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person, the causes, nature, and design of his sufferings are understood, emotions of admiration, love, and gratitude, till then unknown, are felt, and obstinate sinners are made a willing people in this day of divine power.

3. The doctrine of the cross pours a light upon every subject and circumstance in which we are concerned. It enlarges the mind, and forms the judgment and taste, agreeable to the standard of truth, and the real nature of things. It rectifies those prejudices and prepossessions which dispose us to mistake good for evil, and evil for good, (Isa. v. 20,) to pursue trifles with earnestness, and to trifle with things of the greatest importance. In Jesus Christ crucified, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are at once both hidden and exhibited. This object the holy angels, whose knowledge of the wonders in creation, without doubt, greatly surpasses our conceptions, incessantly contemplate with delight, as affording the brightest displays of the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. iii. 10. It is especially the fountain of wisdom to sinners. They look unto him, and are enlightened. The slight and partial thoughts they once entertained of the great God, the mistaken judgment they formed of themselves, of their state and their conduct, are corrected by their knowledge of the cross: from thence they derive a solid hope, a humble spirit, just views of their duty and obligations, and motives and prospects which animate them in a course of cheerful, persevering obedience to the will of God.

4. In this way, God, as revealed in Christ, is apprehended and chosen, as the chief and proper good of the soul. Thus the poor are enriched with the pearl of great price, and the weary obtain rest. The mind, no longer burdened with anxiety, nor mortified with a succession of disappointments, which attended the vain pursuit of happiness in earthly things, possesses present peace, and rejoices in the expectation of future glory. It is released from the slavery of hewing out broken cisterns, and introduced to the fountain of living waters. Or, to close with the beautiful image in my text, The people who once walked in darkness, and the region of the shadow of death, are translated into the kingdom of life and salvation, Col. i. 13.

How greatly are they to be pitied who reject the light of the gospel! It is true, they cannot see it; but it is equally true, they will

not.

But may I not hope that this is a day of divine power, in which some of you shall be made a willing people? Do not reason against your own life, but repent, and believe the gospel. The light shines around you, whether you perceive it or not; and i has an efficacy to open the eyes of the blind. Where the gospel is preached, the Lord is present. If you call upon him, he will hear, and you shall receive your sight. If the grace and the

glory of the Saviour have hitherto made no impression upon your heart, you are spiritually blind. Could you be sensible of your disorder, the remedy is at hand. If now, at last, you are willing to seek him, he will be found of you. But if you deliberately prefer darkness, your state is awfully dangerous; and if you persist in your obstinacy, your ruin is unavoidable. God is gracious and long-suffering, but he will not be mocked, Gal. vi. 7. Humble yourselves at once, and implore his mercy, or else prepare to meet him in judgment. But be assured he will not meet you as a man. You must either bend or break. The Lord forbid that he should say to any of you, in the great day of his appearance, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!"

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SUCH was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of Messiah; their sublimest songs were derived from the prospect of his advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations of the faithful unchangeable God as already accomplished, though the actual performance respected a period, as yet future and distant; especially as believers, under that dispensation, already felt the influence of the redemption which Messiah was to consummate in the fulness of time. It was the knowledge of his engagement on the behalf of sinners that gave life and significancy to all the institutions of the ceremonial law, which otherwise, though of divine appointment, would have been a heavy and burdensome yoke, Acts xv. 10. Isaiah, therefore, prepares this joyful song for the true servants of God, who lived in his time; and though it was a day of trial and rebuke, they were provided with a sufficient compensation for all their sufferings, in being warranted to say, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder," &c.

This ancient song is still new. It has been, and will be taken up from age to age, by the New Testament church, with superior advantage. I trust many of you understand it well, and rejoice in it daily. Men naturally look for something wherein to rejoice and

glory. Little reason have the wise to glory in their supposed wisdom, (Jer. ix. 23,) or the strong in their fading strength, or the rich in their transitory wealth; but this is a just and unfailing ground of glory to true christians, that, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given," &c.

of Christ, the God-man, the Mediator, is, in the judgment and language of the apostle, the great mystery of godliness, (1 Tim. iii. 16,) the pillar and ground of truth. I shall not repeat what I have already offered on this point in the fifth sermon. It is the central truth of revelation, which, like the sun, diffuses a light upon the whole system, no part of which can be rightly understood without it. Thus the Lord of all humbled himself, to appear in the form of a servant for the sake of sinners.

