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 "ON LIFE ETERNAL ;" ^ 
 
 m SOKimEAl DmSITI^ i^D. HOW 7^ 
 
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 The lyiowiug passages are ol a siimlM cu p 
 
 tbing iustiaod freely by h,8 fc-»^«' 'H^^*" t'a "propUiatiou 
 ^Christ Josas: ,«.om 6oa ''"t^^ ',^ !„„/„ J forth, 
 through faith lu l»s Wood »" .rT ' L tbrbeatanco ot^od." 
 
 -Ro!K^»., ii-^e-, 1^°^»8K„„ g^vi„„, Jesus C^^^^^^^ 
 glo-nSus appeanng of «'» S"*** ^°T ^^em »9 from .11 iniquity, 
 who gave hiraself lor ns ""'"'.;™C^7^„^ of good works." 
 
 -Titus, 11., 13, 14. in me ^'^Y universally sinful native 
 
 ,1^0 the humbling announ^o^^ of «^^ 
 
 conditianofman; "«^ *^°^^^ ''''™''^^^^^ 
 
 God, in providing an ^^-^*^^^^X sacrificial 
 
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 fiill iM-opltiation uiid KatiJfactloii to Divino Holincsa and Justice. 
 ^ for the HiriH of tho wliolq^ world ;" and then tlio pardon and juh. 
 tjflcation of the Ninncr and hin aocoptanco to divino favpr ; alHo, 
 nil /redemption from tlio capti.vity and power of win, tliron-fli 
 faith in the ortiuticy of that propitiation and rcdeemin^r work uf 
 the Saviour. Iti tho latter texts tho same propitiation is evident- 
 ly implied and alluded to; and tho divine nature of the Saviour 
 Ih also set forth in tho words, " tho great God and our Savi.)ur JesuH 
 Chriat," which, aecording- to tho Greek original text, mean aud 
 dofjignato one and the same Diviuo Person. Ami furth'nr- aro 
 shown tho designed redemption of Christian.s from all jui<iuity, 
 their peculiarity in tho performance of good works, and tht-ir 
 " blessed" and comforting "hope" of overlaHting felicity at^lho 
 final coming of fheir gracion?? (lod and Saviour. 
 
 But returning to tho words of our text, it may first be re- 
 marked— as a universal truth— that the Way to Hecure permanent 
 happiness has been the enquiry and endeavor of every human 
 being; and it has also been equally true that none have obtained 
 that enduring blessing from merely earthly ways or means. Tho 
 wisest of men, in his hook,- " The Preacher," though a king, and 
 having had^.flVcVj'^vfn-iety of such means within liis power, and 
 ^aviRg^cmployefrthem all for effecting that object, has loft on 
 -Record the most decisive testimony of their utter inability to se- 
 cure tho dcsiretV result. He has repeatedly declared of them all, 
 —of the various schemes and courses of pleasure ; of the pursuits 
 of pride and ambiimn j^ tho possession of riches ; the varied acqui- 
 sitions of human skm and knowledge ;*and of every other object 
 and pursuit of a meW worldly nature,— that, as to -the attain- 
 ment of satisfying and Wmanent happiness, they are only '* vani- 
 ty and vexation of spiritX^ The most experienced and wisest of 
 heathen philosophers and <^her sages, in all countries and ages, 
 ^ho have spoken or written\on the subject, have given similar 
 testimonj'. As to all these lasMhere ^could- have been no other 
 result, for they did not seek aright the knowledge of the true 
 God from his visible workof creatio'd, for which heglect, as Scrip 
 ture ^eclaies, ** they had no excuSb." Not using the degree of 
 divine light which was ^ut within them, they universally and " 
 utterly failed to find; either as to this life or atiy supposed /w^Mre 
 
