Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Gaelic and English sermons of the late Rev. John Macalister, with memoir

116
THE BEAUTY OF CHRIST.
Psalm xlv. 2. — " Thou art fairer than the children of men," &c.
THIS Psalm is entitled " A song of loves." The subject
of the last part of it is the most noble and important
which can employ the understanding and engage the human
heart — the promised Messiah, the Beloved of the Father, the
King, the Bridegroom, and the beloved of the redeemed in
heaven and on earth.
Sinners, if ye wish to be saved from the wrath to come,
and be eternally happy in the favour and enjoyment of God,
ye must seek and attain the knowledge of Christ, whose
beauty and glory are held forth and celebrated in this
passage. "Thou art fairer than the children of men : grace
is poured into Thy lips : therefore God hath blessed Thee
for ever." But you must recollect that the saving know-
ledge of Christ is always accompanied with suitable
dispositions of heart — dispositions suitable to His personal
dignity as the Son of God, and suitable to His name and
character as the Saviour of sinful, perishing men. A dry
speculative or mathematical knowledge of Christ, however
correct, is nothing better than the knowledge of devils.
They once cried out, " We know Thee who Thou art, the
Holy One of God." Ihis knowledge, believe it, my hearers,
will never bring you to the obedience of faith, will never
bring you to heaven. No, no, it is but a fancy, false and
ruinous to immortal souls; "for it is with the heart that
man believeth unto righteousness."
Two things are necessary for the enjoyment of God here
and hereafter, viz., the closing of the heart with God's
method of salvation and holiness. " He that believeth shall
be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned."
"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." But Jesus
Christ is God's method of salvation, and faith is just the
compliance or the closing of the heart with Him as God's
method of salvation ; and this knowledge of Christ, and of
the Father as the Father of mercies in Him, has a mighty
power and efficacy to soften, humble, and renew the heart,
of the believing, penitent sinner.