Paul's commendation of the gospel.
Col. i. 3 — 6. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the ivorld ; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.
" THE grace of God in truth !" What a beautiful description of the Gospel ! It is grace : it is all grace, from first to last : it is the most stupendous grace that ever God vouchsafed to any creature, whether in heaven or on earth. It was marvellous grace to confer on angels such an exalted nature as they possess, together with all the glory and felicity of heaven. It was most astonishing grace also to form man in Paradise ; to form him in the very image of his God ; and to give him a promise, that if he should hold fast his integrity, both he and all his posterity should participate with the angels in all the blessedness they enjoy. But what is all this to the gift of God's only dear Son to bear the iniquities of fallen man, and, by his own obedience unto death, to restore man to his forfeited inheritance ? This is emphatically called, " The Gospel of the grace of God :" and truly it does exhibit the grace of God in