and fled) fhall we then dare to join our finful obedience with his compleat falvation? GOD forbid! for faith the MESSIAH, ver. 5. I looked, and there was none to help; I wondered that there was none to uphold, therefore mine own arm brought falvation.

Friendly. But how could the MESSIAH, who always faw, and foreknew all things, wonder that none came to his help, when he had engaged to do the work of falvation himself, according to his own words, Pfal. xl. 7. Then faid I, lo I

come.

Truth. You are not to apprehend that the MESSIAH Wondered that none came to help him in the work of our redemption, but rather that the MESSIAH wondered, that none of the human race was concerned for their recovery; not so much as to ask advice of Heaven for help, therefore he frankly, from his own heart, faith, My own arm hath wrought falvation. But to proceed, ver. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted. Friendly. Wherein doth it appear that this is spoke of the MESSIAH?

Truth. In that the Apostle fays, Heb. iv. 15. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: befides, he is called the Angel of his (that is GOD's) prefence, upon which account our fathers called the MESSIAH the God-Angel, who, fays the Prophet, in all our afflictions he is afflicted; which not only denotes the relation he itands in unto us, as our head and husband, but great tendernefs of affection, infomuch that he sympathizeth with us under all our exigencies, and feels all our forrows. What a sweet release is this to a chriftian, whofe mind is burthened with trials which concern both foul and body, the things of time and eternity, and fuch as are ready to make fay, I am so troubled that I cannot fpeak! let the afflicted chriftian remember, that the dear MESSIAH, not only hears his complaint, but bears his forrows upon his heart; not a figh but he hears, nor a groan but he feels, in all thy afflictions he is afflicted; therefore thy heart fhall never fink with forrow, for all the waves and billows beat upon his heart as well as upon thine. Though it must be acknowledged, that afflictions are a pavement for the dear MESSIAH's feet, his royal paths wherein he takes his ftately walks, yet he always crowns this path with the grandeur and glories of divine mercies; knowing, knowing did I fay, rather feeling the confluence of forrow that attends the chriftian, he makes every wave a meffenger of love in the ftorm; for there is not a trial comes to the chriftian but there is a ftore

of mercy wrapped therein, for the hand of faith often receives
the bleffings of Heaven out of the treasure of afflictions. I do
not remember that ever David faid, that it was good for him
that he had killed Goliath, or that he was Son-in-law to Saul,
or that he was King over Ifrael, but he fays, It is good for me
that I have been afflicted, &c.

Friendly. But iaith the chriftian, my afflictions continue fo
long, that faith and hope are almoft fpent?

Truth. A few more trials, and faith and hope will be quite fpeat; as rivers lofe and fpend themfelves, and are fwallowed up in the ocean, fo fhall thy faith and hope be loft in the ocean of divine felicity, thy faith fhall be fwallowed up of vision, and thy hope in eternal fruition; but grace's ftream muft run, though it be through affliction's channel, until it wafts thy foul into glory's ocean. Though it be a folitary way, yet it is a fure path to Heaven, for thou haft the MESSIAH's heart and hand, and he will not leave thee until he hath done that which he hath fpoken to thee of, therefore cheer up, O foul, the harbour is near, it may be the next waye may waft thee fafe into the royal harbour, Heb. iv. 9. There remaineth therefare a reft for the people of God.

What though thy affliction may be continued, yet remember that the dear MESSIAH was a man of forrows, and acquainted with griefs, and thereby he fanctifieth all thy trials unto thee; they do not come to thee as the dregs of wrath, but as the drops of love; every stroke of his hand is a love-letter from his heart; though thou canst not read them as fuch now, yet, when thy foul comes to learn the language of Angels, thou fhalt read them with renewed rapture, ecitacy and joy, infomuch that they will create fongs for ever new, to him that fits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever, and ever. If Heaven will be diftinguishingly glorious to any, it will be to those who have been diftinguifhed in their afflictions here, 2 Cor. iv. 17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory. From hence it plainly appears that the chriftian fhould bear up with a holy fortitude of foul amidit all the ftorms and crofs winds, knowing this, that if the dear MESSIAH leads him by a rough way, it is to bring him to a city of habitation; that in all his affictions he is himself afflicted, and as the Angel of JEHOVAH's prefence he will fave him.

Friendly. But dear Truth, the chriftian may in fome cafes fay, things go fo with me, that it looks as if God and man had both forfaken me?

VOL. II.

G

Truth. Thus it went with the dear MESSIAH in Ifrael, as it is faid, they all forfook him and fled. He alfo cried out, my God, my God, why haft thou forsaken me? Thus, O christian, thou art not alone, for though this may be thy cafe, thy SAVIOUR and thy GOD is with thee, he hath led the way, he hath marked out the path, and as he went along he dropped the bleffings of Heaven for thee, John xiv. 27. Peace, fays he, I leave with you, my peace 1 give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you; let not your hearts be troubled, neither be afraid. And again he faith, John xvi. 33. These things have 1 Spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. I afk pardon my dear Friendly, for this digreffion, but knowing by experience what gloomy thoughts and bitter things the christian writes against himself, when under the frowns and chaftening difpenfation of Heaven, was willing to drop a word in season to comfort others (if it be the will of the LORD) with the fame comforts wherewith I myself have been comforted of GOD, who, as the Apoftle faith, comforteth us in all our tribulations.

