of it through the devices of Satan. And if it were now com- mitted to us, we in our present fallen state should not be able to preserve it one single hour. God has therefore graciously committed it to his dear Son, that, by being " hid with Christ in Godh," it might be inaccessible to our subtle enemy. By this mysterious, this merciful dispensation, " our souls are bound up, as it were, in the bundle of life with the Lord our God1." Christ " lives in usk," and " is our very life1:" and hence, " because he liveth," and as long as he liveth, " we shall live also"1."]
Thus has God testified, that eternal life is to be sought as a free gift from him, and to be only in, and through, and for the sake of, the Lord Jesus Christ. But to see the full importance of this record, we must consider,
II. The declaration grounded upon it —
A more solemn declaration is not to be found in all the inspired volume. But let us consider,
1. What is meant by " having the Son of God ?"
[The more simply this is explained, the more intelligible it will appear. Christ is represented as God's gift to man": and we then receive that gift when we believe in Christ; or, in other words, when we receive him for all the ends and purposes for which he is given. This is the explanation which St. John himself gives us0: and consequently we may then be said to "have" Christ, when we have received him, and are making use of him, as the source and substance of our spiritual life.]
2. What depends on our " having" the Son of God—
[Behold ! nothing less than everlasting happiness or misery depends on this point.
He that has felt a desire after eternal life ; and has sought it earnestly through Christ ; and has received it from God as a free unmerited gift ; and is looking to Christ to impart it to him yet "more abundantly p," and to preserve it in his soul; he who thus " lives by faith in the Son of God," has both a title to life, and the very beginning and earnest of eternal life in his soul. He can claim eternal life upon the footing of God's word. He can plead the promises of God q ; and may be fully assured that he shall not be disappointed of his hoper.
h Col. iii. 3. ; I Sam. xxv. 29. k Gal. ii. 21. 1 Col. iii. 4. m John xiv. 19.
n John iii. 16. and iv. 10. ° John i. 12.
P John x. 10. °. John vi. 40. r Isai. xlv. 17.