1. His incarnation: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." The first intimations of mercy to our world related to this glorious event; prediction in successive ages brightened with its hope; and here Isaiah, substituting the pen of history for the harp of prophecy, speaks of it as though it had occurred.

But let us more distinctly examine the prophetic record: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." These words, upon a superficial view, seem only to announce the birth of an extraordinary infant, destined to universal rule; but, upon closer inspection, more will appear. "Unto us a child is born:" and then follows an extraordinary repetition, with a peculiar enhancement of signification : "Unto us a son is given;" not born merely, but "given;" hence previously in existence, and in existence as a Son. The fact is referred to by the Redeemer, in terms precisely similar: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son." The words are every way remarkable. The intensity of the principle in which our redemption originated is denoted by the greatness of the boon bestowed; but that is represented by the phrase, "his only-begotten Son." It is no part of our present purpose to enlarge upon this point: "We have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world: "When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son to be born of a woman, born under the law.”

This wonderful event so expounded assures the ultimate accomplishment of everything beyond: it renders all possible. Is the world to be illuminated? But how is this to be effected? Philosophy had attempted it; and the experiment, a thousand times repeated, had utterly failed. Prophets had taught; yet seeing the people saw not, hearing they did not understand. God himself had spoken directly from heaven; but the Israelites could not bear to hear the words uttered, and entreated that he would not so speak any more. What new plan could infinite Wisdom adopt? He "spake to us by his Son." "God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness shined into our hearts." Was deliverance to be wrought out? But man is enslaved in consequence of guilt. In order to redemption expiation was necessary. That expiation must be a human sacrifice; and to give it value, Divinity must be stamped upon it. And "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." "We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ." A government of peace was to be set up, in "the throne of David, and in his kingdom." Hence it became necessary that the Sovereign should be “ of the seed of David," David's son, as well as David's Lord. A child was born, a son was given; and into his hand was this government committed; "the key of the house of David" was laid "upon his shoulder." Hence it is not merely possible, it is also thus insured. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" "If

when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." 2. His official dignity is another particular which the subject unfolds to warrant our anticipations. "The government shall be on his shoulder." "His name shall be called the Prince of Peace." Being "in the form of God, he thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore also God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The topic occupies a sublime position in the pages of ancient prophecy; but frequently in affecting combination with mysterious intimations of conflict and suffering. Coming" up from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah; glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength; mighty to save." "Ascending on high; leading captivity captive; receiving gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." "I saw in the night visions," said Daniel, "and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him." David in spirit had long before said, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth." It was the misapplication of such sublime predictions that led the Jews to entertain expectations of regal grandeur and secular pomp. But bearing them onward to Mount Olivet, we witness their most literal accomplishment, and behold the Conqueror of death ascending on high amidst thousands of angels; brought as a Son of man to the Ancient of days; invested with mediatorial dominion; and seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens. Then Jehovah sent "the rod of his strength out of Zion," and he began to "rule in the midst of his enemies: " three thousand, many of whom had just before clamoured for his blood, being "pricked in their hearts," and cried out, "What must .we do?" Then his volunteers, his "willing people," came forward, to bear out the standard of his cross to the ends of the world; and their converts, all Priests of the Most High, and clothed in robes of sacerdotal purity, became numerous as the dew-drops of the morning. VOL. XXI. Third Series. AUGUST, 1842.

Third Series.

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"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." And " now all things are put under his feet," and he is "Head over all things to the church." "Be wise therefore, O ye Kings; be instructed, ye Judges of the earth. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way.” "These things saith he that hath the key of David; he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."

3. We referred to the personal qualifications of our Redeemer, as pledged for the security of our hopes. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." But the length to which our remarks have extended, will prevent us from doing more, at present, than to suggest a few passing illustrations on this part of our subject. It is scarcely necessary to say, that "name" is employed as a familiar formula to denote person or character. And Christ is "Wonderful." Incarnate of the Holy Ghost, announced by angels, worshipped by eastern sages, his birth was wonderful. His life combined grandeur and meanness, suffering and innocence, infirmity and power. He was Lord of all, and yet servant of all: and while commanding the resources of the universe, had not where to lay his head; and though the Lord and Giver of life, he died. But his death was wonderful it was voluntary; the death of the great sacrifice of the world; and followed by the resurrection from the dead. The union of natures in his person was wonderful. "God was manifest in the flesh." The combination of offices in his character was wonderful. "Exalted a Prince and a Saviour," "the Apostle and High Priest of our profession," he is "made of God unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption." We tread on holy ground. In an earlier interposition, he checked inquiry by saying, Why askest thou after my name, seeing it is Wonderful?" "Counsellor." He is that infinite "Wisdom which was set up from everlasting;" by "whom Kings reign and Princes decree justice;" who leads "in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment." All the truths of revelation are the discoveries of his mind; all the arrangements of Providence, the counsels of his will. He is our great High Priest, who, having stood in the divine counsel, came forth from the heavenly sanctuary as "the Messenger of the Lord of hosts." "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips." (6 Counsellor," in the sense of Advocate. "Entered into heaven now to appear in the presence of God for us." fore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." "The mighty God." He is "God over all, blessed for ever." "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word

