earth. Hence he said, "But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins." And again, "Thy sins which are many are all forgiven thee."

Fourthly; by the Death and Resurrection of Christ he acquired the right of Universal Judgment.

The qualifications of Jesus Christ to fill the judgment seat at the last day are unquestionable. The inseparable union of the divine with the human nature in his adorable person qualifies him infinitely with wisdom for the exercise of this interesting and yet awful prerogative of judging the world. The most perfect knowledge of all the facts connected with the moral conduct of all the accountable intelligences of the universe, including all the imaginations of their thoughts, their words, with all their actions; and all the varying circumstances of dispensation and motive, must all be present in the most perfect manner to the mind of the Judge, to enable him to proceed with unerring accuracy in deciding the everlasting destinies of all the subjects of his government. Now, if the fulness of the Godhead did not dwell bodily in him, this would be utterly impossible; but as it does, he is eminently qualified for this great and solemn work.

Another of the essential qualifications of Christ for the Judge of all the earth, is, the justice and holiness of his character. It is a principle laid down by the apostle, that if God were unrighteous he could not consistently judge the world, (Rom. iii. 5, 6,) but the promise is, that he will judge the world in righteousness, and that "every man shall receive according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." On the same principle the final decision will be varied according to the dispensations under which men shall have lived and acted: "For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." Thus there will be no respect of persons with God. But will the man Christ Jesus occupy the judgment seat? He will; for thus it is written: "The Father hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." "God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained: whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

So true is the declaration of the text, that "to this end he died and rose, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living." As such, he is heir of all things-he governs all worlds and all creaturesis the object of universal praise and adoration-holds the "keys of death and of hell"-and will finally judge and decide the everlasting destinies of angels, men, and devils. With what pomp and glory shall he appear 'the second time!" not in the character of a sinoffering, but in all the glory of the Father, with all the holy angels with him!

"Lo! he comes with clouds descending,

Once for favour'd sinners slain !

Thousand thousand saints attending,

Swell the triumph of his train!

Every eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty ;

Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nail'd him to the tree,

Deeply wailing, shall the true Messiah see."

From this subject we infer, in the First place-the power, dignity, and glory of Christ.

Our principal object in the foregoing remarks has been to present the Scripture view of the exaltation of the human nature of our blessed Lord in its proper light. We need not say how deeply interesting to us it must be that our elder brother, who is bone of our bone, and flesh our flesh; who took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, is so exalted in the scale of being. This was done, as we have seen, first, by his union with the Godhead; and, secondly, as a reward of his sufferings and death in our behalf, As man, in union with the divinity, he is "heir of all things," and has a 66 name that is above every name.” His dominion extends over time and eternity. He is Lord both of the dead and living. This never could have been the case, however, with mere human nature unconnected with divinity, and the vast objects of the incarnation.

This is a Mediator worthy of God, and every way suitable to the condition of fallen man. By his divinity he is one with the eternal Father, and by his humanity he is one with our fallen race; thus filling the vast distance, created by sin, between the Father and his rebellious subjects, and establishing a medium of access and intercourse between heaven and earth. The establishment of such a mediation between God and man is infinitely beneficial to man.

Doubtless the angels, who "desire to look into these things," were so far gratified as to have had a clear view of the relations which our Saviour bore to the Father and to us, and of the bearing the atonement would have both upon the divine government and the interests of the human family. For when they announced his advent to the world, they embodied these very sentiments in that angelic song which wrapt heaven and earth in one common interest: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good-will to men!"

But the most exalted descriptions of the dignity and glory of Christ are those which are found in the word of God. St. Peter speaks of having seen his glory when with him in the holy mount. And the account of the evangelist is, that "as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and he was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." But John, who was present at the transfiguration, had, subsequently, a still more glorious view of our exalted Redeemer: "In the midst of the golden candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his

feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Christian, behold your Saviour! Sinner, behold your Judge! Here is the very person who was born in a stable, and was cradled in a manger; who led a suffering life, and died the death of the cross, and lay folded in the strong and cold arms of death! Behold him "alive for evermore !" Yes,

"He lives to die no more,

High on his Father's throne."

Secondly; we infer from this subject the utter impossibility of either escaping or throwing off moral responsibility.

In the day of worldly prosperity, engrossed in the cares and pleasures of life, sinners are prone to forget or disregard their accountability to God, and throw off all concern respecting a future state. In more advanced life, conscious of years of accumulated guilt, they often take refuge under the flimsy garb of infidelity, become obstinate in their opposition to God, and stoutly deny that there will be any resurrection of the dead or general judgment. Such are the deceptions which the perverted mind of man is capable of practising upon itself. All these self-deceptions, however, alter not the fact or character of their moral responsibility before God. Still Jesus is the "King in Zion," ruling in the midst of his enemies." He is still Lord both of the dead and living.

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Ah! sinner, whither wouldst thou go to escape from the presence of God? If you ascend up into heaven, he is there; and if you make your bed in hell, behold he is there! and if you take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall his right hand hold you. He has seen fit to create us moral and accountable beings, to place us under responsibility to himself, and to hold us to a faithful account for all the deeds done in the body. Why he has seen proper to do so is not for us to inquire. He has infinite reasons for the course he has adopted, and the light of eternity will fully justify his ways toward mankind. But it is our duty, as it is our wisdom, to prepare to render up our account with joy, and not with grief.

