The first Bible that was printed in the city of Philadelphia was the work of Mr. Robert Aitken, a godly bookseller of that city. Soon after its issue, a man came into his bookstore, and inquired if he had Paine’s “Age of Reason” for sale. The good man said he had not that work; but having entered into conversation with the applicant, and perceiving that he was an infidel, he told him that he had a better book than the Age of Reason, which he usually sold for a dollar, but he would lend it to him if he would promise to read it. Mr. Aitken added, that after he had actually read it, if he did not think it worth a dollar, he would take the book back again.
The stranger consented; the bookseller immediately put into his hand one of the new Bibles. He smiled when he saw what book he had engaged to read; but as he candidly confessed he never had read it, he said he would perform his engagement. He retired, and after some weeks, having finished reading the book he came back, and expressed the deepest gratitude for Mr. Aitken’s recommendation of it to him, saying with emphasis, that it had made him, what he never was before—a happy man; for he had found in it the way of salvation through Christ Jesus.
The good tradesman rejoiced with his friend, and had the satisfaction of knowing that this reader of the Bible, from that time till the end of his life, was a consistent Christian and at length died happy to go to be with the Lord.
But what is there in the Bible to make one happy? In order to answer this we must understand what is the object of it. There are in it, indeed, histories of ancient cities, and kingdoms, and states; but these are not the subject of the book. There are, indeed, wise proverbs, instructive lessons, holy precepts, and righteous laws; but the book is not mainly composed of these. There are in it biographies of many pious persons, with the records of their experiences, their fears, their desires, their prayers, their praises. But unless we see more than these, we shall miss the grand subject of the book.
The subject is Christ. The whole Bible is, more or less obviously, about Christ. Sometimes clearly, in prophecy or narrative; sometimes obscurely, in a sense which lies beneath the superficial literal sense; sometimes enigmatically, in type, or picture, or shadow. But in one way or other, Christ is the grand center, around which, in giving the Sacred Word, the thoughts of the Holy Spirit continually revolve.
And who is Christ? He is the expression of the infinite love of God to man. For Christ is God manifested in flesh—God in man’s nature apart from sin; and in this fact is embodied a transaction of the very highest moment to every human being.
God manifest in flesh! Here is shown the desperate state of man’s case; plunged in a ruin so immense, that no machinery could avail to lift him out of it—that the omnipotent God should identify Himself with His creature, by stooping to share his nature.
God manifest in flesh! Here is seen the amazing compassion of God. What love moved His heart towards your soul and mine, when, to save us from this black ruin, He hesitated not to become a “Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”! How precious were sinners in His sight, when He willingly offered Himself, to bear their sins in His own body on the tree, that they, being freed from guilt, might reign in glory with Him! “Herein perceive we love because He laid down His life for us.” (1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16).)
God manifest in flesh! Here we see how immovably secure is the salvation of all who believe. It was the Almighty God who undertook the work! He never can be thwarted in His designs. It was the all-wise God! He makes no mistakes; the means He uses are sure to accomplish His ends. It was the unchangeable God! Nothing can ever turn Him from the purpose He has undertaken.
God manifest in flesh! A Man is at this very moment on the throne in heaven! In Adam all died; every human soul lay under the sentence of eternal death. But in Christ I see a man at the right hand of God. The great problem is solved! The great impossibility is accomplished, and man is raised to the highest place in glory. O, this fills me with great joy! I see why God came down and took my nature; it was to identify Himself with me, and me with Him; that, having put away my guilt by His own most precious sacrifice, He might bear me up with Him, so intimately united to His own blessed person, and seat me by His side in the everlasting glory of His kingdom.
God manifest in flesh! Is there not enough here to make any one happy? Trials, indeed, may be our lot—sickness, pain, poverty, contempt, bereavement; but if we can say with Paul, “Our life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.” (Col. 3:3-43For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:3‑4).) If you can say that, you are an unspeakably happy person.
O, my beloved reader, what would avail all the riches in the world, if you have the gloomy prospect of hell ever starring you in the face? What would it all be in comparison of being able to say, on solid, scriptural grounds, “Christ is mine, and I am His”!
And this every believer may say, on the best possible authority—that of God Himself. For to enable poor sinners to say this, is the very object of God’s book; and the wonderful plan by which it was accomplished, is its one grand subject—God manifest in flesh.