Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN j
 
 ALPHA AND OMEGA; 
 
 A SERIES OF 
 
 SABBATH SCHOOL LECTURES 
 
 ON THE 
 
 NAMES, TITLES, AND SIMILITUDES 
 OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 IN ALPHABETICAL OUDEK. 
 
 WITH A RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE, BY THE REY. 
 3. SHERMAN, MINISTER OF SURREY CHAPEL. 
 
 'What is His Name and what is His Son's Name r if thou canst tell." 
 
 Puov. xxx. 4. 
 " His Name is as Ointment poured forth." SOL. SONG. i. 3. 
 
 LONDON: 
 JAMES NISBET &c Co., 21, BERNE11S STREET; 
 
 MU^CCXLll.
 
 TO HIS BELOVED NEICE, 
 
 WITH AN EARNEST DESIRE THAT 
 
 IN THE SEASON OF CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 
 
 HER ATTENTION MAY BE DEAWN 
 
 TO THE FRIEND OF SINNERS, 
 
 AND 
 HER HEART INCLINED TO HIS SERVICE, 
 
 THIS LITTLE VOLUME 
 
 IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 2000429
 
 RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE 
 
 REV. JAMES SHERMAN. 
 
 JESUS CHRIST is "All and in all" in the gospel 
 dispensation. The lines of both testaments meet in 
 Him as in one common centre. All the prophets 
 and all the apostles witness concerning Him. The 
 old testament confirms the testimony of the new, and 
 the new testament illustrates the ceremonies of the 
 old. If the precious Bible be a glorious Edifice, in 
 which " mercy is built up for ever," the Name of 
 Christ is like a precious box of ointment perfuming 
 every room, and filling the house with its fragrant 
 odour. If it be a Paradise wherein grows "every tree 
 that is good for food," and pleasant to the eye, He is
 
 11 RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE. 
 
 the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, bearing an 
 infinite variety of delicious and refreshing fruits in all 
 seasons, and for all occasions. If it be a Cabinet con- 
 taining a rich treasure, He is the Pearl of great price, 
 to possess which, it is man's highest wisdom to sell 
 all that he has ; and, possessing it, he becomes rich in 
 poverty, and happy in affliction. 
 
 An acquaintance therefore with Christ, in the dig- 
 nity of His person, in the fulness of His Mediatorial 
 qualifications, in the freeness of His grace, in the 
 completeness of His salvation, hi the extent of His 
 authority, and in the coming glories of His kingdom, 
 must be the chief knowlege. The Apostle Paul, who 
 was not behind the chief men of his day in scientific 
 acquirements, counted all his previous attainments as 
 dung and dross, compared with the excellency of the 
 knowlege of Christ Jesus his Lord. And the constant 
 prayer of his whole life, reiterated in the thousand 
 forms which a heart full of love would dictate, seems 
 to be, " that I may know Him and the power of His 
 resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being 
 made conformable to his death." And the Apostle's 
 case is not singular ; it is the universal feature of 
 regenerate minds. " Unto you therefore which believe
 
 RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE. Ill 
 
 He is precious," superlatively precious. In this esti- 
 mation He has, and must have the preeminence. 
 
 Now the great object of Sunday School instruction 
 is to bring the scholars to this estimation of Christ. 
 The instruction is not to be literary, but exclusively 
 and always spiritual. The sacredness of the day, the 
 Sabbath, the character of the teachers, the avowed 
 friends of Christ, the worth of the soul, which the 
 whole world could not equal, the completeness of 
 salvation revealed in the volume which is made the 
 substance of instruction ; all demand that the mo- 
 ments allowed for communicating knowledge, should 
 be occupied in leading the souls of the children to the 
 things which belong to their eternal peace. And all 
 these things are found in the person, work, and 
 example of Christ. Hold Him up to their minds, and 
 they have a sure Foundation for their hopes, a safe 
 Guide for their steps, a perfect Pattern for their 
 imitation in every duty and relation of life. 
 
 I hail, therefore, this publication with pleasure, as 
 calculated to aid teachers in the important service of 
 addressing their youthful charge concerning Christ. It 
 is a valuable production simple in its style enlivened 
 by anecdote illustrated by subjects familiar to child-
 
 IV RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE. 
 
 ren, and, above all, contains much of the gospel. 
 Those who aim to save the souls of children will con- 
 sider these qualifications of the first importance in any 
 work put forth for their use. May the Lord Jesus, 
 who in the days of His flesh, received and blessed 
 children, and encouraged those who brought them to 
 Him, give his sanction and blessing to this attempt 
 to exalt Him in their minds, and win their affections 
 to Himself. 
 
 JAMES SHERMAN. 
 
 Surrey Parsonage, 
 
 March 18, 1842.
 
 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 IN Crantz's history of Greenland, it is related that the 
 Moravian Missionaries, when they began their labours 
 among the interesting inhabitants of that country, com- 
 mitted an error, which only years of bitter experience 
 led them to correct. They thought it would be of no 
 use to proclaim the gospel to ignorant barbarians, till 
 they had first instructed them in the truths of natural 
 religion ; such as the being and attributes of God, the 
 nature of His law, and the manifest evils of rebellion 
 against His authority. But their hearers were little 
 interested, and still less benefited, and the brethren 
 were almost in despair. However it occurred to them that 
 they had better try the effect of the gospel. So they 
 began to preach Christ, His incarnation and suffer- 
 ings, His death and resurrection. The preaching of 
 the cross proved at once the means of accomplishing their 
 object. Many were amazed at what they heard, were 
 " pricked in their hearts," and speedily led to believe 
 in a crucified Saviour. 
 
 Is it not to be feared that this lesson has been lost on 
 many teachers of a later day ? Is it not too much the 
 custom to dwell at great length on the principles of 
 natural religion, and general duties, while the peculiar 
 evangelical doctrines to be believed, and which, if rightly 
 received, would become the springs of obedience, are 
 but cursorily treated, or perhaps only alluded to, and 
 taken for granted ? 
 