II. His exaltation.-"The government shall be upon his shoulder." In our nature he suffered, and in the same nature he reigns. When he had overcome the sharpness, the sting of death, he took possession of the kingdom of glory as his own, and opened it to all who believe in him. Now we can say, He who governs in heaven and on earth, and whom all things obey, is the child who was born, the son who was given for us. Some subsequent passages will lead us hereafter to contemplate more directly the glory of the Redeemer's administration in the kingdoms of providence and grace. At present, therefore, I shall only observe, that the exaltation of the Redeemer infers the dignity and security of the people who are united to him by faith. They have, in one respect, an appropriate honour, in which the angels cannot share. Their best friend, related to them in the same nature, is seated upon the throne of glory. Since he is for them, who can be against them? What may they not expect, when he, who has so loved them as to redeem them with his own blood, has all power committed unto him, both in heaven and on earth! For,

When a sinner is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, to understand the character and offices of Messiah, his ability and willingness to save those who are ready to perish, and the happiness of all who are brought into subjection to his gracious government, and when he begins to feel the cheering effects of faith in his name, then this song becomes his own, and exactly suits the emotions and gratitude of his heart. But many persons will despise and pity him as a weak enthusiast. And yet, perhaps, they do not think so unfavourably of the rapture of Archimedes, of whom it is related, that having suddenly discovered the solution of a difficult problem while he was bathing, he was so transported with joy, that he forgot his situation, sprang instantly from the bath, and ran through the city, crying, "I have found it, I have found it!" He is not usually charged with madness on this account, though the expression of his joy was certainly over-proportioned to the cause. The truth is, the world will allow of a vehemence approaching to ecstacy, on almost any occasion, but on that alone, which, above all others, will justify it. A person who would be thought destitute of taste, if he was unaffected by the music to which this passage is set, would, at the same time, hazard his reputation for good sense, with some judges, if he owned himself affected by the plain meaning of the words. Incompetent judges surely! who are pleased to approve of warmth and III. The names and characters here ascribemotion of spirit, provided the object be tried to him, are not only expressive of what vial, and only condemn it in concerns of he is in himself, but of what he has engaged the greatest importance! But I trust the to be to them. character of my auditory is very different, and that the most of you desire to enter into the spirit of this passage, and to have a more lively sense of your own interests in it. May the Lord grant your desire, and accompany our meditations upon it with his power and blessing!

Every clause in this passage might furnish subject for a long discourse; but my plan will only permit me briefly to touch upon the several particulars, which will lead to a recapitulation or summary of what has been already considered more largely concerning the person, offices, and glory of Messiah. We have, I. His incarnation."Unto us a child is born;" in our nature, born of a woman: "Unto us a son is given;" not merely a man child, but, emphatically, a son, the Son of God. This was the most precious gift, the highest proof and testimony of divine love. The distinction and union of these widely distant natures, which constitute the person

1. His name shall be called Wonderful.In another place the word is rendered Secret, Judges xiii. 18. It is true of him in both senses. He is Wonderful in his person, obedience, and sufferings; in his grace, government, and glory. So far as we understand his name, the revelation by which, as by a name, he is made known, we may, we must believe, admire, and adore. But how limited and defective is our knowledge! His name is Secret. Who can by searching find him out? Job. xi. 7. His greatness is incomprehensible, his wisdom untraceable, his fullness inexhaustible, his power infinite. No one knoweth the Son but the Father. But they have a true, though not an adequate knowledge of him, who trust, love, and serve him; and in their view he is Wonderful! The apostle expresses the sentiment of their hearts, when he says, "Yea, doubtless, I count all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

