from their united teftimony, compared with the Evangelifts, we are furnished with incontestable arguments in fupport of the truth. They " fpake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft," and have left us no reafonable cause to doubt, that JESUS is the CHRIST. 3. That preparations might be made by the divine. Providence for his reception, and for the ready propagation of the Gofpel. The Lord God, in all his preceding difpenfations, had a regard to the intended incarnation of the Saviour. Every thing else was appointed in fubferviency to that event, which exceeds, in magnitude and importance, every other circumstance in the hiftory of mankind. Respecting the Jews, this is obvious to all, who examine the facred records; and from the fame authority we learn, that the state of the heathen world, and all their great empires, were fo ordered as to make way for "the Prince of peace *." One dominion gave place to another, by the wife and fovereign difpofal of God, till, at the birth of our Lord, the Romans had extended their power to every known part of the earth, and thus opened a communication for fpreading the Gospel amongst the moft diftant nations. At that period, alfo, an univerfal tranquillity prevailed, which was most uncommon and almost unprecedented, emblematical of that kingdom, then about to be established, and intended to be the means of introducing it. Thus every thing was accommodated to the purpofe, when Jefus, "the Defire of all nations †," appeared. We fhall foon have occafion to remark, that the bleffed inhabitants above were not unconcerned in this event. Angels defcended to announce his coming; a multitude of them, with their heavenly fongs, ed and celebrated his nativity. John the Baptift, e have seen, his illuftrious Harbinger, was sent Dan. ii. & vii. ↑ Hagg. ii. 7. with with an express commiffion to prepare his way, and to proclaim his dignity and grace. We need not add more. From the concurrence of these various circumstances, we perceive fome vast defign to be in agitation, to which the attention both of heaven and earth is directed. The fubject before us will furnish us with an interefting application to different characters. 1. You, who love the Saviour, or who feel your need of him, draw near, that you may admire his excellency and perfection. How great is his glory! How aftonishing his condefcenfion! How rich, and free, and extenfive is his mercy! How firm the Covenant, which he hath fealed with his blood, and confirmed by his oath! Let us join our teftimony, and fay, that he is full of grace and truth." Is there not enough in him, to difpel your fears, to encourage and enliven your hopes? And will not the belief of what he has done for you conftrain you to devote yourfelves to him? You know him not, unless you feel an irresistible force in this argument. Do you efteem the world, then, little and contemptible, in comparifon of Chrift! O turn away your eyes from beholding vanity! Come, and contemplate his perfect beauty, till you can fay, he is to me "the chiefefst among ten thoufand, and altogether lovely *." 2. You, who glory in yourselves and not in the Saviour, who depend not upon his merit but your own, confider what you are doing. What a contempt do you put upon this divine perfon, and his gracious undertaking! You act, as if all this wondrous plan had been entirely needlefs. For if your moral qualities and works of righteousness be fufficient to recommend you to the favour of Heaven, then doubtlefs the incarnation, as well as the death of Chrift, was vain. Then the counfels of God have been employed about a fruitless defign; and his Providence has been contriving and executing an abfurd, because an ufelefs, fcheme. But this you would not affert. And, if you allow the neceffity of fuch an interpofition, how wretched, how defperate must be your cafe, which required it! Let the conviction have its proper influence! Under a fense of your guilt, bow before the Redeemer, and implore the benefits of his falvation: "Lord fave us; we perish *!" 3. You, who are defpifers of Chrift, or who difregard, at least, the important doctrine of his manifeftation in the flesh, confider the grounds of your objections or your inattention to it. We entreat your ferious examination of these things; and afk, why you should turn away your ears from them. You are curious to hear what is uncommon and wonderful; eager to read any eventful hiftory of men and empires; and always at leifure to liften to the trifling news of the day. And is there nothing in this fubject, which deferves your notice? Or how can you acquit yourselves of the moft confummate folly, if you are indifferent about it? But your neglect of the Saviour arifes not so much from weakness of understanding, as from a rooted de-pravity of heart. You know, that he is an enemy to your pride, fenfuality, covetousness, and refentment; and therefore you wifh not for any acquaintance with him. "You love darknefs rather than light, because your deeds are evil; neither will you come to the light, left your deeds fhould be reproved t." Here, then, we fee the real caufe of your infidelity: but is this, what you will justify? We warn you, that these are not matters of a trifling nature, but of infinite moment. The Lord God hath spoken to you by his Son," the brightefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his per * Matt. viii. 25. † John iii. 19, 20. fon; fon *;" and he will be heard, or you fhall anfwer it at your peril. He yet continues to addrefs you in terms of love and mercy: but if you reject or flight his offers, wo be unto you, that the Son of God is come. This aggravates your guilt, and renders your deftruction certain and unfpeakably tremendous. "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God t.” May we know the day of our vifitation; and, exulting in the glory and the grace of Jefus, may we each of us cry out with a holy tranfport, "Behold, GOD is my falvation: I will truft and not be afraid; for the LORD JEHOVAH is my ftrength and my fong: he also is become my falvation !" Amen. * Heb. i. 1-3+ + John iii. 18. Ifa. xii. 2. C 6 JESUS JESUS CHRIST. SECT. 2. The humiliation and glory of Jefus contrafted. I. His miraculous conception-announced to the Virgin Mary, and to Jofeph. II. His nativity-at Bethlehem-in a ftable-declared by an angel to shepherds-celebrated by a multitude of the heavenly hoft-enquired after and published by the fhepherds. III. His childhood and education-circumcifion-prefentation in the temple-teftimony of Simeon and Anna concerning him -vifited by eastern Magi-preferved in Egypt from Herod's cruelty-conducted to Nazareth-foon diftinguished for his fuperior wisdom-at twelve years of age difcourfed with the doctors in the temple-dwelt in fubjection to his parents at Nazareth. It was an astonishing event, that the glorious Perfonage who is called "the Word of God," " was made flesh, and dwelt among us." But our wonder is increased, when we confider the circumftances of his appearance and abode on the earth. They were we fhould have thought unfuitable to his digfmuch as there was no difplay of external which could excite the notice of the world. no form nor comeliness," fuch as men adad "there was no beauty" in him, which Induce a carnal heart "to defire him.' Had rivance of this amazing plan been left probably, have ordered matters very differently, 6 |