To this celeftial Light did the Scrip tures of the Old Teftament bear witness. To this evidence did the bleffed Jefus appeal. By fulfilling ancient prophecies; by figns, and wonders, and miracles; by communicating the fame aftonishing powers to his Difciples, and by many other infallible proofs; it was clear, and undeniable, that he was that Redeemer, who had been so long before ordained in Heaven, revealed in Paradise, foreseen by the Patriarchs, and spoken of by all the Prophets. With fuch indisputable credentials of authority, every word which proceedeth out of his mouth demands an humble and a serious attention: for never man spake like this man'. His ́ love and the greatness of his power to fave them to the uttermoft, who come unto God by him", no where appear in ftronger colours, than in those endearing expreffions of his felected for the fubject of our present meditations. This is life eternal to know thee the only true God, and Jefus Christ, whom thou has fent, as the great Prophet, Priest, k Luke iv. 22. Heb. vii. 25. John vii. 46. and and King into the world, to publish the everlasting Gospel", and to cause righteousness and praise to Spring forth before all the nations°. This is the great and glorious truth inculcated in the text, which we will endeavour to illuftrate, by confidering, First, The force and meaning of the words: Secondly, The doctrine contained in : them: Thirdly, The defireable nature of the knowledge they inftill and recom.mend. The words themselves may perhaps well enough bear another conftruction, and by a fmall alteration in the punctuation, be thus rendered: This is life eternal to know thee, and Jefus Chrift, whom thou hast sent, to be the only true God". Thus making them bear their testimony to the effential, inherent divinity of the bleffed Jefus and his consubstantiality and coequality with the Father: Thus was this verse understood and interpreted by fome of the ancient writers of the church. In this fense they well agree with the reafoning in the context. Our bleffed Lord, in the course of his pathetick address to the Father, appeals to that original glory which he had in unity with him, as his eternal coeffential Son, before the birth of time, or the existence of things, even before the world was'; and proclaims aloud, that having finished the work he had given him to do, and being no more to continue in the world, he was coming to him, to refume his priftine glory. Taking the words however in the sense and order in which they are placed in our tranflation, they are eminently declaratory Ρ Αύτη δε επν αιωνιος ζωη να γινωσκωσε σε τον μόνον αλήθειαν θεον και οι απισειλας Ιησούν χρισιν. 9 See Wheatly's Lady Moyer's Lectures, Sermon V. P. 250, note [B.] Novatian and S. Austin cited by him. See alfo Ambrofius de Fide, L. v. cap. i. Inter Opera, vol. iv. p. 183. t • John xvii. 5. John xvii. 11. 8 • John xvii. 4. of of our Saviour's mediatorial powers; exprefsly defining life eternal to be, or to confift in the knowledge of God in Chrift. Such, and fo great, is his tranfcendent excellency, who is the exprefs image or representation of the perfon of the Deity"; and who, in a peculiarly eminent manner, could manifeft his name and will, unto the world". The Almighty himself, from the spirituality and immenfity of his ef fence, is an object too refplendent for human eyes to behold, or for the human understanding to comprehend. Through this appointed medium, his Son fent in the likeness of finful flesh, hath he condefcended familiarly to manifeft himself to the fons of men; that so, the glories of that Supreme Being, the author of life and immortality, who dwelleth in the light, which no man can approach unto, v hom no man hath seen nor can see', might be plainly discoverable in him, who is the incarnate brightness of his glory, and the express image of his perfon: Hence it might truly, and u Heb. i. 3. 1 Tim. vi, 16. * John xvii. 6. * Rom. viii. 3. with strict propriety of speech, be faid of them who had known and feen him, that they had known and feen the Father alfo *. Our bleffed Lord doth indeed in the paffage before us, call God the Father, the only true God. Yet certainly, not with any intention to exclude himself from a right to that appellation; or to fuggest any contradiftinction between himself and the Father; but in direct opposition to idols, to the false and fictitious gods of the heathen world. Eternal life is here affirmed to depend as much upon the knowledge of Jefus Chrift, as upon the knowledge of God the Father: Both, in this refpect, are fpoken of, as of the fame divine nature, and equal in power, dignity, and glory: the knowledge of both, as God and as Mediator, is equally neceffary; the life of grace opening the way to the life of glory. This is that faving neceffary knowledge revealed to us in the gospel œconomy: and Dr. Randolph's Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity, part ii. p. 66. Dr. Bishop's Moyer's Lectures, Sermon II. p. 54-60. we |