2. Of eternal life —
[The life begun on earth, is not like the natural life that shall soon expire; it is an incorruptible seed, an immortal principle, which, when watered and invigorated by continued supplies of grace, shall flourish in heaven for evermore. The soul that is quickened by faith in the Lord Jesus, has also its iniquities forgiven. It stands immediately in the nearest rela- tion to the Deity. The believer is a child of God, an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ p. A throne is prepared for him in heaven : and, on his dismission from the body, he shall be exalted to an eternal participation of the Divine glory.
e Luke xvi. 31. h Eph. ii. 1. » Ezek. xxxvii. 4.
k 1 Cor. vi. 17. Eph. iv. 15, 16. '2 Cor. v. 17.
m John v. 24. n 2 Pet. i. 4.
0 Gal. ii. 20. Col. hi. 4. p John i. 12.
Now this is the object which the Evangelists had in view, when they recorded the miracles of our Lord. They endea- voured to convince us, that Jesus was the Christ ; yet not merely to extort from us a speculative assent to this truth, but to make us rely on him as our Saviour, that we might expe- rience the true " end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls." This was an end worthy the inspired writers, an end, which has in myriads of instances already been accomplished, though its success hitherto has been only as the drop before the shower.]
Infer —
1. How should we value the Holy Scriptures !
[All the books that ever were written are of no value when compared with the sacred volume. In the Scriptures, we not only think, but know, that we have eternal life q. They testify of Christ : they declare him to be our incarnate God, our all-sufficient propitiation, our ever-living advocate, our Almighty friend. He is no longer sojourning with us on earth; but we may see him, hear him, converse with him, and enjoy the most intimate fellowship with him, in his word. In that word we may find abundance to confirm our faith, to enliven our hope, to direct our feet, to answer every purpose which our hearts can wish. Let us then " search the Scrip- tures :" let our meditation be upon them : let them be " sweeter to us than honey and the honey-comb :" let them be " esteemed by us more than our necessary food."]
2. How careful should we be to exercise faith on Christ !
[All our knowledge even of the Scriptures themselves will be of little use to us, unless we be possessed of a living faith : they will indeed " make us wise unto salvation ;" but then it is " through faith in Christ Jesusr." More can not be said, and less must not, respecting the excellency of faith, than what is spoken in the words of our text. Every thing relating to spiritual or eternal life must be received by faith, and main- tained by faith. In heaven this principle will be superseded ; but till we arrive at those happy mansions, we must " walk by faith," and " live altogether by faith on the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us."
Let us then read the Scriptures, in order to increase and confirm our faith : let even the strongest believer improve them to this end8 ; and in due time he shall be where faith is lost in sight, and hope in enjoyment.]
i John v. 89. r 2 Tim. iii. 15. s 1 John v. 13.