put his hand on the head of his offering, confessing his desert of death, renouncing every self-righteous hope, and trusting simply in the sacrifice once made upon the cross. Lastly it implies, that this one offering, thus presented, shall be available for the very chief of sinners. God's end in sending his Son was, not only to save man, but to glorify himself in man's salvation. It is true, that all his perfections are glorified in the salvation of the most righteous: but the efficacy of this atonement, together with God's love in providing, and his mercy in accepting it, are more conspicuous in proportion as those interested in it are redeemed from deeper condemnation. have imposed such a condition for the purpose of saving a few only of the more worthy characters, would have given us reason to apprehend, either that the mercy of God was very limited, or that there was not a sufficiency in the Redeemer's merits for the redemption of more atrocious sinners. But as these apprehensions are false and groundless, we may consider the very condition itself as importing, that the offering of Christ should be accepted for all that would trust in it.

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We are not however left to conclude the efficacy of Christ's atonement from the mere circumstance of its being imposed as a condition, since, with the condition, the prophet specifies

II. The promises suspended on it.

For the purpose of arranging them in our minds, we may consider them as respecting the good of mankind, the advancement of Christ, and the glory of the Father.

The good of mankind entirely depended on Christ's performance of this condition: not one of all the human race could ever have been saved without it. Our Lord himself both confirms and illustrates this by a beautiful, comparison. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone: but, if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." But by dying he was to obtain a people whom he was to possess for ever as his "purchased possession." It had

a John xii. 24.

been foretold respecting him that "a seed should serve him; that all the ends of the earth should remember themselves and turn unto him; and that they should be counted to him for a generation." By conversion they were to stand related to him as his children, as being begotten by his word and Spirit, and as receiving through him an heavenly inheritance. These he was to "see." And behold, while he was yet in the very act of offering himself, he did see the earnest and first-fruits of his future harvest: in the very hour of death he converted the dying thief, and took him that very day to dwell with him in paradise, as a monument of his victorious grace, and of his redeeming love. Nor had he long poured out his soul, when lo, another convert was born to God. No sooner did the Centurion, who had been ordered to superintend the execution, behold the manner of his death, and the signs and wonders that attended it, than he exclaimed, Truly this was a righteous man, this was the Son of God. In the space of a few days thousands confessed his power, and through the operation of his Spirit, became sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. Soon the handful of corn cast on the top of the mountains sprang up like the piles of grass for number, and the cedars of Lebanon for strength. Even to the present hour his family is increasing in every quarter of the globe: and soon the time shall arrive, when "a nation shall be born in a day," and that word of his shall be literally fulfilled, "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." And when all the number of his elect shall have been gathered to him in successive ages, he will come and summon them all into his presence, that he may rejoice in them, and they in him, for ever and ever.

His own advancement was to be another fruit of the accomplishment of his engagements. This cannot relate to him as God, seeing that his divine nature necessarily exists in one unsuccessive eternity. But as man and as Mediator, he was to "prolong his days" in a state of glorious advancement, as a reward for terminating his days on earth under such circumstances of

b Ps. xxii. 27, 30.

e Ps. lxxii. 16.

humiliation and abasement. This also had been foretold in the inspired volume; "he shall live; his name shall endure forever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed." Again, in another Psalm, "Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness; thou settest a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever." Accordingly, in spite of the stone, the seal, the watch, he rose triumphant, and ascended up far above all principalities and powers, and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.. There shall he remain seated on his glorious throne, the one source of blessedness to all his creatures, till he shall come in the clouds of heaven, and take them to himself, that they may be one fold under one Shepherd for evermore. But all his glory was conditionally promised: he was first to "become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; and then he was to be highly exalted, and to have a name given him above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ was Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The happiness of promoting his Father's glory was to be, yet a further part of his reward. The pleasure of Jehovah, yea, his chief delight, is to save sinners. This was the end he proposed to himself in his eternal counsels, when he entered into covenant with his dear Son. He has given proof of this, in that he has sworn, "he has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live." "He willeth that all should be saved and come to the acknowledgment of the truth:" and, with respect to his elect, it is his good pleasure absolutely to give them the kingdom." Nor, if we would intreat him to convert and save our souls, can we use any more suitable expressions than those of the apostle, who prays, "that

d'Ps. lxxii. 15, 17.
f Phil. ii. 8-11,

e Ps. xxi. 1-5.

g Luke xii. 32.

he would fulfil in us all the good pleasure of his goodness." But his sending of his Son, in order that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have eternal life," is such an evidence of his love to sinners, as supersedes the necessity of any other proof, and must fill the universe with everlasting wonder and astonishment.

Now, as before the incarnation of Christ, the salvation of men was effected by the Father, so, since the coming of Christ, it has been carried on more immediately by the Son. During the first four thousand years of the world the work of conversion weht on but slowly; there were few, very few, who experienced the saving efficacy of divine grace. But, when the office of rescuing sinners from the power of Satan should be devolved on Jesus, then, according to the stipulation in the text, "the pleasure of the Lord was to prosper in his hands." And how marvellously has it prospered, notwithstanding all the opposition of men and devils! There is not a day, an hour, a moment, wherein he is not beholding with joy the success of his endeavours: the ignorant are enlightened, the weak established, the doubting comforted, and all the hosts of the redeemed prepared for glory: nor shall his success be ever interrupted. To the latest period of time he shall go forth, conquering, and to conquer, till all his enemies be put under his feet, and all his ransomed ones be seated on thrones of glory.

And may we not learn from this subject

1. How difficult a work is the salvation of man! Was there no other way whereby it could be effected? Could there be no remission without shedding of blood? And must that blood be the blood of God's only Son? Must he take our nature and offer himself without spot to God, before our peace could be made, or a way be opened for our restoration to happiness? Go then, ye careless ones, who think all anxiety about the soul superfluous; go read the terms of this covenant; and

h 2 Thes. i. 11.

see whether the salvation of man be so easy to be effected as you have hitherto imagined: see what a stupendous effort of wisdom and love was necessary before there was even a possibility for one of us to be saved: and, if such exertions were necessary on the part of the Father and of Christ, do ye suppose that there is no occasion for exertion on your part? Did Christ purchase for you not merely an exemption from death and hell, but also from all solicitude about your eternal interests? Yea, rather, do not his labours for you shew how you ought to labour for yourselves? Awake then from your slumbers, and work out your salvation with fear and trembling. You feel the need of labouring for the bread that perisheth; begin then to labour in good earnest for that which endureth to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you.

2. Next observe, How wonderful was the love of Christ in undertaking such things for the effecting of your salvation! When God declared that he had no pleasure in sacrifices and burnt-offerings, and that he must have a far nobler sacrifice than that of beasts to satisfy the demands of his justice, the Saviour instantly undertook for us, saying, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God; I delight to do thy will, however painful the consequences of it may be to myself: yea, thy law is within my heart." He perfectly knew what it was to make his soul an offering for sin: he did not undertake it hastily, or without being apprized of the full extent of his engagements: but, foreseeing all the shame and misery that he must endure for our redemption, he undertook to effect. it; nor ever receded till he had accomplished it. Never can we sufficiently admire this astonishing love. Let us not be weary of contemplating it. Let us fix our minds upon it, and labour, if pos sible, to comprehend its heights and depths. Though it passes the knowledge of men and angels, yet shall our meditation on it be sweet, and our sense of it an antepast of heaven.

3. Lastly, How cheerfully should we submit to any conditions for his glory, who submitted to such conditions for our good! What is it that our God requires of us? It is simply this; that we should repent, believe, obey. VOL. II.

3.D