December 1

DECEMBER 1. "We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father."—John 1. 14.

He had a glory; and he himself is called "the Lord of glory," and "the King of glory." But it was not the glory of this world, or the princes of this world, which come to nought. It was not such a glory as the Jews expected in the Messiah, the glory of a conqueror, striding from victory to victory, and setting his followers on the high places of the earth. It was not a glory arising from ambition and violence, from the desolations of war, from triumphs founded in blood, and from laurels drenched in the tears of widows and orphans. It was not the glory of a statesman working by policy, and ruling by cunning rather than rectitude, or even by fairer means—but a spotless, Godlike glory—"The glory as of the only begotten of the Father."

God has many children. Men are his offspring. All believers are the sons of God. Some in the household of faith have been exalted above their brethren in endowment and office. Solomon was great; but a greater than Solomon is here. Moses was faithful in all his house. Yet "this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Adam is called "the son of God" in a very peculiar sense, as he came immediately from the hands of God, perfect at once, and was the source, head, and representative of the human race. But "so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." Angels are sons of God: but "to which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." "Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." "To which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" He is therefore—and we ask for no human definitions—we are afraid of them; the only begotten of the Father, in a meaning infinitely peculiar. He was the image of the invisible God: and could say, consistently with all the humility that distinguished him, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." His attributes, his actions proclaimed Divinity. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God was seen in the face of Jesus Christ. His meekness, his patience, his benevolence, his readiness to forgive, are the perfections of the Being we adore and serve.

This glory had witnesses; and, says the Evangelist, we beheld it. They beheld it two ways: corporeally and spiritually. They beheld it even with their bodily senses. At his transfiguration they