Standing near, we see not the* person, but spots and lines of paint; but. at t he right distance these disappear and we see the likeness of a person. Even now it does not speak to us, f o r it is the face of a stranger; we may be able to judge the ma n 's character, yet he fails to interest us. But let his child look, and instantly the image which left us cold appeals to him with warmth and life, which were invisi- ble to us because our hearts lacked the essentials. Wh at appeals to the child is not in t he picture, but in his memory and imagination; the co-operation of the fea- tures in the painting and the f a t h e r 's image in the heart makes the likeness speak. . . . Beading the Scriptures brings to our minds the sphere of divine, thoughts so f a r as needful for us as sinners, in order to glorify God, love our neighbors, and save the soul. This is not a collection of beautiful and glittering ideas, but the re- flection of the divine life. In God life and thought a re united. . , . The Holy Scrip- ture is like a diamond: in the dark it is like a piece of glass, but as soon as (he light strikes it the water begins to sparkle, and the scintillation of life greets us. So the Word of God apart from the divine life is valueless, unworthy even of the name of Sacred Scripture. I t exists only -a connection with this divine life, from which it imports life-giving thoughts to our
minds. I t is' like the flower bed t h at re- freshes us only when the flowers and our organs of smell correspond. Hence the il- lustration of t he child and his f a t h e r 's pic- ture is exact. Notice the difference when a child pf God and an alien face that image. Not as though it had nothing to say to the ^ » r e- generate. I t addresses itself to all men as the K i n g 's Word, and every one must receive its impress in his own way. But while the alien sees only a strange face, which annoys him, contradicts his world, and so repels him, the child of God under- stands and recognizes it, He is in holiest sympathy with the life of the world from which t h at image greets him. Thus read- ing-what the stranger could not read, l e feels that God is speaking to him, whis- pering peace to his soul. . . . He (God) regenerates us by the Word. . . . Let it suffice here to say that the Word and t he Holy Spirit never oppose each other, but, as St. Paul declares em-' phatically, that the Holy Scripture is pre- pared. . . . " T h a t the man of God may be p e r f e c t ," " T h a t he may be thoroughly furnished unto all good wo r k s ." Hencè Scripture serves this twofold purpose. First, as an instrument of the Holy Spir- it in His work upon ma n 's heart. Secondly, to qualify a man perfectly and to equip him for every good work. become the sons of G o d " (Jno. 1:12). Pull of evil and utterly ruined in themselves, they joyfully received Christ in all the fulness of his great salvation. But the Scripture before us not only refers to receiving Christ, but also includes an exhortation to corresponding conduct— " S o walk ye in H i m : " that is, as you set out, so you should continue, with a self renouncing heart to appropriate Christ all the way to heaven, as your wisdom, right- eousness, sanctiflcation, and redemption; for no flesh shall glory in His p r e s e n c e ," but " a c c o r d i ng as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the L o r d " (I Cor. 1:29, 31). In other words, " P u t ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof " (Bom. 13:14). If the regenerate entertain any thoughts of creature purity and righteousness, so f a r will the infinitely
deceiving (T^rist—^alKing in Tfim ( C o l. 2 : 6 * — S e U c t e è .
OD is pleased to make the salvation of our souls to turn upon one point alone: that is whether Christ is received into our hearts by f a i th or whether He is not — " H e that believeth. not
shall be d amn e d ." The persons addressed in this epistle were'believers in Jesus; they had heard t he Gospel and received Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, Their f a i th was proved, by their love to all saints. Prior to this they were foolish, sinful, lost—'' by nature the children of wrath even as o t h e r s ," but now, having received t he slain and risen Savior, He was made of God unto them wisdom, right- eousness, sanctiflcation and r e d emp t i o n" ( I Cor. 1:30). They were " b o r n a g a i n ," for the Scripture says that " a s many as received Him, to them gave He power to
Made with FlippingBook Annual report