I. The fulness of John’s heart. His heart, doubtless, was full of what concerned the fruits of his ministry in the Church of Christ; of what he had seen and heard, of the results of his long-continued and laborious exertions for the salvation of men; of his own feelings and prospects in his advanced stage of life, and of his cheering hopes of soon being in a better world, where he would have a sight of Christ. And his heart might be full of those tender emotions which would express themselves in sacred admonitions and directions, which he designed to give to the pious family whom he was shortly to visit.
1. What are those things which should fill our hearts? We may be afraid, if our hearts are not full of good things, it is not because there is any scantiness in the word or works of God; but because the ground is already preoccupied, or because there is in us too little relish for what is good and profitable.
2. Religion is social and communicative. Selfishness and exclusiveness are as unchristian as they are unamiable.
II. John expresses his deference to and reliance on the Divine Providence for the accomplishment of his intended visit.
1. We are, in all things, dependent on God. We may propose, but should ever remember there is one that disposes of us, and of all things, according to His good pleasure.
2. Trusting in God for the fulfilment of our designs is justifiable only on the supposition that such designs are well-pleasing in His sight.
III. John, in the expectation of an interview with his pious friends, looked for mutual and ample joy.
1. Inquire into the nature of that joy which he expected in his visit. We doubt not it was a religious joy. There John expected to witness Christian order and decorum, reciprocal proofs of affection, and lovely demeanour. There he would expect to find that humbleness of mind, that holy walking, that devotedness of heart and life to God, and that active piety which so finely illustrate the gospel. He would also expect to have an interchange of feeling on the sublimest and most interesting of all subjects, relative to the redemption of the world by the Lord Jesus Christ, and to find in the hearts of all in that family a response to what he felt in his own, in reference to the progress then making or made of the gospel in the world by the instrumentality of his fellow apostles; and thus heart would kindle heart, and Christian, holy fellowship would produce joy with which a stranger to such themes could never intermeddle.
2. We see how mistaken many are in their view of religion as incapable of affording joy. This must arise either from their disbelieving the word of God, or because, irrespective of its testimony, they form their judgment from their own inability to feel any pleasure in it. (Essex Congregational Remembrancer.)
Face to face
The social feeling is a vital element of our nature, and fit society is indispensable to the perfection of happiness. Indeed it would seem that this is necessary not only for beings constituted and related as we are, but for every intelligent being. There is society among the angels of heaven; there is society in the being of God Himself. Conceive of the creation of one solitary being to occupy the vast physical universe. He finds himself surrounded with the grandeur and the ever-varying beauty of the material creation.
1. This view of the necessity of Christian communion to the perfection of religious joy teaches us that a monkish seclusion from the world is contrary to the whole genius of the gospel.
2. This view of Christian communion suggests the wisdom and the desirableness of those ordinances and arrangements that are designed to facilitate that communion.
3. This view of Christian communion suggests delightful anticipations of the blessedness of heaven. (J. P. Thompson.)
