August 22

"The word of Christ." Cor. 3:16.

So the Scriptures are called, because he is the author, and because he is the subject of their contents. They are not only derived from the inspiration of his Spirit, but they are full of his person and character, and sufferings and glory. There is nothing perhaps admitted into them but has some relation to him. We cannot in many instances trace this connection at present, but we shall see more of it when, in the church, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days. And perhaps to explore it perfectly will be a part of the blessedness and employment of heaven. But when our Lord urged his hearers to search the Scriptures, he said, "They are they that testify of me." And, going to Emmaus with the two disciples, "he expounded unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself."

We may divide the Scriptures into six parts.

There is the historical part. He is the substance of this. In Adam we see him the head and representative of his people. In Noah, as the restorer of a new world. In Isaac, as a victim laid on the altar. In Joseph, as a sufferer and a saviour. In Moses, as a lawgiver. In Aaron, as a high-priest. In Joshua, as a leader and commander. In Solomon, as the prince of peace. In Jonah, as buried, and rising from the grave.

There is the ceremonial part. Of this he is the substance. He is the body of all its shadows, the reality of all its types. He is the rock, whose streams followed the Israel of God. He is the manna, the true bread that came down from heaven. In the city of refuge we behold him as our security from avenging justice, and in every bleeding sacrifice as the atonement of our sins.

There is the prophetic part. Here he is all in all. "To him gave all the prophets witness." "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

There is the promissory part. And how large and glorious a portion of it is filled with exceeding great and precious promises. What blessing can we need that is not furnished under the pledge of a God that cannot lie? "But all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us."

There is the practical part. To be a Christian, is to live, not to ourselves, but to him that died for us, and rose again. Of good works, his example is the rule, his love is the motive, his Spirit is the author. He is the altar on which all our sacrifices are to be offered. Prayer is asking in his name. Morals are from him. We are to love our wives even as he loved the church, and gave himself for it.

There is the doctrinal part. And what is the great mystery of godliness? "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Every doctrine of the gospel, as treated by the inspired authors, leads to him. If we are justified, it is by his righteousness. If we are sanctified, it is by his Spirit. If the glory of God shines forth, it is in the face of Jesus Christ. Providence is all power given unto him in heaven and in earth. The whole of Christianity is called "The truth as it is in Jesus."

Take him out of the Bible, and you take the sun out of our world, and the soul out of the body.

It is this that so powerfully endears the sacred volume to every real Christian. It is the word of one he supremely loves, and of one he feels to be infinitely necessary to all his comfort and all his hope. Of him he can never read or hear enough.

O my soul, let this word of Christ dwell in thee richly in all wisdom. Never forget the admonition of kindness as well as of authority: "Bind it continually upon thy heart, and tie it about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."