Let us learn, then, from hence,
1. To trace all our mercies to the proper source — [God's love is the true source of all. And if we were in the habit of tracing them to this, how sweet would our smallest and most common mercies appear! Verily, such a habit as this would be a foretaste even of heaven itself. But the mercy which swallows up, as it were, every other, is the gift of God's only dear Son to die for us : " God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal lifeg." In this we are told, " God commendeth his love towards ush: " referring to it as the most stupendous display of his love that ever was, or ever can be, exhibited to mortal man. On this, then, we should dwell with wonder and amazement : for no such mercy was ever vouchsafed to the fallen angels ; yet as creatures, they were our elder brethren : nor is the knowledge of him vouchsafed to above one-sixth of the human race ; yet are that vast majority descended from one common parent with us: nor, where his name is known, is his Gospel truly preached, probably not to one part in a hundred of the Christian world : and of those to whom it is ministered, how few receive it in truth ! Yet, " Is not Esau Jacob's brother ? " What thanks, then, do we owe to God, if it has been made the power of God to the salvation of our souls ! Beloved brethren, trace ye this to its proper source. God has loved you with an everlasting love ; and therefore with
s John hi. 16. h Rom. v. S.