 But " the foolishness of God is wiser than men." 
 The preaching of Christ, however it may be deemed
 
 11 ATTTHOE S PKEFACE. 
 
 folly by the world, is the wisdom and power of God 
 unto salvation to those who believe. Therefore the 
 apostle is not ashamed of the gospel, but desires to 
 know nothing among his hearers, whether old or young, 
 save CHRIST AND HIM CKUCIFIED. This is the grand 
 theme. And this the Holy Spirit will honour with His 
 blessing. Thus our Lord when He speaks of the 
 ministration of the Spirit, says, " He shall not speak of 
 Himself, but He shall take of mine and shew it to you." 
 
 On sabbath afternoons, during several succeeding 
 months, it devolved on the writer of the following pages 
 to conduct a religious service for a large number of 
 young persons of all ages. After singing and prayer, 
 the time was occupied with an address, followed by 
 familiar questions on the subjects of the afternoon's 
 exercise. 
 
 Influenced, by the sentiments above expressed, he was 
 solicitous to make Jesus Christ and His salvation the 
 sole subject; and to unfold, from time to time, the 
 glories of His personal character, and the various offices, 
 which He sustains in relation to the children of men. 
 For the sake of order, and to assist the memory, as 
 well as to afford a little additional interest to these 
 exercises, the Names and Titles of Christ were brought 
 forward, as they occur in the order of the alphabet. 
 
 This arrangement was only open to one objection, 
 namely, that it was too trifling and artificial to comport 
 with the dignity of the subject. But the holy scriptures 
 having in them several instances of alphabetical arrange- 
 ment, even in their most sublime compositions,* it was 
 
 * The arbitrary and artificial structure of the Lamentations of Jeremiah, 
 for instance, is a curious specimen. It was doubtless intended to atsist the 
 memory of the Jews, while captives in a strange country. The first chapter 
 contains as many verses as there are letters in the Hebrew alphabet, twenty- 
 two, and the first word in each verse begins with its appropriate letter. The 
 verses in the third chapter are triplets. Each line in the triplet begins with 
 the same letter, and the letters follow alphabetically. It has three times as 
 many verses as the alphabet has letters. The fourth chapter is an alphabetical 
 acrostic in coupleU, every alternate line beginning with its appropriate le tter 
 in the alphabet
 
 AUTHOR S PREFACE. 1U 
 
 thought that there could be no great impropriety in 
 following such a precedent. 
 
 It may also be objected (as it has been indeed already) 
 " that such subjects as are introduced in this little 
 work, are not suitable for young persons ; they cannot 
 understand these deep things of God, nor the mysteries 
 of experimental religion." To this it may be answered, 
 that so neither can the natural man understand the 
 things of God, for they are foolishness to him. But it 
 does not therefore follow that they must never be brought 
 before him. And with regard to children, the same 
 objection might be urged against teaching them the 
 scriptures at all, wherein are not only some things hard 
 to be understood, but others which it is impossible fully 
 to comprehend. Nevertheless, we are told earnestly to 
 search these writings ourselves, and diligently to teach 
 them to our children. 
 
 The Lectures are here sent forth to the public, with 
 an earnest desire that they may be useful to the young, 
 and acceptable to sabbath school teachers, parents and 
 other instructors of the rising race. 
 
 They have been prepared for publication in the present 
 form, amidst many interruptions. Some alterations 
 were necessary to divest them of a little of the collo- 
 quial and familiar character which they assumed as 
 addresses. Language acceptable to the ear, may not 
 always bear to be presented to the eye. A few of the 
 heads have been written more at length, and others 
 introduced to render the subject more complete. Allu- 
 sions of a merely local nature have been for the most 
 part rejected, and such alterations made in the arrange- 
 ment of the Lectures, as may render them more generally 
 acceptable. 
 
 The writer is conscious that in many instances he 
 has not sufficiently accommodated his style to the in- 
 tellects of very young persons ; while at other times, 
 perhaps, the phraseology has been rendered too familiar,
 
 iv AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 in his effort to render his meaning intelligible to those 
 for whom the Lectures were prepared. 
 
 Some of the Titles he found it difficult to explain in 
 a manner suitable to young minds. And yet they could 
 not have been omitted without destroying the com- 
 pleteness of the catalogue. Most of them are to be found 
 in the bible. Some few, however, have been introduced 
 which are not literally of scriptural authority, although 
 there are equivalent words having a different initial ; 
 such as Asylum and Bondsman, for Sanctuary and 
 Surety. 
 
 It will be seen also, that some of the Names are more 
 fully elucidated, while others are merely touched upon. 
 This was found necessary in order to avoid repetition. 
 The Titles thus cursorily noticed are, or will be, ex- 
 plained in other parts of the work, under some analagous 
 head. 
 
 It was the writer's intention to add a few questions 
 on each Lecture, at the end of the book, together with 
 additional scripture references ; for the purpose both of 
 farther unfolding the subjects, and impressing them on 
 the mind. But should the Lectures be used for the 
 purpose of collective instruction, it may be much more 
 profitable to leave it to the teacher to put such questions, 
 and refer to such passages, as may be judged by him 
 suitable for additional elucidation. 
 
 May the great Shepherd of the sheep, who has charged 
 His followers to feed His lambs, condescend to bless 
 this humble effort to spread the savour of His Name. 
 May He who distinguished the voluntary offerer of a box 
 of precious ointment with the kind commendation, " She 
 hath done what she could," in like manner graciously 
 own this labour of love, and make use of it to render 
 His Names pleasant and attractive, " like ointment 
 poured forth," to many among the rising generation.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LECTURE I. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Introduction. . 1 
 
 LECTURE II. 
 
 Ark. Amen. Author of Eternal Salvation. Author and 
 Finisher of Faith. 10 
 
 LECTURE III. 
 