 'y"'^'"f7'^''''''^'^*r*" 1-^ <j» .SH" ', 
 
3 
 
 that poi'iimnont vont and happinoss tlioy ara.Maly domrml mul 
 sought. It huH, in.lco.l, with iuliiiit" wimhHu utul i.ioroy, been 
 onhiinod that the HatlKfyiiif? ami otornul (.njoyuuMit of th.i spint of 
 mail cannot be Hoe.uotl but'by an ailoquutu knowh-li;.. i.i th« 
 grrat ai.d beuovolont Go.l of Ihn Ur.lvei-He ; un.l ospcoiully. un.h'r 
 hia SiMiptui-al revelMioii, by tU« additional or <nMibiu,..l kiiowhMlge 
 
 «r th« Lord JusuH Christ, Hin ^on, as UiH gift of n.orcy, according 
 to th<! words of tho t\)xt. 
 
 liut now, prop(M|>\ftriHeH tho cnciuiry, what aro wo truly and 
 savingly to undcjrHtanU by tho knowledge of God and of His Soli 
 Avhoni lie Hont, as oxpi\csHed in tlip toxt, and as to th., ^)utpi.sos 
 for which He was Hont\ And first, as to the knowledge of this 
 " oidy true (Jod." It iiijplios, of course, as its primary element— 
 asfarasliunianintellect\ind intelligence can reach it-the cor- 
 rect knowledge of the atkibutes and perfections which form Uis 
 divine nature and charactW. These Kave never becu truly dis- 
 covered by a riato. or an Aristotle, a «cnoca, a Cato, or a Cicoro, 
 or through any merely hu.Ln investigation or sjjj^'m framed by 
 the seeming wisdom of man\;— so true a»c the vJ^; of tho Pa- 
 triarch : " Who can by sealrchiug find out God, f ' find out tho 
 Almighty unto "perfection ;'' Ud also thbs^of the Apostle : ^ Th«^ 
 worhl by wisdom knew not dod." Tho liLrhest l^Hoian wisdom , 
 could only reac'h tho idea, oA conclusion, V«at thcr(ixwa» some } 
 great Being of a Spiritual ikure, who originated >ll living ; \ 
 creatures and inanimate objects Wid things ; bi\t when tliei^sought^ 
 toilnd out his true cbaractcj?Uhey wore coiitounded and\thcir 
 i^nvestio-atio'ns came to an-eud. qV became perplexed and coWa- 
 dictory-chielly through their iniibility to reco.Wrle tho seera^g 
 inconsistencies of His supposed gAvernment of Mis rational crdi^- 
 tures and visible works, and HisVvaried providential dispensa. 
 tions. But blessed be this true GcM that, in due time, He gave 
 —and through mbrc than- fifteen hundred years prdgrossively en 
 largedand has constantly preservedVand will, as j^romised, pre- 
 serve to tho end of time— a revdatton of His oWfi sacred" at- 
 tributes and character, and of ifs Wous will iind designtj 
 rc.>-arding the whole human race. And this revc-latipn is as full 
 and porlect as the capacities, wants, and\duties of man require for 
 hi^ welfare and happiness while here, and liis eternal enjoyment 
 hereafter. In this inspfred revelation weW plaiifly informed of 
 
 M 
 
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 all the attributea and poifoctiona oC this etoirial ami kIo"""" 
 Being. In His communications to Moseu, when Riving tho law 
 and tho ordinancoH at Sinai, Ua declared Himself, to be "Tho 
 Lord, tho Lord God, mercifnl and gracioun, longHulleiing and 
 abundont in goodness and truth ;' keeping men^y for tiuMisundH» 
 forgiving Iniquity, and tranjagroHHion and win ; and tliat will by no 
 means clear tho guilty." In other portions of tho sacred Records, 
 He is doicribod as "almighty" in power, " infinito in wisdom/'^ 
 " perfect in holiness," " righteous in judgment," a "just God," 
 as well as " a Saviour," " rich in mercy" and " ready to for- 
 give," *nruo and faithful" as to all His promiKcm and prcdlctlona, 
 immeasurably " rich in love'* and" compassion," and willing and 
 providing for the welfare and happiness of all his creuturos, 
 most especially of sinful and helpless humanity. Such is a brief 
 but very imperfect sketch of tho perfections which compose and 
 exhibit the character of this true God— the eternal and glorious 
 
 Jehovah. 
 
