The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 82

loves ua eo. See thnt baby-boy in his crndle. Say, over and above the instinctive fondness ol' pnrent,i for their childrrn, are there not big hopes that gn.th8r ronn<l tLe little one's bend? It is not merely for what he is to-day that he is loved like this; but for what he is to be I So with us. "It doth not yet appen.r what we shall be." God's children aro as yet so youn~, so immature; their evolution is a,q yet so incom- plete, that none can tell, from what they are with all their imperfections atten,lin,.,. them, what they will ho when all the imperfections are remove<l and their growth i~ unchecked. Still, three data are before us-certain. (1) The Lord Jesus will yet be nrnnifcsted 1 (Col. iii. 4, llevised Version). (2) 'l'hen we shall see him as he is. Nut as lie was when here in weakness and sorrow, but as he is in his glory, as Kin"' of men and Lord of worlds. (3) Seeing him as he is will complete our resemblanc; to hirn.2 [This etrect presupposes union to him and sympathy with him ; for it will nnt be so with all (Rev. i. 7).] This beatific vision, when we shall see face to face, will teach us wore of God's love at a glance than we can now gather from half a century of thought. We shall no longer get our thoughts of God at second-hand, throu!:;h earthen vessels, but direct from the Son of God himself. But will the transformat'on effected on us be corporeal or spiritual? Both corporeal and spiritual. For the face of the glorified in the spiritual body will be a perfect index of the perfected spirit within. Even here Divine grace impresses itself on the features. God is, literally, "the health of our countenance." 3 Much more when all drawbacks are removed. 6. Such love that can and will effect all this is wonderful,. "What manner of lovti ! " It is marvellous: (1) In its purity. We love only that which is worth loving. God lo~es the unworthy, in order that by love he may make them worth loving. (2) In its methods of giving-giving the noblest Gift at the greatest cost in order to win, and by winning to save. Had he terrified us, and so driven us from him, we had been ruined. But by being drawn to him, sin dies, and we Jive. (3) In its royal enrichments. First creating the new relationship of "child," and then givin_g the new-born child the shelter of a home, the endearments of tenderest care, and the wealth of the Father's kingdom-and all/or ever l What manner oflove is this? II. SucH LOVE IS WORTHY OF DEVOUT AND ABSORBING REGARD. "Behold!,, "See!" By such a word bad John's attention first been called to Jesus (John i. 29). By such a word would he now arrest ours and fasten it on Heaven's wondrous love, which had been the Object of his adoring gaze for more than half a century when he wrote these words. And still to each new-comer, as he reads this Epistle, the words address them- selves, Look at this sight l There is no other object so gloriously enchanting. And no other object will so infinitely repay the longest and profoundest study. Then look! But: 1. How~ (1) Penitently, (2) gratefully, (3) appropriatingly, (4) lovingly, (5) ador- ingly. 2. When 1 (1) When earth's glare bewitches you, that by the heavenly sigh& the world may lose its power to enthral. (2) When sin hangs heavy on the conscience, that you may receive the pardoning word. (3) When storms lower o'er your path- way, that Heaven's light may disperse the gloom. (4) When sickness weakens the frame, that you may rejoice in tribulation. (5) When visiting the sepulchre, that you may espy the region in which there is no death. (6) When entering the valley of the shadow of death, that it may be lit up with a heavenly glory. 3. How long 1 Not fitfully or occasionally, but continuously, let the sight be turned, not inwardly on your own dark, sinful self, but outwardly, on the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 'rhcn in the clear light of God's love many a perplexity will vanish; for love is the key, and the only key, to unlock the secrets of the universe. 'l'hen doubt and dread will give place to perfect peace, and in a rapturous appropriation you will feel and say and sing, "All is mine, since the love of God is mine." Look I look I look I "till the day break, and the shadows flee o.way," and you see "face to face." 1 I ho.ve not thought it well to interrupt the working out of the theme by discussing tha question whether we should tronslo.te the text "when it sho.11 be manifested," or "when ho sho.11 be manifested." On this, see the Exposition. I would, however, observe thot, whirhever translation wo accept, since our manifestation is to be concnrreut with that ol our Lo1·d's, the manning is pmcticnlly the same. • Rowe's mighty treatise on 'The Blessedness of the Righteous' is full of rich, seraphia thon "ht on this glorious theme. • Seo Ilov. Joseph Cook's rornnrko.lile lecture on ' The Solor Light.• i5 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. [cH. rn. 1-24.