dismiss the subject by this bare announcement. We see that in His government of man the Creator has shown to us the moral glories of His nature, equal in extent and more various than the power, wisdom, and goodness seen in the material universe. This calls for proportionate gratitude, adoration, and love from us. The revelation of the nature itself, as the home and source of every moral excellence, is an unspeakable spiritual boon; but in the entire course of the revelation we see a various and abundant display of pity, compassion, mercy, and love to us. The grand purpose of His rule is to bring us near to Himself as His dear children; and He has carried out this purpose by the most costly means, which so fully show forth the tenderness and infinitude of His care for us, that, but for the boundless profusion of power and skill which we see in all His material operation, we should suppose to be impossible. But we see that it is the same Lord who works in the visible and invisible universe, and that 'His love is as great as His power, And neither knows measure nor end.' But who can justly estimate the magnitude of our conclusion? I, a creature of a day, whose life began but yesterday, who have feebleness and dependence as my constant characteristics, I may be a friend of the Maker and Upholder of all things! He on whom the universe depends has loved me, and given Himself for me,' and condescends Himself to assure me of His love. Nay, He has endowed me with this dependent and feeble but expanding nature, that He may have my infancy under His tuition, and that I may be compelled to spend my entire pupilage in this world, under the fostering influence of His fatherly love. How is man magnified by this Divine regard! With all these glorious possibilities of our nature, how truly immeasurable are our responsibilities; and how unnatural and deep the degradation which rejects a loving fellowship with the Creator in thought, emotion, and action, for the lusts of the flesh, which debase us to the brute. How great the fatuity which turns away from the only wise God, to walk after the imaginations of a vain heart! And how deep the guilt which, rather than walk by a Divine rule, will spoil and wreck so noble a nature! But we fail justly to measure the value of the facts we have considered, if we forget that they are also the guarantee of the endless bliss for which the discipline of this life is intended to prepare us. 'He that believeth hath the witness in himself' of the incorruptible inheritance. The Saviour in whom he believes is a man, who as other men has lived upon the earth, and who has taken His humanity, body and soul, to the heavenly throne, whence He rules all things. He has gone to the throne that He may prepare a place for His disciple, and may come again and receive him to Himself. Of all this, his faith gives assurance. He has believed on the risen Saviour, and the faith has established a conscious union with Him, by which he has attained a new and regal life in his Saviour. Thus, the reality of His vital rule is proved, and the word of final hope is confirmed by the fulfilment of other words in his daily experience. He does not believe only in the Redeemer who more than eighteen centuries since died for Him, but in the same Redeemer who quickens and strengthens him now. Is there doubt as to the certainty of the promise? His life in Christ proves it. Is it possible that man can inherit the heavenly kingdom? 'Our Forerunner' has already entered into it as our representative, and taken possession of it for us. Is not the honour too great, and the life too exalted? See, a man, our Brother, sits upon the throne, in His own and in His Father's glory. Truly, life and immortality are brought to light by this Gospel. 'Now unto Him that is able to guard us from stumbling, and to set us before the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time, and now, and evermore. Amen.' THE END. |