 Apple-tree among the Trees of the Wood. Altogether 
 Lovely. All and in All. . . 
 
 LECTURE IV. 
 
 Anchor. Advocate. Atonement. Almighty Ancient 
 of Days. Apparel. . . . .40 
 
 LECTURE V. 
 
 Adam. Anointed. Altar. Asylum. . . .56
 
 Vi CONTENTS. 
 
 LECTURE VI. 
 
 Angel. Apostle. Alpha and Omega. 
 
 LECTURE VII. 
 
 Babe. Blessed and Only Potentate. Bright and Morning 
 Star. . . . . . -97 
 
 LECTURE VIII. 
 
 Beginning of the Creation of God. Brightness of the Father's 
 Glory. Brother. Bondsman. Bishop of Souls. . 115 
 
 LECTURE IX. 
 
 Brazen Serpent. Branch. Bread. . .133 
 
 LECTURE X. 
 
 Bridegroom. Beloved. . . . .150 
 
 LECTURE XL 
 
 Bundle of Myrrh and Cluster of Camphire. Balm of Gilead. 
 Begotten of the Father. Burnt Offering. Buckler. .167 
 
 LECTURE XII. 
 
 Creator. Child. Carpenter. Christ. . . .188 
 
 LECTURE XIII. 
 
 Champion. Conqueror. Commander. Captain of the Lord's 
 Host. Captain of Salvation. Chief (or Standard Bearer) 
 among Ten Thousand. . . .211
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LECTURE XIV. 
 
 Covert from the Tempest. Cleft of the Rock. City of Refuge. 
 Confidence. ..... 2S9 
 
 LECTURE XV. 
 
 Chosen of God. Called of God. Consecrated for Evermore. 
 Covenant to the People. Corner Stone. Crown of Glory 
 and Diadem of Beauty. .... 256 
 
 LECTURE XVI. 
 
 Counsellor. Comforter. Consolation of Israel. . . 275
 
 LECTURE I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The scriptures. Sacrifices. Who they witness to. Why the bible written. 
 Remarkable Person. Paul's great concern. Important to all. Subject of 
 the Lectures. The plan. Different ways of pointing: out the same thing. 
 Christ's Names. Titles. Similitudes. Two ways of telling a story. The 
 battle. The traveller. The portrait. God's way of teaching. Earthly 
 things likenesses of heavenly. Christ's way. Insufficiency of earthly things. 
 Alphabet. Garden. Holy Spirit's influence. Four things to be remembered. 
 
 MY DEAE YOUNG FKIENDS, 
 
 You know that we are commanded to "search the 
 scriptures." And can any of you tell me the reason 
 given to us, why we are to do it? Because " they 
 testify of CHBIST." 
 
 Do you know whose days they were, which kings 
 and prophets desired to see, and yet died and saw them 
 not? They were " the days of the SON OF MAN." 
 
 Do you know who it is that " all the prophets give 
 witness to ?" And what is the chief subject of their 
 discourses ? It is the MESSIAH ; for " The testimony 
 of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev. xix. 10. 
 
 Do you know of whom the sacrifices offered up by 
 the Jews were types or images ? They picture forth 
 " Christ our Passover sacrificed for us." And all the 
 ceremonies observed by that people from the time the 
 law came by Moses, referred to Him ; and were only 
 
 B
 
 INTRODUCTION". 
 
 shadows of future good things to be fully explained 
 when grace and truth should come by Jesus Christ. 
 
 In short, the bible was written entirely to inform men 
 of Christ; and its promises were given to encourage 
 and direct people in waiting for Him and trusting 
 in Him. Abraham was called out from his kindred, and 
 his children were kept separate from the heathen, 
 and mighty changes were brought about among the 
 nations, all to prepare for Christ's coming. So great 
 and so remarkable a person is our blessed Saviour. 
 
 Can you tell me the name of that great apostle who 
 counted all things but loss for the knowledge of Christ 
 Jesus the Lord? It was Saul of Tarsus, afterwards 
 called Paul. He was a learned man, and might have 
 been greatly honoured by his countrymen, but he 
 counted all as nothing that he might know and serve 
 the Saviour. This was his only business, his sole 
 design. And this appeared in all he did. 
 
 When a traveller goes into a strange city, famed 
 for its beauty, the first thing he does is to survey all its 
 buildings, to examine its statues and pictures, and 
 see whatever is new and striking. But it was not so 
 with Paul. The first thing he did, was to go to some 
 place of concourse, a market or exchange, and get 
 together a few people, and preach to them " Jesus and 
 the resurrection.*' If he wrote a letter to his friends, 
 it made known nothing but "Christ and Him crucified.'' 
 And so fond was he even of the name of his Lord, 
 that frequently, in the space of a single chapter, that 
 honoured name occurs ten or twenty times. 
 
 But now who is this wonderful Person, of whom there 
 was for ages so much talk, and so much expectation ?
 
 IXTUODUCTIOX. 3 
 
 And why did Paul think so much, and speak so much 
 of Him? What icas Jesus Christ to him? 
 
 Jesus Christ was to Paul just what He was to 
 Abraham, what He was to David, what He was to 
 Peter. And what He is willing and waiting to be to 
 all and each of us. 
 
 Now it is very important for us to know what that 
 is ; wherefore let me bespeak your earnest attention to 
 what I shall bring before you on this subject in the 
 following Lectures. And first, I will unfold the plan I 
 mean to adopt, and show you the way in which I 
 purpose to set forth what Christ is to those that believe. 
 
 You know there are more ways than one in which we 
 can name or point out a person or place. We might 
 call that apostle who leaned on Christ's bosom, " the 
 beloved disciple," or by his name John. In either way 
 people would understand us. We might call the 
 chief city of Judea by its usual name Jerusalem, or by 
 a title descriptive of it, viz. the Holy City. So our 
 neighbours may be known to us by their names, their 
 trades, or by their characters and actions. Now Christ 
 is made known to us in the Bible in these and other 
 ways. 
 
