TITLES OF CHRIST. I. ADAM. 'And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.' 1 Cor. xv. 45. WITH the original meaning of this term, of course, we have nothing to do. Some remarks, however, on the connection in which it stands, seem necessary to a proper understanding of the whole subject. The Apostle was treating of the resurrection of Jesus. He lays down this great truth as a foundation for the resurrection of the whole human race. In faith, he beholds the structure completed, and hears every voice crying, 'grace, grace, to the top-stone.' A beautiful writer observes as follows on this subject:-'As he passes on, revelling in the greatness of his strength, and absorbed in the immensity of his theme, his argument gathers force, till earth and heaven appear to be in motion before him! He ranges the universe, summons to his aid the power of God, lays his masterly hand upon every fact, gathers them in his grasp, condenses them before his hearers, and in one overwhelming burst of eloquence, makes the whole bear upon the resurrection of Christ, and of man.' The Apostle, to assist him, in his reasoning, calls the great Redeemer by the same name which distinguished the first human being that ever walked on our fair earth. A similar mode of argument is presented in his fifth chapter of the epistle to the Romans. There he shows the consequences of transgression on the one hand, and the blessings resulting from the gospel on the other. But here his language becomes more forcible. He touches every string of the golden harp. He rises to the loftiest height, even until language and conception seem utterly to fail. To assist the reader, I have thought proper to present the whole subject in the form of a parallel, and though it may be deemed fanciful in some respects, yet it may answer until a better can be furnished : First Adam. 1. At his creation, 'the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.' Job xxxviii. 7. 2. Made in the image of God.' Gen. i. 27. 3. 'Received dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.' Gen. i. 28. Last Adam. - 4. Head of the woman. 1 Cor. 4. Head of the man. 1 Cor The following is taken entirely from Rom. v. and 1 Cor. xv. 11. The first man is of the 11. The second man is the earth, earthy. 12. Made a living soul. 13. By man came death. Lord from heaven. 12. Made a quickening spirit. 13. By man came also the resurrection. 14. As we have borne the 14. We shall also bear the image of the earthy, image of the heavenly. When the great Apostle touched, with his inspired pen, the masterly contrast, of which the above is an imperfect sketch, a thousand associations rushed into his mind. At a single glance, he sees all the beings that sprung from Adam, and all that were to follow to the latest period of time. He beholds them all bearing 'the image of the earthy.' He sees generation after generation descending into the cold and silent tomb. He sees them all pass through the valley of the shadow of death.' He beholds the Great Father of the universe clothing each being in the garments of eternity, 'bearing the image of the heavenly ;' crowning the whole with his blessing, and again pronouncing his creation good. The morning stars again sing together, and all the sons of God shout aloud for joy. He pursues his subject till finding * The many, all.-Parkhurst. The great body of mankind.-Nero come. |