person to whom they all referred. When, moreover, they beheld such numerous, such undoubted, such benevolent, and such stupendous miracles wrought by him in confirmation of his word, it was impossible for them to withhold their assent to the justice of his claims, unless they were altogether blinded by Satan and their own lusts.]
But we have, if possible, yet clearer evidence than they—
[Many of the most remarkable prophecies were either not quite accomplished, or but just accomplished, when our Lord died ; so that the fulfilment of them might then be questioned. But who can doubt whether Daniel's weeks of yearsa have not expired many centuries ago ? Who can doubt whether " the sceptre which was not to depart from Judah, till Shiloh should comeb," has not departed long since? Who can doubt whether the second " Temple to which the Messiah was to comec," has not long since been demolished ?
But a further and most satisfactory proof of Christ's Messiah- ship is, that his Gospel was propagated so extensively, in so short a time, by such instruments, in opposition to all the prejudices and passions of mankind ; and that, though every effort of men and devils has been exerted to root out Chris- tianity from the earth, none have ever been able to prevail against the Church.
On these grounds then, in addition to the former, we may say, " We know that the Son of God is come."]
Moreover, we know also,
II. His character —
Many had been the impostors who had laid claim to the title of the Messiah. In opposition to all of these, the Apostle twice designates our Lord as " the true, the only true," Messiah ; and, in the close of the text, specifies more particularly,
I. His personal character —
[Jesus is " the true God." St. John, more than all the Apostles, seems to have been studious to assert the divinity of Christ. With this he opens his history of Jesus : " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God d." The whole Scriptures also concur to establish this important doctrine, that he who was " a Son born, was also the mighty Gode;" that he was Emmanuel,
■v Dan. ix. 24. h Gen. xlix. 10. c Mai. iii. 1.
d John i. 1. e isai, iXi g.