 1 . By His Names. And we shall find they are unlike 
 the names by which we are known to each other, 
 inasmuch as they all have a most important meaning. 
 Now this meaning I am to try to explain. 
 
 2. By His Titles. And these describe what He is in 
 Himself, or what He does for us. Thus He is called the 
 Desire of all Nations, the Advocate, the Lord our 
 Righteousness. Then let us try and find out why He 
 bears those Titles. 
 
 B2
 
 4 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 3. By Similitudes or comparisons to things with or 
 without life. Thus we have the Lion of the Tribe of 
 Judah ; the Covert from the Tempest. And these also I 
 am to endeavour, in dependence on the Holy Spirit's 
 help to unfold. And in considering these, we shall 
 have occasion, as we go on from one to another, to 
 admire the wonderful condescension of our Saviour in 
 stooping to make himself known in such familiar ways. 
 For we all know if a person talk with us about things 
 which we have never seen, how little impression his words 
 make on our minds, unless he explain himself by 
 comparisons with things which we have seen. 
 
 For instance, if one describe a battle between two 
 armies, if he tell us of their numbers, their subdivision 
 and battle array, and that one overcame the other, 
 and drove the conquered foe off the field ; the impression 
 on our minds would not be near so lively, as if he were 
 to describe the thing more particularly; the furious 
 looks of the soldiers, the shock of their savage encounter ; 
 the roaring of the cannon, the shrieks of the wounded, 
 the groans of the dying ; the gushing blood staining 
 all the earth, the slaughtered heaps covering all the 
 ground. I say, our minds would be more excited by 
 this way of telling the story than by any other. The 
 reason is, that in this way our imagination, or fancy, is 
 set to work, and immediately forms to itself a picture of 
 all these horrors, assisted by what little we have seen of 
 wounds and blood, confusion and cruelty. 
 
 Or if a traveller were to tell us of a lovely country 
 he had passed through, he might seek to awaken our 
 admiration by all the fine words he could muster ; he 
 might call it beautiful, lovely, splendid, but all would
 
 INTRODUCTION. 5 
 
 not serve so effectually as a few lively descriptions of 
 those things which made it so beautiful, the rivers, 
 the waterfalls, the hills, the valleys, and the trees. But 
 still greater would be his success in making us understand 
 him, and feel the same admiration as himself, if he 
 were to set before us some well drawn pictures of these 
 scenes, pourtraying them in all their bright colours and 
 lovely forms. 
 
 So, if I were to speak to you of some venerable man, 
 and say that " there was majesty in his looks, and 
 dignity in his person," you would not get half so 
 good an idea of him, as if I were to shew you his 
 portrait; supposing that this picture was a striking 
 likeness of all that made him appear so venerable. 
 Now, there is this difference between a real picture, 
 and a similitude or comparison. A picture conveys 
 the impression to the mind through the eye; a lively 
 and familiar comparison does the same through the 
 imagination. 
 
 Just in this way, God has made Himself and His mind 
 known to us. He has made wonderful use of the 
 imagination in His instructions to us. He has used 
 similitudes. He has set forth heavenly things, of which 
 we know nothing, by comparing them to earthly things, 
 with which we are familiar, that thereby we may the 
 better understand them. Not that earthly things can 
 fully describe heavenly things, any more than a picture 
 can really call up before us houses, and cattle, and 
 green fields ; but as the picture gives us the image of 
 these, so earthly things become to us faint likenesses of 
 the heavenly ; and thus He stoops to our weakness, 
 lest, otherwise, we should know nothing of them at all.
 
 6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 And just so Jesus Christ used to teach the people 
 when on earth. He taught them by parables, each of 
 Avhich is a sort of picture spread out before the eye 
 of the mind. 
 
 So when He would have them to know that there 
 was no way to heaven, but through Him, He would 
 say, "I am the Door." And when He would teach them 
 how kind He was to them that follow Him, and how 
 careful of them, He would say, " I am the Good 
 Shepherd." When He would impress on their minds, 
 how weak and worthless they were without Him, He 
 would call Himself the Vine, and His disciples the 
 branches. If we follow His counsels, then, He says, 
 we build on a rock ; and if not, then we are like the 
 foolish man who built his house on the sand. And all 
 this, a child can easily understand, much more a wayfaring 
 man, though a fool. None can err therein, except those 
 who wish to go astray. 
 
 As, for instance, if I were to say of some man, 
 Such an one is a lion ; and if I were to say of others, 
 that they were swine ; my words would require no 
 explanation, but you would instantly know that the first 
 was very bold, and the rest were very unclean. 
 
 Neither can our Saviour be misunderstood. When 
 He says, " I am the Bread of life," he evidently means 
 that He is as needful for the life of the soul, as bread 
 is for that of the body. And so of all those objects 
 to which He claims resemblance. 
 
 Now our Lord's object was to preach Himself, to 
 call all the world to the love and worship of Himself. 
 And as a picture, of some part of a temple, could not 
 give the mind a full idea of its magnificence, so our
 
 INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 Lord, finding no one thing worthy to compare Himself 
 to, brings forward all that is beautiful, and lovely, 
 and endearing, in the whole universe to shadow forth 
 His glory. He exhausts all the powers of words and 
 things in describing himself, heaps one figure on another, 
 and ends by telling us, we can never by searching find 
 Him out to perfection. And in the same manner do all 
 the prophets witness to his glory. 
 
 " Join all the names of love and power, 
 That ever men or angels bore ; 
 All are too mean to Speak his worth, 
 Or set Immanuel's glory forth. 
 
 " Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars, 
 Nor heaven his FULL resemblance bears, 
 His beauties we can never trace 
 Till we behold him face to face." 
 
