Hmnion with him. (2) A true knowledge of God is essential to ri"ht 0 relation to him. lf 1:1e regard him ns a stern Lawgiver, offended, resentful, implaca blc, we C[Lanot even approach unto him. And the guilty conscience is prone to entertain such viewa o( him. (3) The true knowledge of God is attainable through Jesus Cl,rist. "No man hath aeon God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he bath declared him." "He that hath $een me hath seen the Father." In Jesus CbriRt, God is revealed unto us as "a just Goel and a Saviour," as mi"lity and merciful, as faithful and forgiving, as infinitely holy and gracious and full or°compas- sion. Such a revelation of God is attractive; it is fitted to melt the heart into peni- tence, to awaken its confidence in him, anrl to draw it to him in the fellowship of lifo and light. III. HEnE IS AN AGENT EMINENTLY QUALIFIED TO USE THESE MEAKS. The apostle was qualified by various and competent knowledge of him concerning whom be wrote. I. He had heard his voice. "That which was from the beginning, w1,ich we have heard." St. John and his fellow-apostles had heard his "Words on very many occasions both in public discourse and in private conversation. 2. He had seen his h11,mr,n form and his mighty works. "That which we have seen with our eyes. . . . The Life was manifested, and we have seen it." 'l'here is, perhaps, a special reference to his having seen him accomplish his great e.nd beneficent miracles. But the apostles had seen their Master in various circumstances and conditions. They had seen him in bis majesty and might quelling the tempest and raising the dead to life; and they bacl seen him exhausted and weary. They had seen him bleeding and dying on the cross; i.nd they had seen him after he had risen again from the dead. John and two others hali seen him bowed in anguish in Gethsemane ; and they bad seen him radiant in glory on Hermon. 3. He had intently contemplated Mm. "That which we looked upon," or beheld. This looking upon him is more internal and continuous than the having seen him with their eyes. With the most intense and affectionate and reverent interest the apostle contemplated him. 4. He had handled his sacred body. The hands of John and the other apostles must frequently have touched the body of their Divine Master. But there is, perhaps, special rercrence to the touching of him after hie resurrection : "Debold my bands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me," etc. (Luke xxiv. 39). "He saith to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see ruy hands," etc. (John xx. 27). Tlrns we see how eminently qualified St. John was to testify concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. How conclusive is the testimony which he bears! .And how fitted is such an agent with such means to introduce men into the blessed fellowship and the perfect joy I Have we entered into this high fellowship? Do we realize this sacred and perfect joy? Let those who are strangers to these hallowed and blessed experiences seek them through Jesus Christ.-W. J.
Ver.· 5.-The great message. "This then is the message which we have heard of him," etc. Notice two preliminary points. 1. That the Christian minister has received a message from the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke to his apostles and to many others. He revealed unto them God the Father, and the great truths concerning human re,iemp- t10n. He still speaks to us through the sacred Scriptures. 2. That the Oh,istia:i 'f.iinister should announce this message to otl1ers. It is bis duty not to preach the theories of men, but the truth of God, and especially the truth revealed by Jesus Christ. There has been too much preaching of our ecclesiastical and theological -isms instead of the great aud gracious truths of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour. In our text St. John briefly announces the great message which ho had receive] from bis Divine Master: 11 that God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all." Light is frequently associated with the Divine Being in the Bible. It is his vesture. "Thou coverest thyself with light ns with a garment" (Ps. civ. 2). It a.bides with him. "'l'he light dwelleth with him" (Dan. ii. 22). He abides in it. "Dwelling in light unapproachable." It accom- panies his manifestations. "His brightness was ns the light" (Hab. iii. 4). He is the great Source of all illuminat.ions. "The Father of lights" (Jas. i. 17). He call.3 hie people to dwell nnd to walk in light. "Who bath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Pet. ii. 9); "Ye were onco darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk e.s children of light" (Eph. v. 8). Our Lord claimetl to be "the Light of the world" (John viii. 12). His" life was the light of men" (John i. 4). But in our 12 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. [err. 1.1-10.