 The second essential subject of knowledge mentioned in our 
 
 text, relates to that gracious and glorious Being, sent of God, and 
 called the "Messiah," who possessed and exhibited in his im- 
 ' maculate person and character the divine nature, one in essence 
 and in equality of attributes and perfections with the Eternal 
 ]Father,and mysteriously connected and combined with our infirm 
 humanity. And here, also, as to the true chai-acter of this Divine 
 Saviour, and the gracious purposes for which he canae nito our 
 polluted and rebellious world, we have not, and cannot h»ve, any 
 accurate knowledge but from the same inspired revelatiom Even 
 with the large portion of the sacred Records possessed by the 
 Jews as the chtSen and peculiar people of God, the character and 
 and works, the sufferings and death of tho Messiah and Saviour 
 we^e to them, as Scripture declares, " a stumbling-block," as they 
 were "to tho Greeks— foolishness," though these latter boasted 
 and were renowned as possessing wisdom superior to all other 
 people in every department of knowledge, In that earlier code 
 of revelation is recorded the first consoling promise of our 
 gracious God, given immediately after the introductiou of siaintf* 
 our world, that the "seed" of the woman should " bruiso" tlte de- 
 ceiving serpent's "head." To this succeeded, through a coiirse 
 of ages, correspondiiig promises of remedial bles s ing s made to the 
 
■ ■ t . . 
 
 oarW PatriarchB moro o.pocially , and often to tho faithful Abra- 
 ham, and afterwards moro clearly and fully doclarod. through 
 M0HC8, to t^io80 choHca though dlHobodlonfc people, in the word* 
 in Uout.. ivill. : "The Lord thy God will ralno up unto thoo a 
 Prophot rr<,ui the nudst of thoe. of thy brethren, like unlo mo, 
 unto him yo shall hcarkon." All the divinolypreHcribod ord.- 
 n.„ceH/ HucrincoH. and .>ir..rmgH, under that literally JtrU^t lejca 
 dispensation, were dosiK-.o^l to prefiffuro a..d sy.nboU/.o that 
 promiHod and gracious . Messiah, in duo time to b^ per^onaly 
 manifested on the oarth, and his redeeming, atoning, and otornally 
 Bavi..g work in behalf of our guilty and helpless race, lie was, 
 in snbttance and reality, the symbolized lamb an<l other slam 
 a.iimals, with their sprinkled blood, as well as the other and 
 varied oblations a.id offerings for obtaining the forgiveness o 
 sins, so constantly and multitudinously presented in tho tabor 
 "nacle ami temple services. «e. and his atoning, justifying and 
 saving ofloring were represented by tho blood of tho one aniraa 
 sprinkled on tlio altar and mercy seat, and by the other animal 
 tvoically laden with the sins of the people, and bearing them 
 away " into the wilderness,-^* land not inhabited." By the en- 
 joined washings andffl^lf' parifications of the persons and vest- 
 ments of the priests,lt;i tho vadous oflerings and observance* 
 connected with their public services, the Immaoulato purity and , 
 the perfectly propitiating oflering and sacrifice of tho Lord Jesus 
 Christ himself, as the one groat and all-sufficient High Priest on 
 behalf of universal Immanity, were representatively and most aptly 
 preli-nired. By the hysSOD branch, dipped in the blood of ono 
 bird and laved in the pure watfr Of the running brook, and tho 
 sprinkling of both, in the cleansUg of tho leper, and by tho rolcaso 
 of the other bird to its perfect frcodom, the Saviour's atoning and 
 satisfying work for the redemption an,a,|ho free and full salvation 
 of our sinful and captive rac(y,#eii^ farther representatively prc- 
 fi<rnred and exhibited. ThC fresh bread, daily lai4 on the conse- 
 crated table, symbolijsed the t^amcxiivine Saviour as the bread ot 
 life, indispensably- required aS; the daily food for sustaining the 
 life of the regenerated spirit of liian. 
 