 Now then, I trust you are able to see, not only 
 what is to be the subject of these lectures, but are 
 prepared for the way in which that subject is to be 
 brought before you. The LORD JESUS CHRIST is 
 the great subject. And since He has been pleased to 
 present Himself to us under a great variety of names 
 and images for our better understanding, it is by the 
 consideration of them, one by one, that we will seek 
 to know Him. It is in this way, that we can best find 
 out what Jesus Christ was to Paul, that he thought so 
 much of Him ; and what He is willing to be to us if we 
 truly come to Him, and learn of Hun. 
 
 The Names, Titles, and Similitudes, of the Lord 
 Jesus, are to be brought before you, according to their 
 respective letters in the order of the ALPHABET. 
 
 And I will liken this Alphabet to a choice garden or
 
 8 INTEODUCTION. 
 
 orchard, in Avhich every several letter is a tree ; and 
 every tree will be found, more or less, covered with 
 clusters of pleasant and refreshing fruit. Here is great 
 plenty and great variety. And while I invite all of you 
 to take a walk along with me in this garden, I would 
 at the same time devoutly address the Holy Spirit, in 
 the words of the ancient Church, and say, " Awake, O 
 north wind, and come, thou south; blow upon this 
 garden, that the spices thereof may flow out." For it 
 is only by the Spirit's influence, that we can perceive 
 any fragrance in these things, or extract any nourish- 
 ment out of them. 
 
 And if He deign to walk with us, and shew us 
 through this garden, it will be like " the mountains 
 of myrrh, and the hills of frankincense," and will yield 
 us not only pleasure but profit. Our hearts will burn 
 within us, while He talks with us by the way, and 
 opens to us the Scriptures ; and expounds those things 
 " concerning Christ that are written in the law, and 
 the psalms, and the prophets." 
 
 We shall take as many of these Names and Titles at 
 a time, as will suffice for a Lecture, and at the close of 
 each, we will ask you a few questions, that we may 
 find out how far you have been able to understand what 
 has been said. 
 
 And now I trust you will bear in mind these four 
 things : 
 
 1. That all knowledge will be useless to you in the 
 end without the knowledge of Christ. If you could 
 become as wise as king Solomon, or could know as much 
 as the angels in heaven, all would avail you nothing
 
 INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 without the knowledge of Christ ; "for this is life 
 eternal to know Jesus Christ whom God has sent." 
 
 2. That without prayer for the Holy Spirit you never 
 can have this knowledge, for He alone it is who can truly 
 " take of the things of Christ and shew them to you." 
 
 3. That mere outward knowledge of what He is to 
 others, will do you no good. You must know Him for 
 yourself. Of what service is it to a poor man to know 
 that there is gold in his neighbour's chest, or that there 
 is bread in his neighbour's house, unless he can have 
 a share ? What comfort was it to the rich man to see 
 heaven afar off and Lazarus there, while still a great 
 gulf separated him from it ? So you may hear and read 
 of Christ, and think and speak of Him, but all will do 
 you no good, except you believe in Him and love Him. 
 
 4. Remember to bless God every day for the Bible 
 which testifies of Christ ; and give thanks that you in 
 your early days, like Timothy, are led to " know the 
 Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise unto 
 salvation through faith in the Saviour." Oh that God 
 may teach you to love the Bible ! 
 
 " Here are our choicest treasures hid, 
 
 Here our best comfort lies ! 
 
 Here our desires are satisfied 
 
 And hence our hopes arise. 
 
 " Here do we learn how Christ has died 
 
 To save our souls from hell ; 
 
 Not all the books on earth beside, 
 
 Such heavenly wonders tell. 
 
 " Then let us love the bible more, 
 
 And take a fresh delight, 
 By day to read these wonders o'er, 
 And meditate by night."
 
 LECTURE II. 
 
 ARK. AMEN. AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION. 
 AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF FAITH. 
 
 The Teacher's aim. First picture. Ark. Why built. The unsuccessful 
 preacher. Ark why like Christ. Th ship on fire. The deliverance. The 
 infatuated men. Who are like them. Description of the deluge. Caution. 
 Invitation. Amen. Man's promises. Pharouh's butler. Christ's promise 
 Author of Eternal Salvation. Part in this life. Pardon. Adoption. Joy 
 in grief. The uncouth messenger. Heaven. Encouraging prospects. 
 jJuthor and Finisher of Faith. What is Faith. Abraham. Moses. 
 What we believe. Eflects of belief. How Christ its Author aud Finisher. 
 Three things. 1. Pains to be taken in Religion. 2. Ridicule to be de- 
 sjwsed. 3. Christ to be trusted. 
 
 CHILDREN, you have heard over and over again, that 
 when our Saviour lived here on earth, many of those 
 that had little ones, brought them to Him, that He 
 might take notice of them, and put His hands on them. 
 
 And was the Lord pleased with what they did ? Oh 
 yes ! and encouraged others to do the same, saying, 
 " Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid 
 them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
 
 Now why do we who are your teachers, take so much 
 pains to meet you from one sabbath to another, and 
 explain the bible to you ? It is with the hope of 
 bringing you to Jesus. This is the end of all our 
 instructions, and it is this hope which keeps us at 
 Avork. And this is why I have undertaken to bring 
 before you, these Lectures about our blessed Saviour.
 
 AKK. 1 1 
 
 May I promise myself that you will attend to them, 
 and try to understand them ? I hope I may. I will try 
 to make them very plain. And may the Holy Spirit 
 give you His grace, that you may not only learn right 
 notions concerning Him, but that your hearts may be 
 opened to receive and love Him. 
 
 Now, the first similitude or picture of our Lord 
 which I will shew you, is a very instructive one. It is the 
 
 (1.) ARK. If you will turn to Gen. vi., and read from 
 the fourteenth verse, you will see the directions God gave 
 to Xoah, to build an ark or great ship, that might swim 
 on the water, and carry safely himself and his family, 
 and a great multitude of animals. The occasion of this 
 great ship being built, you all know. The people of 
 the world had grown so wicked, that God said he would 
 bear with them no longer, but would sweep them off 
 with a deluge ; yet being merciful and long suffering, 
 and not willing that any should perish, he gave them 
 space for repentance, and allowed Noah and his three 
 sons, time to build this ark. 
 
