LECTURE XXIII.

THE CHRISTIAN KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD.

1 PETER i. 3-5.

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

St. Peter writes here with the liveliness of one who had experienced the blessing of which he speaks so thankfully. He remembers the errors and the ignorance in which he had been himself involved, the doubts and fears from which he had been relieved. He was not born like ourselves in the midst of light, opening gradually upon the eyes of the understanding as soon as they are able to receive it. He had been himself in darkness, till the light broke suddenly upon him.

With some remainder of the feelings thus occasioned, he exclaims, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively

hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

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It is appointed unto all men to die :" and without the gospel, all beyond was gloomy uncertainty, or dismal fear. Blessed be God, he hath begotten us again; bestowed on us a new life, and opened before us an everlasting hope, made sure by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For as we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so we believe that "them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him:" bring to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

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Thus is the Christian begotten again: receives a second life. " The wages of sin is death;" and he has sinned:-" in Adam all died;" and he is in Adam, according to the nature which he brought into the world-but in Christ Jesus he partakes of a new nature, springing up unto everlasting life, and unspeakable glory.

And now the apostle describes, as he proceeds, the character of those to whom the inheritance belongs which is, he says, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

There is much to be considered in this sentence. The Christians are represented as under protection; under guardianship: kept as in a garrison;1 for such is the exact meaning of the word. And care of this kind implies two circumstances: danger on the one What is diligently

side, and interest on the other. guarded, is guarded for both these reasons: it is valuable: and it is exposed to danger. And this is

1 φρουρουμένοι.

the Christian's state. He is in an unfriendly country, and he has an enemy ever watchful to take him by surprise: but against such peril he is guarded by the Saviour to whom he is dear, by the God whose child by adoption he has become. He is not taken out of danger, but preserved in danger. "Be not afraid; but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee." Thus spake the Lord to Paul in a vision. He was kept by the power of God. How kept, we are not told: no visible arm protected him; and yet he was secure. And there is an universal promise of the same nature to every Christian God "will with the temptation make a way to escape, that he may be able to bear it.'

In truth, he carries about with him, and has within him, the grounds of his safety he is kept by the power of God, through faith. Faith is the instrument through which the power of God acts upon him, and sustains him in spiritual danger. By faith he clings to God; as a drowning man may cling to the plank which supports him above the water. And this illustrates what is meant, when it is said, as it often is said, that we are saved by faith. Strictly speaking, faith is not the deliverer, but the Lord Jesus. The case is like that of one preserved from shipwreck, of whom we might say, he is saved by clinging to the plank. The plank is really the preserver; but unless he had clung firmly to it, the plank could not have saved him. In the same manner the Christian is kept by the power of God and it is faith, faith ex

2 Acts xviii. 9.

31 Cor. x. 13.

isting and actively operating in his heart, which brings him within the reach of that power, and secures and retains its aid. His faith would fail in the hour of temptation, if the power of God did not give him a degree of strength which his nature has not and that strength is supplied, because, through faith, "he dwells in Christ, and Christ in him; he is one with Christ, and Christ with him."

The final end is man's salvation. To this he is kept: kept unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time. God has prepared a kingdom for him; and at the proper season (that season "of which no man knoweth") he summons him to enjoy it: as the Lord said to his apostles, "I go to prepare a place for you; and I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

Such is the plan of mercy, by which the believers in Christ are redeemed from destruction. They are called to take his yoke upon them, and learn of Him. They through grace obey the calling. Guided by his laws, and strengthened by his strength, they go forth to contend against an evil world and a watchful adversary. Betrayed by frailty from within, they would perish if left to themselves; encompassed by temptation on every side, they could not stand in the hour of trial, but that "underneath them are the everlasting arms," and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

And if it is an humbling truth, which I do not deny, that man needs this support: to be assured

4 John xiv. 2.

5 Deut. xxxiii. 27.

that he will be thus supported is most encouraging to one who is " working out his salvation with fear and trembling." For such an one knows his own weakness: knows the frailty of his best resolutions: knows the waywardness of his heart: its proneness to run back to the things which it had vowed to leave, and to neglect the better part which it had deliberately chosen.

Such an one has the very comfort which he needs, when he is assured that the power of God is employed to preserve him: to maintain what little he has of holiness, and to supply what is still defective: to give "grace for grace." He is not ashamed to say, Lord, I am weak, "undertake for me!"6 Let thy power rest upon me, and keep me to salvation.

LECTURE XXIV.

THE CHRISTIAN'S LOVE AND JOY IN CHRIST JESUS.

1 PETER i. 6-9.

6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold tempta

tions.

Such was the state of mind with these early Christians a state of habitual satisfaction, and even of thankful rejoicing, but not without occasional

6 Isa. xxxviii. 14.