them, and gives a clear idea of it. He takes of the things of God, and shows them to his disciples. He does not lead them into abstracted reasonings about the divine nature, or what the absolute Godhead is, but his lessons are useful and practical. He teaches the knowledge of the persons in Jehovah, as they are related to sinners in the covenant of grace. Through him the Father is made known, "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba, Father," Rom. viii. 15. Through him the Son is believed in for no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. covers the Father's love in the Son, rich graces and abundant blessings, as it is written, We have "received, not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." He makes known the giver, and the gifts, and he is received for that very purpose. He shines into the heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ. And this is saving acquaintance with the Fa : He dis with its ther and with the Son; for hereby the understanding is restored to the image of God; and the new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. O what a mercy is this! What can call for greater praise! And this mercy, O my soul, is thine. Unspeakably gracious has the Lord been to thee. He has given thee the knowledge of himself. His image is His image is upon thine understanding. His light is shining upon it; certainly it is as great an act, as when he first commanded the light to shine out of darkness for hereby I believe in him, I know him to be my FATHER. O precious name! the love of his heart: and it is infinite; the blessings of his love, and they are numberless, he has called me to enjoy, freely, of mere grace, of his own sovereign good will--called me to the adoption of sons, to the noblest dignity, yea, to everlasting honour, to be a son of the most high GodGod is my Father-my new-birth is from him-that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and has fellowship with the Father of spirits. Behold! what manner of love this is! No parent ever loved, or can love a child as my Father which is in heaven loves me. And I desire in the sense of this to love him, to cleave to him with full purpose of heart, and gratefully to devote all I have and am to his service, and to his glory. O thou divine revealer of this love, enlighten mine understanding and influence my affections, that I may grow in the knowledge of my father in Jesus: For, In him the Father only is to be known. He is his Father, as our covenant head, and therefore ours in him. God is not a Father to any, but in Christ. The name Father respects Christ, as the first-begotten, and then all his seed. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, and depends for its adoption on the Father of their Lord Jesus Christ. He undertook to be made man, to live and to die for the many sons, whom he was to bring to glory: and in consequence of his undertakings, it pleased the Father to lay up all fulness of grace for them in the God-man, their covenant head. And it pleases the Spirit to witness of this fulness, and to enable believers to receive out of it grace for grace. Thus he reveals Im manuel to them. one with him. God, and by faith they live in him and upon him. Trusting to his atonement and righteousness, they have peace with their reconciled Father; and they enjoy his love shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost. Waiting in the appointed ways, they grow in the knowledge of the wonderful person GodJesus. They see more of the divine glory of his salvation work, and by depending on it daily, they enjoy more of the things which accompany salvation. Thrice happy are they, whose acquaintance with Jesus is thus increasing. Their happiness has a boundless subject. They may study on, and they will find him new worlds of delight to eternity. Oye highly favoured, read and adore the wonders already wrought for you; among which, these are not the least: "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true; and They know him, and are He is their Lord and their we are in him that is true, even his Son Jesus Christ, who is the true God and eternal life." Blessed knowledge! they have an understanding given them, and they are savingly acquainted with the Father and with the Son, by the teaching of the holy Ghost. Jehovah is their Alehim. Thus they learn the first part of their duty, which leads them to the Second, namely, to love the persons in the Godhead, because they stand in this most endearing relation to them. They love the Father, who is their Father in Jesus. They have not only heard of and believed in, but have also enjoyed his precious love. It has been shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost, who has overcome all resistance to his love; yea, has made enmity itself yield to it. Having purified the conscience by faith, he then purifies the heart; he pours into it a sense of that love, which gave his co-equal Son for them, and all the blessings in earth and in heaven with him. Thereby he draws up the affections in holy desires to be more united to the Father of mercies. is the property of love to desire to be united to the beloved object. The holy Spirit has It |