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192

CANTICLES; OR, SONG OF SOLOMON.

tion of the soul's nuptials with her heavenly Bridegrooom, is still the object of wish and earnest expectation.

As closes therefore this portion of the word of God, so closes the sacred volume itself." He which testifies these things, saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen! Even so, come Lord Jesus!" AMEN.

END OF THE NEW TRANSLATION OF

THE CANTICLES.

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

NAME AND CHARACTER

OF THE

REDEEMER.

AN ESSAY,

&c.

OUR blessed Saviour was, from the earliest ages of the world, promised to mankind in the character of their Redeemer; in allusion to this appellation, we find the term Redemption used in Scripture in reference to various parts of his interposition in human affairs, and indeed, in some passages, as comprehending the whole work of our salvation.

It is the object of the present attempt to inquire into the signification of the title of Redeemer ;and to trace, in the sacred writings, in what manner our gracious Lord has fulfilled the several parts of the character which that name implies.

I. The notion of Repurchasing, as referred to in the term Redeemer, agreeably with its Latin derivation, from redimo, to ransom, to buy off: the notion also of a recovery of one taken captive, by the payment of a ransom, which is expressly implied in the Greek word aroλurewos, to which

our term Redemption answers in the translation of the New Testament, will be familiar to most of my readers.

This view of Redemption will indeed be found to comprehend one very principal act, which a Redeemer would, in certain cases, be called upon to perform; and which our great Redeemer has, in fact, accomplished for us.

But, in order to a full view and comprehension of the name and character in question, and to show how the term Redemption applies to other parts of the Saviour's work, besides the ransoming of his people, it is necessary that we recall to our recollection the circumstances and prevailing customs of those remote ages, in which the office of a Redeemer originated, and where it is actually found to have been one of the most common and important relations of life, in which one man could stand to another. For, in our own times, though we shall find some remains of the functions of this ancient character, yet we have certainly no prototype which can afford, in the present state of civilized society, a full illustration of those duties which the Son of God undertook to discharge for us, when he assumed the style and title of our Redeemer.

We should remember, therefore, that, in the circumstances of the primitive ages of the world, the arts and influence of government were very imperfect and unoperative. Mankind, subsisting in their separate families or clans, widely dispersed from

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