Endeavour also to commend him unto others. There is no room for jealousy here. The light of his countenance, like the light of the sun, will not be the less enjoyed by you because it is imparted to others : on the contrary, the more successful you are in bringing others into a participation of his benefits, the more will your own souls overflow with joy. And the very weakest amongst us, that is really the Bridegroom's friend, shall find that he does not testify of Christ in vain : however incapable he may feel himself to recommend the Saviour to others, he shall see some fruit of his labour, and have reason to say, with John, " This my joy is fulfilled."]
John iii. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life : and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
A FAITHFUL minister will find many occasions of rectifying the views and dispositions of his hearers; nor will he fail to improve the opportunities that occur of leading them to a more intimate acquaint- ance with their Lord. Some, of the followers of John the Baptist having heard of the popularity of Jesus, were envious of his success, and jealous for the honour of their own teacher. But this holy man answered their complaints with much wisdom and humility ; and having, in the strongest terms, given his testi- mony to the Divine mission of Jesus, he confirmed his word with the solemn declaration which we have just read. This record contains the sum and sub- stance of the Gospel. It sets before us,
I. The one condition of our salvation —
We do not mean to say that there is any thing to be done, whereby we are to earn or merit heaven (in this respect our salvation has no conditions except those which were performed by Christ) but that,
We must believe in Christ in order to obtain sal- vation—
. [The duty here enjoined is not so easy as men generally suppose. If it merely imported a consent to the truth of