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I. THE TESTIMONY THAT HAS BEEN BORNE.

1. The testimony borne to Christ antecedently to the completion of His work.

(1)  That of prophecy.

(2)  That of the angels and the magi at the incarnation.

(3)  That of Anna and Simeon in the temple.

(4)  That of the Father at the baptism.

2. The testimony which Christ bore Himself.

(1)  As to the nature of His ministry. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me," etc. "I am come not to be ministered to," etc.

(2)  To His Messiahship. "I and My Father are One." "God so loved," etc.

(3)  To His own purpose and plans.

(4)  To the everlasting awards.

(5)  All the truth taught by Christ was on His part a witness.

3. The testimony which came afterwards.

(1)  By angels again.

(2)  By the apostles.

(3)  By the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

(4)  By Paul.

4. Remark —

(1) That knowledge is for the most part derived from testimony. Everything in connection with ancient history, biography, foreign countries. It is easy to ridicule testimony, but without it a great tract of our life would be left in darkness.

(2) That the testimony borne to Christ and His salvation comes to us with the clearest signatures and the strongest authentications. It comes to us in a book which is unique in its condemnation of lying.

II. THE RECEPTION OF THE TESTIMONY.

1. It must be examined with precision, so that we may know what it is.

2. This reception embraces the admission of the things contained in it as true. As to the great matters in question, they are true or false; if false, let them be rejected; if true, let them be accepted as true.

3. There must be no hostility to it, because it is very possible that the testimony may be understood and accepted, and yet hated, as it is by the devils, as it was by the Jews. This is of the nature of the sin against the Holy Ghost.

4. There should be appreciation of the value, importance, and dignity of it.

5. It must be loved. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness."

(1)  Love of Christ Himself.

(2)  Love of His truth.

6. There is a course of life and conduct to be adopted in accordance with the truth of the testimony.

III. Having received the testimony, we can SET TO OUR SEAL. A seal and signature are intended to authenticate a document and the thing which that document contains. We not calling God a liar, but, attesting the truth of the witness of the Lord Jesus, are said to "set to our seal that God is true." But mark —

1. The truth of God and the testimony of Christ are true irrespective of our seal. God cannot lie; and the matter for amazement is that God should condescend to receive our attestations.

2. Then let the signature be written. Bring in the document. What signatures are already there! Those of apostles, martyrs, etc.

3. If you put your signature to the truth of God, God will put His on thee.

(1)  On thy forehead, the mark of His preservation.

(2)  On thy heart, the mark of His grace.

(James Stratten.)

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KJV: He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

WEB: He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.