fort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, and to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning; and the garment of praise for the fpirit of heaviness (a). He exercifed moft tender compaffion to dark, doubting and tempted fouls. The bruised reed did he not break, and the fmoaking flax did he not quench, until he brought forth judgment unto truth (b). He ftrengthened the weak hands; and confirmed the feeble knees; and said to them of a faint heart, be strong, fear not (c).—He warned the carelefs and fecure finners of their mifery and danger; and proclaimed unto them the day of vengeance of our God (d). He warned them to be wife, to ferve the Lord with fear; and to kifs the Son, left he bould be angry, and they perish by the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little (e).-He made the path-way of falvation plain before the eyes of all those who believe in him; like an highway, where the wayfaring men, though fools, could not err (f). He confidered his people as his flock; and took care of them, as a moft watchful and careful Shepherd. He fed his flock like a Shepherd, he gathered his lambs with his arm, he carried them in his bofom, and gently led thofe that were with young (g). I next proceed to give you a view of our Lord Jefus Chrift, as the great HIGH PRIEST of our Profeffion. As fuch, he undertook to make an atonement and expiation for our fins. He bore our griefs, and carried our forrows; the chaflifement of our peace was upon him, and with his ftripes we are healed. God laid upon him the iniquity of us all; and he made his foul an offering for our fins (h). Thus be finished the tranfgreffion, made an end of fin, and made reconciliation for iniquity (i). He likewife wrought (a) Ifa. Ixi. 1, 2, 3. D 3 (b) Ifa. xlii. 3. out a perfect righteoufnefs for finners, whereby they fhould be juftified before God, and accepted of him. God raised up this righteous branch unto David, in whofe day Judah is faved, and Ifrael dwells fafely; and this is the name whereby he is called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (a). He is one who fpeaks in righteousness, mighty to fave (b). For he has brought in everlasting righteousness (c). As a Prieft likewife, he brings us into a covenant-relation to God. He is the Meffenger or Angel of the covenant (d). The Lord in an accepted time heard him; and in a day of falvation has helped him, has preferved him, and given him for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth (e). By the blood of his covenant, God has fent forth his prisoners out of the pit, wherein there is no water; and God has promised that he will keep his mercy for him for evermore; and that his covenant shall stand faft with him (f). Thus the counfel of peace was between God the Father and him. In a word, as our Prieft, he is our advocate with the Father, and makes interceffion for tranfgreffors (g). Thus we fee, that according to God's oath concerning him, he remaineth a prief for ever, after the order of Melchizedec (h). This bleffed Saviour fuftained likewife the office of a KING. God hath fet this his King upon his holy bill of Zion (i).The throne of God (our Saviour) is for ever and ever; and the fceptre of his kingdom is a right fceptre (k). — -As a King he reigns in the hearts of his people, brings them into fubjection to himself; and makes them willing in the day of his power (1). As a King he fits at God's right hand; and rules in the midst of his enemies (m). In his Majesty (a) Jer. xxii. 5, 6. (b) Ifa. lxiii. iii. I. iiii. 12. xlv. 6. (e) Ifa. xlix. 8. (h) Pfal. cx. 4. (1) Pfal. cx, 3. 1. (c) Dan. ix. 24. (d) Mal. (g) Ifa. (k) Pfal. jefty he rides forth profperously; and his arrows are fharp in the heart of the King's enemies (a).-His regal office was not limited to the time of his bodily refidence among us; for of the increase of his government and peace there is no end. He fits upon the throne of David, and in his kingdom, to order it and to eftablifh it, with judgment and with juftice, from henceforth even for ever (b).-Such caufe had Zion to rejoice greatly, and the daughter of Jerufalem to fhout; for behold, her King came to her, juft, and having falvation (c). Having thus fhewn, from the prophetic account of our bleffed Saviour, the time of his manifeftation, his descent, the place of his birth, and the place of his principal refidence, with the circumstances of his appearing in the world, and the characters in which he appeared, I proceed to observe some of his diftinguishing qualities, and the more remarkable incidents of his life and death. As to his perfonal properties, he was perfectly innocent, and moft exemplarily holy both in heart and life; and in that respect fairer than the chil dren of men. Grace was poured into his lips, therefore God hath blessed him for ever (d). He was God's righteous fervant, and there was no deceit found in his mouth (e). He was the Sun of righteousness, which arofe upon his people with healing under his wings, or in his rays (f). He was of a meek and lowly difpofition. This King of Zion came to her, not only just and having falvation, but fhewed himself lowly, by most aftonishing condefcenfions (g).—He gave his back to the fmiters; and his cheek to them who plucked off the hair; he hid not his face from fame and spitting (h). Though (a) Pfal. xlv. 4, 5. xlv. 2. ix, 9. (b) Ifa. ix. 7. (c) Zéch. ix. 9. · ́` (d) ́Pfal. (f) Mal. iv, 2. (g) Zech. Though he was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth (a). He did not cry, nor lift up, nor caufe his voice to be heard in the fireets (b). He was endowed with astonishing wisdom and capacity. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord (c). Thus did the Servant of the Lord deal prudently, he was exalted and extolled; and was very high (d). He, and only he, of all the human race, could fay, counsel is mine, and found wisdom, I am understanding, I have Strength (e). Previous to his entering upon his public ministry, there was a meffenger fent before him, to prepare the hearts of God's people for his reception, whofe voice cried in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make ftraight in the defart a high way for our God. Every valley fhall be exalted; and every mountain and hill fhall be made low; and the crooked fhall be made ftraight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord fhall be revealed; and all fefh fhall fee it together: For the mouth of the Lord hath Spoken it (f). Thus God fent one to his people in the fpirit of Elijah the Prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers. He fent his mef fenger to prepare his way before him; and then the Lord whom they fought came fuddenly to his temple (g). When he entered upon his public ministry, God gave him the tongue of the learned, that he fhould know how to speak a word in feafon to him that is weary; and and he was most painful and diligent in his work; he was awakened morning by morning, his ear was awakened to hear, and vigorously to attend to the great business before him (a).-—He began his miniftry in the mountainous parts of Judea; and how beautiful then upon the mountains were the feet of him who brought good tidings, who published peace, who brought good tidings of good, who published falvation, who faid unto Zion, Thy God reigneth (b). As he refided in Galilee (as was before obferved) fo his minifiry early and peculiarly enlightened thofe dark corners, the land of Zebulan, and the land of Naphthali; though they had drvelt in the land of the fhadow of death, this light shined upon them (c). But then, his miniftry was not limited to them. This Star which came out of Jacob (d) enlightened the whole land of Ifrael, in that time of grofs ignorance, and thick darknefs.-They might all be called upon to arife and shine, for their light was come, and the glory of the Lord was rifen upon them. Though darkness had covered the earth, and grofs darkness the people, yet the Lord arose upon them, and his glory was feen upon them (e). He preached righ teousness in the great congregation (f). He came into the temple (g), and by his preaching there, made the glory of that latter houfe much greater than the glory of the former, which was built by Solomon (h). In what manner he fulfilled his ministry, has been already confidered. In confirmation of his divine miffion, he wrought many wonderful miracles aniong the people whereever he went. The Lord their God came among them; he came to fave them: Then the eyes of the blind were opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; the (a) Ifa, 1.4. xxiv. 17. iii. I. (b) Ifa. lii. 7. (e) Ifa. lx. 1, 20 (h) Hag. ii. 9. (c) Ifa. ix. I, 2. (f) Pfal. xl. 9. (d) Numb. (g) Mal. |
