The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-06
"The Gospel Of Gospels.

THE Rev. DR.. Schaff has written a especial in
PRODUCTION to the American edition" of Lange's
Commentary on the Gospel of John. From it we
extract what is found below hoping thereby to bring
under the eye of thousands who will never see the
Commentary, the portrait he gives of "the beloved
disciple" which all will admire as an "apple OF
gold in picture of ver."-CEN. Pres.
From John, the trusted m-friend of
the Saviour, the Benjamin among the twelve,
and the surviving patriarch of the Apostolic
age, who could look back to the martyrdom
of James, Peter and Paul, and the destruc-
ton of Jerusalem, and look forward to the
certain triumph of Christianity over the
tottering idols Of Paganism, we must natu-
rally expect the ripest as it was the last,
composition of the gospel history, for the
edification of the Christian Church an all
ages.
! The Gospel of John is the Gospel of Cos
pels, as the EpiStle to the Romans is the
Epistle of Epi8tles. 1t is the most remark
able as well as the most important literary
production ever composed by man. 1t is a
marvel even in the marvellous Book Of books
All the literature of the world could not re
place it. 1t is tie most spiritual and ideal
Of Gospels 1t introdases us into the Holy
6f Holes in tL3 hisscFs of our Lord; it
brings us, as it were, into His immediate
presence, SO that we behold face to face the
true Shekinah, 'the glory of the Only Be-
gotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth. 1t presents, in fairest harmony, the
highest knowledge, and the deepest love, of
Christ. 1t gives US the clearest view of His
Incarnate Divinity and his proper Humanity
1t sets Him forth as the Eternal Word, who
was the source of life from the beginning,
and the organ of all the revelations Of God
to man; as the Fountain Of living water that
quenches the thirst of the soul as the Light
of the world that iIluminates the darkness
of sin and error; as the Resurrection and
the Life that destroys the terror of death.
1t reflects the lustre of the TRANSPORTATION
on the Mount, yet subdued by the holy sad
ness of Gethsemaue. In abounds in festive
Joy and gladness over the amazing love Of
God, but mixed with grief over the ingrati-
tude aud obtuseness of unbeleving men. 1t
breathes the air of peace, and yet sounds at
times like a peal of thunder from the other
world; it scars boldly and majestically like
the eagle towards the uncreated source Of
light, and yet hovers as gently as dove
over the earth; it is sublime as seraph,
simple as child; high and serene as the
heaven, deep and unfathomable as the sea.
1t is the plainest in speech and the profound
est in meaning To it more than to any
portion Of the Scripture applies the familiar
comparison of river deep enough for the
elephant to swim, with shadows for the lamb
to wade. 1t is the Gospel of love, life and
light; the Gospel of the heart taken from
the very heart of Christ, on which the be-
loved disciple leaned as~tho-'last Supper
1t is the type of the pure8t forms of myati-
cism. 1t has an irresistible charm for spec
ulative and contemplative minds, and fur
nishes incxhau8table food for meditation and
devotion. 1t is the Gospel of peace and
Christian union, and prophecy of that
blessed future when all the di8cordS of the
Church militant on earth shall be solved in
the harmony of the Church triumphant in
heaven.