4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them : because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The spirit of antichrist is always abroad in the world, but not always in the same form. The article of faith which is now denied, is not that Christ was made man, but that he who was made man, is God. If St. John were now writing, his language would be: Every spirit is of God, which confesseth that he who came in the flesh is God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is God is not of God. This is that spirit of antichrist against which we have chiefly to contend in this our day. It is of the world. It agrees with the common notions of the world, to confess that Jesus Christ was more than man, more than ordinary man-had more than an ordinary measure of wisdom given him. The world will confess that he was a divine person, in one sense: that he was divinely inspired. This is the language of those who speak of the world: and the world heareth them. But that God became man: that he must needs become man, in order to make atonement for sin, and remove the condemnation under which all mankind were lying: this is not the language of the world, and the world heareth it not. Such, however, is the truth of Scripture, which is God's own word.

He that knoweth God, heareth it. He that

is not of God, heareth it not. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Hereby we know it, because it agrees with Scripture. But there is also another proof, by which we discover the Spirit of truth. We know it by its fruits. It has an effect which the spirit of error has not. It sustains the heart in its time of trial. When the tide of life is ebbing, and the present world is receding from the thoughts which it had too long and too much occupied: when eternity is no longer seen through a veil, dimly, but there is "a fearful looking for of judgment" which seems close at hand: then they that are of the world, and speak of the world, cannot satisfy or support the fainting mind. That is then felt, which before, perhaps, had been little thought of: how "no man can deliver his brother, or make agreement unto God for him." If then Jesus was but man, where is our confidence? But he was God as well as man, and therefore he can deliver. He can make agreement with the Father, "who has delivered all judgment unto the Son." And in this faith we can repose. "We know in whom we have believed: and that he is able to keep unto the great day that which we have committed to him." For He is "the true God, and eternal life." “He has life in himself, and quickeneth whom he will." "To him, therefore, as unto a faithful Creator, commit the keeping of your souls."'10

8 Ps. xlix. 7.

9 2 Tim. i. 12.

10 1 Pet. iv. 19.

LECTURE LXIX.

THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS MAN, AN EXAMPLE FOR MAN TO FOLLOW.

1 JOHN iv. 7-12.

7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. 9. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Things which are kind in themselves, may become more kind by the circumstances under which they are done. Any proof of kindness is thought more of, if shown to a stranger by a stranger: by one who is to the other, what the good Samaritan was to the Jew who lay wounded by the way. The case is still stronger, if the benefactor has received an injury. If one has offended another, he least expects a favour from that man. This is St. John's meaning, when he says, Herein was love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us. He bids us look into ourselves; and see how little reason there was

to expect that mercy which he showed, when he sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

For, surely, it is not the disposition of man to love God: not even of man, redeemed, instructed, invited, warned. If we consult our hearts, we must too surely feel, that the love of God is not born with man, but must be implanted. It is not the first, but the renewed nature. If otherwise, what need of all our exhortation and instruction? If otherwise, we should find children hastening of their own accord to learn his will: delighting in the house of prayer: delighting to offer up their petitions to him. at every spare hour: dreading the thought of taking his name in vain: more afraid of offending him, than of anything on earth: we should find all eager to discover his will, and resolved to do it. In short, we should find all, at once, and by nature, such in their character and way of life, as a few become, through the Spirit of God converting their hearts. And these too well know, that such love is not natural to them: nay, that it is the greatest of all proofs of divine love, that, not being natural, it is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost.

Therefore, herein was love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us. Or, as St. Paul expresses the same truth, "In this God commendeth his love towards us, in that whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 1

Here then is a great, acknowledged truth. God has manifested his love toward us. And there are two ways in which it may be received. It may be received as a truth to believe, to confess, to specu

1 Rom. v. 8.

late upon or as a truth which may be a motive of action. It may lie on the surface of the mind, as a seed, sometimes, on the surface of the ground, and produce nothing or it may sink within, and vegetate, and produce fruit: fruit like itself, excellent and salutary.

The intention is, that it should be operative and productive.

11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

If God so loved us, we ought to show the disposition of which he has set this eminent example. We ought to exercise towards one another, first, a forgiving love. If, whilst we were alienated from him, and unwilling to serve him, he yet loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins: he has certainly taught us to forgive a brother who transgresses against us; and when required to show mercy, to remember how much mercy we have received, and of how much we have daily need. Justly, therefore, has our Lord made a forgiving spirit a test of our state before God; he has distinctly said, "If ye forgive not your brother his trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your tres

And, further, if God so loved us, we ought not only to forgive, but to benefit one another. The love of God, as exercised toward us, sets us an example of active benevolent exertion. His pity was actively engaged. He sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. He devised a plan which

3 Matt. vi. 14.