O remember these your high privileges, and labour con- tinually to walk worthy of them! ]
III. Lastly, we would speak to you also who are ** fathers " in Christ —
[As age and experience elevate a man to a higher rank in the community than he possessed while in the vigour of his youth, so it is in the Church of God. Not that age, or even long continuance in the Cluu'ch of Christ, can entitle a man to the appellation of " father :" for some are not born to God till they are far advanced in life ; and others, through carnality or sloth, have made so little progress in religion, that they have need to be treated as babes, when, for the time that they have professed godliness, they ought to have attained the age and stature of fathers ^ Those only are deserving of this honourable name, who have maintained a long and successful conflict with the powers of darkness.
Kespocting you then it is said, that " ye have known him that is from the ])cginning." Whom he intended to designate under this expression, the Apostle himself tells us: it is Christ, who " was in the beginning with God, and was
God." "Jam. iv. 7. '' 1 Cor. iii. 1. 2. Heb. v. 12.
God''." Now the distinction between you and young men princi- pally consists in this ; that by your numerous conflicts you have been compelled to make use of Christ in all his offices, and have thereby attained a more extensive knowledge of his love and mercy, his power and grace, his truth and faithfulness. From your own experience therefore you can trust in him yourselves, and can exhort others also to trust in him with the most unlimited confidence, and to glory in him as their « all in all."
See then, fathers, that ye improve your knowledge for this end : and soon ye shall " see him as ye are seen, and know him as ye are known" ]
Application,
1 . To those who are included under any of the foregoing titles —
[Let the least and meanest in God's family rejoice in the unspeakable blessings vouchsafed unto them. But let not the most advanced imagine, that they are not yet to proceed to higher attainments. All must " war a good warfare ;" all must seek to " grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus :" all must " be faithful unto death, if ever they would obtain a crown of life."]
2. To those who have never yet been brought into the family of God —
[Dearly Beloved, the forgiveness of sins is the exclusive privilege of God's children. This is manifestly implied in the address to little children. O then seek to be made new creatures in Christ Jesus ! Our Lord tells you repeatedly that " you must be born again:" and that, " if you be not, you never can enter into the kingdom of heaven." Pray then that you may " be born of the Spirit ;" and that you may be inte- rested in the Redeemer's death. So shall you be numbered with the Children of God, and be made partakers of their inheritance for evermore.]
' Compare John i. 1. with 1 John i. J.