him the iniquity of us all." "He bore our sins in his own body on the tree," "was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and bore the chastisement of our peace" was "made sin (a sin-offering,) for us, though he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," or might be justified through him. Hence we are said to be "redeemed, not with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ," Pet: i. 18; to be bought with a price and therefore not to be our own, 1 Cor. vi. 20. and to have "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins."

men.

4. But if Jesus Christ, whose life is thus represented to be laid down as the price of man's redemption from everlasting death and destruction to everlasting life and salvation, -if Jesus Christ, (I say,) be but a mere Man it is certain his life must be of incomparably less value than this eternal salvation of all mankind, thus said to be procured by it. For however holy and excellent we may suppose him to be, yet his life could not be worth the lives of all men,-especially his temporal life could not be worth the eternal lives of all His parting with a short, uncertain, and afflicted life, and coming under the power of death with regard to his body merely, and that only for two or three days, (his soul in the mean time neither dying nor suffering the loss, either of its holiness or happiness,) and doing this in a sure and certain hope of being raised again and receiving in exchange, after that short space of time, an eternal and most blessed life;—this surely was no such great thing, as that it could be any proper consideration, or redemption-price, on account of which divine and infinite justice should deliver an innumerable multitude of rational and immortal beings, of exactly the same nature with this man thus dying for them, not only from temporal, bnt also from eternal death, and should put them in possession of glory and felicity greater beyond conception than that which they had forfeited, and last ing without end.

5. According to the Apostle, one principal end of the death of Christ was to demonstrate God's righteousness, that is, the purity of his nature, implying his infinite hatred to sin, the authority of his law, which denounces vengeance against the sinner, and the equity of his government, or, in one word his Justice. "Justified freely, (says he, Rom. iii. 24, &c.) by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus," (viz. the blood he hath shed, Eph. i. 7. the price he hath paid, 1 Cor. vi. 20.)" whom God hath set forth a propitiation, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, by (or on account of) the remission of past sins, through the forbearance of God, for a demonstration (I say) of his righteous ness, in this present time, that he might be

just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." But surely, if satisfaction can be made for the injury done to the glory of God by all the sins of all mankind, and their salvation from eternal destruction into everlasting life and happiness, can be rendered con. sistent with the Divine Attributes, (in consequence of their repentance,) upon such easy terms as the giving up one mere Man to temporal death for two or three days, and then rewarding him with supreme dominion and glory at God's right hand ;-whatever inference the intelligent Creation of God may draw from hence in favour of his clemency, they can draw none in favour of his righteousness or justice. They cannot learn from it to form more exalted views of this: But, on the contrary, they will find their ideas of it contracted; and will be inclined to suppose, both that sin is no very great evil, and that God is not much displeased with it; inasmuch as he forgives the complicated and aggravated guilt of so many myriads of sin. ners, forbears to execute upon them the vengeance threatened in his holy and righteous Law, and even raises them to glory and feli city inconceivable and eternal, merely because one mere man, like themselves, dies for them. Surely to talk of God's righteousness being demonstrated by such a scheme as this,-to say that all this was done to save the honour of his Justice,-that he might be (and appear to be,) Just, while he is the merciful justifier of him that believeth in Jesus,—would be highly absurd and ridiculous.

6. If we be truly sensible of our sins, (says Bishop Pearson,) we must acknowledge that, in every one, we have offended God; and the atrociousness of every offence must needs increase proportionably to the dignity of the party offended, in respect of the offen der; because the more worthy any person is, the more reverence is due unto him, and every injury tendeth to his dishonour: but between God, and man, there is an infinite disproportion, and therefore, every offence committed against Him, must be esteemed as the highest degree of injury." Hence we know, (as the Apostle hath assured us)"it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin," and we may very well doubt how the blood of Him, who hath no other nature than that of a mere man, can take away the sins of other men, there appearing no such difference as will shew a certainty in the one, and an impossibility in the other."

7. "But, since we may be bought with a price, well may we believe the blood of Christ sufficiently precious, when we are assured, that, through the union of the hu man nature with the divine," it is the blood of God," (as St. Paul calls it, Acts xx. 28.) nor can we question the efficacy of it in purging our conscience from dead works, if we believe Christ offered up himself through the

eternal Spirit.”—For "as the atrociousness of the offence beareth proportion to the person offended, so the value of reparation ariseth from the dignity of the person satisfying; because the satisfaction consisteth in a reparation of that honour, which, by the injury, was eclipsed; and all honour doth increase proportionably as the person yielding it is honourable." Notwithstanding, therefore, "by every sin we have offended God, who is of infinite eminency, according unto which the injury is aggravated," yet we may be secure of our reconciliation with God, because the person who hath undertaken to make the reparation is of the same infinite dignity, so that the honour rendered by his obedience is proportionable to the offence, and that dishonour which arose from our disobedience."

