1 John iv. 16. We have known and believed the love that God
hath to us.
NEVER was there a truth so deep, so compre- hensive, so endearing, conveyed in so short a space as that immediately following our text; "^ God is love." It is engraven on the face of universal na- ture : the heavenly bodies, in their various courses, proclaim it : the earth, with all its productions, de- clares it: the human race in particular, both in the
frame
frame of their bodies and the faculties of their souls, unanimously attest it. Every work of God's provi- dence displays it; and every word of his grace. Even the judgments which he threatens, and those which he executes, must be traced to love as their source ; for though, as it respects the individuals that suffer, whether men or devils, he shews only his displeasure; yet, as justice executed on criminals is mercy to the community, so is the punitive justice of the Deity an act of love to the whole intelligent creation.
But glorious as this truth is, it is but little known: the revelation which was designed to illustrate and confirm it, is lightly regarded : and those things which incessantly engage the admiration of angels, are scarcely considered by men as worthy of the slightest attention.
Some there are however who know how to appre- ciate this truth. Whilst it is overlooked by the wise of this world, it is known, believed, and loved, by every true Christian, whatever be his condition or attainments in all other respects : if he be low and illiterate, he yet has a just apprehension of it in his mind ; and if he be great and learned, he values this above all his other knowledge.
From the words before us we shall be led to shew,
I. The distinctive character of the Christian —
The love referred to in the text, is that which God manifested in the gift of his dear Son to die for us —
[In die context, the Apostle particularly directs our at- tention to this point •\ He elsewhere declares, that the Fa- ther's love to our ruined race was the motive that induced liim (if we may so speak) to send his Son into the world '': and another Apostle refers to that event as the brightest ex- hibition which God liimself could give of his love to man"^. Great as many of his bounties are, this infinitely excels them all. ]
The true Christian knows and believes this love —
[Others may talk of it with accuracy according to the
statement *vcr. 9, 10. '' John ill. IG. ^ Rom. v. S.