Thirdly; this subject affords strong grounds of humble confidence to the believer.

The fact that Christ is Lord both of the dead and living; that he is heir of all things, and upholds all things by the word of his power; that all the resources of nature and providence are at his command; and that he is the Saviour and rewarder of his people, furnish the strongest grounds of confidence to those whose hopes rest wholly upon him in life and death. With this confidence firmly fixed in the soul, and resting upon Christ as its foundation, the believer may pass through the storms of life with safety and happiness. Whatever revolutions may agitate the physical or political world, he is sure that Jesus reigns, and, therefore, that all shall be well. And although

doomed to pass through the dark valley and shadow of death, he will fear no evil, for Christ is with him. And although he looks forward with certainty to the time when the earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved; yet being assured of the fact, that Christ is Lord of the dead as well as of the living; that his dominion extends through all the regions of the dead, and that he has left on earth the promise, and taken to heaven the pledge of our resurrection, death is disarmed of his terror, and is met without dismay. The language of the believer is, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." He enters eternity with the fullest confidence that he shall there find his Lord and Master ready to receive and welcome him to the felicities of paradise for ever. Hear Christ's comforting promise, "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Look up, suffering, tempted follower of the Lamb, the day of your redemption draweth nigh, and now is your salvation nearer than when you first believed. Even so come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.

THE GREAT COMMISSION: or, the Christian Church Constituted and Charged to convey the Gospel to the World. By the REV. JOHN HARRIS, President of Cheshunt College, Author of "Mammon," &c. Post 8vo., 538 pp. T. WARD and Co.

MISSIONARY exertions conducted upon a plan more comprehensive than was ever before attempted, constitute, at the present period, the most prominent characteristic, and the glory of the Church of Christ. Ever will it remain to be, the astonishment of all future generations, that for so long a period, the professing Church neglected to attempt, in any way worthy of itself, the conversion of the world. In comparing the measure of activity, zeal, and liberality, now put forth by the Church, with its inertness, indifference, and niggardliness, in past ages, we have cause of congratulation on account of the decided improvement which is manifested; yet, when we look at what is even now doing, we see, that the efforts now put forth, bear no proportion to the obligations which Christ has devolved upon his Church, or to the wants of the hundreds of millions of immortal souls, who are perishing because they have not received the Gospel of Christ.

The work now before us, has resulted from the conviction felt by some members of the Church of Scotland, that the Christian Church was not properly awakened to a sense of its duty in relation to the

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Missionary work; they therefore, in the true spirit of Christian philanthropy, offered the sum of Two HUNDRED Guineas for the best, and FIFTY Guineas for the second best Essay on the DUTY, PRIVILEGE, and Encouragement of Christians to send the Gospel of SALVATION TO THE UNENLIGHTENED NATIONS of the EARTH. Five adjudicators were appointed, who were selected from the Churches of England and Scotland, the Wesleyan Methodists, the Independents, and the Baptists. No less than Forty-two Essays were sent to the adjudicators who gave the first preference to the one which has proved to have been written by Dr. Harris.

The surpassing grandeur and importance of the questions to be discussed, the emulation and efforts which the writing upon such a subject, under such circumstances, would call forth-the great ability of some of the competitors-and the celebrity of the highly gifted successful competitor, are circumstances calculated to raise to a very high pitch the expectations entertained, as to the Prize Essay on Christian Missions. Under such influence, we took up the volume before us, which we have attentively read, and not without much pleasure and profit. Although we fully admit that it is a work of great merit, presenting the all-important subject of the duty of Christians to seek the evangelization of the world, under a great variety of aspects, and enforcing it by most cogent reasonings, aided by all the charms of a felicitous imagination and chastened eloquence. Yet, we confess, that we think, some portions of the work are drawn out to too great a length,- that if the whole had been more condensed, it would have been more effective. There are subjects, however, which, at first sight appear to be well suited for discussion and illustration, which, upon trial, are found to be exceedingly difficult to manage, so as to produce the desired and expected effect. Upon consideration, we believe, such to be the case, as to the questions relating to the duty of Christians in reference to the evangelization of the world. The testimony of the Word of God is so explicit, the facts of the case are so obvious, the wretchedness of the heathen so awfully apparent,-the adaptation of the Gospel to meet the wants of mankind so self-evident, -the obligations of Christians to commiserate the wretchedness of a world lying in the arms of the wicked one, and the duty of obeying the command of Christ, to spread the glad tidings of salvation, are so evident and indisputable, that the best and most skilfully applied arguments relating to those topics, do not produce so telling an effect, at first thought might be expected. The mind, enlightened, by Divine truth, so readily assents, that it becomes almost impatient, while attending to a lengthened process of argumentation establishing those truths. It is partly on this account, that at Missionary Meetings, scriptural, logical, and eloquent addresses, if of any considerable length, are generally heard, but with little interest, compared with what is excited by the recital of Missionary incidents or anecdotes.

Dr. Harris has divided his work into six parts, in which the following subjects are considered:-" The Missionary Enterprise viewed generally in its Relation to the Word of God.-The Benefits of the Missionary Enterprise.-Encouragement of Christians to prosecute the Missionary Enterprise.-Objections to the Missionary Enterprise.