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grace and truth-Immanuel, God with us. Is it any wonder that he should be called the beloved Son of God, the desire of all nations? When he shews himself, must he not draw all men unto him? If the eye opens upon a character so transcendently great and good, lovely and loving, must not the heart follow, and fix on him with supreme delight and admiring gratitude? We are not, however, to expect these effects from mere sensible representation, but from the com. munication of the truth concerning him, concerning God, and concerning our salvation. For this end he is said to be full of truth; he is made of God unto us wisdom; in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Why do men see no form nor comeliness in him that he should be desired, but because the God of this world hath blinded their eyes, and they love darkness rather than light. Distinguished as different places and ages have been by the acquisitions and discoveries of science, never hath the world, by its own wisdom, known the true God. This ignorance hath rendered men in general equally inattentive and insensible to the true representation of his character and will, in and by his Son. But he came, and will proceed in his design, to

dispel all this darkness by the blessed persuasive force of truth. He asks not, nor will accept of a blind devotion. He will come at the heart through the understanding. His plan, therefore, of universal empire is by the dissemination of knowledge; it is by making known to men the mystery of the will of God, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he shall gather together in one, all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in himself.

Slow and partial as his progress hitherto may appear, it is sure, for he is full of grace as well as truth; his instructions are conveyed in the clearest and simplest form with the most wonderful condescension, persevering patience, and gracious accommodation to the capacities and circumstances of men. "Behold, saith the Lord,

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my servant whom I uphold; mine elect in "whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit

upon him, he shall bring forth judgment unto "the Gentiles. He shall not cry nor lift up, "nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring

"forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail "nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment " in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his "law." Indeed this Divine influence was upon nim without measure, not only for his own comfort and encouragement, but for all kinds of illuminating, sanctifying, and saving communications to the world. Thus he is introduced, Isa. xi. 2-6. "The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, "and shall make him of quick understanding

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in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge "after the sight of his eyes; neither reprove "after the hearing of his ears; but with righte

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ousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove "with equity for the meek of the earth; and he "shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, "and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the "wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle "of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his "reins." So that, as in verse 9, 10, "The earth "shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as "the waters cover the sea. And in that day "there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand

for an ensign of the people: to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious." With such a mind, manner, and influence, must not his religion spread and prevail till it finally triumph over the ignorance and errors, the prejudices and passions of the whole world, especially when following out the reference in our text, we contemplate all this marvellous grace, as clothed with authority and power equal to its benevolent intentions and beneficent operations.

He is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour; he hath on his vesture and on his thigh written, KING of Kings and LORD of Lords.' Where then is the kingdom, country, or clime into which he may not enter or cannot enter, when he pleases? As Creator he can claim the whole earth and its inhabitants as his exclusive property; as Redeemer he can justly insist upon the full possession of his purchase; as raised up and glorified at the Father's right hand, hath he not power given him over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given?

Hath not the Lord said unto our Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the

midst of thine enemies. Thy

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth. Possessing then all the attractions of personal excellence and worth; all the inclination and wishes of the purest and most enlarged benevolence; all the knowledge necessary to convince and instruct the world; all the grace, means, and influence adapted to the necessities of sinners, and his design of saving them; indisputed authority to command universal acknowledgment, and equal power to punish the disobedient, may we not rely on him fully and without suspicion for the publication of his gospel, the erection and establishment of his throne, and the success of his administration in every region of the globe? Shall not men be blest in him, and all nations call him blessed?

If his favour and salvation are refused, and au thority resisted, can he not, shall he not bring upon such despisers wrath to the uttermost ? Every obstacle shall give way, and every enemy be reconciled or slain when he takes unto him his great power and reigns. He begins with condescension to teach and persuade; with grace in his heart and countenance to draw; with the sceptre

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