A Mediator intimates a quarrel; and a quarrel risen to some considerable head, and a quarrel too which either through the height of the resentment, or rather the great inequality of the contending parties, requires the interposition of some friend to make it up. Who are the parties then? O my soul, why this confusion? Does this inquiry concern thee? Yes, it concerns us all the whole world was become guilty before God; all flesh had corrupted their ways, and rebelled. Foolish that we were, and ungrateful, and unnatural to quarrel with our Maker, to fall out with our Preserver, Benefactor, and Friend, by whose permission we live, and to whose unconstrained bounty and goodness we owe it that we are prosperous and happy. Thus we had brought ourselves into a state of enmity with God, and war against him. He consequently withdrew from us, and engaged against us, and looked upon us with indignation and abhorrence. The Divine Majesty was affronted, the Divine laws violated, the Divine government disturbed, and the Divine perfections, holiness, justice, and truth, called aloud for satisfaction; a satisfaction which we poor helpless creatures were by no means in a capacity of making, and therefore expected nothing but immediate and everlasting ruin. In the appointed time, suddenly there appeared a great multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, good-will towards men." And an angel brought us the good tidings of great joy, that to us a Child was born, to us a Son was given, whose name was Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. For as he was not a man, that we should answer him, or that we should come together in judgment, it was necessary there should be some Daysman between us, that might lay his hand upon both. When we were so entirely destitute of all help or hope that there was none to pity us, then did He, this same Jesus, the Prince of peace, the Lord of life, the Son of God, stand forth and say, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Holy Father, if thou wilt be reconciled to them, I will undertake to satisfy the demands of thy law and justice for them. If there must be blood, here is mine. If the last drop of it be required, thou shalt have it. I will suffer the utmost rigour of the law, and drink up the very dregs of the cup of indignation, rather than they should taste a drop of it." Blessed are the peace-makers. Lord, permit the overflowings of a grateful heart, that cannot contain its joy for the happy reconciliation. Blessed, blessed are the peace-makers. Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Peace on earth, and glory in the highest.

And can it be? Will the eternal Son of God' amidst the honours and happiness of the heavenly

world, admit a thought of such rebellious wretches? Can the distresses we had brought upon ourselves, by our unnatural quarrel, raise any compassion in his Divine breast? Will he interest himself in the cause of creatures that, so far from deserving, did not so much as desire his interposition? Will he ? We know he has done it. What else brought him from heaven to earth? What else carried him

through such a scene of sorrow and sufferings, and at last led him to the accursed tree; but a generous desire to reinstate us in the Divine favour? And, after all, will his endeavours avail any thing? Will his mediation be accepted? Will God forgive us upon any terms? It is a faithful saying, and therefore worthy of all acceptation, That God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. Yes, blessed Jesus, it is given to us; freely given; but was it given to thee? What mean those wounds in thy hands and feet, and that stream from thy side? Was there no way for thee to make peace but by the blood of the cross? What created understanding, in its largest conceptions, can fully comprehend the depth of thy humiliation, the extremity of thy sufferings, and the greatness of thy love? That when thou knewest there was no other way, knewest that thou shouldst be wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, yet thou didst not decline the office of a Mediator.

But it follows-"To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant."

Was it not of Divine condescension, that the Most High vouchsafed to enter into covenant with man in innocency; that he was pleased to bind himself by a promise to his creature, the workmanship of his hand, that he should live and be for ever happy, if he retained his innocence and continued obedient in all things; which was his unquestionable duty, and what he owed his Maker as long as he had a being?

Was it not still greater condescension, that, after man had broken this first covenant, the great God of heaven and earth should propose another covenant to his creatures, to sinful dust and ashes that were fallen from him; that, after man had proved perfidious, he was pleased to make another and a better covenant, a covenant of higher privileges upon lower terms; and that he has done this of his mere good-will and pleasure, without man's seeking to him or interceding for it? Though it was not without the intercession of Christ, which however no way lessens our obligation, as it was of his wonderful free grace to appoint and accept this Mediator for us. And, that though the covenant is not without terms, yet there are no such terms, as are meritorious of the blessedness, or of the least blessing promised in it; nor such as we are to perform of ourselves and by our own power;

but, "it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure," Phil. ii. 13. It is his grace that proposes this covenant, that enlightens our understandings to see the things of our peace, and opens our hearts, and inclines our wills to accept of covenant benefits upon covenant terms.

And what are the benefits and privileges peculiar to the gospel covenant, or at least considerably cleared and enlarged by it? Reconciliation; union with Christ; adoption; the Spirit of grace to prepare us for, and assist us in duty and suffering; acceptable services and employments; access to God in prayer; peace within; well settled hopes of heaven; a peculiar interest in Christ's intercession; communion and fellowship with Christ the Head, and all the family of God; peculiar conduct, succour, and supplies on earth; victory over death; and final acquittance, and everlasting glory.

And what are the terms on which those high and important blessings are promised? Might we not have expected that they should be more than ever strict and severe, to punish us for our former treachery and rebellion? Would not whole ages of labour and pain have been gladly accepted by us, as reckoning that the sufferings of time, how grievous soever, and how long soever extended, are not worthy to be compared with the glories of eternity? But no such thing. Listen, christians, and you will find your God is uniformly gracious.