisherman on the sea of Galilee, and aferwards called to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus, an eye-witness of all Christ's minis- try, and a pillar of the church. John, be it remembered, i«