they hoped for, and which Christ had promised, was already theirs; they were in present possession of it, says the apostle: it was not a blessing for which they were to wait, and now know nothing of; not merely a pardon to be made over to them at some future day but they were then receiving it; being justified by their faith, they had peace with God, through Jesus Christ. Their love of the Redeemer, their rejoicing in him, were testimonies of this: and as long as they continued to rejoice in him, and to love him, so long the end of their faith was sure. For they could not really love him, and walk in a way contrary to his commandments: they could not rejoice in him, without desiring to live to his glory. And the living to his glory, and the following his laws, are the evidences of that faith of which the end is, the salvation of the soul.

One great use of this passage is, to show us ourselves; it holds up a glass, by which we may learn how far we are Christians indeed. For the apostle describes such, as lovers of Christ: whom having not seen, ye love:-as trusters in Christ: in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing :-as rejoicers in Christ ye rejoice in him with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; in its nature like that of an angel's joy.

Our first impression is, that they who felt so deeply and so sensibly, had advantages which we have not, and more might be expected from them than from ourselves. But it was not so. Had they lived with our Lord on earth, heard his discourses, witnessed his sufferings? St. Peter is particular in

telling us that they had not. Many who had heard his discourses and seen his miracles, were amongst his bitter enemies: but these who rejoiced in him and loved him, had no more looked upon him with their bodily eyes than we ourselves. Whom not having seen, ye love. They were among those of whom our Lord spoke, when he said, "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."1

By faith, then, these were led to value the Redeemer by considering his words, as related by those who heard them: by receiving his assurances, and pondering them in their hearts. Faith, therefore, is capable of raising the affections, and bringing them to that love which is due to a Saviour, and to that joy which springs from the blessings of redemption.

If, therefore, any are disposed to say, we believe: God help our unbelief! We love; but it is a feeble spark: We rejoice, but it is with trembling: How can we learn to believe more firmly, to love more truly, to rejoice more heartily? The answer is, According to the degree of your faith, will be the degree of your love and joy. And we know how faith is increased. "Faith cometh by hearing." Faith cometh by prayer. Faith cometh by meditation. Faith cometh by a hearty desire, that the religious duties we practise, and the word of God we study, may enable us to " grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ:" and so lead us to the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.

1 John xx. 29.

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LECTURE XXV.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROPHECY.

1 PETER i. 10-12.

10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.

11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

"Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." So the Lord Jesus had declared: and such is the sentiment repeated by the apostle here. He is reminding the Christians of the greatness of the salvation wrought for them and offered to them. And he gives this proof of it. Those who were employed of God to testify of it beforehand were eager to search into its mysteries, which they revealed to others, but which were not clearly disclosed to them. They laid the foundation of the building: they helped to raise it: but they knew not the full and perfect plan of the great Architect, and they were Luke x. 23, 24.

not permitted to see the finished work. They prophesied of the grace that should come.

Isaiah, for example, foretold a time, (xxxii. 1, 2,) when a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hidingplace from the wind, and a covert from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." But this and other like blessings, which he taught a future generation to expect, he did not fully comprehend : he did not perceive how God should send his Son "in the likeness of sinful flesh," that the "man Christ Jesus" might be a hiding-place and a covert from the wrath revealed against all unrighteousness: he could not have explained how he should pour out his spirit upon his disciples, as rivers of water in a dry place: how the penitent sinner should find shelter under his cross, as a traveller in a weary land reposes under the shadow of a rock till the fury of the sun be overpast, and he can proceed on his way refreshed and rejoicing.

Isaiah said again, (liii. 5,) "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." But we cannot suppose that Isaiah foresaw the scene in Pilate's judgment-hall, or had a view of the cross before his eyes, on which the offering for sin should be made; any more than Moses, when he "lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," that whoever looked upon it should live, could have explained the type which he left to future ages, or have said to the Israelites, So shall the Son of man be lifted up," that all

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who come to him may be healed of their iniquities, and delivered from the death of sin.

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Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." The Spirit of Christ which was in them testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. They left the words which prefigured these things, like the writing on the wall in the palace of the king Belshazzar: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.* “Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof." Until Daniel came, and said, "I will read the writing unto the king, and shew unto the king the interpretation thereof." And such was the writing in the Psalms of David; or in the prophecies of Zechariah: no man could read the writing, or make known the full interpretation, till they who stood around the cross had seen the people "look on him whom they pierced," whilst the soldiers were "parting the garments amongst them, and casting lots for the vesture. And though it

was no light honour to be chosen to foretell these things, it was greater still to see them fulfilled. Just as it was a high honour to be the messenger, who should prepare the way for the Messiah: so that no greater prophet than John the Baptist had risen among men: and yet the Lord said, "He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

This then was the case with the prophets who 3 Chap. ii. 21.

2 John iii. 14. Numb. xxi. 7-9

5 Zech. xii. 10. John xix. 37.

4 Dan. v.

6 Ps. xxii. 18.

7 Matt. xxviii. 35.