SERMON XXIII. THE SANCTIFYING INFLUENCE OF 1 JOHN iii, 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. THE revelation of love and mercy, which God has graciously made to us in his holy word, proposes to confer upon us the most invaluable blessings in the way best suited to meet our wants; and it assures us, that they who truly receive its gracious offers, are raised to the possession of the most exalted privileges. St. John declares in the first chapter of his gospel, that to such persons is given "the power to become the sons of God:" and with his mind filled with admiration of their happy state, he begins the chapter, of which our text forms a part, by exclaiming, "Behold, what manner of love the Father "hath bestowed upon us, that we should be "called the sons of God." But as in every age of the world, true religion has been the object of the dislike of ungodly men, who hated and persecuted even the Lord of Glory himself; the Apostle adds, "therefore the "world knoweth us not, because it knew him "not." He then proceeds-" Beloved, now "are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, "when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for "we shall see him as he is." St. John, however, with all the other sacred writers, never loses sight of the fact, that christianity is altogether a holy religion. While it gives encouragement even to the most unworthy, to hope for the largest blessings from the hand of God, still, all its encouragements are intended and suited to lead them to forsake sin, and constantly to walk in the way of God's commandments. He therefore adds, in the words of our text, "And 66 every man that hath this hope in him puri"fieth himself, even as he is pure." The design of God, in his revelation of mercy to man, is to recover him from that state of ruin into which his sins have brought him. In order to this, it is necessary that he should both be delivered from the punishment which divine justice has denounced against his transgressions, and from the dominion of his sinsthat he should be made holy-should be taught to love what God commands, and to desire what he promises; that thus he may be enabled to serve God with pleasure in this world, and be prepared to enter upon the pure and holy enjoyments of the kingdom of heaven. Hence, in every representation, which the scriptures make of the safety and happiness of the true christian, something is said, to lead us to reflect, that he is one whose aim and purpose it is, to live according to the divine commands. If we are told that "there is now no "condemnation for them that are in Christ "Jesus;" we are immediately remiuded, that they "walk not after the flesh but after the 1 Spirit." If we are informed, that there are some to whom all the events which can befal them in this world, "work together for good," we are told that "they love God," and "are "the called according to his purpose." And in the same manner, while St. John is speaking in the most exalted terms of the glorious prospects, which the true christian has for futurity; and of the animating nature of that hope of everlasting life, to be enjoyed through Christ, Rom. viii, 1, 28. which is the support of his mind under all the trials of life; he adds, in the words of our text, an attestation to the holy nature of christian hope, saying "whosoever hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He " is pure." In considering these words, our attention is called in the first place, To the christian's hope; and secondly, To the effect which it produces upon him. I. First, then, we are to speak of the christian's hope. In the present state of our existence, the experience of every one will tell him, that we are exposed to innumerable afflictions in mind, body and estate. Man," it is said, "is born "unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."1 There is an uncertainty and an insufficiency in all earthly things, which made Solomon declare, of all the riches, the splendour, and enjoyments of this world, that they are "vanity and vexation of spirit." And for this reason we find, that all men without any exception, feel that the hope of some greater 1 Job v, 7. happiness than they have ever yet enjoyed, is absolutely necessary for them. But, the hopes of the great bulk of mankind, refer entirely to objects which are utterly incapable of ever making them truly happy. They fix their affections upon something in this world, and imagine that in obtaining it they shall gain real comfort; while daily experience shews, that this is not our rest; and that even could we gain the whole world, we should find it utterly insufficient to meet our wants. But, the christian's hope, is of a higher and more exalted kind. It has regard to better and more satisfying blessings, than any that earth can afford. St. Peter speaks thus respecting it; "Blessed be the God and Father of our "Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his "abundant mercy hath begotten us again to "a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus "Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth "not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith "unto salvation."1 The christian hopes for blessings which are infinitely more worthy of his pursuit, than the greatest possessions or plea 1 Pet. i, 3--5. |