nor even principally, the personal character of Christ, as the subjects and characteristics of his revelation. In Him it is seen how God is "a just God and a Saviour." He declares "the righteousness of God." He shows how the guilty may be pardoned, the unholy sanctified; the interests of righteousness be secured, the objects of righteousness gained. The excellency of divine rectitude; the maintenance of it while the sinner is pardoned; the elevation of the fallen to the power of obedience;-all shine brilliantly in Christ.

3. "Shall arise." The words are a promise of the Saviour's actual appearance and manifestation in the world. were fulfilled at the appointed time.

They

4. The remainder of the text describes the blessings given by him. Not but that they were given previously, and given by himself, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." They were now to be given more abundantly, more extensively, and with more decided reference to their derivation from God's mercy in his Son.

(i.) "With healing in his wings." Man's state is one of moral disease; and the remedy is in Christ. And this he first applies. He gives sight to the blind, that they may follow him in the way. The great work of healing men began even. in Christ's own days. When his apostles fully made known his grace, then began the full flow of nations to him. So with. the Philippian jailor. As soon as he discovered his fallen condition, he was at once directed to Christ for health and

cure.

(ii.) "And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." The saved were to go forth, as though liberated from prison, to engage in God's service; to prosecute the business of life; as pilgrims to travel heavenward. And with this active engagement in duty, spiritual advancement and growth is to be connected: increasing light, strength, devotedness; a larger capacity; more abundant grace.

And thus it was. They who received Christ, obtained mercy; with peace of mind, and power derived from divine aid, they went forth; they prayed, believed, used the means of grace, their growth was that of the vigorous plant, of the healthy child.

L

II. I add a few observations by way of improvement and conclusion.

In pointing out the blessings which the pious Jews might anticipate at the coming of Christ, the prophet indicates. the ordinary blessings of the Gospel: "the common salvation." See them,

1. In their nature. The work begins by the restoring mercy of God. The sinner, pardoned and renewed, "goes forth" to that work of holy obedience which now becomes practicable; and "grows" in grace, and meetness for heaven. Healing, obedience, and growth, are the great blessings of the Gospel.

2. In their derivation from Christ. They who would now enjoy them, must enter into "the holiest by the blood of Jesus." "Him hath God set forth a propitiation through faith in his blood." Faith is to fix on Christ's atonement, because in this channel alone they flow down to us.

Let us rejoice, then, in the day of mercy that has visited the earth. Let us look to the Saviour for salvation for ourselves, and walk in the light of his countenance.

Otherwise, let us not forget, "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that obey not his Gospel." Life and death, a blessing and a curse, are set before you. Choose ye life, that your souls may live.

ADDRESS TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."-EPHESIANS vi. 4.

I HAVE to address two classes; and in doing this, the text will help me. It shows what parents ought to do; and thus, what children ought to be.

I. I address myself first to PARENTS.

You are not to "provoke your children to wrath." Authority is not without its dangers. It may be loved for its own sake.

It may be exercised with warmth of temper. We may thus be the tyrants of our house. We command, or forbid, not in holy wisdom, but because we choose to do so; as the expression of our own will. We thus awaken resentment; kindle evil passions; provoke resistance. The whole object of the domestic constitution is thus in danger of being lost. Fear may produce partial and temporary submission; but the restraint being removed, the evil bursts forth with greater violence. Combine meekness and love with firmness; and exercise authority with holy wisdom. You exercise authority from God: take care that it be exercised according to the will of God. It is so when the temper is according to the divine will; and the objects.

You are to "bring them up," to educate them. This therefore is your duty. Education consists in giving proper information to the mind, and a proper direction to all the habits. What they ought to know, and what they ought to be, you are to set before you, and bring them up accordingly.

The particular character of this is described; so that you cannot mistake. It is to be "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." That is, let the discipline under which you place them, and the instruction you give them, constitute a part of your own religious duty, be such as the Lord approves. It will not be difficult to ascertain the great principles of the education we are thus required to give.

Recollect, we are ourselves the subjects of the moral government of God. Train up your children to know, reverence, and obey, the laws by which it is exercised.

There is a certain state of mind and character well-pleasing to God: that which he designed for such a creature as man. When our faculties are duly harmonized, and conscience reigns over them all; when we know, love, and obey the truth of God; when our affections desire the blessings which God gives, and our conscience acknowledges the authority which God exercises; when man is, in fact, and according to the divine will, a moral being; then is he what his Creator intends. Bring up your children in reference to this.

There are objects which God proposes to us, and by our choice and pursuit of which our whole conduct is regulated.

Spiritual and eternal good are thus placed before us. Bring them up in constant and supreme regard to this.

Every child, as he grows up, experiences a development and formation of character. Education is designed both to watch over and direct the process, that it may issue as God himself wills. When this is done, you " bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" and this you are commanded to do. For this the domestic constitution is established. It is thus that religion is, as one principal instrumentality, perpetuated.

To this we call you. It is the positive command of God. So far as human agency is concerned, the character of each coming generation depends on this. Nothing completely supplies its absence, or is an entire remedy for any deficiencies that may exist. It enters into the original scheme of Providence; belongs to the essential constitution of human society: you cannot neglect it, and be guiltless before God.

Take care that your children be well-ordered and wellinstructed. Maintain domestic discipline. The insubordination that begins in the house, where it is restrained by personal affections, will loosen the whole structure of society. Where Christian education is thus neglected, society itself is endangered.

So train them up, that in ripe but early years they may, personally, take the Lord for their God. Supply the church with youthful members, the state with healthy accessions, by bringing up your children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

II. I have purposed to address myself to the CHILDREN, well as to their parents.

as

And it corresponds with that which God has made incumbent on the parents. Of these, the duty is, to bear rule; of the others, to submit: of the one, to teach; of the other, to be instructed.

I remind you of parental authority. They possess it by the will of God; and one most explicit and remarkable command, recognised under the New Testament as "the first commandment with promise," is, "Honour thy father and thy mother." Practical contempt is a sin against God; and be sure that sin

will find you out. Seek not an early mastery; be willing to be guided. Despise not instruction: be willing to be taught. It is in your father's house you are to prepare for the labours, and trials, and blessings of life. Secure the full advantage of the early training with which you are favoured. Resolve to begin life with the blessing of God.

I remind you of the great object of your parents,—your present and eternal salvation. For this they early presented you to God, and the seal of the covenant was imprinted on your tender infancy, in token of their own faith in the promise; their desire that you should inherit it; their resolution to bring you up as disciples of the Saviour. They thus, sacramentally, and with many prayers, consecrated you to God. You are old enough for a personal choice. You need the removal of guilt from your conscience. You need "the washing of regeneration." The great blessings of the Gospel are no longer to be had as mere gifts of mercy, utterly independent of your choice. Personal accountability has commenced. You must now take the Lord for your God. There must be personal faith in Christ, for personal pardon. There must be a closer union with the church by your personal choice.

Life is opening before you. Will you enter the path under the guidance of mere human wisdom? Do you seek the protection of human power? Do you look to the resources of human goodness? If so, dark and comfortless will your path be, even though occasionally lighted up by artificial illuminations. And if the tempests extinguish them not, the tapers will soon consume themselves, and leave you at life's close, without a cheering ray for your passage through the valley and shadaw of death.

Do you shrink from this? friend. Secure his blessing.

Begin by making God your
It is much to be guided by

his counsel: it is more to be afterwards received to his glory.