2. Another of his names is Counsellor.-thers according to the flesh are subject to The great councils of redemption, in which death. But his relation to them subsists unevery concern respecting the glory of God changeably, and therefore they cannot be and the salvation of sinners was adjusted, destitute: and he is thus equally to them all. were established with him, and in him, before They live upon the earth, and are removed the foundation of the world. And he is our from it, in a long succession of ages; but he Counsellor or Advocate with the Father, is the Father of the everlasting age, the who pleads our cause, and manages all our same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. All affairs in perfect righteousness, and with in-generations shall call him blessed. To him, fallible success; so that no suit can possibly therefore, the apostle teaches us to apply miscarry which he is pleased to undertake. that sublime passage of the Psalmist: "Thou, To him likewise we must apply (and we shall Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundanot apply in vain) for wisdom and direction, tion of the earth, and the heavens are the in all that belongs to our duty, and the ho- work of thy hands. They shall perish, but nour of our profession in the present life. In thou remainest; and they all shall wax old all our difficulties, dangers, and cares, we as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt must look to him for guidance and support. thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; This is to be wise unto salvation. His secret but thou art the same, and thy years shall is with them that consult him; so that though not fail," Psalm cii. 25-27; Heb. i. 10-12. the world may deem them weak and ignorant 5. Lastly, he shall be called the Prince of as babes (and he teaches them to think thus Peace,-whose sovereign prerogative it is to of themselves,) they have a cheering and speak peace to his people; (Psalm lxxxv. 8;) practical knowledge of many important sub- and there is no peace, deserving the name, jects, which are entirely hidden from those but that which he bestows. The scripture who are wise and prudent in their own eyes. expressly declares, that there is no peace 3. He is the Mighty God.-Though in the to the wicked, Is. lvii. 21. By whatever office of mediator, he acts in the character of name we call that thoughtless security and a servant, his perfections and attributes are insensibility, in which mankind generally truly divine. Only the mighty God could live while ignorant of God and of themselves, make a provision capable of answering the we cannot allow it to be peace. It is the demands of the holy law, which we had trans- effect of blindness and hardness of heart; it gressed. Only the mighty God could be a will neither bear reflection nor examination. suitable Shepherd to lead millions of weak Can they be said to possess peace, however helpless creatures to glory, through the many fatally regardless they may be of futurity, difficulties, dangers, and enemies, they are who are at present under the dominion of exposed to in their passage. Add to this, the restless, insatiable, and inconsistent passions honour, dependence, and obedience, which and appetites? But the kingdom of Messiah. this great Shepherd claims from his sheep, is a kingdom of peace, and in him his are absolute and supreme; and they would be guilty of idolatry, if they did not know that he is the mighty God. Though real christians, who are enlightened and taught by the Holy Spirit, may, and do differ in their views and explanations of some revealed truths, I conceive they must be all agreed in this point. It is not only necessary to be known as the only solid foundation of a sinner's hope, but it immediately respects the object of divine worship. For if the Redeemer is not possessed of the incommunicable perfections of Deity, the New Testament, in its most obvious and literal signification, would be chargeable, not only with countenancing, but with expressly teaching and enjoining idolatry.

4. Farther, he shall be called the Everlasting Father. He is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Heb. ii. 11,) having condescended to assume their human nature. But they are also his children. They are born into his family by the efficacy of his own word and Spirit. From him they derive their spiritual life, being united to him by faith, and receiving from first to last out of his fullness. And he is an everlasting Father. Our fa

happy subjects enjoy a peace which passeth
all understanding, (Phil. iv. 7,) such as the
world can neither give nor take away. He
has made peace by the blood of his cross,
(Col. i. 20,) for all that come unto God by him.
Until they are in trouble and distress, until
they feel the bitterness and fear the conse-
quences of their sins, and see the impossi-
bility of helping themselves, they will not
apply to him; but whenever they do seek
him, thus weary and heavy-laden, he hears
their prayer. Their minds, for a season, are
like the sea in a storm, they are distressed
with guilt, fears, and temptations; but when
he reveals his mighty name and boundless
grace to their hearts, and says, Peace, be still,
(Mark iv. 39,) then there is a great calm.
Being justified by faith, they have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He
gives them peace likewise in a changing
troublesome world, by inviting and enabling
them to cast all their cares upon him, and to
trust all their concerns in his hands, upon the
assurance his word gives them, that he careth
for them, and will manage and overrule
every thing for their good. In proportion as
their faith realizes his promises, they feel u.