 Through a long course of^ges, during that typical dispensa- 
 tion, a lino of inspired prophets tecorded numerous and gracious 
 predictions rcgardiug>at divine Messiah and Prophet, declaring 
 
 
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 tho corUinty of \uh promUod appottranoo ; tlio royal Htuck from 
 which hU hiiinmi nutaro HhdXild Mpriiig, am doulnrod in tim PHiilrrm 
 ami otliur SciipturuH ; tlio placo wlioro lio Hli<)itl*i l)o lioni, hih in 
 tho Hook of Mii!uli ; and c«p«oiully in tho Hiiii^ulurly ovuiip'lii^iil 
 rocordM qf tlio Hublirno IhuIiiIi, whoro ho is doMoriboil uh tho " oliild 
 born," •' llio Hon given," and aJMo uh " i\w Mighty (Jod, tlio Kvor- 
 lantiiif^ Fatlior, tho IVinco of IVaco ;" and nioHt cspociiilly of all, 
 in chap, liii-, of liiH Hook — that portion of it Itoiu^ thn inont v«- 
 inaikahlc and dnoply affoctintf of all tho piiinury codo of inspirod- 
 TOCurdH. Th(»rein In rovoalod tho huinlilo and nnattrai'tivo ciicuin- 
 -•tanceH iindor whi«d»— in tho jndgniont tda Mind an«l Minfnl worhl 
 — ho would iMiik" hin iippfaranco; its Hct)ni and ^i«j»'rtiori (dhitn ; 
 hifi volnntiuy ami a;jfoiii/.in^ HulTorinffH and dcafli, hy Dlvino ap- 
 pointnxMit and jL^ift, as an atunoinunt and lull HatiMfaotion to ini- 
 macnlato holiness and inlloxiblo jUHtico for tho iniquitiort of tho 
 wholo tif our do|>ravud ami hulploHH raiu!. Ami fnrthor in jyivcn 
 tho Houl-chcoring intoilif^ynco of tho innuniorulilo and rioh blcMH- 
 \ngn which wcro tiiortihy purchased for' all tho faithful and ohe- 
 diunt as their t('ni[)oral [xu'tion ami eternal inhoritaiu'c. In other 
 hmpircd recordrt, also, ns by tho 8id>limo I'Halmist, by tho Hamo 
 traiiRCondant Isaiah, by Micah, /cchariah, Malachi, and othfTrs, 
 are plainly declared tho nu'rcies and blessings which should at- 
 tend and follow Ids advent ; 4'»c teachings of his word, given 
 under both dispensations ; his gracious dealings afld disp»H>Ha« 
 tions /or tho salvation of souls; tho proloction, governnionl, and 
 perpetuity of his Churcii ; D^o, celebrating his praise, declaring 
 " how great is his goodness, and how great is hist beauty ;" and 
 liow men should " rejoico In him" and "all nations call him 
 blessed," one of tho imipircd bi^nd doclaring that ho would bo '^*' tho 
 Eun of rij^toousness" arising " with healing in his winga ;" and 
 another that ho would "judge tho poor of the people," would 
 " spare' tho poor and uQody," " irodeom their souls front deceit 
 aad vloloncO," that*' their blood should be precious In his sight ;" 
 '* that ho would break in pieces the oppressor;" that in blessings 
 be would "come dowrj like showers that water the earth ;" and 
 that he should '* have domiaion U'uiu tioa to sea, uud from tho 
 rivet unto the ends of the earth." 
 
 4)1 *''® '"^"^cgoing and other similar aniiouiKeiuents ix»garding 
 the iafmitcly great and glorious Jehovah^ and tho'ancicnt intima - 
 
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 tloiiM anil proaictioni* concerning thU grtoloui* pornonnpro— tho j 
 
 dlvlno, rodomuinff MonMlfth— aro, m A moroly hiHtorlral mvola- 
 
 lion, Hum.'i.inlly umplo aii.l ol.uir for |>oroo|»tli>i« imi'I kno\vl.>.lrfO. 
 