 And all this time Xoah preached to them, and warned 
 them of the flood that was coming. But it appears that 
 he was a most unsuccessful preacher, for we do not read 
 of one that was converted ; but his " words seemed as 
 idle tales, and they believed them not." 
 
 He preached to them also by his practice; for he 
 immediately set to work to build the ark, as God had 
 commanded. This work occupied him one hundred and 
 twenty years ; and, doubtless, all this time, the people 
 of that age scoffed at him, as a weak and crazy man, 
 and made his person and his work a standing jest.
 
 12 ARK. 
 
 And this is just the fate the warnings of God's 
 preachers meet with nowadays. People still despise all 
 the threatenings of the bible, and live on from day to 
 day, as if heaven and hell were fables. 
 
 Now this Ark is a figure of Christ. As there was no 
 safety, when the flood came, but for those within the 
 Ark, so, out of Christ, there is nothing but certain 
 destruction for us all. 
 
 A few years ago, a noble ship, with some hundreds 
 of people on board, left England to go to a far country. 
 They soon lost sight of the land, and then, day after 
 day, saw nothing but the sky above, and the water 
 beneath. And as they rode swiftly on, they comforted 
 themselves with thoughts of the new home they were 
 going to, and planned what they would do when they 
 should get there. 
 
 But in the midst of their dreams, a man came 
 rushing up from the bottom of the ship, crying out that 
 there was a fire below, and that the flames had caught 
 the spirit casks. In an instant water was poured down, 
 but in vain ; the flames roared, and the timbers cracked, 
 and the smoke poured out its stifling clouds, till they 
 could get near no longer. 
 
 Here Avas a dreadful condition ! All around them, 
 there was nothing for hundreds of miles, but the deep 
 aea. And, what between fire within, and water without, 
 there was no hope of escape ! 
 
 Then the sailors who had just before blasphemed God, 
 prayed to him ; and women and children, with frantic 
 cries, sought their husbands and parents. And there 
 were Sunday School children there, too, who had been 
 taught to know the Saviour, and in that fearful
 
 ABK. 13 
 
 moment, they were seen praying to Him ; and all on 
 board prepared to sleep that night in eternity. They 
 let the sea rush into the ports, to check the flames, and 
 then awaited their fate. 
 
 But God, in his great mercy, sent them deliverance. 
 Another ship almost immediately came in sight, and 
 all who were willing made their escape, though with 
 difficulty, from the burning ship. 
 
 Yet, strange to tell, some were NOT WILLING ! They 
 saw others get away safely, but nothing could arouse 
 them. They obstinately refused to move. 
 
 You say, naturally enough, " What infatuated men 
 they must have been !" Indeed, but for the suspicion 
 that fright had stupified them, you would say, " They 
 richly deserved to perish.' 1 '' 
 
 But now, pause for a moment. In condemning their 
 conduct, do you not pass sentence on yourself? Is it 
 certain you will outlive this night r Is there not a more 
 dreadful fire waiting to devour the ungodly ? and a far 
 more dreadful flood, fast rising to overwhelm the 
 unbelieving ? " Because there is wrath, beware lest he 
 take thee away with his stroke." 
 
 You are in danger, and you are warned of it. You 
 are a sinner, and you know it. You are unhappy, 
 because insecure, and you feel it. And yet when God 
 provides an AEK for your salvation, even Christ, you 
 will not come unto Him that you might have life. 
 
 This, then, is your condemnation, that God has 
 provided a Saviour, and you will not be saved. God 
 has provided an ARK, and you will not enter it. Take 
 care, then, that that which overwhelmed the scoffers in 
 the days of Noah, does not come upon you.
 
 14 ARK. 
 
 They despised him and his ark. They bought, they 
 sold, they built houses, they planted vineyards, as if all 
 were to last for ever ; and the very children scoffed at 
 the pious Noah and his great ship, while as yet the 
 flood came not. But in the very midst of their traffic 
 and sport, the windows of heaven were opened, the 
 skies sent out a sound, the voice of God's thunder was 
 in the heavens, the floods poured down on them, and 
 swept them all away. 
 
 In that dreadful hour, think of the confusion and 
 disorder that must have everywhere prevailed. In the 
 market place, where the sellers and buyers were busy 
 wrangling, as usual, over their bargains, how their 
 faces gathered blackness, and their knees smote against 
 each other, as the dreadful tidings spread, that Noah's 
 despised flood was come. In the joyous festival where 
 the revelling guests were saying " that to-morrow should 
 be as this day, and more abundant," in taverns and 
 gardens, in palaces and prisons, what wild disorder ! 
 what sudden fright ! what dreadful despair ! 
 
 The rain came down in one sheet of water, while the 
 " sea and the waves were roaring, and men's hearts fail- 
 ing them for fear ;" and the waters of the sea, forgetting 
 their proper bounds, rushed through the crowded streets, 
 and thoroughfares, driving the wretched inhabitants, 
 first to the chambers, and then to the roofs of their 
 dwellings, which, with themselves, were quickly buried 
 in the water. 
 
 Deep called unto deep at the noise of God's waterspouts, 
 and all his waves and billows went over them. Noah 
 alone, and his little family, were safe, for God had "shut 
 them in" the Ark, which, rising with the flood, rode
 
 AEK. K> 
 
 safely on the wave. Within the Ark there was the 
 voice of joy and praise, while without, there was 
 darkness, death, and despair. 
 
 And oh ! how dreadful was the prospect when they 
 looked out at the windows and saw the dead carcasses of 
 those that believed not, floating about on the waters ; and 
 the poor affrighted creatures that were still alive, 
 climbing to the highest hills and mountains, with 
 unavailing efforts to escape the rising flood. 
 
