bliss. My Brethren, are we not deeply concerned to venerate and love the Bible, which has such an object in view! It is for us men, and for our salvation, that it is written. Oh! let us remember this precious truth; and learn to prize the Scriptures in proportion to their real worth.

But further, The Life spoken of in the text is not only Everlasting Life in Heaven, but is also Spiritual Life on earth. Do you know what Spiritual Life is ? It is in fact Everlasting Life already begun. Everlasting Life, as we have already remarked, consists in living with God in His presence and service, in seeing His glory, and experiencing His love and favour. And what is Spiritual Life but the beginning of these things in this world? It is the Living of the Soul unto God here. In truth, Spiritual Life is the Life of the Soul: for till the Soul is alive unto God, and liveth to Him, it is in reality dead. A man may be possessed of natural or animal life. He may be alive to all worldly purposes and ends. He may have a good understanding and capacity as to worldly things. He may be a great, a wise, an active, a useful man in the world. But at the same time He may be spiritually dead. His soul may be dead in sin, dead to God, and so without any spiritual life in it. He may know nothing of the peace, and rest, and happiness which they now enjoy,

who are alive unto God, who see, and serve, and love Him in their spirits. My Brethren, this is a very weighty consideration, and one which deeply demands your notice. Are you aware of this possibility, that a man may be dead while he lives? That living an animal life, using and enjoying the things of the world, he may yet be devoid of all spiritual life? And do you know that till a man has spiritual life, he is and must be a stranger to real peace and happiness? Nay, do you further know that without having this spiritual life here, he will never have everlasting life hereafter? If you do not already know these things, it is time that you should know them. If you do know them, it is well to be reminded of them. For observe that the Scriptures are written," that we may have life." They are given to us on purpose, that we, who are naturally dead may be quickened in the spirit of our minds; may rise from the death of sin to a life of righteousness; may here become "spiritually-minded," which, as St. Paul tells us, "is life and peace," that so we may hereafter possess Everlasting Life. Let us be assured that God would not have given to us His word to produce such effects in us, if such effects were not absolutely necessary. Instead of objecting to the Scriptural representations of our state and wants, let us thankfully receive every information

on this subject, and diligently follow those steps which they point out for the attainment of these great objects, namely, of Spiritual Life in this world, and of Everlasting Life in the world to come. These steps, as prescribed in the text, are the second thing which I proposed to consider.

II. In fact they are two. A right Knowledge of Jesus Christ, and a living Faith in Him. "These are written, that ye might believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." While the Scriptures speak of Heaven as the end, they always speak of Jesus Christ as the way. They know, they disclose no other path to life than this. I have said that the steps here prescribed are

two.

1. A right Knowledge of Jesus Christ. In truth, such a Knowledge is not expressed in the text, but it is clearly implied in it. It must be comprized in the belief there mentioned, for belief must be formed on knowledge. We cannot have a living Faith in Jesus, till we have first a right Knowledge of Him.

This Knowledge the Scriptures are designed to give us. And what are the particulars which they teach us of Jesus? They teach us, as we read in the text, that He is "the Christ, the Son of God." Let us observe,

truths concerning our Saviour, the knowledge of which are necessary to our being saved by Him. He is "the Christ, the Son of God." Such was the confession of St. Peter, on account of which our Lord pronounced Him blessed. "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." And agreeable to this confession, was that of the Ethiopian Eunuch, which Philip deemed to be sufficient for salvation, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."*

In fact, these few words contain every thing which is necessary to be known respecting the offices and person of the Redeemer. We are here reminded first, that Jesus is "the Christ." From the beginning, that is, from the fall of man, God had promised that He would send a Saviour into the world; one, who should destroy the works of the Devil, and open a new way for sinners to the tree of life, and to the paradise of God; one, who when he came, should be the Prophet, Priest, and King of his church and people; their Prophet to instruct them; their Priest to sacrifice and intercede for them; their King to rule in them, and for them. And since Prophets, Priests, and Kings, whenever they were specially appointed by God, under the Jewish law, were usually consecrated to their respective offices by the * Matthew, xvi. 16. Acts, viii. 37.

pouring of oil on their head; so this promised Saviour, to shew that He would be appointed and consecrated to these offices by God Himself, was proclaimed under the title of the Anointed One, the Messiah, or the Christ, which words have the same meaning. Now the Scriptures teach us, that Jesus of Nazareth was this promised Saviour, this Christ or Anointed One, who should come into the world; and consequently the great Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God.

We are reminded in the second place, that He is also "the Son of God." This truth relates to His person, as the other referred to His offices. He is "the Son of God," who is in the bosom of the Father," and "had glory with Him, before the world was :" that Son, by whom "He made the world;" "whom all the Angels of God worship;' "who is over all, God blessed for ever, Amen." Yes, my Brethren, this is a part, and a very essential part of that Knowledge, which we must have of Jesus Christ, in order to be saved by Him. Let us bear in mind. this great truth, so plainly taught in the Bible, that Jesus is not only Man, but God; that He is a partaker, not merely of the human naure, but of the divine nature also: that, as the language of our church expresses it, He