 Hut iiilliiittfly ubovo wn\ boyoiul thin \\U^ra\> uMnicti'Mi, tli«'rn U , ' 
 
 itnpliotl ami liichulo.l in tlic) tctl » jKii-mnnl Sinnhtnt l-iioit'hhjr, I , 
 
 0HH«'ntiul lor tlib fofiniition of tlm diaractor, find for tliirnupporl, ^| 
 
 mill cuniolatioii. «iii<l tlio Ktubillty of tho rhcMrrinjf liopoH a^>x- 
 
 pe«!tfttionM of tlio Spiritual (lu-l only tru« CliriKtian. NumftroUM 
 
 paHH«g(*rt of Sctriptuni t)xj)ro»Mly dooluro tlio luMiOUHlty -lunl, In- 
 
 «1(mmI, itK wWolo tonor in«;ul<;iit«M iiiwl ro.piiro!^ tin! purMOuiil ponhck- 
 
 Biuu-of this Spiritual lUi'l xtivinj? knowJotlijo. In tlioHo irifuilil'lo 
 
 rmu)rilKiill luo t«.l.l : " Y«' muKt ho Ixu-n a}?iiin," born " of llio 
 
 Spirit;" tliiit IIiIk now hirtli in " n«)t of l.loo.l, nor t.f tlio will of 
 
 i\w IIchIi, nor of ilm will uf inan. but a}( (Jo'l ;" untl tliut umIohh 
 
 thuH Spiritually born, no man can " me the kinploin of (Jo.l" 4.r 
 
 " ontor into" it ; tliat (Jlu'ist njunt " ilwoll in th(^ heart by faitli ;" 
 
 that " if any man bavo not" the Spirit of Ohri«t ho i^ nono.of hiti ;" 
 
 liud thirt will b(» a porminally coiiHriouH poHrtOHsion, fur th<! mirup 
 
 iu«piro(l Wor.l Hayrt : "Kilowyo not your ownRolvJH how that 
 
 JoMUt* OhriKt iK in you, oxcopt yo bft reprobates," And yot fur- ' 
 
 thdr, aooorilin}? to Seripturo, thyro Avill In? tlnvpoHsosrtion of" ttu? 
 
 earnost t>f tho Spirit ;" of which Diviiio Spirit it iH clcclartMl that 
 
 " itself boarcth witnoMH with our spirit that wo arc; tho chihlron of 
 
 (Jod." Of this kinj?ilom ol (io.l, thus divinely sot up in tho bo- 
 
 lieviiif? human, suul, it is Scri|»turally declared that it is 
 
 " rij;hto.)Usness,'p('aco, audjoy iu the Holy Ghost." Kvory pro- " 
 
 feasor of Christianity is x'xhortod and cammandGd to strivo most 
 
 earnestly ami porseveringly to obtain tho possession and inHuonro 
 
 t|„> of this soul-rcM-ouoiating, Banctifyinf?!' and comforting Sjntit; and 
 
 Ihoro arc nuiHcrons Scriptural prcynisos of its free and i^ be- 
 
 Btowmont, with all its precious and saving blessings. Kvery . 
 
 really converted and regenerated stml does possess it, in a gn;ater 
 
 or lessor do{ireo, atul .consciously knows that ho does possess it. 
 
 He tlnis knoVs it by its inward, graoious.eObcts of " love, joy, 
 
 and peace," lintl tho other precious fruits of that Divincaud Holy : 
 
 Spirit, as duscvibod in Galatians, v., and other portions of tho 
 
 inspired Volume ; and by the correaponding effects ho thereby 
 
 freely and joyfully exhibits in the external observances of Worshipr 
 
 a nd other rcligioiiH oxorciBC!; ^, and in works of piety, bcncvoloncc, 
 
 ;i-f "■; 
 
 vi 
 
 i 
 
 '1 
 
■*•♦• 
 
 ?«^s»i»'* r?'*''jv^^^'**-^ 
 
 ( ■■ ," <-lrt-»i^' . 
 
