It appears needless, at first sight, to enter minutely into this part of our subject : but the very construc- tion of the sentence shews that there is something particularly emphatical in it. It implies,
1. That these blessings are purely the gift of God —
[They are not the creatures of a vain and heated imagi- nation ; nor are they the offspring of man's will and power ^ ; nor, though imparted in the use of means, do they necessarily flow from the means themselves. They are purely and entirely the gift of God ^ and are bestowed by Him according to his sovereign will and pleasure™.]
2. That they evidently bear the Divine stamp and character upon them —
[The visible creation manifestly approves itself to be of Divine workmanship", and in the same manner do these bless- ings evidently appear to proceed from God. The very effects vs^hich they produce upon the soul, discover this : but the con- viction, which they, who possess these blessings, feel of their Divine original, is inexpressibly clear and strong °: without the smallest hesitation they ascribe them to God as their only source P.]
3. That God is glorified by means of them —
[It is the Apostle's express design to glorify God on ac- count of them : and surely we cannot fail of admiring his power and goodness in them ; or experience them, without an increased desire to devote ourselves to him ; and most of all shall we adore him for these beginnings of his grace, when we shall have received their full completiori.']
Infer —
1. How little is true religion known and expe- rienced in the world! —
[Christianity is in general viewed as a system of restraints, rather than as a source of enjoyments; but none can have a just view of it who do not experience a measure of these bless- ings. Let not any one then rest in false notions, or uninterest- ing professions. Let all seek rather such a religion as will make them holy and happy, and pray, with the Apostle, that God would fulfil in them all his good pleasure i.]
2. How much do many true Christians hve below their privileges —
^ John i. 13. 1 Jam. i. 17. "^ 1 Cor. xii. 6, 11.
n Ps. xix. 1. o Isai. xli. 20. P 2 Cor. v. 5.
q 2 Thess. i. 11.