"Where

was God." "God all-sufficient," all-powerful. In the original creation, he spake and it was done: for "all things were made by him." And soon he that sitteth upon the throne will say, “Behold, I make all things new." What are difficulties before Omnipotence? "The everlasting Father." This is rendered by the Seventy, "The Father of the world to come;" an exposition deriving full countenance from St. Paul: "Unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come: "Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." Christ is from eternity: his "goings forth were of old, even from everlasting :" "He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." And the Father of his church: "Behold," saith he, "I and the children whom the Lord hath given me: and, "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." And, lastly, "The Prince of Peace." "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself." "He came and preached peace to you which were far off, and to them that were nigh." "He will give strength unto his people; he will bless his people with peace." "In his days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.”

"Hail to the Lord's Anointed,

Great David's greater Son!

Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

O'er all his foes victorious,

He on his throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious,

All blessing and all bless'd.
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove :

His name shall stand for ever;

That name to us is Love."

We must here close our attempts to unfold this lofty theme. We have employed the prophecy to call forth the hopes of the church into joyous anticipation; and so to encourage its Missionary and militant exertions and movements. But we have reviewed two very different conditions of the world, placed in affecting contrast; in one or other of which every one of you is placed. Ought we then to separate without a personal application of the subject to ourselves? You cannot have listened to our statements, and not have perceived what astonishing means have been put in requisition to save you. And yet some are "loving darkness rather than light:" some are under "the yoke of the oppressor," "serving divers lusts and pleasures:" and this, amid the splendour of Gospel-day, in the presence

of the incarnate Deliverer. Yes; some, in effect, say, "We will not have this man to reign over us." And is this your unhappy case? O, my brethren, "awake to righteousness." Hear the voice of your Redeemer, saying, "Come unto me: take my yoke upon you." I entreat you, "Cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light." Surely you will not allow this kingdom to pass by you, and leave you, through eternity, when it is beheld beyond the impassable gulf, to the bitter reflection, "I was once upon its threshold ; I might have entered; the door is shut." Shall the rod of the oppressor fall upon your spirit, in the fearful stripes of everlasting remorse and wretchedness? Are you resolved, heedless of the light, to push forward into "outer darkness?" Do thou, O Day-spring from on high, who hast "visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace," pour illumination upon every spirit; lead this people to follow thee; and conduct us all to everlasting repose!

And now, "blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen."

THE DEITY OF CHRIST.

THE root of our belief that Christ is God, is in the Scriptures; but we consider it spread into three branches: 1. The evident word itself, that Christ is God. 2. The real declaration thereof in his manifold miracles. 3. The conclusions that arise to our understandings, thus illumined by the Scriptures, thus established by his miracles.

In every mouth, in every pen, of the Scripture, that delivers any truth, the Holy Ghost speaks; and, therefore, whatsoever is said by any there, is the testimony of the Holy Ghost for the Deity of Christ. And from the Father we have this testimony, that he is his Son,"This is my beloved Son ;" and this testimony that his Son is God,— "Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." The Holy Ghost testifies, and his Father, and Himself; and his testimony is true," I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." He testifies with his Father; and then their angels and his Apostles testify with him,-"I Jesus have sent mine angel, to testify unto you these things in the church, that I am the root and the offspring of David;" not the offspring only, but the root also. God and his angels in heaven testify it, and visible angels on earth, his Apostles," God hath purchased his church with his own blood:" he who shed his blood for the church was God. God, that is, God in all the Persons; angels, that is, angels in all their acceptations, angels of heaven, angels of the church, angels excommunicate from both, the fallen angels, devils themselves; testify his Godhead,-" Unclean spirits fell down before him, and cried, Thou art the Son of God."