 .8,;- 
 
 and righteottsiiess. Ho knows from the testimony ht tho Sacred 
 Word, arid from that inward consciousness of possessing these 
 gifts and graces of the lEoly Spirit, that God is reconciled to him 
 - and has forgiven his sins, through tho atonement and merits of 
 His Son, the divinely-anointed MeSsiah, and feels tho haj^py as- 
 surance and« confidence that tliis triio God and His Son, Jesus 
 Christ, are his everVatchful and faithful friends and guardians. 
 He can say in the language of the pious poet : 
 
 My God is reconciled, 
 
 His pardoning voice I hear, 
 He owns me for hi* child, ^ 
 I can no longer fear. 
 With confidence I hoMT draw nigh, '' 
 
 And Father, Abba Father, cry. • 
 
 Every snch regenerated and pardoned soul m,iy and does feel 
 assured that all tho divine- attributes and perfections are ever 
 firmly pledged and exercised on his behalf tor his Spiritual safety, 
 holiness and happiness. In the enjoyment of this confidence, he 
 can say, the wisdom. oT my God and Saviour, by His Spirit and 
 Word; wili inform and diregt me in the Course of duty, safety, and 
 peice; his almighty poiocr will guard and defend, me in every 
 season and form of trial and danger ; his enduring Ip/ve will cheer 
 and fully console me under all' adversities and- afaicting events ; 
 his niercy will bear with ray weakness and infirtnitiesi and forgive 
 my offences on my sincere repentance and renewed exercise of 
 fpith in his Son's atoning and meritorious offering ; His 
 truth and failhfulneis, as revealed in his unchangeable Word, 
 will sustain my hopes and confidence, and cheer my spirit, when 
 passing through the deep waters of temptation— relying on the 
 divinely recorded assurance that they shall not overflow me ; nor 
 shall the kindled flame destroy me, but I shall in the most suit- 
 able and best time come tlirough them both in safety and with 
 purified effects. He can confidently feel and say, I know that 
 my Redeemer and Saviour is also my heavenly Mediator and Ad* 
 yocate, and that He and his Holy Spirit e^^f make intercession 
 forme. Such regenerated and pardoned believer, thus divinely 
 sustained and comforted, goes forward in a progressively sancti- 
 fied course, and, if continuing faithful, attains the required holy 
 meetnessfor^fhe glorious and eternal inheritance of perfect safety 
 &nd happiness. « . >, 
 
No profcflsor of bur holy Cliristfttnity slioiiM rost satisfied with- 
 out the personal; soul-sustaining experieiic6 of this Spiritual 
 knowledge of the " Great God" and the Lord "Jc9U*r Christ," as 
 declared In tho text to be tho requisites for obtaining jid finally 
 securing " life eternal;" or remain destitute of the attainmenta r 
 and qualifications so plainly and repeatedly declared/n Scripture 
 to be absolutely essential to the acquisition of such SJpiritual con- 
 fidence, as well as holinesa^while in this state of^robation, and 
 forthoiuture etdrnal coi®nination of happinoa/ and glory. It 
 is clearly revealed that it is the Divine will and d-esign that every 
 professor of Christianity should posses? this Spiritual knowledge, 
 with its consequent assurance and confidence, as well as all its 
 holy and hajipy effects, as Scripturally desc/ibed. How, indeed, 
 it may be asked, can any such professor, destitute of that Spirit- 
 ual knowledge and conscious inward divine testimony, iiayo, 
 any reaf anHurance and con^tZencc .that hvk sins are forgiven, that 
 he is a Qhild of God, has Spiritual gui^nco .and support, iiild it 
 " an heir of glory" and eternal happiness ? Here, agaiSi the 
 words of the hymn' of the devout/poet may bo appropriately' 
 cited :— 
 
 If now the witness Were In mo, ^ 
 Would He not Testify of Thee, '^ 
 
 in Jesus reconciletl ; 
 And should I not in faith draw nigh, ^ 
 
 - Arid boldly Abbji Father cry, 
 
 - V Andknowmyself thy child. 
 
