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ing, indeed, is such a view of Him, who, while clad in the full radiance of Deity, yet hesitated not himself to "bear our sins in his own body on the tree." The description, however, here given us by the Apostle, of the condition of the Lord Jesus subsequently to his atoning sacrifice, furnishes the spiritual mind with another, and equally affecting exhibition, of his wondrous and condescending love. Who is this Person, that consents to take upon him human griefs, and to lay down his own precious life for the iniquities of the world? It is actually he, who, after he has paid the penalty of death, ascends to the throne of universal government; from whose sway no created thing is exempted; whom men, and angels, and devils worship, as the sovereign and resistless King. Rise, therefore, in imagination, from the earthly humiliation of your incarnate Saviour, to that dazzling height where he is now enthroned; and, as you survey him there, think within yourselves; Such a Being it was, who "gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair :"* such an One is He, who exhausted to the dregs that cup of indignation, which the Father gave him to drink: thus mighty in his own right was the Intercessor, who stood between God and sinners, and, by his agony, and blood, and shame, averted the blow. This, then, is one of the practical uses, to be made of the statement here exhibited to your view, of Christ's mediatorial exaltation. He who left heaven for a cross of ignominy, is no less a Potentate than the Lord of all: and, as he sits upon his throne of glory, hears from adoring myriads that anthem of worship, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and * Isaiah, 1. 6.

riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing !"*

In conclusion: You perceive, my hearers, that to this ascended Mediator it is said that every creature shall be subjected; and shall acknowledge, either willingly or by constraint, his authority and power. It appears, then, that, in this kingdom which the Lord Jesus Christ governs, there are two descriptions of subjects. In the one class are unbelievers-and worldly men-and the impenitent spirits of darkness; and these, when the dispensation of grace shall have terminated, will be consigned to a state where they shall be compelled to submit, and, as they bow the knee, shall tremble. In the other class are those rejoicing and happy persons, who, feeling the resistless claims upon their obedience possessed by this once lowly, but now exalted Redeemer, freely yield him their hearts; adore, love, and serve him, as their divine Saviour from the guilt of sin; and, conscious that they are "not their own," but are "bought with a price,"† take Christ Jesus as the delight of their souls, and their portion forever.—And now, my beloved brethren, permit me to inquire, In which of these two ranks of subjects to the Prince of peace, are you, at this present moment, to be found? What is the spirit in which you are living, in reference to that blessed Being, who, when the fulness of time was come, submitted to the penalty of transgression; and then rose to that seat of glory, where he now reigns as the Sovereign of all? Are you among those heartless and impenitent spirits, who are in no other sense the subjects of Christ, than as being enemies, who, in the appointed

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hour of retribution, must be eternally "put under his feet?"* Are you passing your days in thankless forgetfulness of all that he has done, and all that he has suffered? Are you refusing to admit his just authority over your hearts and lives; drowning the remembrance of redeeming love amidst the vanities of the world; and proclaiming aloud, in every part of your career of practical infidelity, "We will not have this man to reign over us?"+ Oh, rash and thoughtless spirits! Carry forward your reflections to that day, when this once crucified, but now ascended Jesus, shall appear in the glory of the Father, with his holy angels, to execute summary "vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is then that this exaltation of the Saviour to his throne of power, which you have been now considering, shall be disclosed in all its grandeur; but, at the same time, shall be full of horror and bitterness for you. How shall you feel within yourselves, in that desolate hour, to be among those for whom is reserved, not the welcoming smile of the Redeemer in his judicial character, but his frown of righteous indignation? Now, then, in the season of grace, pardon, and mercy, yield up your hearts to the Author of your redemption, in a free and willing obedience: and defer not the moment of submission until that final scene, when they that have not voluntarily accepted his love, shall be constrained to acknowledge him amidst "chains of darkness.”|| Seated upon his station of authority, he shall cast his eye upon those, who, while life and opportunity lasted, refused to be his obedient disciples, and to conform themselves to his

* I. Cor. xv. 25. + Luke, xix. 14.

II.Thess. i. 8.

II. Pet. ii. 4.

will: and, with a voice, at whose terrors they will call upon the rocks to fall upon them, and the mountains to cover them, he shall utter forth the command; "Those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me."*

* Luke, xix. 27.

LECTURE VIII.

CHAPTER II. 12-16.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings : That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

THE Apostle, after having turned aside for the purpose of exhibiting our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as the highest example of disinterested benevolence, returns, in the verses now to be considered, to the pursuance of his regular series of practical admonitions. Deprived, by the afflicting hand of Providence, of the privilege of beholding these beloved Philippians in the flesh, he thought of them with intense anxiety; and, convinced himself of the paramount importance of eternal salvation, was deeply concerned for their progress in those fruits

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