such was the state of the Hebrews, when this epistle was written to them: and the Apostle, studious to fortify them against the impending danger, exhorts them to remember their deceased pastors, following their faith, and considering the blessed way in which they had terminated their career. Moreover, as the

most effectual means of preserving them from being "carried about with any strange doctrines," different from what had been delivered to them, he suggests to them this thought, That Jesus Christ, who had been ever preached among them, and who was the one foundation of all their hopes, was still the same; the same infinitely gracious, almighty, and ever-blessed Saviour. "Remember," says he," them which have had the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever."

These last words were chosen by your late worthy minister, as his subject on the first day of this year, and, as I am informed, were particularly recommended to you as your motto for the year ninetyseven. On this, as well as other accounts, they seem to claim peculiar attention from us: and, O that the good Spirit of God may accompany them with his blessing, while we endeavour to improve them, and to offer from them such considerations as may appear suited to you, under your present most afflictive circumstances!

Your late faithful, loving, and much beloved pastor is no more he that was, not in profession merely, but in truth, "a guide to the blind, a light of them which were in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, and a teacher of babes;" he that for so many years spent all his time, and found all his delight, in imparting the knowledge of salvation both to old and young; he, I say, is taken from you; and your loss is unspeakably severe. But is all gone? No. He that formed him by his grace, raised him up to be a witness, and sent him to preach the Gospel to you for a season, remains the same; he has still "the

residue of the Spirit," and can send forth ten thousand such labourers into his vineyard, whensoever it shall please him. Though the creature, on whose lips you have so often hung with profit and delight, is now no more, yet the Creator, the Redeemer, the Saviour of the world is still the same; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever: he is the same in the dignity of his person-the extent of his power-the virtue of his sacrifice-the tenderness of his compassion-and in fidelity to his promises.

I. In the dignity of his person

The terms "yesterday, to-day, and for ever," are expressive of a true and proper eternity: they do not import merely a long duration, but an existence that never had a beginning, nor shall ever have an end. In this view they are frequently applied to Jehovah, to distinguish him from any creature, how exalted soever he might be. When God revealed his name to Moses, that name whereby he was to be made known to the Israelites, he called himself I AM :

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say to them, I AM hath sent me unto you:" and St. John expressly distinguishing the Father both from Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit, calls him the person "who is, and was, and is to come." Now this august title is given repeatedly to Jesus Christ, both in the Old and New Testament. The very words of our text evidently refer to the 102d Psalm, where the psalmist, indisputably speaking of Jehovah, says, "Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." And lest there should be the smallest doubt to whom this character belongs, the author of this epistle quotes the words in the very first chapter, insists upon them as immediately applicable to the Messiah, and adduces them in proof, that Christ was infinitely superior to any created being, even "God blessed for evermore." Our Lord himself on various occasions asserted his claim to this title to the carnal Jews, who thought him a mere creature like

e Heb. i. 12.

themselves, he said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." And when he appeared to John in a vision, he said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Behold then the dignity of our Lord and Saviour! "His goings forth have been from everlasting":" he was set up "from everlasting; from the beginning, or ever the earth wash." We must say of him, in the words of David, "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." And is this a matter of small importance? Does the Christian feel no interest in this truth? Yea, is it not the very foundation of all his comforts? He may be deemed a bigot for laying such a stress on the divinity of Christ but having once tasted the bitterness, and seen the malignity of sin, he is well persuaded, that the blood of a creature could never have availed to expiate his guilt, nor could any thing less than "the righteousness of God" himself, suffice for his acceptance in the day of judgment. Know then, believer, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever he is the eternal and immutable Jehovah : he is worthy of all thy love, of all thy trust, of all thy confidence. Thou needest never be afraid of thinking too highly of him: when thou" honourest him as thou honourest the Father," then thou regardest him in the manner that becomes thee: when thou bowest the knee before him, and confesses him him as thy Sovereign Lord, then thou most effectually glorifiest God the Father. Remember then, under all the trying dispensations thou mayest meet with, and, most of all, under the bereavement which thou art now so bitterly lamenting, that he, in whom thou hast believed, is an all-sufficient Saviour; and that when thou lookest to him for any blessing whatsoever, thou mayest cry with confident assurance, My Lord, and my God." The ministers of the Church" are not suffered to continue by reason of death." That tongue which lately was "as a tree of

f Rev. i. 8.

h Prov. viii. 23.

g Mic. v. 2.

i Phil. ii. 10, 11.

life," under the shadow of which you sat with great delight, and the fruit whereof was sweet unto your taste, now lies silent in the tomb. Our departed friend has experienced that change, which sooner or later awaits us all he will ere long experience a still further change, when "his corruptible shall put on incorruption, and his mortal, immortality;" when his body, that now lies mouldering in the dust, shall be "raised like unto Christ's glorious body," and "shine above the sun in the firmament for ever and ever:" he is not to-day what he was yesterday: nor shall be for ever what he now is. This honour of eternal, immutable self-existence, belongs not to the highest archangel; for though the angels may be subject to no further change, it was but yesterday that they were first created. To Christ alone belongs this honour; and "with him there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

II. As Jesus Christ is eternally the same in the dignity of his person, so is he also in the extent of his power.

We are informed, both in the psalm from whence the text is taken, and in the first chapter of this epistle, where it is cited, that Jesus Christ was the Creator of the universe; "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." And from the first moment of its existence he has " upheld it by the word of his power." In the days of his flesh, he still exercised the same omnipotence: "Whatsoever the Father did, that did the Son likewise." On ten thousand occasions he wrought the most stupendous miracles, and shewed that every created being was subject to his will. He not only cleansed the lepers, and caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk, but he raised the dead, cast out devils, and controlled the very elements, saying to the wind, Be still; and to the waves, Be calm. Nor, in this, did he act as one that had received a delegated authority; but as one who

had an essential, and unalienable right to exercise universal dominion. Though, as man, he acknowledged subjection to his Father, and, as mediator, spake and acted in his Father's name, yet, in all his miracles, he put forth a virtue inherent in himself; he made his own will the rule and measure of his conduct, and stamped the impression of divinity on all his actions. And is he not still the same? What he was yesterday, will he not also be to-day, and for ever? Is there any disorder of the soul or body, that he cannot heal? Are any lusts so raging, that he cannot calm them, or so inveterate, that he cannot root them out? Cannot he that formed the rude and indigested chaos into order and beauty, create our souls anew? Cannot he that said, " Let there be light, and there was light," transform our corrupted hearts into the Divine image in righteousness and true holiness? Cannot he that "triumphed over all the principalities and powers" of hell," bruise Satan under our feet also?" In short, "is there any thing too hard for him?" No, he is still the same: he, to whom " all power in heaven and in earth has been committed," still holds the reins of government, and "ordereth all things after the counsel of his own will." What comfort may not this afford you under your present affliction! It pleased him for a season to set over you a faithful pastor, by whom he has called hundreds into his fold, and "turned multitudes from the error of their ways." But though your honoured minister was the instrument, he was only an instrument; he was but" an axe in the hands of him that heweth therewith," an "earthen vessel in which was deposited the heavenly treasure," and by whom Christ communicated to you his "unsearchable riches:" "The excellency of the power was altogether Christ's." And has the power ceased, because the instrument is laid aside? "Is the Lord's ear heavy, that he cannot hear? or is his hand shortened, that he cannot save?" O remember, that though the stream is cut off, the fountain still remains; and every one of you may go to it, and