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of the whole world," and is there such malignity in the sins of any individual, that there is not a sufficiency in his blood to atone for them? Let us put away such disparaging thoughts of this Lamb of God: let us view him as infinite both in power and grace: let us listen to his encouraging invitation, "Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth":" and let us, whatever be our state, trust in him, as " able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him."]

4. Let the professor of godliness "behold" him—

[Well may you rejoice in the sufficiency of your Saviour's merits; well may you glory in the security which his blood affords you. But remember, it is not the guilt of sin only that he removes, but the power of it also: and the experience of the latter is our only evidence that we have experienced the former. "To redeem us from the love and practice of iniquity, and to purify us unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works," was no less the intent of his death, than to deliver us from condemnation"." While therefore we behold the Lamb of God as the ground of our hope, let us also behold him as a pattern for our imitation. Let us follow his steps in all meekness and patience, in all purity and holiness: and let us convince the world that faith in Christ, so far from relaxing our zeal for good works, is the strongest incentive to the performance of them.]

m Isai. xlv. 22.

n Tit. ii. 14. 1 Pet. ii. 24. o 1 Pet. ii. 21.

MDCII.

SIGHT OF JESUS, A SOURCE OF JOY.

John i. 45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

A GENERAL expectation of the Messiah prevailed in Israel at the time of our Saviour's advent: and when his forerunner, John the Baptist, was sent, very wonderful were the effects produced by his ministry. Though he did no miracle, yet he excited the attention of the whole Jewish nation. The sanctity of his character, and the power of his words, soon gained him the name of a prophet: and, as there had been no prophet in Israel for the space of

about four hundred years, his labours were hailed as a return of God's love to his people; and persons of all ranks and orders flocked to him, and submitted to his baptism. Many began to suppose that he was the Messiah himself. That, however, he disclaimed: but he avowed himself to be the person spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah eight hundred years before, as sent of God to make known the Messiah, who was already come. Accordingly, he pointed out the Lord Jesus Christ to them, as "the Lamb of God that should take away the sin of the world"." This testimony of his, supported by the visible descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Lord Jesus at his baptism, gained credit with some. We do not read that Jesus had yet awhile wrought any miracle: but there was in his appearance what seemed amply sufficient to justify John's testimony respecting him; and those who were introduced to the knowledge of him were very desirous to impart to others the benefit they had received. The first to whom the discovery of the Messiah was made, was Andrew; and he immediately communicated the glad tidings to his brother Peter. The next to whom Jesus made himself known was Philip: and he also, like Andrew, sought some friend to whom to impart this joyful intelligence; and, on finding Nathanael, endeavoured to make him a partaker of his joy, saying, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

That you, also, may

I will shew,

be partakers of the same joy,

I. How amply the Lord Jesus Christ is described in the writings of the Old Testament

We may notice it,

1. More generally in the writings of Moses

[At the very beginning of the world, even whilst man was yet in Paradise, Moses informs, that the Messiah was foretold, as "the seed of the woman who should bruise the serpent's head," and deliver men, though not without grievous sufferings

a ver. 29.

to himself, from the fatal effects of Adam's transgression". He, at a period far distant from that, announces the Saviour as a descendant of Abraham; and as one " in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Afterwards, he comes more fully to declare both the time of his advent, and the character he should sustain. He informs us that this Almighty Shiloh should come into the world before the power vested in the tribe of Judah should have departed from it. All the other scribes should long since have been reduced to a dependence on foreigners: but Judah's dominion should remain, and not be utterly destroyed, till the Messiah should have appeared in the world. Moreover, he should come as a prophet; as "a prophet like unto Moses;" uniting in himself the offices of a Legislator, an Instructor, a Mediator, a Governor, a Saviour.

Thus fully did Moses speak of him, independently of all the types which most accurately and minutely delineated the whole of his work and office.]

2. More particularly, in the writings of the prophets

[Nothing can be conceived more ample or minute than the descriptions given of the Messiah in the prophetic writings. The family from which he should spring was restricted to that of David. Yet he should not be born in a way of natural generation, but of a pure Virgins. The place of his birth was distinctly foretold: it should be Bethlehem: and not the Bethlehem in the land of Naphtali, but Bethlehem Ephratah in the land of Judahh. The time also was fixed; for he must come whilst the second temple was yet standing. In his appearance, however, he should be so mean, that it should raise many doubts amongst his followers, and prove a stumblingblock to many: he should be "as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he should have no form nor comeliness in the eyes of those who beheld him, nor any beauty for which he should be desired." In consequence of his having none of the attractions of carnal men, he should be despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: men should hide their faces from him, as one despised and held in no esteem1." The end of his coming was also very fully declared: he should come to "bear the sins of many," "to be wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was to be upon him; and by his stripes we were to be healedm." The mode in which he should conduct

b Gen. iii. 15.

d Gen. xlix. 10. f Ps. cxxxii. 11.

h Mic. v. 2.