composure and satisfaction. Knowing that the hairs of their head are numbered, that their afflictions, no less than their comforts, are tokens of his love, that he will give them strength according to their day, that he will be their guide and their guard even unto death; they are not greatly moved by any events, or disturbed by apprehensions, because their hearts are fixed, (Psalm cxii. 7,) trusting in the Lord. Farther, he teaches them (what can only be learnt of him) how to seek and maintain peace among men. His love subdues the power of self, and forms them to a spirit of philanthropy and benevolence, which has often such an effect, that they who dislike them for their attachment to him and to his precepts, and would willingly speak evil of them, are ashamed, and put to silence, by their perseverance in well-doing. Thus their peace increases as a river, which runs with a deeper and a broader stream as it approaches the ocean. For their peace is then strongest and most unshaken, when they draw near to death, and are upon the point of resigning their souls into his hands. This is the time, when, if not before, the false peace of the worldling, will give way to terror and dismay. But "mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace," Psalm xxxvii. 37. It must be allowed, that many of his people, through the power of temptation and remaining unbelief, have, at some seasons, uncomfortable fears concerning a dying hour; but when the time of their dismission actually arrives, we seldom see them afraid of the summons. There is a strength necessary to support the soul at the approach of death, which is usually withheld till the time of need. But then it is vouchsafed. They who have frequently access to the beds of dying believers, can bear testimony, as eye-witnesses, to the faithfulness of their Lord. How often have we seen them triumphing in the prospect of immortality! as happy, in defiance of pain and sickness, as we can well conceive it possible to be while in the body, and as sure of heaven, as if they were already before the throne.

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came into the world, that he might draw
many hearts to himself, John xii. 32. And
for this purpose he favours us with his gospel,
by which he still says,
"Look unto me, and
be ye saved," Isaiah xlv. 22. Come unto
me, and I will give you rest," Matth. xi. 28.
To be found among his faithful followers, in
the great day when he shall come to judge
the world, is the one thing which, above all
others, deserves our solicitude.

Hear then his voice to-day. Perhaps you
are apprised of the necessity of a change of
heart and life, at some future period, in order
to die safely. Such a change is equally ne-
cessary if you wish to live comfortably.
While you are unfit to die, you can have no
true enjoyment of life. It were easy to prove
at large that procrastination is highly dan-
gerous. Admitting that, according to your
present feelings, you really think yourself
determined to seek the Lord at some future
time, do you consider how many uncertainties
you presume upon? Are you sure that you
shall not be suddenly cut off by an unexpect-
ed and unthought-of stroke, or visited by a
fever which may quickly bring you into a
state of delium or stupefaction, and render
your projected repentance impracticable ?
Yea, it will in any circumstances be imprac
ticable, unless God is pleased to influence
your mind by his good Spirit. If you grieve
this Spirit now, by resisting his operations,
what reason have you to expect that he will
then return? Do we not see many instances
of what the poet, with great propriety, calls,
"A slow sudden death?" How many people,.
while pining away under the power of some
incurable disease, amuse themselves with the
hope of recovery to the last gasp; and though
their acquaintance read death in their coun-
tenance for weeks or months, in defiance of
such repeated and long-continued warnings,.
they die as suddenly, with respect to their
own apprehensions, as if killed by lightning.
Tremble, lest such be your last end, if you
trifle with God, who now calls you by his
gospel, to seek him to-day, while it is called
to-day.

Such is the character of Messiah! This is But I would lead you to consider your dethe God whom we adore; our almighty, un- lay not only as dangerous but as unreasonchangeable Friend! His greatness and good-able. Why are you afraid of being happy too ness, his glory and his grace, when once known, fix the heart, no more to rove, and fill it with admiration, gratitude, and desire. From hence spring a cheerful, unreserved obedience to his commands, and a deliberate | voluntary submission to his holy will. For his people do not serve him or yield to him by constraint; at least it is only the pleasing constraint of love, which makes their duty their delight, and their burden and grief is that they can serve him no better.

