1 John V. 11, 12. 7'^/^ is the record, that God hath given to us eternal, life ; avd this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life ; and he that hath not the Soji of God, hath not life.
IN matters that are established by human testi- mony, we necessarily proportion our assent to the number and credibility of the witnesses. And if we will act in the same manner towards the holy Scrip- tures, we shall not entertain a doubt, either of their Divine authority in general, or of the way of salva- tion contained in them. Moses and all the Prophets concur with the Apostles in directing our eyes to Christ as the only Saviour of the world : but in the words before us we have the testimony of One whose information cannot be doubted, and whose veracity cannot be impeached ; of One who is too good to de- ceive, and too wise to be deceived. This witness is no other than Jehovah himself.
Let us then consider, I. His testimony concerning his Son, and concerning the way of salvation through him —
This record embraces two points ; and asserts, 1. That ^' God hath given to us eternallife" — [Since the fall of Adam, man has lost all right to life. In him we died, and through him condemnation is come upon us all. Moreover, we have all increased our guilt and con- demnation ])y our own personal trangressions. But God willed not that we should perish, and therefore sent his only dear Son to deliver us : and, having opened a way for our re- turn to him through the blood and righteousness of his Son, he has published the glad tidings, and offered freely to give eternal life to as many as would receive it in his appointed way. He has not tendered it to us as a blessing to be earned or merited^hnt as a free unmerited gift to be received^.] '
1. That " this life is in his Son" —
[This life, comprehending all the blessings of grace and glory, is in Christ as the Proprietor, the Dispenser, and the
G^iardian
• See Rom. vi.23. Eph. ii. 8, 9. Tit.iii. 5.