 None can have that confidence but those who possess that Spirit- 
 ual knowledge and testimony, and manifest, in a greater or lesser 
 degree,those corresponding inward and external fruits of grace and 
 
 . righteousness which the Scripfures so plainly and repeatedly 
 describe. Waiiting these essentials, the merely external and for- 
 mal ^professor, however sincere and earnest in his desires and ser- 
 vices, must and will remain more or less doubtful and uncertain 
 as to his eternal safety and happiness. 
 
 As regards tlie solemn and all-important words, "life eternal," 
 declared in the text to be the result or rather the present and 
 eternal effect of that Spiritual knowledge of the Great God and 
 His Son, the Divine Messiah,— there can be no difficulty in ascer- 
 taining its true meaning. In numerous passages of Scripture; 
 
 ' the term f* life" is employed to signify a state of happiness. It is 
 
 tu. 
 
 .^.^ 
 
 m 
 
 i. • 
 
 m 
 
 I I 
 
 ■' ;.« 
 
 nil 
 
 ¥m 
 
V - 
 
 10 
 
 petfectly cvklont that tho oxpresaion as used in the text itoos I'lot 
 merely moan eternal existence, for this all t1io wicked, doomed to 
 perdition and misery, will have as' well as tlio righteous. It cer- 
 tainly moans an eternity oF happiness. Moreover, it includes tho 
 possession of real and abiding happiness, by thp faitliful believer, 
 while in his probationary state, as shown by these words :— " Ho 
 thdl believeth on the Son hath everlasting .life ;" John, iii., 3G. 
 And further, in tho following passages in Ist John, ch. v. : "And 
 this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal lifo, and this 
 life is in His Son. He that hath tho Son hath life; and ho that 
 "hath not the Son, hath not life ;" and also in the following words : 
 »♦. That yo may know that ye have eternal life." No future is em- 
 ployed ; it is not f'shall have," but "hath" now "everlasting 
 life." All those words declare a present possession of that 
 "eternal life," as a principle enjoyed by the true believer, and 
 which is the sure and cheering "earnest" of his eternally joyous 
 and glorious inheritance. ~ 
 
 As to the blissful nature and perfectiona of this " eternal life," 
 us tho ultimate result of the Spiritual knowledge mentioned in tho 
 text, no human language can heighten the descriptions given in 
 the inspired Volume. There we are told that "eye hath not seen, 
 nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the"' 
 things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.'* 
 (1 Cor., ii. 9.) "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any 
 mo#, neither shall tho sun liglijt on them, nor any heat. For the 
 . Lamb which is in the midst of tho throne shall feed them, and 
 shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall 
 wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Rev., vii.) Thoy shall 
 '•see God," possess a " fullness of joy," and "at His right hand 
 pleasures for evermore" with " an eternal weight of glory." (Ps. 
 ■ xvi.. 2-25). . - ■ ■- : ■ -■•-,/. 
 
 ^ A few intimations and directions, founded on Scripture pre- 
 cept and authority, may now be appropriately urged as to the 
 course to bo adopted and diligently pursued in order to obtain 
 that life-giving knowledge of 1;he "true God" and the Lord 
 Jesus Christ; and for securing all its present and eternal 
 blessings. There must, at the commencement — through Divinii 
 grace, sought and imparted — ^be a sincere repentance for all past 
 transgressions; an abandonment df all openly sinful acts and 
 
 
11 
 
 (Ps. 
 
