the apostle had in view in thus making the Lord Jesus known or preaching him.

This he states plainly in the latter part of the text" That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full."

He addressed them in pure zeal for their well-being; he had himself immense blessings in possession; and he desired that they should share them, by sharing that faith in Jesus Christ, and consequent interest in him from which they flowed. And the same is the intention of the publication of the gospel now. Because God has "given his only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and, as at this time, to be born of a pure virgin;" * if any of us will come unto him, and take his yoke, it is our privilege to be partakers of that same dignity and happiness to which the whole church of true believers are by divine grace exalted.

Consider, therefore, the prize of our high calling in the text propounded to us, what it comprehends, and whereon it is built; how it must be sought, and in what society.

St. John says first, "Our fellowship is with the Father." The disciples of those days were looked upon by a proud and ignorant generation

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as the filth of the earth, and the off-scouring of all things." * And even now, they who love Christ best are oft-times held in little honour.

Be men's judgment, however, as it may, they have, it seems, this to glory in. Fellowship

with almighty God.

Now what is fellowship? As it stands here, “ Fellowship with the Father," it is a great word indeed. It is written, nevertheless, and therefore we are bold to utter it: it is given to us, and therefore we have confidence to take it. And truly it is not for us to "limit the Holy One of Israel;" but rather to beseech him to " increase our faith," and "enlarge our hearts," confounded as we may well be, when we compare "the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Jesus Christ,” with our own absolute worthlessness and illdeservings.

Fellowship then means both free intercourse, and also participation, or the being partakers with any persons, so as to have things in common with them. This is the way in which the fellowship of the first Christians is described. "All they that believed were together, and had all things common."*

"The multitude of

them that believed were of one heart and one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own: but they had all things common."† And, again and again, we read of them as having a community of hopes and interests, as well as of possessions; and as being all filled and guided by the same spirit which was through and in them all. And the badge of their discipleship, and the bond of their fellowship, was mutual love or charity.

And analogous to this is the fellowship of all true Christians with the Father. He loves them, delights in them, and calls them his "jewels." And they love him, and delight in him, and testify of him, "that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."§ He sits upon a throne of grace, and by his grace he draws them to him: so that they have free access to him: he and they are together. They may "arise" by faith, "and go unto their Father," when they will: they may talk to him, ask him for what they want, pour out

* Acts ii. 44.

Malachi iii. 17.

+ Acts iv. 32.
§ 1 John i. 5.

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their hearts before him;"* be assured that he careth for them, and is taking care of them, and is interested in all their concerns. And so far is he from being offended with their boldness, or from counting them intruders when they thus draw nigh unto him, that he specially commands them to inquire of him," † and to call upon him. He is at peace with them; he hath "blotted out their transgressions as a thick cloud," and he is on their side always. "Whoso toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye."§ It is for ever, as it was of old. "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel." || "Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." God and his people have common cause. He, the Father, with whom they have fellowship, is the Lord and Proprietor of the Universe. "He doeth whatsoever pleaseth him;" and all things are his. But if so, strange to say, all things are theirs. His own word hath said it. "All things are for your sakes.”** "All things are yours,

whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present or things to come; all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." * As surely as God governs the world, so surely he governs it and orders all things in it, from the least to the greatest, for the benefit of his people who have fellowship with him. The whole history of the Bible is proof of this; and so would all history be were it as infallibly told. Whatsoever it is truly necessary for the Christian to have in possession, that he surely has; and all things besides are working together for his benefit, because all things are working by the orders of that God and Father of all, with whom his fellowship is. And then, not to enlarge further, God not only calls the souls of his people up to him, but he himself, if I may so speak, in person comes down to them. For " I will put my Spirit within you,"† he says. "I will dwell in them and walk in them." ↑ "They are temples of the Holy Ghost:"§ an habitation of God through the Spirit." || "Partakers of the divine nature"-the words are God's own—

* 1 Cor. iii. 21-23.
12 Cor. vi. 16.

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† Ezek. xxxvi. 27.
§1 Cor. vi. 19.

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|| Eph. ii. 22.