the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. ii. 14.) Happy is he who haa been taught to prove all things by Scripture, and to call no man master upon earth. (1 Thess. v. 21 ; Matt, xxiii. 9.)
These verses show us, secondly, the original source froin which man's salvation springs. That source is the love of God the Father. Our Lord says to Nicodemus, " God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
This wonderful verse has been justly called by Luther, "The Bible in miniature." No part of it, perhaps, is so deeply important as the first five words, " God so loved the world." The love here spoken of is not that special love with which the Father regards His own elect, but that mighty pity and compassion with which He regards the whole race of mankind. Its object is not merely the little flock which He has given to Christ froti all eternity, but the whole " world " of sinners, withou? any exception. There is a deep sense in which God loves that world. All whom He has created He regards with pity and compassion. Their sins He cannot love ; — but He loves their souls. " His tender mercies are over all His works." (Psal. cxlv. 9.) Christ is God's gracious gift to the whole world.
Let us take heed that our views of the love of God are Scriptural and well-defined. The subject is one on which error abounds on either side. — On the one hand we must beware of vague and exaggerated opinions. We must maintain firmly that God hates wickedness, and that the end of all who persist in wickedness will be destruction. It is not true that God's love is "lower than hell." It is not true that God so loved the world that all mankind will be finally sa"ved, but that He so loved the world that He gave His Son to be the Saviour of all who believe. His love is offered to all men freely, fully, honestly, and unre-