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Son, made of a woman, made under the law," Gal. iv.

4.

Then was seen that great gift foretold by Mofes and the prophets, fhadowed forth by the law, and looked for with earnest expectation by the people of God. A time it was when he thus came, wherein the world lay in deep fpiritual darknefs; the knowledge of the true God was almoft totally abolished among the Gentiles; they knew not God, and the true religion was dreadfully corrupted among the Jews. The few that remained were wearied with the burdenfome ceremonies, that could not make the comers thereunto perfect, and therefore looked for the mercy promised unto the fathers.

4. God gave this gift in the laft time, when the gofpel was freely preached to all nations. Then it was, and ever fince, that Christ set up his ftandard in the world, to receive all, without diftinction, that would fight under his banner. Thus God gave him in refpect of the free offer: "He is the gift of God," John, iv. 10.

5. He gives him, in particular, to every elect foul in the time of love, the day of efpoufals. This is that bleffed fpot of the believer's time, wherein they match with the Son of God, believe his word, and give themselves up to his conduct. They thus receive the unspeakable gift of God; and this is a crowning mercy indeed! Whofoever thus by faith receives this precious [gift, fhall receive him over again in the marriage-day, that is, when time is over and gone. Then it fhall be faid, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herfelf ready."Let us,

II. INQUIRE for what this gift is fo remarkable.

1. It is remarkable, for the hand from whence it came. It was the Father that gave Chrift; even he spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, Rom. viii. 32. If a gift be valuable for the fake of the giver, then Christ is the most valuable gift, as given by the Father; and therefore he that flights Chrift, flights the Father alfo. The town-clerk of Ephefus fuppofed that none could but know, that the Ephefians would be zealous for the image of Diana, because it was fupposed to have fallen down from Jupiter, Acts, xix. 35; ten thousand times better reason have we most highly to esteem our Lord Jefus, because we have the most infallible affurance, that he came down from God, the Father of mercies, "My Father (faid Jefus), giveth you the true bread from heaven," John, vi. 32.

2. It is remarkable, for the persons to whom it is given. Who are they? They are men, and not angels; finners, and not faints: "God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were finners, Chrift died for us," Rom. v. 8. "Yea, in due time he died for the ungodly." Men that give gifts, ufually give them to their friends, but God gave even his unspeakable gift to his enemies; men give to the rich, but God gave to the poor; he gave this gift to them that had mif-fpent the gifts bestowed upon them at their creation. O let us fet a mark here, and fay, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the fons of God !” 1 John, iii. 1.

3. It is remarkable, for the feasonablenefs of it. God not only gave his Son, but he gave him in proper feafon; as it was with Abraham, for whom VOL. I.

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God

God provided a ram to be offered in the ftead of his only fon Ifaac, who was already bound on the altar; fo, when the finner's neck was on the block, when divine justice had a sure hold of him, and was about to ftrike the fatal blow, then did God provide, and give Jesus to be a facrifice in our ftead. O what a furprise, as well as a comfort, was the promise of him to poor Adam! and O how welcome to us fhould be this faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that God fent even his own Son, "to feek and to fave that which was loft."

4. It is remarkable, for the fuitablenefs of it. Unfuitable gifts are not much esteemed. What though a man would give a purfe full of gold to one ftarving for want of bread, or prefent plenty of food to a person juft dying of an incurable difcafe? Such unfuitable gifts could be of no ufe to these perfons; but Chrift is every way suitable to the finner's cafe: "Wherefore he is able to fave to the uttermost all that come unto God through him; because he ever liveth, to make interceffion for us." For fuch an High-prieft became us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from finners, and made higher than the heavens." The balfam of his blood exactly answers our wounds in breadth and length; it cleanses from all fin, and purges the confcience from dead works. It was contrived by infinite wisdom for this purpose, and every finner whose eyes are opened at once fees his fuitablenefs; for Chrift is "the power of God, and the wisdom of God," 1 Cor. i. 24.

5. This gift is remarkable, for the neceffity of it Acts, iv. 12. "Neither is there falvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be faved." What would the world have been with

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out Chrift, but a dungeon of darkness, a pit of horror, a prison of mifery and defpair? Had we only heard God thundering on Sinai, and not God groaning on Calvary, then we had made the rocks rent, and the hills refound, with our defperate outcries. No man, no angel, was able to help; nothing but the blood of God could expiate our guilt.

6. It is remarkable, for the greatness of it. It is a gift without a parallel in heaven or in earth: "God fo loved the world, that he gave his onlybegotten Son," John, iii. 16.. A greater gift than this Heaven could not give, and earth could not receive. The falvation is great, but the Saviour, the perfon who wrought out this falvation, muft be greater. Many rich and bleffed gifts God gives his people, but they are all little when compared with this great gift, for along with it he freely gives us all things. When God refolved to display and communicate his goodness, his wifdom, power, and bounty, he made a world out of nothing; but when he refolved to manifeft his love, and difcover all his glory, he gives us to view it in the face and perfon of Jefus. The Sabbath was ap pointed for celebrating the praises of God for the work of creation; but in addition to this, eternity is deftined to celebrate the praises of the riches of his grace and glory in Chrift Jefus.

7. This gift is remarkable, for the freedom of it. Chrift is a gift every way free. There is a cluster of wonders in the freedom of it.-These we fhall in part notice. This gift is given,

(1) To the undeferving. We deferve no good at the hand of the Lord, much lefs the greatest good; we cannot challenge a drop of water by merit, much lefs Chrift and his grace; fo that

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God cannot wrong us, whatever he deny us. is given,

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(2.) To the ill-deferving; to them who deferved death and damnation; who were juftly lying under the curfe of the first covenant, and whofe demerit would have funk them to hell. Yea, this gift is given,.

(3.) To them that were not feeking it: "I am fought (fays God) of them that afked not for me; I am found of them that fought me not: I faid, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that were not called by my name." Chrift can fay of all his people, "Ye have not chofen me, but I have chofen you." The Father preffes the gift of his Son upon poor finners, even when they are feeding on hufks, and not feeking after him, faying, "Wherefore do ye fpend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which fatisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your foul delight itfelf in fatnefs," Ifa. lv. 2. It is given, (4.) To them that were not expecting it, or looking for any fuch gift at his hand. How was Zaccheus furprised when Jefus faid unto him, "This day is falvation come to thine houfe," Luke,

xix. 9.

(5.) Yea, it is ftill offered to them who have often refufed it, who have been frequently bidden to the marriage-fupper, and have as often refufed to come: "Ye will not come to me, (says Jesus), that ye might have life;" but yet ftill does he fay, Why will ye die, O house of Ifrael ?”

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8. This gift is remarkable for the unchangeablenefs of it. All the fpiritual gifts and callings of God are without repentance; but above all it is fo with Jefus, his great and unspeakable gift. Where he once comes, he never afterwards goes

away.

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