[There is not a human being upon earth, who shall not be a partaker of all these benefits, if only he believe in Christ. There is no limitation, no exception : God gave his Son, that " whosoever" believeth in him should not perish. Past sins, however numerous or heinous, are no bar to our acceptance with God, if only we accept his mercy on the terms on which it is offered. This is the uniform testimony of Holy Writq
O let us magnify God for his mercy ; and be telling
of the wonders of his love from day to day !]
Infer —
1. How aggravated must be the condemnation of them that reject the Gospel!
[Our Lord says, " This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evilr." Let this sink down into our ears : for, if such love cannot melt us into contrition, and such goodness bring us to repentance, we may well expect a most accumulated weight of vengeance at the hands of an offended God.]
2. How groundless are the fears of many who
embrace the truth !
[Many sincere Christians are troubled in mind ; some on account of their temporal wants, and others on account of their spiritual necessities. But " if God has delivered up his own Son for us, will he not with him also freely give us all things s?" And " if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life1." These are unanswerable argu- ments; and they should compose our minds under trials, of whatever kind.]
3. How deeply should we all be affected by the
love of God!
[Pungent indeed is that question, " What could I have done more for my vineyard, that I have not doneu?" The more we consider how God has loved the world, the more we shall see, that he has indeed done all for us that he could do, consistently with our free agency, and his own honour. And when he has so loved the world, are we at liberty to forget him ? Does such love call for no return ? or are we to requite it only by increased impiety? O let every one of us say, " What shall I render to the Lord ?" And let his love to us constrain us to devote ourselves unreservedly to him.]
<i Isai. xlv. 22. and lv. 1. and Rev. xxii. 17. and John vi. 37. r John iii. 19. s Rom. viii. 32. l Rom. v. 10. u Isai. v. 4.
1611.] T1IE END F0R WIIICH G0D sent HIS SON. 259