[Never having been injured, they cannot exercise mercy, forbearance, love of enemies.]
This is the peculiar prerogative of Christ — [Christ manifested the most wonderful compassion g. In so doing he displayed the Father's perfections11. This honour he himself received of the Father1.]
His people however are made to share this glory with him —
[They, as stars in their several spheres, reflect the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. How strongly was his character delineated in the life of Paid and in the death of Stephen ! Every one of them endeavours to " walk as he walked." They are enabled to do this by Christ himselfk.]
III. The glory of being sons of God —
The angels are sometimes called sons of God ; but they bear this relation to him only as creatures.
Christ has this honour in an infinitely higher sense1 —
[Christ is the Son of God both in his divine and human nature. He is emphatically called by the Apostle " God's dear Son1"."]
The same honour has Christ conferred on us —
[Every believer is brought into this relation to God". This astonishing mercy may well excite wonder and admira- tion0. It is bestowed on the believer by Christ himself'1.]
IV. The glory of being united to God —
The Scriptures often speak of the union that sub- sists between Christ and the Father—
[Our Lord himself affirmed that he and the Father were oneq. St. Paul declares that all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ1". What our Lord did as man, is attributed to him as Gods.]
A similar, though not the same, union subsists between Christ and his people.
[Our Lord represents them as branches of the living vine*: he compares their union with him to his with the
e Luke xix. 41. and xxiii. 34. and xxiv. 47. h John xiv. 9. ■ John xiv. 10. k Phil. iv. 13.
1 Heb. i. 5. m Col. i. 13. n 2 Cor. vi. IS.
" 1 John iii. 1. p John i. 12. 1 John x. 30.
f Col. ii. 9. s Acts xx. 28. * John xv. 1.