other words, when we receive him for all the ends and purposes for which he is given. This is the explanation which St. John himself gives us ° : and consequently we may then be said to " liaise" Christ, when we have received him, and are making use of him, as the source and substance of our spiritual life.]
2. What depends on our " having" the Son of God — [Behold! nothing less than everlasting happiness or misery depends on this point.
He that has felt a desire after eternal life ; and has sought it earnestly thi'ough Christ; and has received it from God as a free unmerited gift ; and is looking to Christ to impart it to him yet " more abundantly p," and to preserve it in his soul ; he who thus " lives by faith in the Son of God," has both a title to life, and the venj beginning and earnest of eternal life in his soul. He can claim eternal life upon the footing of God's word. He can plead the promises of God''; and may be fully assured that he shall not be disappointed of his hope'. Indeed he has eternal life already begun in his souP. He was once dead like others ; but now he " is passed from death unto life'." The very act of living by faith in the Son of God proves to a demonstration, that he is alive, and that Christ liveth in him ". He may not indeed have a comfortable sense and assurance of his happy state ; but he really liveth, and shall live for ever.
On the other hand, he that hath not so received and lived upon the Lord Jesus Christ, has no life in his soul : he is yet " dead in trespasses and sins :" and, so far from having any title to life, he is under a sentence of condemnation, and " the wrath of God abideth on him \" " Not having the Son of God, he hath not life." Whatever he may have, he hath not life. He may have learning, riches, honour, and even morality itself, according to the general acceptation of the term, but he has not life : and if he die in his present state, he must perish for ever: yea, if he were the first Monarch in the universe, he would in this respect be on a level with the meanest of his subjects; he would descend from his pinnacle of honour to the lowest abyss of shame and misery.]
Infer,
1 . How plain is the way of salvation ! [Supposing the way of salvation to be such as has been already stated, how can words express it more clearly than it is expressed in the text ? There is no learning requisite to ex- plain it : it is level with the comprehension of the most unlet- tered
° John i. 12. P Johnx. 10. ' John vi. 40.
' Isai.xK'. 17. ' John vi. 47. * Johnv.24.
" See Gal. ii. 2 1, before cited. "" John iii. 18, 36.