which incessantly engage the admiration of angels, are scarcely considered by men as worthy of the slightest attention.
Some there are however who know how to appre- ciate this truth. Whilst it is overlooked by the wise of this world, it is known, believed, and loved, by every true Christian, whatever be his condition or attainments in all other respects : if he be low and illiterate, he yet has a just apprehension of it in his mind ; and if he be great and learned, he values this above all his other knowledge.
From the words before us we shall be led to shew,
I. The distinctive character of the Christian —
The love referred to in the text, is that which God manifested in the gift of his dear Son to die for us —
[In the context, the Apostle particularly directs our at- tention to this pointa. He elsewhere declares, that the Father's love to our ruined race was the motive that induced him (if we may so speak) to send his Son into the world b : and another Apostle refers to that event as the brightest exhibition which God himself could give of his love to manc. Great as many of his bounties are, this infinitely excels them all ]
The true Christian knows and believes this love —
[Others may talk of it with accuracy, according to the statement given of it in the Scriptures; but it is the Christian alone that justly apprehends it. The light of others, like that of the moon, is inoperative, uninfluential : but the Christian's light is like that of the sun : it diffuses a genial warmth through the soul, and causes every grace to nourish and abound. Were it sufficient to say, " I believe," all who repeat the Creed would be believers ; and there would be no room for that question of our Lord, " When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith upon the earth?" But to exercise a living faith is a very distinct thing : this is peculiar to the true Christian : he knows and believes the love which God has exercised towards us : he
"believes it" as the foundation of all his hopes he
" knows it" as the source of all his joys ]
But that we may not deceive ourselves, we proceed to shew,
a ver. 9, 10. h John iii. 1G. c Rom. v. 8.
m 1 JOHN, IV. 1(5. [2457.
II. How we may know whether that character be formed in us —
If a man know and believe that any thing of a very interesting nature, whether good or evil, has befallen him, he cannot fail of being, in some measure at least, suitably affected with it. Now, if we have known and believed the love that God hath to us, we must of necessity have been filled,
1. With wonder and admiration —
[This subject has excited universal wonder through all the hosts of heaven: how then can it fail to astonish us, if we truly know it and believe it ? Did the Apostle John express such wonder at our adoption into God's family, as to say, " Behold, what manner of love is this wherewith the Father hath loved us?" Was St. Paul so overwhelmed with astonish- ment at the idea of the Gentiles being admitted into the Church as to exclaim, " O the depths !" and shall not we be amazed at a miracle of mercy that is infinitely more stupen- dous, that has a depth and length and breadth and height that surpass the conception of men or angels ? What are all other gifts in comparison of the gift of his only dear Son? " Having not spared him, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?" Know then, that, if ye have never been lost in wonder at this " unspeakable gift," and at the unsearchable riches of grace and love contained in it ; yea, if this be not in a measure your daily experience, you have never yet attained the Christian character : whatever you may have professed, or however you may have lived, you have yet to learn the first great lesson in the school of Christ.]