Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/344

 they already enjoyed, might be more abundantly bestowed upon them.

3. The persons to whom the apostle here speaks were also full of a living hope. For thus he speaks, ver. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ''who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again'', me and you, all of us who are sanctified by the Spirit, and enjoy the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, ''unto a living hope unto an inheritance, that is unto a living hope of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away''. So that notwithstanding their heaviness, they still retained an hope full of immortality.

4. And they still rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. They were filled with joy in the Holy Ghost. So ver. 8. the apostle having just mentioned the final revelation of Jesus Christ (namely when he cometh to judge the world) immediately adds, In whom though now ye see him not (not with your bodily eyes) ''yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory''. Their heaviness therefore was not only consistent with living hope, but also with joy unspeakable: at the same time they were thus heavy, they nevertheless rejoiced with joy full of glory.

5. In the midst of their heaviness they likewise still enjoyed the love of God which had been shed abroad in their hearts, Whom, says the apostle, having not seen, ye love. Tho' ye have not yet seen him face to face, yet knowing him by