 practices, forsaking all their tcinijlatioim, 8iiarc8,i\iiil bcsctmotits; 
 eairnest and fervent prayerH and suppUcatipn^ miist be pcrsevere- 
 irigly addressed to that "true God" i« thq n^tiio and by faith in 
 his Divitio Son, ior obtaining forgiveness of, till past olfenecs; and 
 for securing SpirituulliftN light, and purity. The Sacred Scrip- 
 tures must be" prayerfully and^ frequently read, exan\iu<jd, and 
 compare*:!, with close and carnestviheditation thereon, and being 
 ever regarded and obeyed as the all-sufficient standard and rule of 
 faith and practice. There must be a regular and serious attend- 
 ance on the true and faithful ministry of the divine Word a4id 
 .^other religious mean*, as Scripturally enjoined or rocomnicndod 
 for obtaining needed wisdom and grace ; and further, as most 
 essentially requisite, the forsaking of all ensnaring associations 
 and companionships, with watchfulness arid circumspection as to ' 
 thoughts desires an(l.(;onduct. Most cspoinally of all, there mtist 
 Ite a constantly looking to and imploring the gracious (Jod for 
 wisdom and support, and the perseveri'ig exercise of faith and 
 confidence in the atoning sacrifice, mediation, and advocacy of 
 the Lorcf Jesus Christ, as the Divine Rodeomor and Saviour, to- 
 gether with a constant and skillful employment of the Spiritual 
 armour described and enjoined in the Scriptures, particularly in 
 dh.'"v4,,of Ephesians. ,A11 those duties and exercises, with other 
 means, arc Scripturally enjoined as essential to the acquisition of 
 -the divine knowledge described in tl»e text, with " eternal life" as 
 its glorious constunmation. In the sincere and diligent pursuance 
 of such a course no soul can fail of securing all those inestimable 
 blessings, for the merciful and unchangeable God has d«clared : 
 "Yei shall seek me and find me, when ye shaU search for me with 
 all your heart ;" "I will pour out my Spirit upon you ;" " If wo 
 confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and 
 to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" and give "eternal life.'' 
 (Jor., xxix.; Prov., i. ; Rom., vi.) There are also numerous 
 promises of guidance, protection, and cheering consolation. The 
 almighty and gracious Saviour has declared : " He that cometh 
 unto me I will in no wise cast out," but "will give unto him that 
 is athirst of the^ fountain of the water of life freely." If enduring 
 to the end, faithful and obedient, he )will give him to eat of the 
 tree of life, and the heavejily '* nianna" and bestow a "crown of 
 
 M 
 
 ■I* ■ '• 
 
 
 i 
 
Hfo" in that etenml kingaom of glory, whcro there will bo 
 " pleasures for evermore." . . 
 
 But although thin Spiritual knowledge mentioned in the text, 
 and its conse<iucnt incstimablo blessings, are so freely ond fully 
 oftbrcd to all who will rightly seek them, it is manifestly a deplo- 
 rable truth that the vast majority gf those who profess faith in a 
 pufo Christianity 4bmain lor ever destitute of their actual pqfses- 
 sion. This is chiefly, if not entirely, owing to a carelessness arfd 
 neglect of putting forth, and perseveringly employing, the degree 
 of effort and diligence J^cripturally anii essentially required. In 
 some faint degree, they occasionally «t'0*:, but they do not per 
 " sevcringly s/Wt'e ; yet it is commanded : "Strive to enter in at 
 the strait gate ; for many slmll seek to enter in, but shall hot bo 
 able;" " Give all diligence to make your calling and election^ 
 sure;" "The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the vio- 
 lent take it by force." Such careless persons also remain, more 
 pr less, involved in worldliness oJ«/nri/ and ro^irfwc/, avoiding the ' 
 required self-denial of "the lust ot the flesh, the lust of the eye, 
 and the pride oflifc." T hoy are unwatchful and defective as to 
 prayer, the exercise of fiiith, consulting .and obeying the Scrip- 
 tures, and attending on other means for ol)taining gracev wisdom, 
 and needful direction for a steady and safe religious life. And 
 further, tbcy arc very inattentive as to the discharge of personal 
 and relative duties, divinely required. Thus careless, neglectful, 
 and disobedient, they remain to the last, like Ihc " foolish vir- 
 gins," unholy and unsaved. They are of those, of whom it is said 
 in Scripture, "^iothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and like 
 the sluggard, who " will not plough by reason of the cold, there- 
 
 fore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing." 
 
 • /' 
 
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