knows nor cares anything about the Gospel. It belongs to him who receives into his heart, and obej^s in his life, the message which the Lord Jesus brought from heaven. It belongs, in short, to those who are Christians, not in name and form only, biit in deed and in truth. It is written, — " He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Rev. ii. 11.)
We should observe, thirdly, in this passage, what clear knowledge of Christ Abraham possessed. We read that our Lord said to the Jews, " Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day : and he saw it and was glad."
When our Lord used these remarkable words, Abraham had been dead and buried at least 1850 years ! And yet he is said to have seen our Lord's day ! How wonderful that sounds ! Yet it was quite true. Not only did Abra- ham " see " our Lord and talk to Him when He " appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre," the night before Sodom was destroyed, (Gen. xviii. 1,) but by faith he looked forward to the day of our Lord's incarnation yet to come, and as he looked he " was glad." That he saw many things, through a glass darkly, we need not doubt. That he could have explained fully the whole manner and cir- cumstances of our Lord's sacrifice on Calvary, we are not obliged to suppose. But we need not shrink from believing that he saw in the far distance a Redeemer, whose advent would finally make all the earth rejoice. And as he saw it, he " was glad."
The plain truth is, that we are too apt to forget that there never was but one way of salvation, one Saviour, and one hope for sinners, and that Abraham and all the Old Testaments saints looked to the same Christ that we look to ourselves. We shall do well to call to mind the Seventh Article of the Church of England : " The Old Testament is not contrary to the New : for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered through Christ, who is
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the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises." This is truth that we must never forget in reading the Old Testament. This is sound speech that cannot be con- demned.
We should observe, lastly, in this prophecy, Jiow distinct- ly our Lord declares His own pre-existence. We read that He said to the Jews, " Before Abraham was, I am."
Without a controversjr, these remarkable words are a great deep. They contain things which we have no eyes to see through, or mind to fathom. But if language means anything, they teach us that our Lord Jesus Christ existed long before He came into the world. Before the days of Abraham He was. Before man was created He was. In short, they teach us that the Lord Jesus was no mere man like Moses or David. He was One whose goings forth were from everlasting, — the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, — very and eternal God.
Deep as these words are, they are full of practical com- fort. They show us the length, and breadth, and depth, and height of that great foundation, on which sinners are invited to rest their souls. He to whom the Gospel bids us come with our sins, and believe for pardon and peace, is no mere man. He is nothing less than very God, and therefore " able to save to the uttermost" all who come to Him. Then let us begin coming to Him with confidence. Let us continue leaning on Him without fear. The Lord Jesus Christ is the true God, and our eternal life is secure.
Notes. John VIII. 48—59.
48. — \Then answered the Jeivs... Samaritan. ..devil.'] This verse seems to contain nothing but personal abuse and blasphemous slander. Unable to answer our Lord's arguments, the unbeliev- ing Jews lost their temper, and resorted to the last weapon of a disputant, — senseless invective and calling of names. The