[The Gospel was revealed to Abraham, as well as unto us: and it was made yet more fully known to Moses and the Israelites; though, from their " not mixing faith with it, it did not profit them." On us it shines in its meridian splendour : it exhibits to us a Saviour, even our incarnate God, living and dying for sinful men ; and marks our path to heaven so plainly, that " a way-faring man, though a fool, cannot err therein" ]
This truth is of incalculable importance to every
child of man —
[There is much truth which the philosopher alone can appreciate or understand. But "the truth, as it is in Jesus," may be understood by all. It is not by strength of intellect that its wonders are discerned, but by a spiritual perception, which God alone can impart^ ; and which he often does impart to " babes and sucklings, whilst he withholds it from the wise and prudent'^" And to every human being it is of equal im- portance : none can be saved without it, and by it every crea- ture in the universe may be saved. Our blessed Lord has assured us of this: "Ye shall know the truth; and the truth shall make you free'=." Nothing but that will impart freedom: but that will make us free indeed ; delivering us from all the guilt we have ever contracted, and from all the bondage under which we have groaned. Let us only " receive the truth in the love of it," and we shall be brought by it into the " glorious liberty of the children of God."]
This view of the truth may prepare us for,
II. The advice given us in relation to it —
"Buy the truth"—
[It must be purchased : freely as it is given, I say again, it must be purchased : it must be bought with labour, and with the sacrifice of every thing that can stand in competition with it. The fruits of the earth, though given us entirely by God through the genial influence of the heavens, must be sought and laboured for : nor can we hope to obtain " the fruits of the Spirit" without similar exertions. Solomon tells us, that, not- withstanding it is " the Lord who giveth knowledge," " we must cry after it, and lift up our voice for it, and seek it as silver, and search for it as for hid treasures : and that then only can we understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God ^." Nor is it less necessary that we be ready to part with all earthly interests in order to secure it. Our Lord compares the Gospel salvation to "a treasure hid in a field," and to "a pearl
« 1 Cor. ii. 14. b Matt. xi. 25, 26. ^ John viii. 32.
^ Prov. ii. 3— C.