But I proceed to Ifa. lxvi. 19. where the MESSIAH fays, by the lips of the Prophet, To the ifles afar off, that have not heard my fame; neither have they feen my glory; and they fball declare my glory among the Gentiles.

Friendly. Wherein doth it appear that the Gentiles had not heard of his fame?

Truth. In that the knowledge of the MESSIAH before his incarnation, was chiefly confined to his peculiar people, the Jews, the Gentiles round about had fcarcely heard of it, but by this prediction he foretells that though they had not heard of the fame of his perfon, blood, love, and righteousness, neither had they feen his glory, yet (fpeaking of the Apostles and miniftering fervants) he fays, they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles; which prophecy hath its exact completion by them, Acts xiii. 46, 47, 48. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and faid, it was neceffary that the word of God should firft have been fpoken to you, (meaning the Jews) but feeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo! we turn to the Gentiles. For fo hath God commanded us, faying, I have fet thee to be a light to the Gentiles, that thou fhouldeft be for falvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Friendly. Who are we to apprehend by the ifles that were afar off?

Truth. Among the rest, doubtlefs this British ifle; and as Mr. Erskine fays, "with Scotland the north end of it." What luminous difplays has this happy ifland enjoyed of the fame of the great MESSIAH! what irradiating beams of his perfon, blood, and love, have fhone with diftinguishing luftre for ages paft! notwithstanding the unwearied attempts of Hell and Rome, to vail his glory, yet it hath burst through all their vails with the more refulgency, like the morning fun from a gloomy cloud. And it hath been the pleasure of Providence, of late years, to fpirit fome, to go forth with unwearied diligence, and indefatigable pains, to fpread the fame of his perfon, the fame of his blood, righteoufnefs, love and power, among us Gentiles, that thereby many, I believe I might venture to fay, many thoufands, even in this Ifland, that had not heard of the fame of the MESSIAH; have thereby not only heard of his fame, but have seen his glory, and spake of him, as Cennick faith,

"Britain's ifle hath caught the flame,

"Many know, and love the Lamb.

And a peculiar pleasure it is to the Chriftian, to hear of the increase of the MESSIAH's fame and glory, even in our East and Weft India iflands, which of late years has much spread through the happy means of the Religious Society for the propagation of the gofpel; a work greatly beneficial to the most noble part of the creation of GOD, anfwering ends valuable and glorious for time and eternity; that it is the most benevolent Society that ever was formed upon the earth, as they (through a kind Providence) have opened a channel for the emanation of the best of bleffings.

Friendly. But let us proceed, to Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. where it is faid, Behold the days come, faith the Lord, that I will raife unto David a righteous Branch, and a King fhall reign and profper, and fball execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah fhall be faved, and Ifrael shall dwell fafely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness.

Truth. That the MESSIAH is here intended, many of the Jewish writers acknowledge; the Targum thus explains the firft part, "I will raise up to David MESSIAH the righteous." And that the MESSIAH is here intended is manifeft, in that he ftiles himself, the offspring of David, Rev. xxii. 16. And that the MESSIAH was to be a King is evident, in that the Jews always expected (from many prophecies that were given of

him) that he fhould bear the dignity and character of a King, which made Nathaniel break forth in fuch a rapturous fatisfaction that he was the true MESSIAH, John i. 4. Nathaniel anfivered and faid unto him, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Ifrael.

Friendly. But wherein doth it appear that the MESSIAH reigned as a King upon the earth and profpered?

Truth. The MESSIAH's kingdom is not of this world, though it is in this world; the fubjects thereof are men choien out of it, not external but internal, and that of the heart; where he fways his kingly fceptre and authority, by ruling and reigning in their minds as King in Zion, according to that ancient prediction, of him Pfal. ii. 6. Yet have I fet n v King upon my holy bill of Zion.

And that as a King he profpered, is likewife evident, in that he did not confine his kingdom to the nation of the fews, but extended his dominions into all the Gentile lands, and unto the ifles afar off, agreeable to what he himself faith, Isa. lxv. 1. I am fought of them that afked not for me; I am found of them that fought me not; I faid, behold me, behold me, to a nation that was not called by my name.

And that JESUS, as the true MESSIAH, hath profpered in his reign as a King, is evident, from clouds of witneffes in every age; thousands of thoufands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, and a number that no man can number, can witness that they, in a militant ftate, enjoyed the fceptre of his princely grace, and the banner of his love, and now teftify that in glory he reigns exalted upon the throne of GoD, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; which is confonant to what the FATHER promifed him as MEDIATOR, Ifa. liii. 10. He shall see his feed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord jball profper in his hands.

Friendly. But wherein doth it appear, that in the MESSIAH'S days Judah was faved, and Ifrael dwelt in fafety, when we find that in CHRIST's time they were in bondage by the Romans?

Truth. By Judah we are not to understand all Judea, but the church of GOD, which is a title the church bears. Likewife, by Ifracl, we are not to underftand the whole body politic, but his peculiar people, chofen from among them, as faith the Apostle, Rom. ix. 6. For they are not all Ifrael which are of Ifrael; therefore by Ifrael and Judah, we are to underftand, the MESSIAH's fubjects, his whole fpiritual collective body of people, according to Pfal. lxxxi. 1. In Judah is God