⟨to⟩ give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal ⟨life.⟩ To him we are directed as the only Saviour from sin, and sorrow, and death. We are assured ⟨that⟩ those who trust in him shall never come into condemnation; that through him God pardons the most guilty: that all believers shall be raised from ⟨the⟩ dead to dwell with Jesus for ever. The knowledge of this salvation is the foundation of Christian morality. The man who believes this, will no longer pursue happiness where he knows it to be unattainable. In the life and death of Jesus, he has learned the impossibility of escaping what is appointed for all; and now his hopes of happiness centre in being raised from the dead, and sharing the blessings of the kingdom of Christ. This leads him to consider himself a stranger and pilgrim here. He looks for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Here is a lesson which philosophy could never teach. This, says an apostle, is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith, 1 John v. 4.
Reader, are you possessed of this faith? Are you waiting for the appearing of the Son of God? Does the love of Christ in giving himself to die for sinners, constrain you to live not to yourself but to God? if so, happy are you. Your trials will soon he over, and you shall enter into the joy of your Lord. But ah! if this be not the case; if your mind be engrossed with earthly objects; if the love of sin be unbroken in your heart, you have cause to tremble. That Jesus, who once died for sin on Calvary: who came meek and lowly, and having salvation will shortly come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to consume all who disregard his authority, and who preferred the enjoyment of the vanities of time and sense to the glorious prospect of inheriting his kingdom.
