EPC Australia

As if he had said to the woman, Thou mistaketh me for a mere Jew, wandering, and weary, and sitting thus on the well, and asking for the refreshment of water, seemingly dependent on the kindness of a stranger. But if thou wert acquainted with me — that I am the Mercy promised from the beginning; the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth; that I am come into the world to save sinners; and that in me all fulness dwells — what an opportunity wouldst thou find is now afforded thee, "if thou knewest the gift of God."

He calls himself the gift of God, because he came not according to the course of nature. A body was prepared him. A virgin conceives, and bears a son, and the holy thing born of her is called, The Son of God. We go also further. A preternatural interposition might have taken place in a way of wrath; and this is what seemed most probable in the case, and would have been the foreboding of our guilty minds. "But God sent not his only begotten Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." He therefore came, not according to any rule of desert. A few years ago, we heard much of the rights of man; and though the expression was abused, and brought into contempt, there is a propriety in it. Man has rights, with regard to his fellow-creatures; children have rights, with regard to parents; and subjects, with regard to sovereigns. A man has a right to enjoy the fruit of his labour; he has a right to worship the Supreme Being according to his conscience. But what were his rights with regard to God? What right to protection has a subject that has become rebellious? What right to wages has a servant that has run away from his master? As sinners, we had forfeited all expectation from God, except a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. We could have no right to the bread we eat, or the air we breathe. What claim, then, had we upon God for the Son of his love? He was a gift infinitely free, and not only free as opposed to desert, but also as opposed to desire. Was he withholden till we felt our need of him, and became suppliants at our offended Maker's feet? Ages before we were born, the plan was formed, and accomplished, and announced. And when we are desirous of obtaining the blessings of it, we find them provided, and hear a voice, saying, Come, for all things are now ready. All other good, too, is insured by him. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Yea, he has given us all things in him; and whatever a perishing sinner needs, even to life eternal, is to be derived from him.

And if you knew the gift of God, surely you would say, with the Apostle, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." You should overlook nothing in his bounty, but gratitude should bear some proportion to the favour it acknowledges. What is the sun in Nature, to this Sun of Righteousness? What is our daily bread, to this Sun of Righteousness? What is our daily bread, to this Bread of Life? Here are the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us by Christ Jesus.

If you knew the gift of God, surely you would avail yourselves of it. You would consider a participation of him as the one thing needful. You would receive him as he is presented in the Gospel, and as Zaccheus received him, who made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

If you knew the gift of God, you would not yield to despondency. You would not say, by way of objection, I have no money, no worthiness. This is supposed. Who thinks of buying a gift, of deserving a gift, especially such a gift?

If you knew the gift of God, you would make him known. You would commend him to your children, your relations, your friends, your neighbours. You would pray, "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory."

"His worth if all the nations knew,
Sure the whole earth would love him too."

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay