Christ : and their adversaries are most irrational, in that they can love and rejoice in the things of time and sense, and yet feel no love to, nor any joy in, our adorable Lord and Saviour. Let those who are now despised as enthusiasts, think who will be accounted rational in the day of judgment ■]
2. How clearly may we know, whether we be real Christians or not !
[There are certainly different degrees of faith, love, and joy ; but every true Christian experiences them in some mea- sure. This is decided by an authority that cannot be doubted0. Let us then examine what is the supreme object of our affec- tions, and chief source of our joys Nor let us ever
conclude well of our state, unless we can adopt from our hearts the language of St. Paul ; " I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lordp."]
0 Phil. iii. 3. p Phil. iii. 8.
1 Pet. i. 10 — 12. Of johich salvation the prophets have in- quired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you : searching ivhat, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ ivhich was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should folloiv. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, ivhich are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things the angels desire to look into.
THE same " salvation " that is made known to us, was revealed from the beginning. It was gradually unfolded to the world by many succeeding prophets. It is indeed exhibited as with meridian splendour in the New Testament. Yet by comparing the predic- tions of the prophets with the writings of the Apostles, we attain at once the fullest evidence of its divine original, and the deepest insight into its mysterious doctrines.
The truth of this observation will appear, while we consider,
lis 1 PETER, I. 10—12. [2383.
I. The substance of the prophecies —
Thoudi many things contained in them related only to the times wherein they were written, yet much of them undoubtedly relates to future and dis- tant periods.
The grand scope of them in the general is " the grace that should come unto us" —
[The Gospel is called "grace," because it is the highest expression of God's kindness towards our guilty world. It declares the wonderful provision which he has made for our recovery, and calls us to receive his blessings as a free un- merited gift. It represents every part of our salvation as the effect of his grace, and requires us now, as well as hereafter, to give him all the glory of it.]
More particularly Christ is the sum and substance
of the prophecies —
[God himself tells us that " the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy1:" the prophets " testified plainly of the sufferings of Christ." So minutely did they describe the smallest and most improbable circumstances of his death, that their writings appear rather like a narration than a prophecy b: nor did they speak less accurately respecting " his glory that should follow." Every step of his exaltation, from his resur- rection to his future coming to judge the world, is distinctly marked0; and the triumph of his Gospel over the benighted Gentiles is proclaimed with confidence and exultation'1.]
As in this light they deserve the deepest attention, so do they also on account of,
II. The importance of them —
The words before us mark the importance of the
prophecies in a variety of views :
1 . They were dictated by " the Spirit of Christ"—
[The Holy Ghost was the agent whom Christ employed from the beginnings through him did Christ inspire the prophets, and enlighten the world f. Thus were all the pro- phecies clearly of divine original ; and can any thing more strongly mark their value and importance?]