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8. This point is set in a clear light by Dr. Abbadie. "If Jesus Christ be God-man, the intimate union of the humanity with his Divinity, may well be conceived to render his life and blood infinitely precious. Of this, we may assure ourselves by reasoning from the less to the greater. A clod of the vallies for instance, is of no worth or dig nity; we do not care how many blows it receives; it makes no difference whether it be preserved or destroyed. But if it be united to a Spirit, the union will immediately confer a dignity upon it; so as to give a proportionable value to its actions, or sufferings, on the behalf of any one. Then suppose it exalted to an union with the divine essence, and its intimate relation to God will render its vicarious obedience and sufferings of infinite worth.-Or thus: if the sufferings of a person of quality be of more value than those of a peasant-if those of a King's Son, than those of a person of quality; and if those of the King himself, than those of his own son: It follows, if we pro. ceed in this gradation ad infinitum, and can find a person whose dignity has no bounds, his sufferings will be of infinite value. Such, according to our hypothesis, is Jesus Christ, for he is God manifest in the flesh. In all his sufferings, and in the depth of his humiliation, he possessed the glories of the Godhead; which ennobled and dignified, beyond conception, and beyond bounds, all that he did, and all that he underwent, for the salvation of sinners."

9. "Such a Saviour, being the gift of the Divine Father to miserable men, must be a present of infinite value;" and as it could proceed from nothing but infinite mercy and love, so it renders our salvation consistent with infinite justice and purity. "But after all that can be said for the contrary sentiment, a man is but a man; and we should exalt the mercy, (and justice,) of God at a childish rate, were we to exclaim,-Unspeakable love! unbounded mercy! which

gave, (awful justice! tremendous holiness which required,) the temporal life of a mere man for the eternal salvation of all mankind! Nor would an exclamation of this kind be much more pertinent on the Arian hypothesis.” For," is there any proportion,-let common sense judge,-between the temporal life of any mere creature, (laid down for two or three days,) and the eternal felicity of all the redeemed ?"

10. And as it is not conceivable that the temporal life of a mere man, or mere creature, could be an adequate ransom for the whole human race, innumerable as they are, so as to procure from divine and infinite justice their forfeited everlasting life and happiness; as it is not conceivable that the blood of such a one, shed for them, should have so much more virtue than the blood of thousands and millions of bulls and goats, as to be able to do what the blood of such creatures could not do, viz. take away men's sins, in order that the salvation of such polluted and rebellious creatures might be consistent with the purity of the Divine nature, the authority of his law, and equity of his government; and he might give the whole intelligent Creation, (at least all the upright part thereof,) a demonstration of his righte ousness, as well as clemency of his justice as well as mercy :-as, in this sense, especially, no man can redeem his brother, or give unto God 175 his atonement or ransom," Psalm xlix. 7; so every branch of the salvation wherewith Christ came to save sinners, manifests its Author to be more than a mere man or mere creature.

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11. According to the Scriptures, he is the Light of the World, and enlightens the amazing darkness of millions of minds: He is the Life of the World, and softens the extreme hardness of myriads of hearts: He is the Sun of Righteousness, and arises upon multitudes of cold, benighted, bewildered, desponding mortals, with healing in his wings, so that they go forth and grow up as calves of the stall, as Malachi bas it: He is the Physician of souls, and while he pardons the aggravated guilt, he renews and heals the fallen and disordered nature of all that apply to him. He is present with his people, all in general, and each individual in particular, at all times, and in all places, throughout the universal globe, protecting them against all their enemies, ghostly and bodily, succouring them in all their tempta tions, comforting them in all their troubles, and supplying all their wants: He watches over them by night and by day, wherever the are, at home or abroad, in town or country by sea or land, in England or China, as th Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, feedin them in green pastures, leading them besi the still waters, and restoring their sou He "preserves them from falling, kee

them by his power through faith unto salvation, and presents them faultless before the Presence of his Glory with exceeding joy."

