Hence a sight of him was, in fact, a sight of the Father himself1.]
2. By making known his counsels —
[Much of the Father's counsels had lain hid from the foundation of the world, or had been very imperfectly revealed. Christ opened them to his hearers as they were able to bear themu. He made known God's intention to admit the Gen- tiles into his Church x, and assured us that the most abandoned of mankind should be cordially received the very instant he returned to Gody; but that none of whatever character could be saved, unless they sought acceptance with God through his mediation2. Thus by these declarations he has enabled us to attain a more perfect knowledge of the Father's mind and will.]
3. By exerting a secret energy on the minds of men —
[No man could know the Father unless Christ revealed him inwardly by his Spirit, as well as outwardly by the worda. His very Disciples understood not until he opened their eyesb: nor can we attain to a true knowledge of God in any other way. The " word must come to us in power and in the Holy Ghost," or it will come in vainc; but, when applied by his Spirit, it shall teach us plainly of the Father*1.]
Infer —
1. How glorious a person must Christ be !
[The description given of him shews his superiority above every created being: He is not the Son of God by creation, as the angels are, nor by regeneration and adoption, as men ; but by an inexplicable generation, his " Ow/?/-begotten ;" and, as well in his incarnate as in his pre-existent state, was conti- nually " in the bosom of the Father*5." Nor was any other worthy to reveal the Father to us. Let us then entertain just conceptions of his worth and dignity, and manifest our delight in him as the saints in heaven do f.]
2. How precious ought the Scriptures to be to us!
[Job and David had but a small portion of the Scriptures in their hands : yet did they value them above every thing in the world R. How much more should we, who possess the
1 John xiv. 7 — 9. u John xvi. 12. x Matt. viii. 11, 12.
y Luke xv. 20. z John xiv. 6. a Matt. xi. 27.
b Luke xxiv. 45. c 1 Thess. i. 5, d John xvi. 25.
e Johniii. 13. f Rev. v. 5 — 9.
s Joh xxiii. 12. Ps. cxix. 72.