SERMON III.

ON THE DIVINE AND HUMAN NATURE OF THE

REDEEMER.

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me.-JOB XIX. 25-27.

THE lethargy which the believer sometimes experiences is one of the most striking proofs of the corruption of human nature; for with the eye of the intellect he sees himself more indebted to God than all the angelic host of heaven, and yet his heart remains insensible. We know but little, whilst on earth, of the awful power of sin, in the bosom of the most eminent believer; sometimes God afflicts him throughout his life to lead him to himself; and had not Job been so severely tried, he would not now

be enjoying the recompence of faith in God as he does: do not then, my brethren, be weary of chastisement: harassed and oppressed by his enemies, we find Job uttering one of the sublimest professions of faith that was ever made; all the enemies of hell and of earth were permitted to try him; and what does this prove, but that God is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto him by Jesus Christ? When we are truly wise, and live in close communion with God, we never murmur against him for the removal of any temporal blessing. Job did not look forward to futurity irrespective of the present moment; and to do justice to futurity, we must do justice to the present time. The communion of Christ with his church was as perfect in the days of Job as now; therefore had he equal confidence in him with the believer of the present day; and he looked forward in the fullest assurance of faith to the coming of Christ to redeem his church. While in the deepest distress Job was living on all the merit, on all the wealth, and on all the love of One who was God. Would we have Job's experience, we must lead a life of faith. In the midst of the severest affliction, Job could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth;" this was enough for him. St. Paul experienced the same love, gratitude,

and faith, for he said, "I know whom I have

believed; and this love will be the same in the

bosom of every believer, of all who know God. But I now lead your attention to the humanity of Jesus Christ. A human sacrifice Justice required

was absolutely necessary.

that the nature which had transgressed should suffer; "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." All transgressors must be punished with everlasting punishment, who do not trust to the merit of Christ. May we experience faith to enable us each moment to bid adieu to self, and to seek refuge in the perfections of Deity, as they shine in Jesus Christ. It was necessary Christ should be man, to learn the weakness of finite being. It has been asked, 'Why did the Saviour fast forty days?' that he might learn the weakness of created being, to discover the necessity of its absolute dependence every moment upon God; and to give the devil every possible advantage over him: contrast the conduct of the first with that of the second Adam; the first, falling in the midst of all the luxuries of creation, and the second, triumphant when he was famishing. Again, it was necessary that he

should be man, that he might sympathize with his people in all possible sufferings. Some believers have said, 'I have none to sympathize with me.' Do not be discouraged, my brethren, if you are inclined to say this; I would urge you to seek your God, and pour all your complaints into his bosom; it is the purpose of God in afflicting you, to wean you from everything earthly. Christ took our humanity upon him also, that he might give us the brightest example that could be left; and it must afford the transgressor, who believes in the atonement of Jesus, great comfort, to consider that he has left him an example illustrating all the perfections of God in the character of man. If we had not such a sad degree of lethargy about us, the very name of Jesus would delight our hearts; I say not this to discourage, but to humble you.

But now I would direct your attention to the Deity of our Saviour. Mere humanity could not atone for sin; the strength of uncreated being to atone, the weakness of finite being to suffer. "No man can save his brother." This text is a besom to sweep away all the errors of Socinianism. We should consider the Saviour in all the omniscience of his Deity, as well as in his omnipresence. He must see the evil of transgression wholly; and no one, but

he who possessed the perfections of God, could see the evil of sin, as comprehensively as God. It is no credit in human affairs to choose an umpire who is incapable of judging of the interests of both parties. In the fulness of time the word was made flesh: God assumed our nature in the most intimate union and communion with himself. Some unbelievers have objected they did not make themselves; they were not consulted whether they would come into existence or not. Our Saviour's humanity was not consulted; his Deity was consulted and fixed upon his humanity. If, then, moral evil can alone proceed from the creature, it is man's highest wisdom to humble himself. Connected with this is the rich communication of his Deity to his manhood. The omniscience of Deity appearing in all its glory to give him a view of the evil of sin and its desert. We shall find his omniscience as necessary as his omnipresence. What must be the perfections of his humanity now? See him triumphing over all his enemies in behalf of his people; and I here observe, that all who hear the gospel and refuse to believe, perish wilfully. Our ambition should be, so to know God as to be weaned from every thing else. Scripture dwells on the necessity of his deity and humanity. "Therefore by the deeds of the law, there