But how will this stupendous love be heightened in our esteem, if we take into consideration the persons on ivhom this gift was bestowed!
[It was not vouchsafed to angels, though angels needed it as much as we. This was a mercy reserved for fallen man, even for " the world" that lieth in wickedness1. To form an estimate of the world, let us look around us, and see to what an awful extent iniquity abounds : or, if we would have our judgment still more according to truth, let us look within our own hearts, and see what horrible abominations are harboured there. We know nothing of others, but by their words and actions : but we have a juster criterion within our own bosoms: we may search into our own thoughts and desires; we may discern the base mixture that there is in all our motives and principles of action : in short, we may see such " a world of iniquity" within us, as may well constrain us to say, with David, " My heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungodly, that there is no fear of God before his eyesm:" yes, in our own hearts there is an epitome of all the evil that is in the world : and, if we know any thing of ourselves, we shall stand amazed that God should look upon such a world as this, and give his only dear Son to save those who so richly merited his hottest indignation.]
We cannot do justice to this subject, if we do not further notice God's ultimate design in bestowing this precious gift upon us —
[We must, but for this marvellous effort of divine love, have perished in our sins. Having resembled the fallen angels in their sin, we must have resembled them also in their misery. But " God would not that we should perish." Notwithstanding the greatness and universality of our guilt, he would not that we should suffer according to our desert ; and therefore he interposed for our deliverance. But this was not all. He desired to restore us to our forfeited inheritance, and to bring us to the possession of " everlasting life." It was not enough for him to save us from perishing; he must also renovate us after his own image, and make us partakers of his own glory. What stupendous love was this ! That he should ever think of receiving such hateful creatures into his presence ; that he should lay a plan for the exalting of them to thrones and king- doms in heaven ; and that he should even give his only-begotten Son out of his bosom to effect it! How infinitely does this surpass all the comprehension of men or angels !]
The condition which he has. imposed for our partici-
1 Heb. ii. 16. m Ps. xxxvi. 1. Prayer-book translation.