G. MORRISH, 24, WARWICK LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW. EDINBURGH: J. S. ROBERTSON, 52, COCKBURN DUBLIN: TRACT DEPOT, 13, WESTLAND ROW. PART I. GLAD TIDINGS. 66 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."-John iii. 16. THERE are some passages of holy scripture which seem to contain, in a line or two, an entire volume of most precious truth. The verse which we have just penned is one of such. It is part of our Lord's memorable discourse with Nicodemus, and it embodies, in a condensed form, a very full statement of gospel truth-a statement which may well be termed "Glad Tidings." It should ever be borne in mind, both by preachers and those to whom they preach, that one grand object of the gospel is to bring God and the sinner together in such a· way as to secure the sinner's eternal salvation. It reveals a Saviour-God to a lost man. In other words, it presents God to the sinner in the very character that meets the sinner's need. A Saviour is precisely what suits the lost, just as a life-boat suits a drowning man, or a physician a sick man, or bread a hungry man. They are fitted the one for the other; and when God as a Saviour, and man as a lost sinner, meet together, the whole question is settled for ever. The sinner is saved, because God is a Saviour. He is saved according to the perfection which belongs to God, in every character He wears, in every office He fills, in every relationship He sustains. To raise a question as to the full and everlasting salvation of a believing soul, is to deny that God is a Saviour. So it is in reference to justification. God has revealed Himself as a Justifier; and, hence, the believer is justified according to the perfection which attaches to God in that character. If a single flaw could be detected in the title of the very weakest believer, it would be a dishonour to God as a Justifier. Grant me but this, that God is my Justifier, and I argue, in the face of every opposer and every accuser, that I am, and must be, perfectly justified. And, on the same principle, grant me but this, that God has revealed Himself as a Saviour, and I argue, with unclouded confidence and holy boldness, that I am, and must be, perfectly saved. It does not rest upon aught in me, but simply and entirely upon God's revelation of Himself. I know He is perfect in everything; and, therefore, perfect as my Saviour. Hence, I am perfectly saved, inasmuch as the glory of God is involved in my salvation. "There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." What then? "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah xlv. 21, 22). One believing look from a lost sinner to a just God and a Saviour, secures eternal salvation. Look!" How simple! It is not " Work" -"Do"-"Pray"-"Feel"-no; it is simply "Look." And what then? Salvationeverlasting life. It must be so, because God is a Saviour; and the precious little monosyllable "look" fully implies all this, inasmuch as it expresses the fact that the salvation which I want is found in the One to whom I look. It is all there, ready for me, and one look secures it -secures it for ever- -secures it for me. It is not a thing of to-day or to-morrow; it is an eternal reality. The bulwarks of salvation behind which the believer retreats have been erected by God Himself—the Saviour-God, on the sure foundation of Christ's atoning work; and no power of earth or hell can ever shake them. "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." (Isaiah xxviii. 16; 1 Peter ii. 6.) But let us now turn directly to the profound and comprehensive passage which forms the special subject of this paper. In |