12. Now let these various branches of the salvation, wherewith Christ came to save sinners, be considered, and then say whether he must not be more than a mere man, or mere creature ? and whether the Lord's words by the prophet Isaiah, ch. lxiii. 10, IT, and xliv. 21, 22, must not contain a certain and important truth? "That ye may know, and believe, and understand, that I am He before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be any after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and beside me there is no Saviour: There is no God else beside me, a just God, and a Saviour, there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else."

13. Surely to save sinners with so great a salvation, must be a work of equal difficulty with that of the Creation or Preservation of all things. Accordingly, the Apostle joins them all together in the passage quoted from Col. i. For after he has spoken of Christ as the maker, upholder, and Lord of all, he goes on to tell us that he is "the head of his body, the church; the beginning, the first-born from the dead also, that in all things," in those of grace, as well as those of nature," he might have the pre-eminence." "For, adds he, it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell," viz. all the fulness of wisdom, power, and love, all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, (nothing short of this being sufficient for such a mighty undertaking,) and having made peace through the blood of the Cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself,-by him (I say) whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven"

14. Hence the Apostle assures us, that "God is in Christ, (the divine nature in the human,) reconciling the world to himself," and the prophet Isaiah, having a prophetical view of Immanuel, God with us,' God manifest in the flesh, for the redemption and salvation of lost man, exhorts as follows:"Oh! thou that bringest good tidings to Zion, (see Bishop Lowth's translation,) get thee up into the high mountain,-Oh! thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, Behold," -a mere man? No,-" Behold your God!" "Behold, (adds he,) the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and his arm will rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead

those that are with young," Isa. chap. xl. 9-11.

15. And to the same purpose, in chap. xxxv. speaking of the happy effects of this manifestation of Jehovah in our nature, be declares, ver 2. "They shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God," and (ver. 3, 4.) exhorts," Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold your God will come with vengeance, even God, with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped: Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing." All this. it is well known, was literally fulfilled when the "word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and men beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Then were all these miracles, and many others, really and continually per. formed: day by day the "blind received their sight, the lame walked, the lepers were clean. sed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised up, and the poor had the gospel preached unto them."

16. And these mighty works were done in a way and manner that manifestly shewed, that the person performing them was more than man. Man he was undoubtedly, but not man only: Jehovah, by his Eternal WORD, dwelt in that man, and did the works by him. Hence, in doing his mighty works, Christ spake, and acted with an authority and power, such as neither Moses nor Elijah, nor any of the prophets or Apostles had ever manifested. Lord, if thou wilt," said the leper, "thou canst make me clean: Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean." 66 'Speak the word only, said the centurion, and my servant shall be healed. Jesus said, go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." When Peter's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, he only " touched her hand, and the fever left her." When the "devils be. sought him, saying, if thou cast us out, suffer us to go into the herd of swine; and he said unto them, go :—and they went into the herd of swine."-" When the people were put forth he went in and took her by the hand, and the maid arose,' Mat. ix. 25. -see Mark v. 29. Mat. xiv. 34-36, Luke vi. 17-19. "When they came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she a widow; and much people of the city with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and he said unto her, weep not: and he came and touched the bier, and said, young man, I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead, sat up, and

:

17. Now was it thus the prophets and Apostles wrought miracles? Did they speak in this authoritative manner, as having life and power in themselves to raise the dead, and do cures? Quite the reverse. "In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk."-"I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to come out of her." "Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole."-" And Elijah cried unto the Lord his God, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." See a similar instance concerning Elisha, 2 Kings iv. 18.

18. But these works of mercy done by the Lord Jesus upon the bodies of men, were nothing in comparison of those done for men's souls. See one or two instances among a thousand." Behold they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay; and when Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,-why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house; and immediately he arose, and took up the bed, and went forth before them all, insomuch that they were amazed, and glorified God saying, we never saw it on this fashion," Mark ii. 3-12.

19. See him performing another work of still greater mercy, a relation of which is given us by an eye-witness, who was also the subject of it, in the following words, Acts xxvi. 9. "I verily thought with my. self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth; which things I also did. But as I went to Damascus, at mid-day, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them which journeyed with me. And when we we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speak

tongue,-Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest? But rise, and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister, and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me ""

And is this lustre, exceeding

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the brightness of the sun, the glory of a mere man? Is this voice, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest," -the voice of a mere man? Is it a mere man that here appears to make a minister, and promises to deliver him "from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom he sends him?" And is it by faith in a mere man that they receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified?

