1 John iv. 14. We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
WERE it announced to us, in a time of war, that the enemies of our country were vanquished, that those who had menaced us with utter destruction were all taken captive, and that we might henceforth enjoy an honourable and lasting peace ; our first inquiry would be, What ground is there for crediting the report ? If we were assured, that several per- sons, who had been present at the battle and had seen the captive enemies, were sent by the conqueror on purpose to make known to us the glad tidings, we
should be filled with transports of joy, and congra- tulate one another on the glorious event. Such tidings, and thus authenticated, we have to declare unto you ; not indeed in reference to an earthly enemy, but in reference to our great adversary, the devil ; whom Christ, our Almighty Deliverer, has subdued. The Apostles were sent by their victo- rious Lord to proclaim the news : and they have come to us, affirming that they were eye-witnesses of the truths which thev have been commissioned to declare. They acknowledge, indeed, that " Satan bruised his heel ; but they affirm, that he bruised Satan's head." Satan so far prevailed as to have him crucified : but by his very death our blessed Lord overcame him that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; yes, " on the cross itself he triumphed openly over that wicked adversary, and spoiled all the principalities and powers of hell ;" and in his ascension " he led captivity itself captive."
But that we may ascertain more correctly the nature and truth of their testimony, we shall shew,
I. What evidence we have of the fact reported in the text —
It would divert us too far from our subject to enter into the question of the credibility of the Apostles ; suffice it to say, that, as they had no possible induce- ment to deceive us, so they have never, on any occasion, betrayed the smallest wish to deceive us. Their veracity is unimpeached, and may fully be relied on.
But, it may be asked, Were they themselves well- informed on the points whereof they affirm ? We answer, They saw the things which they attest : they did not receive them from the report of others, but were assured of them by ocular demonstration. They saw all which they affirm concerning Christ : they saw,
1. His personal glory —
[Others, even his bitterest enemies, beheld him as a man like unto themselves ; but some of his Apostles had ocular