Saviour of the world,'' 1. The Saviour ie the Son of the Father. Frequently is thin relationship cxpregscd in the sacred Scriptures, and in a way which indicates its ineffable ~acred11css and dearness (see Matt. iii. 17; xvii. 6; John i. 14, 18; xvii, 24 • Hom. viii. 3; and ver. 9).1 2. The Saviour i.s the Sent of the Father. "'l'he F.ither h~th sent ths Son." This is affirmed again and &,,O'!liu in the writings of St. John (John iii. 17 34,· vii. 16; x. 36; xvi. 5; xvii. 3, 4, 5, 18, 21, 23, 25). lleing thus sent by the F;ther' the Son's mission as a Saviour is Divine iu its authority. He claimed this himself: ccj have not spo_~en of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment," etc. (John xn. 49, 50). The apostles made the same claim on his behalf (see Acts ii. 22; x. 38). III. IN ITS RELATION TO THE APOSTLES. ".And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent," eto. 1. Their J;:,nowledge of the Saviour. St. ,John, writing of himself and his fellow-apostles, says, "We have beheld," etc. They had seen their Lord in the exercise qf bis miraculous powe,-s, and in wondrous glory on the Mount of Transficruration • they had beheld the perfect purity and beauty of his daily life; they had seen him dead upon the cross, and his sacred body laid in its rocky sepulchre; they had afterwards repeatedly seen him living; and tl,e_v beheld him as "be was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." 2. Their testimony concemin_q the Saviour. " We have beheld and bear witness that the Father," etc. They testified to the facts which we have already 1,oticed: (1) That Jesus Christ was the Son of God. (2) That he was the Sent of God. (3) That he was sent of God as the Saviour of the world. Their Lord had appointed them to be witnesses for him (John xv. 27; Acts-i. 8). And this may fairly be said to be the sum of their testimony: "The Father seut the Son to be the Saviour of the world." And it is beyond reasonable question that their testimony is ",rorthy of all acceptation." Thus we have seen that the great mission of Jesus Christ (1) meets man's deepest need; (2) rests npon the supreme authority; and (3) is attested by competent and trust• worthy witnesses. Therefore let us believe their testimony, and turn hearUly to the Son of God as our Saviour.-W. J.
Ver. 16.-17,e love of God. "God is Love." "God is." To this almost all peoples assent. The belief in a Supreme Being is nearly coextensive with the human l'ace. Very different are the attributes ascribed to him and the names applied to him; but as to the fact of his existence well-nigh all are agreed. But what is God? Many and various are the answers to tLis inquiry. To some he is unintelligent and irresistible Fate. To others, Nature. To others, the beautiful Order and stupendous Forces of nature. 'l'o others, "the Something, not ourselves, which makes for righteousness.'' To others, "an Infinite and Eternal Energy from which all things proceed." To others, the Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign e,f the universe. But what saith the Supreme concerning himself? "God is Light;"" God is Love." A complete apprehension of what God is, is unattainable by us. The finite cannot comprehend the Infinite. "God is Love;" we can understand that. But God is infinite. Combine the two statements. "God is Infinite Love." Here we are lost. The highest and mightiest of created beings cannot comprehend the infinite love. The knowledge which holy spirits have of God will go on increasing for ever; but at no period in the everlasting future will any one be able fully to know him. Yet as to his being and character we may each attain such a knowledge as will enable us to confide in him, and to enter upon the blessed and unending career of moral assimilation to him. 'l'hough we cannot com- prehend him who is Infioite Love, yet through Christ we may apprehend him, trust him, love him, commune with him, and become one with him. "God is Love." Let us consider- I. THE MA1''IFEBTATION OF THIS 0Lon10us TRUTH. 1. In creation. The machine is a revelation of the mechanist; the building, of the architect; the painting, of the painter; the poem, of the poet. So the universe is an embodiment ot' the ideas of the Divine mind, a revelation of the thought and feeling of the Creator. A careful survey of God's work will lead to the conclusion that " God is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." Paley states the argument with clearness and force: "Uootrivance proves design; and the predominant tendency of the contrivance 1 See our homily on vers. 9-11 on this point. OR. 1v. 1-21.] THE FIRS'f EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. 123