"The more we feel the want of a benefactor, temporal or spiritual, and the more we feel our inability to rescue ourselves from existing difficulties and impending dangers, the more grateful love will the heart feel for the being who, moved by, and in despite of, personal sacrifices, interposes to assist and save us."—Walker, in "Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation."
"As a feeling of want was necessary in order that the soul might love the being that supplied that want, and as Jesus came to bestow spiritual mercies upon mankind, how could men be brought to feel the want of a spiritual Benefactor and Saviour?"... "According to the constitution which God has given the soul, it must feel the want of the spiritual mercies before it can feel love for the giver of those mercies. And just in proportion as the soul feels its lost, guilty, and dangerous condition, in the same proportion will it exercise love to the being who grants spiritual favor and salvation. How then could the spiritual want be produced in the souls of men in order that they might love the spiritual benefactor?"... "The only possible way by which man could be made to hope for and appreciate spiritual mercies and to love a spiritual deliverer would be to produce a conviction in the soul itself of its evil condition, its danger as a spiritual being, and its inability, unaided, to satisfy the requirements of a spiritual law, or to escape its just and spiritual penalty. If man could be made to perceive that he was guilty and needy; that his soul was under the condemnation of the holy law of the holy God, he would then, necessarily, feel the need of a deliverance from sin and its consequences; and in this way only, could the soul of man be led to appreciate spiritual mercies, or love a spiritual benefactor."—Walker, in "Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation."
VIII
THE MEANING OF "BELIEVE ON" OR "BELIEVE IN" CHRIST
"God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life."—John 3:16 (R. V.).
"This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."—John 6:27.
"He that believeth on me shall never thirst."—John 6:35.