 Were there ever any who hardened themselves against 
 God and prospered ? Take care, then, lest there be in 
 any of you, an evil heart of unbelief ; lest God say to 
 you hereafter, " Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and 
 perish. Because, when I called, ye refused, now when 
 your fear cometh, I will laugh at your calamity." 
 
 Come, then, with me into the ARK. Let us all pray 
 to Christ. Let us knock at the door of mercy now, and 
 enter before the storm comes, that we may be housed 
 " when it shall hail, coming down on the ungodly." 
 
 Now, the long suffering of God waits on thee, as it 
 did on the disobedient in the days of Noah. Oh despise 
 it not, but let it lead thee to repentance. Now the 
 tempest of God's wrath is held back ; oh fear it, and 
 hide yourselves in time. 
 
 For one hundred and twenty years, those evil men 
 waxed worse and worse, saying, " Where is the promise 
 of his coming?" They laughed at the threatening. 
 Not so Noah. He was moved with fear. And for one 
 hundred and twenty years, did he also wait the promised 
 salvation. I do not mean that he waited in idleness and 
 did nothing. No. He waited in God's own way. He 
 waited and wrought at his Ark, and thus " worked out
 
 1 6 AMEJf . 
 
 his own salvation." Nor did he wait in vain, for blessed 
 are all that wait for God. 
 
 Learn then that promises and threatenings will be both 
 fulfilled by the Lord, for he is the 
 
 (2.) AMEN. The faithful and true Witness. Rev.iii.14. 
 The meaning of this word is true and certain. You 
 must have been often struck with our Lord's frequent 
 use of the word Verily, in his sermons. This is the 
 same word as Amen, and calls us to mark the certainty 
 of all he says. 
 
 You know nothing is more common than for men to 
 make promises to each other, and nothing more common 
 than to forget them. 
 
 Do you remember the story of Joseph in the Egyptian 
 prison ? Pharaoh's butler, you know, was in the same 
 prison with him, and dreamed a dream. And when 
 Joseph went to him in the morning, seeing him to be 
 sad, he asked what ailed him ; " Oh," he said, " I have 
 had a dream," So he related the dream ; and Joseph 
 told him what it meant, that in three days, he should 
 be led out of prison, and should wait on Pharaoh a 
 before. And then Joseph said, " But think on me, 
 when it shall be well with thee, and make mention of 
 me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house, for, 
 indeed, I was stolen away, and have done nothing that 
 they should put me in this dungeon :" and, no doubt 
 the butler promised to do all this. But though it came 
 to pass as Joseph had said, and in three days, the man 
 again handed wine to Pharaoh, " yet did not the chief 
 butler remember Joseph, but for gat him." And if the 
 king had not dreamed a dream, tAvo years afterwards,
 
 AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATIOX. 17 
 
 that wanted interpretation too. this unfaithful butler 
 might never again have thought of the poor captive he 
 had left behind him in the dungeon. 
 
 Suppose some one were to make you a promise that 
 when you should become a man, he would give you a 
 house, and set you up in the world. He might be a 
 kind man and mean what he said ; but still you would 
 be afraid fully to reckon on it. And why ? Because 
 something might happen to prevent your receiving the 
 benefit. He might forget, or change his mind, or he 
 might die, long before you grew up to manhood. So 
 another might threaten to do you harm ; but for the 
 same reasons, you would hope to escape his anger. 
 
 But you see at once, it cannot be so with Christ. He 
 has said "it shall be well with the righteous and ill with 
 the wicked." And though the sky over our heads, and 
 the ground under our feet, shall pass away, not a jot of 
 anything He has said, shall pass unfulfilled. He is the 
 AMEX the Faithful and True Witness. Think not, then, 
 that He can forget his threatenings. Neither suspect 
 His promises, but take him at His word : so shall you 
 experience Him to be the 
 
 (3.) AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION unto 
 all them that obey Him. This is another of our Lord's 
 many Titles. See Heb. v. 9. Now, to obey Him, is to 
 believe on Him with your heart : for He commands us 
 to believe, and he that believeth hath everlasting life, 
 and shall nrrrr come into condemnation. 
 
 Take notice of this, eternal salvation. After the ark 
 had carried Noah and his family about for a little while, 
 it landed them again on the earth ; and left them still 
 sinners, and liable to sickness and death. c
 
 18 ATJTHOE OP 
 
 But that ARK, of which Noah's was only a type, will 
 surely carry all that are in it to that land, " where 
 the inhabitant shall no more say, I am sick," and where 
 they that dwell therein, shall be forgiven their iniquity, 
 and sin no more. 
 
 But you must not think that because it is called 
 eternal salvation, we do not enjoy any of it here on 
 earth. It begins here, though it is made perfect in 
 heaven. 
 
 Can you tell me any part of this salvation which we 
 receive here on earth? 
 
 Do we not get pardon ? Oh, what joy to the thief 
 that is chained up in the dark dungeon, Avhere the sun 
 never shines ; where he lies on the cold stone, and is 
 kept on bread and water, what joy, if some day when 
 he is weeping over his misery, the door open, and the 
 king's son enter with a pardon in his hand ! Now 
 Christ is the Author of our pardon ; and he delivers it 
 to us in this world. 
 
 And do Ave not receive adoption ? If a rich man 
 takes pity on a little starving ragged boy whom he meets 
 in the street, or raises up from a dunghill ; and take 
 him by the hand, and have him washed and clothed, and 
 lead him home to his own mansion, and set him at his 
 own table and call him his own child ; do you not think 
 it a wonderful thing for the poor boy ? Certainly you do. 
 
 But what is this to God's taking us into His family, 
 and washing us from our sins, and putting on us his 
 best robe, and calling us, his pleasant children, his dear 
 children ? This is adoption. And who is the Author 
 of all this ? the Lord Jesus, for all this He purchased 
 for us by His death.
 
