Having shewn that by the Three Witnesses we are to understand the Triune God, we proceed to shew, II. What that is concerning which they bear record —
We may well expect that the importance of the matter to which these Divine Witnesses have borne record, is suited to the majesty of the Witnesses themselves. Acccordingly we find, that,
Their testimony relates to the salvation that is in Christ Jesus —
[God, who had passed by the angels that fell, has looked in mercy upon fallen man, and has given us eternal life, in and through his Son Jesus Christ a. He sent his dear Son to die in our stead, and, by his own obedience unto death, to work out a righteousness whereby we might be saved. The merit whereby we are to be justified, and the grace whereby we are to be renewed, he treasured up for us in Christ ; and he calls all men to receive these blessings out of his fulness. This way of salvation is open for all, and sufficient for all : but, this rejected, no other remains for us.
This is the sum and substance of the Gospel ; and this it is to which the Sacred Three bear record.]
Nor is their testimony at all more than the subject requires —
[If God himself had not revealed such things, who could ever have imagined them ? who could ever have thought of God becoming incarnate, and, by his own death, expiating the guilt of his own creatures ? Who could ever have devised a plan so calculated to exalt the perfections of God ; so suited to answer the necessities of man ; and so efficacious to renew
us after the Divine image ? Besides, supposing these
things to have been reported, who would ever have believed them, if they had not been thus divinely attested ? Notwith- standing the testimonies given by the Sacred Three, there is yet reason to adopt that reiterated complaint, " Who hath believed our reportb?" Professions of faith indeed abound amongst us ; but a true believer, whose feelings and conduct accord with his professions, is " a sign and a wonder" in Christendom itself0.]
It remains yet to be declared, III. In what manner they bear record —
" ver. 11. b Isai. liii. 1. John xii. 38. Rom. x. 1G.
c Isai. viii. IS.