May we be all thus minded! I dare not hope it is so with us all at present. But this is the day of his grace.. For this cause he

soon? What strange and hard thoughts have you of God, if you suppose you can find more pleasure in living according to your own wills than in obedience to his commands! Can the world give you such peace and satisfaction as I have attempted to describe? Do you think a real persuasion that God is your friend, and that heaven will be your home, will spoil the relish of your earthly enjoy-. ments, or make your lives uncomfortable? What hard thing does the Lord require of you, that you are so unwilling to comply! If we set aside, for a moment, the considera-tion of a future state and a final judgment,

yet even in a temporal view you would be great gainers, if your spirit and your conduct were regulated by the gospel. What heartbreaking troubles, what losses, contests, pains of body, and remorse of conscience, would some of you have avoided, if you had believed and obeyed the word of God! What distresses may your headstrong passions soon plunge you into, if you presume to go on in your sins! For that the way of transgressors is hard, is not only declared in scripture, but proved by the history and observation of every day. Forsake the foolish, therefore, and live. And while the door of mercy is still open before you, pray to him who is able to bless you indeed, by delivering you from the guilt and from the power of your iniquities; lest, if being often reproved, (Prov. xxix. 1,) and still hardening your hearts, you should suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

SERMON X.

THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE AND SONG.

the cadence which we call recitative, I have no doubt but the chorus was a song, sweetly melodious as from blest voices; a song which the redeemed and the angels of the Lord are still singing before the throne; a new song, (Rev. v. 9,) a song which will be always new. We are made acquainted with the subject, yea, with the very words of this song. May our hearts be suitably affected by the consideration of them to-day! The melody and harmony of heaven are far above our conceptions. The music of that happy land has no dependence upon the vibrations of the air, or the admirable structure of the human ear. But we have reason to believe there is, in the world of light and love, something analogous to what we call music, though different in kind, and vastly superior in effect to any strains that can be produced by the most exquisite voices or instruments upon earth; as we readily judge the glory of an angel to be unspeakably more excellent, both in kind and in degree, than any thing that is deemed glorious among mortals.

To consider this passage at large would require many discourses. I shall confine myself at present to a few brief reflections on the circumstances of this heavenly vision, the message of the angel, and the concluding chorus or song.

I. The circumstances.

1. Lo, an angel came upon them, &c.Suddenly, when they had no expectation of such a visit, without any thing that might previously engage their attention, all at once, like a flash of lightning, a glory shone around them, and an angel appeared. We do not wonder that they were impressed with fear. We live near, perhaps in the midst of, an invisible world, full of great and wonderful

There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swad-realities, which yet, by too many persons, are dling-clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men.Luke ii. 8-14.

THE gratification of the great, the wealthy, and the gay was chiefly consulted in the late exhibitions in Westminster-Abbey. But notwithstanding the expense of the preparations, and the splendid appearance of the auditory, I may take it for granted that the shepherds who were honoured with the first information of the birth of Messiah, enjoyed, at free cost, a much more sublime and delightful entertainment. How poor and trivial is the most studied magnificence and brilliancy of an earthly court compared with that effulgence of glory which surrounded the shepherds! The performers of this Oratorio, if I may be allowed the expression, were a multitude of the heavenly host. And though I do not suppose that the angel delivered his message in

considered and treated as nonentities, because they are not perceived by our bodily senses. But the scripture assures us of the fact; and to reject this testimony, because it is not confirmed by our senses, is no less irrational and unphilosophical than impious. A man born blind can have no more concep tion of light and colours, than we have of what passes in the world of spirits. And a nation of blind men, if there were such a nation, would probably treat a seeing person as a visionary madman, if he spoke to them of what he saw. But he would be sure of his own perceptions, though he could not satisfy the inquiries and cavils of the blind. Our senses are accommodated to our present state; but there may be a multitude of ob jects, as real in themselves, and as near to us, as any that we behold with our eyes, of which we, for want of suitable faculties, can have no idea. To deny this, and to make our senses the criteria of the existence of things which are not within their reach, is exactly such an absurdity as a blind man would be

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