When therefore the tempter had prevailed on our first parents to violate the Creator's prohibition, the promise of a Saviour was immediately given : "The Seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's "head:" the Messiah shall overturn the usurped 'dominion of the devil, and set up his kingdom on 'the ruins of it; to the final confusion and de'struction of that great ringleader in rebellion against God.'-The Messiah, as the Head of this kingdom, was foretold in the law of Moses, and by the prophets, who "spake of the sufferings of "Christ and the glory that should follow." This was the stone seen in vision by Nebuchadnezzar ; which was "cut out of the mountain without "hands," and, having destroyed all opposition, "became a great mountain, and filled the whole "earth."2

In the fulness of time the promised Saviour appears; and his messenger goes before him, proclaiming as a herald, "Repent ye, for the king"dom of heaven is at hand." Now the ancient prophecies are fulfilled: "the blind receive their "sight, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised." "Behold a voice from heaven, saying, This is my "beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." He leads a lowly and suffering life: he goes about doing good: his most beneficent doctrine is confirmed by benign miracles of the most stupendous nature: all his words and works are stamped with divine wisdom, holiness, love, Yet is he "despised and rejected of He dies a spotless sacrifice upon the

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and power.

"men."

1 Pet, i. 10-12.

Dan. ii. 31-48.

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cross; numbered with malefactors, and treated with extreme contempt, malice, and cruelty. He rises from the dead a glorious conqueror; 66 as"cends up on high, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious "also, that the Lord God may dwell among "them." Now" he receives to himself a king"dom :" "all power in heaven and earth is given "to him:" "angels, principalities, and powers, "are made subject to him; and he is made Head

over all things to his church." His apostles, having received the promise of the Spirit from on high, go forth every where preaching the gospel, and declaring that "the same Jesus," whom the Jews had crucified, "is exalted to be a Prince " and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel, " and remission of sins:" "that there is no sal❝vation in any other; for there is none other name "under heaven given unto men, whereby we must "be saved;" while the miraculous powers which they display and communicate confirm their testimony and command attention. Their formidable persecutors are confounded; thousands and tens of thousands embrace the religion of the crucified Jesus: till Jewish infidelity, and pagan idolatry, and all the power and policy with which they are supported, fall down before it; as the image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision before the stone cut out of the mountain without hands.

In this manner JEHOVAH attested the despised Jesus to be "his well-beloved Son;" thus, as it were, addressing the Jews: Ye have crucified the

'Psal. lxviii. 18.

'Lord of glory, because he said I am the Son of "God; but behold I have raised him from the dead! 'I have exalted him at my right hand in heavenly places, I have set my King upon my holy hill of 'Zion, according to my ancient predictions. Now 'the whole earth shall be his inheritance, what' ever obstacles or enemies may oppose him. I 'have undertaken and I will accomplish it: all 'men shall either bow to the sceptre of his grace,

and become his willing subjects and redeemed 'people; or they shall be crushed as obstinate re'bels under his feet. This is the determination ' of the Lord of Hosts.'

A mistaken idea of Christianity seems in this respect to be very prevalent. Numbers imagine that it may be very well to believe the gospel, but that there is no necessity for so doing; as others may be safe and happy upon their own plans. But the scripture uses a very different language: Christianity is there considered as the only true religion, and faith in Christ as the only way of being saved. This is no unessential matter, in which men may safely embrace opposite opinions: every man, who reverences the Bible as the word of God, must own that no unbeliever can escape final condemnation; for the Lord himself hath repeatedly attested it; and "he that believeth not, hath made "him a liar." Let it also be observed, that the adorable Saviour himself, the great object of our faith, is constituted our Judge: and it is never intimated, that, in the decisive hour, he will make any exception in favour of the mighty monarch, the renowned warrior, the busy politician or tradesman, the learned sceptic, or the indolent and in

considerate trifler.

"be damned."

"He that believeth not shall One distinction will then swallow

up all others: the faithful disciple will "sit down "with him upon his throne;" and all unbelievers will be "punished with everlasting destruction "from his presence."

The kingdom of Christ is administered by him in the character of a Mediator. As soon as sin entered into the world, the Lord made known his purpose of dealing with men, through the intervention of a peace-maker; in whose person, as Emmanuel, and through whose "obedience unto "the death of the cross," he might honourably shew mercy to the transgressors of his holy law. So that they who oppose his kingdom, not only rebel against the authority of God, but despise the riches of his everlasting mercy. To effect our reconciliation to our offended Creator, the eternal Son of God was made partaker of flesh and blood; and, having "suffered once for sins, the just for "the unjust, that he might bring us to God;" he is now ascended into the heavens, as our merciful and faithful High-priest and Advocate. "The go"vernment is upon his shoulders," that he might be" able to save to the uttermost all those that "come to God through him." Angels, principalities, and powers obey and adore him. "He has "the keys of death and hell;" He is "King of kings, and Lord of lords." The kingdom of nature and providence is administered by him as our brother and friend: "all judgment is com"mitted to him: "all the fulness of the Godhead "dwells in him bodily:" he is the "Head of all

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things to his church," "the fulness of him that "filleth all in all."

How astonishing is this language! how stupendous his grace; who, from this height of personal and mediatorial dignity and pre-eminence, looks down in compassion on us sinful worms, and seems only to glory in his power as it enables him to enrich and bless our guilty souls! He reigns upon a mercy-seat, dispensing pardons and gifts to rebellious men; pardons and gifts, which he purchased for them with his own blood! He proclaims his immeasurable love in the blessed gospel; he sends his Holy Spirit to "glorify him" in our hearts, "receiving" of those things which belong to him, and "shewing them to us," in all their suitableness and inestimable value. He invites all that will to come and take of these blessings freely; he "casts out none that come ;" and he confers" all "things pertaining to life and godliness" on every waiting soul. With the highest propriety, therefore, angels celebrated the Redeemer's birth in that expressive song of praise, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards "men;" for "God sent not his Son into the world "to condemn the world; but that the world though "him might be saved." Yet, if men " refuse him "that speaketh;" if they "despise his counsel, " and will none of his reproof;" he will most certainly glorify his power in their destructrion. "God hath given him a name which is above

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every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; and that every tongue should "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of