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love him, and rejoice in him. But a sight of him with the bodily eyes only never in any instance produced this effect. Many who even heard his discourses, and beheld his miracles, were amongst his bitterest enemies. The Christians to whom St. Peter wrote had never seen Christ. The Apostle twice mentions this circumstance, to shew that their regard for him. did not arise from any personal acquaintance with him. Faith is the only mean whereby we are brought to this love and joy: as it is said, "in whom believing, ye rejoice." It is only by faith that we can behold the excellency of Christ by faith only that we can apply his merits to ourselves by faith only that we can receive his gracious communications m. Repentance will lead to this state; and obedience spring from it: but it is faith only that will prevail to bring us into it".]

To increase our ardour in pressing forward to this state, let us consider,

III. The blessedness of those who have attained it

[The salvation of the soul is the great "end of our faith." Present comforts are desirable; but eternal happiness is that which the Christian has principally in view. It is to this that he looks forward, under his first convictions. This is the end for which he cheerfully endures all his privations and conflicts. In every possible state he has an eye to this, as the consummation of all his hopes and desires. And this blessed object is already attained by all true Christians: they do not wait for it till they arrive in heaven; their full reward indeed is reserved for another world. But believers have the foretastes of heaven already communicated to them; yea, their love to Christ, and their joy in him, are an earnest, as well as pledge, of their eternal inheritance; they now, in a way of anticipation and actual enjoyment, "receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls."]

INFER

1. What a rational character is the Christian!

[He is thought an enthusiast, for loving and rejoicing in Christ; and they who have no such love or joy appropriate to themselves the name of rational Christians. Now we are willing to meet our adversaries on this ground, and to submit our sentiments to this test. If to admire supreme excellence, to love infinite amiableness, and to rejoice in unbounded goodness, be a rational employment; yea, if the glorified saints and angels be rational, then the Christian is a rational character; and the more so, in proportion as he loves and rejoices in

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Christ and their adversaries are most irrational, in that they can love and rejoice in the things of time and sense, and yet feel no love to, nor any joy in, our adorable Lord and Saviour. Let those who are now despised as enthusiasts, think who will be accounted rational in the day of judgment]

2. How clearly may we know, whether we be real Christians or not!

[There are certainly different degrees of faith, love, and joy; but every true Christian experiences them in some measure. This is decided by an authority that cannot be doubtedo. Let us then examine what is the supreme object of our affections, and chief source of our joys Nor let us ever

conclude well of our state, unless we can adopt from our hearts the language of St. Paul; "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord"."]

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1 Pet. i. 10-12. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

THE same "salvation" that is made known to us, was revealed from the beginning. It was gradually unfolded to the world by many succeeding prophets. It is indeed exhibited as with meridian splendour in the New Testament. Yet by comparing the predictions of the prophets with the writings of the Apostles, we attain at once the fullest evidence of its divine original, and the deepest insight into its mysterious doctrines.

The truth of this observation will appear, while we consider,

I. The substance of the prophecies—

Though many things contained in them related only to the times wherein they were written, yet much of them undoubtedly relates to future and distant periods.

The grand scope of them in the general is "the grace that should come unto us"

[The Gospel is called "grace," because it is the highest expression of God's kindness towards our guilty world. It declares the wonderful provision which he has made for our recovery, and calls us to receive his blessings as a free unmerited gift. It represents every part of our salvation as the effect of his grace, and requires us now, as well as hereafter, to give him all the glory of it.]

More particularly Christ is the sum and substance of the prophecies

[God himself tells us that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" the prophets "testified plainly of the sufferings of Christ." So minutely did they describe the smallest and most improbable circumstances of his death, that their writings appear rather like a narration than a prophecy": nor did they speak less accurately respecting "his glory that should follow." Every step of his exaltation, from his resurrection to his future coming to judge the world, is distinctly marked; and the triumph of his Gospel over the benighted Gentiles is proclaimed with confidence and exultation".]