20. Let us attend to this wonderful story a little further. Because the amazing splendour of divine glory that surrounded Saul, upon the appearance of this august personage, had so dazzled his eyes as to deprive him of sight; the same gracious Lord, who arrested him, in his mad career to shed the blood of the Saints, and of a blasphemer and persecutor made him a Preacher and an Apostle, commanded Ananias to go to him to restore him: And when Ananias hesitated, saying, "Lord, I have heard of many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem, and here he hath authority from the chief Priests to bind all that call on thy name, the Lord said unto him, go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake," Mark these expressions. Thy saints, that call on thy "A chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles:"-" how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." Are the saints the property of a mere man? Do they call on a mere man for salvation? Is it the name of a mere man, that Apostles are constituted chosen vessels to bear? And is it for the sake of a mere man that they suffer such great things?

name.

21. Now, as it is certainly the sole prerogative of God to forgive sins, and receive guilty sinners to mercy, so our Lord manfested himself to be God, by exercising this power, not only in these instances, but in a great many others recorded in the gospel.

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Indeed all believers are represented in the Scriptures, not only as having "redemption in his blood, the forgiveness of sins," and being" accepted in Christ the beloved," but as being actually forgiven, and accepted by him. Forgiving one another" (says the Apostle, Col. iii. 13.) "Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."-" Receive ye one another, (Rom. xv. 7.) as Christ also hath received us to the glory of God." And as for illumination, regeneration, sanctification, consolation, and the whole work of grace upon the soul, we have already seen he is represented as the author thereof conjointly with the Father; and accordingly is addressed as such, in the beginning of almost all St. Paul's Epistles, and in divers other places. He is full of truth and grace, and out of his fulness all true believers receive, and grace upon grace. It is his grace that is sufficient for them, 2 Cor. xii. 9. and through him strengthening them, they can do all things," Phil. iv. 13. "He is the author and finisher of their faith," Heb. xii. 2. the source and object of their love, Eph. iii. 17-19. the spring and end of their obedience, 2 Cor. v. 14. Rom. xiv. 8. They are "more than conquerors through him who hath loved them," Rom. viii. 32. "He delivers them from every evil work, and preserves them unto his heavenly kingdom," 2 Tim. iv. 18,-and confers upon them" eternal life," "I give unto my sheep, (says he, John x. 28.) eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."

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СНАР. Х.

That CHRIST is the universal Judge.

1. FROM works of grace and mercy, proceed we to those of justice and judgment. "Who is this that cometh from Edom? with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness mighty to save, wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like unto him that treadeth in the wine-fat? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me; and I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my fury, and their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment: For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my zeal it upheld me. And I trod down the people in mine anger, and made them drunk in my fury, and brought down their strength to the ground."

2. Do we wish to see another description of this god-like Personage, this Captain of the Lord's Host? This Generalissimo (shall

I call him) of the Armies of heaven? Or rather, this Jehovah Sabbaoth, this Lord of Armies? Then let us open the 19th chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ by his servant John. And if the eyes of our understanding are not enlightened to see the glorious sight, if" He that commanded light to shine out of darkness, hath not shined in our hearts to shew us the light of the glory of God, in the face,(v pоown in his person) of Christ Jesus ;"-let us at least, attend to the highly-favoured Disciple, who learned to know his Master by leaning on his bosom, and hearing the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. "I saw heaven opened, (says he,) and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and, (N. B.) He had a name written that no man knew but himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in Heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the na tions, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God And he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written,-King of kings, and Lord of lords."

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st

3. Such is the person who says, The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." And who that considers these descriptions of his glory, given by Isaiah and St. John, the most evangelical prophet, and the most enlightened Apostle, can forbear to comply with the heavenly injunction, and honour him even as they honour the Father," by submitting to him, falling at his footstool, supplicating his mercy unto eternal life, and fleeing for refuge to Him, the only hope set before lost and perishing sinners? And oh! how necessary it is to do it, and that without delay !-How necessary to "kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and we perish from the way when is wrath his kindled, yea, but a little!"-how much more, when it burns with unabating fury! and the "Great day of his Wrath is come!" For then," who shall be able to stand?"

4. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also that pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail, because of Him, even so, Amen!" Rev. i. 7. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and the Trump of God," 1 Thes. iv. 16.-" The Sun shall be darkened, and the Moon shallnot give her light,