Isai. liii. 3.

c Gen. xii. 3. and xxii. 18.
e Deut. xviii. 18.

Acts ii. 30. Isai. xi. 1.

i Mal. iii. 1.

m Isai. liii. 5, 6.

g Isai. vii. 14.

k Isai. liii. 2.

himself under all these trials, was also made known: "He should be led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so should he not so much as open his mouth"." The manner in which he should be put to death was to be by crucifixion; though that was not a Jewish, but a Roman punishment. And yet he should be exempted from that which was a customary attendant on it-the breaking of his legs: for, though pierced in his hands, his feet, his side, "not a bone of him was to be broken P." Time would fail me to speak of the incidents which were foretold relative to his treatment whilst yet upon the cross, the insults they offered him, the giving him vinegar to drink', the casting lots on his vesture3, their putting him to death between two malefactors; or the mode of his interment in the tomb of a rich man, though in his death he was numbered with the most abject of the human race":-I will pass over these things, and only mention his resurrection, with the precise time it should take place, even the third day, before his body should have seen corruption; and his ascension, also, to the highest heavens'; and his sending down of the Holy Spirit, to testify of him, and to qualify his Disciples for the work of propagating his Gospel, and establishing his kingdom in the world. Let all these things be considered; and you will say, there was such a body of evidence relating to the Messiahship of Jesus, as, in any considerate mind, must preclude a possibility of doubt.]

The joy expressed at the finding of Jesus will lead me to shew,

II. What an acquisition He is to all who can truly "We have found him-"

say, A distant prospect of him, from the remotest ages, had been a ground of very exalted joy

[We cannot doubt but that our first parents rejoiced much in the promise given them relative to " the seed of the woman;" and that Abel also felt rich consolation in his soul, whilst offering up a firstling of his flock, in token of his dependence on him. But in the case of Abraham we are not left to conjecture: we know infallibly, that he did foresee the day of Christ; and that, in the prospect of it, he greatly rejoiced. Indeed the designation given him by the prophet, as "the Desire of all Nations," clearly shews in what light he was regarded by those who had any insight into his proper character.]

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At the time of his advent, and during his sojourning on earth, the discovery of him was deemed a subject of self-congratulation

[As announced by the angelic choir to the shepherds, we behold him in this view: "Behold, I bring you glad 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 how his Virgin Mother gloried in him, you well know: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." In truth, all who waited for his coming, looked for him as "the Consolation of Israel." The delight expressed by Andrew and Philip, on their introduction to him, has been already noticed and we cannot doubt but that all his Apostles, who so willingly left their all to follow him, found in him an ample compensation for all that they had lost. In truth, the experience of Zaccheus must have pervaded multitudes, whilst they listened to his words of grace, and felt, in their bodies and in their souls, the mighty working of his power -]

The joy of his servants, after the publication of his Gospel, was yet greater, in proportion to the clearer discoveries which they had of his transcendent excellence

[Behold the thousands on the day of Pentecost! What a change was wrought on them by the revelation of Christ to their souls! In the morning, their hearts were as full of all malignity as that of Satan himself: in the evening, you find them "eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, blessing and praising Godh." The people of Samaria, the Ethiopian Eunuch, the Jailor and his family, all, as soon as they heard of him, found the sure accompaniment of faith in him. And what shall I say of the Apostle Paul? No man ever had so much of his own to glory in as he: yet did he account it all but loss for Christ; yea, he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord."]

And is there any difference in the experience of his servants at this day?

[None at all. I will appeal to all who know him. I will ask, Whether, in their estimation, he do not fully answer to "the treasure hid in a field ;" and to "the pearl of great

c Luke ii. 10, 11. f Mark x. 28, 29.

d Luke i. 46, 47.
g Luke xix. 5, 6.

e Luke ii. 25. h Acts ii. 41, 46. k Phil. iii. 4—8.

i Acts viii. 8, 39. and xvi. 34.

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