As in this light they deserve the deepest attention, so do they also on account of,

II. The importance of them

The words before us mark the importance of the prophecies in a variety of views:

1. They were dictated by "the Spirit of Christ"

[The Holy Ghost was the agent whom Christ employed from the beginning: through him did Christ inspire the prophets, and enlighten the world. Thus were all the prophecies clearly of divine original; and can any thing more strongly mark their value and importance?]

a Rev. xix. 10. and John v. 39.

b See Ps. xxii. 8, 16, 18. and lxix. 21. and Isai. liii.

c Ps. lxviii. 18. and ii. 6.

d Ps. ii. 8. Compare Rom. xv. 9-12.

e

Compare 1 Pet. iii. 18-20.

f 2 Pet. i. 21.

2. The Prophets themselves "inquired and searched diligently" into their meaning

[The inspired men did not understand the precise import of their own prophecies. They only knew that they "ministered to the Church in distant ages;" but they studied the word, and sometimes with good effect, to gain an insight into the intentions and purposes of God. And if they judged their predictions so important while they were involved in obscurity, shall they be less valuable to us who have seen their accomplishment?]

3. The Apostles, in declaring their accomplishment, received miraculous testimonies from the Holy Ghost

[They, "who first preached the Gospel, reported those things as done, which the prophets had beforehand testified" as to be done in due time; and their word was accompanied "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." Nor was this divine seal ever more immediately set to their ministrations than when they expressly referred to the prophecies as fulfilled in Jesus. Nothing surely could put a greater honour on the prophecies than this.]

4. The very Angels "desire to look into them”—

[The angelic figures over the ark were formed looking down upon it. This intimated the interest they feel in the work of redemption. They are indeed made wiser by the revelation given to the Church'. Though they dwell in the presence of God, they desire to know more of this mystery. Though they have no personal interest in it, they long to comprehend it. Can we then, whose interest in it is so great, have low thoughts of any part of those Scriptures which exhibit and illustrate it?]

INFER

1. What a mercy is it to live under the full light of the Gospel!

[Those things, which the patriarchs saw only in types and prophecies, we are privileged to enjoy in their substance and accomplishment. Well therefore does Christ say to us, "Blessed are your eyes, blessed are your ears;" but if our light be greater than theirs, our obligations to follow it are proportionably increased; and if we neglect to improve it, surely both prophets and angels will appear against us to condemn us.]

g Dan. ix. 2.
k Exod. xxv. 20.

h Heb. ii. 4.
1 Eph. iii. 10.

i Acts x. 43, 44.

2. In searching the Scriptures we should attend particularly to what is said of Christ

[Many read the Scriptures without ever discovering the fulness and excellency of Christ; but as "they testify of him," so we are most concerned in what relates to him. Let us then fix our eyes diligently on that ark of God; let us treasure up in our minds whatever is spoken of "his sufferings and glory;" and, "mixing faith with what we read," let us seek to be made wise unto salvation.]

MMCCCLXXXIV.

THE ANGELS INTERESTED ABOUT THE GOSPEL.

1 Pet. i. 12. Which things the angels desire to look into.

THE Gospel comes recommended to us by a great variety of most important considerations. It occupied the mind of God from all eternity. From the beginning of the world it has been revealed with gradually increasing light and evidence. When the period arrived for its full promulgation, it was opened by the Lord of life himself, and was spread with incredible effect by a few poor fishermen, whom he chose and qualified to proclaim it. The Holy Ghost also bore testimony to it by miracles unnumbered, that were wrought expressly in confirmation of it. But there is one circumstance, which is rarely adverted to, which yet should exceedingly endear the Gospel to us; namely, that the holy angels are greatly interested in it, and that they are daily studying to comprehend it. This is affirmed by St. Peter in the words before us: for the elucidation of which we shall point out,

I. The subjects of their inquiry

The two preceding verses inform us, that the "salvation" of man, and "the grace that is brought unto us" for the securing of that salvation, are objects of their continual regard. More particularly they inquire into these things,

1. As foretold by prophets

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