I. In one sense, this prophecy was fulfilled when God was manifest in the flesh, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth came to dwell amongst

men.

II. In another sense, it is daily fulfilled in the extension of his spiritual kingdom upon earth, when he comes in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to take up his abode in the temple of man's heart."*

III. And it shall have its grand final fulfilment, in that day when the son of man shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, to execute vengeance upon his adversaries, and to be the joy of his believing people.

Our church service invites us at this season of the year, to consider this subject, and my design on the present occasion is briefly to notice the first, and then to draw your attention somewhat more in detail to the second personal coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: for, said the angel to the apostles, "that same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

The circumstances connected with that final advent, will make it abundantly clear, that his spiritual coming to the hearts of in

* Eph. ii. 22.

+ This sermon was preached on Advent Sunday.

dividuals, is incomparably the most important subject in the world, to every soul of man..

His first coming is past: the circumstances connected with it are all finished; we have the authentic historical record of it: and no change can be made. His second coming is foretold: the circumstances connected with it are all fixed: we have express prophecies revealing it: and no change can be made. All this would have been the same, for any thing we can tell, if we who are here present, had never been born. But of his coming to our hearts, and making us individually partakers of his salvation, we have no such authentic record, no such express prophecy; an uncertainty hangs over it, and an expectation is held out, that if he be not yet come to us, he may come that if we have not yet been taught to seek him, we may be so taught: that if we have not yet found him, we may find him. The history of his first coming contains our encouragement to seek him: the prophecies of his second coming proclaim our eternal ruin if we have not found him.

II. The prophecy before us had its first fulfilment when John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, announcing one mightier than himself; and Jesus of Nazareth came to the temple of Jerusalem, jealous of

the spiritual glory of that house of prayer. "This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou? and he confessed, and denied not, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias." Thus did his Messenger prepare his way before him, and soon after, the Lord himself came to his temple, under circumstances which excited much attention, and manifested forth much of his glory. Fulfilling a remarkable prophecy of Zechariah,* he approached Jerusalem seated upon an ass's colt,;" and a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved saying, who is

✦ Zech. ix. 9.

this? And the multitude said, this is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, it is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple and he healed them."

He came also as a refiner's fire among them, discerning the thoughts and intents of their hearts, not judging according to the outward appearance, or deceived by outward show: but plainly convicting of hypocrisy those who made the greatest professions of sanctity, saying unto them "I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you, ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do, woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe, unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but within, they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you scribes and pharisees, hy

pocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”* Under this character also, John the baptist announced him saying, "Now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I, indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Who may abide the day of his coming? Who that is an hypocrite, however specious, can stand when he appeareth?

II. In like manner he comes to the temple of man's heart. The way is prepared for him by the rough voice of John's ministry, thundering in the sinner's ears, Repent !—He enters, driving out covetous and other evil desires and dispositions, and passions and practices, like so

* John y. 42, and viii. 44. Matt. xxiii. 14, 25, 26, 27 and 28.