 ETEBNAL SALVATION. 19 
 
 But this salvation includes every thing; and time 
 would fail to go over it all ; peace, and joy, and 
 holiness, and wisdom. Get this, and earth will be yours, 
 and you shall enjoy it too. Affliction shall be yours, 
 for it shall do you good. Death shall be yours, for 
 though he may handle you roughly, he means you no 
 harm. He waits on Christ, who says to him, " Go and 
 fetch that little boy who believes in me, and bring him 
 on your shoulders through the dark passage, into this 
 bright world ; for where I am, there shall he be also." 
 Death is but Christ's servant, who says to him " Do 
 this, and he doeth it." 
 
 And then you will wear a crown of glory, and be 
 dressed in white robes, and walk the golden streets of 
 the heavenly city, and drink of the river of God's 
 pleasures, which makes glad all the city of God. There, 
 there, is no more pain, no more sorrow. When we get 
 there, Christ's own soft hands shall wipe away all tears 
 from our eyes, and He will speak comfortably to us. And 
 God will smile on us, "for the Father himself loveth 
 us." Angels will laugh upon us, and rejoice over us with 
 singing. The spirits of the just will embrace us, and 
 everything will look bright, and pleasant, and delightful. 
 And thisybr ever ! 
 
 And who is the Author of all this ? The Lord Jesus. 
 Oh let us love him and strive to please him. And does 
 this prospect delight us ? Shall we then think much 
 of the little trouble we meet with in getting there? 
 Oh "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that easily 
 besets us, and run the race set before us, looking unto 
 Jesus" (once more) under another of His Titles, namely, 
 the 
 
 c2
 
 20 ATTTHOB AND 
 
 (4.) AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR 
 FAITH. Heb. xii. 2. If I were to ask these children 
 how came Noah to prepare an ark for the saving of his 
 house, most of them would be able to say that he did 
 it " by faith." But now, can you answer the question, 
 What is faith? One of you answers, "Belief;" 
 another says, " The substance of things hoped for, the 
 evidence of things not seen." Yes, children, the bible tells 
 us that this is faith, " the evidence of things not seen." 
 Just now, I told you about a ship taking fire, and 
 the great danger the people were in of a dreadful death. 
 Now would you call it faith, that led them to fear and 
 tremble, and to wish to escape ? surely not. They 
 believed the danger, it is true ; but then it was because 
 they saio it. This belief could not be called faith. 
 
 But we read that Noah believed things "not seen as 
 yet." This was faith. God said that he would drown 
 the world. And though it was contrary to all Noah 
 had ever seen or heard of, and seemed very unlikely, 
 yet because God had said so, therefore he believed it. 
 
 So Abraham believed things not seen as yet. So 
 Moses believed just what God told him. And so we 
 must believe. Now, what do we believe ? We believe, 
 though not seen as yet, that 
 
 " There is, beyond the sky, 
 A heaven of joy and love ; 
 And holy children, when they die, 
 
 Go to that world above." 
 
 And we believe also, though not seen as yet, and God 
 grant that none here may ever see it-! we believe that 
 " There is a dreadful hell, 
 
 And everlasting pains ; 
 Where sinners must with devils dwell, 
 In darkness, fire, and chains."
 
 FINISHER OF FAITH. 21 
 
 If we stedfastly believe this, then we are moved with 
 fear, and Ave say, " What shall we do to be saved ? how 
 shall we escape the one, and gain the other?" Then 
 comes the Holy Spirit, and shews us the way, and leads 
 us to Christ, the ARK of our refuge ; and by faith we 
 enter into Him, and continue in Him, and are carried 
 safe to heaven. 
 
 Now Christ sends His Spirit to give us this faith : 
 as it is written, " By grace are ye saved through faith. 
 and that not of yourselves ; it is the gift of God." And 
 the disciples prayed, " Lord, increase our faith." 
 
 Jesus Christ, then, is the AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH. 
 
 You know what it is to be the Author of a book. 
 Jesus Christ is the Author of the bible, and therein he 
 tells us what we are to believe. And in this way He is 
 the AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH. But not only thus, He 
 also removes the difficulties out of our way, and per- 
 suades and enables us to give full credit to his word, 
 and so draws us to himself. 
 
 And then He is the FINISHER OF FAITH. He prays 
 for us, that our faith fail not ; and daily "fulfils in us the 
 work of faith with power ;" and keeps before our minds 
 a lively impression of the things that are to be believed 
 all along, till we come 
 
 " Where faith is sweetly lost in sight, 
 And hope in full, supreme delight, 
 And everlasting love." 
 
 All this, Christ does as the AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF 
 
 OUR FAITH. 
 
 From all that has been said, learn three things : 
 1. Learn to take pains in religion, and work out your 
 
 salvation with fear and trembling. Noah thought
 
 22 AUTHOR AND FIKISHEB. OF FAITH. 
 
 nothing of the trouble of building the Ark; though this 
 great ship was about thirty-three times as large as this 
 chapel, or nearly half as large as St. Paul's cathedral, 
 and must have cost an immense deal of labour, and 
 time, and money. You must not expect to obtain 
 salvation, although it is a free gift, without much labour 
 and pains. 
 
 2. Learn to despise the sneers and laughter of the 
 wicked. If Noah had consulted his credit instead of 
 his safety, he would have perished with the rest. Is it 
 not better to be laughed at with a few who are saved, 
 than to perish with the multitude ? 
 
 3. Learn to believe all that Christ says; his promises 
 as well as his threatenings. His word Avas never for- 
 feited. When he says, " Come unto me, and I will give 
 you rest," He is quite sincere, and means what He says; 
 and will in no wise, no, in no wise, Avhoever you are, 
 cast you out. Let us all, then, trust in Him ; so shall 
 we have " power to become the sons of God," and may 
 say with confidence, 
 
 " He by Himself hath, sworn, 
 
 We on His oath depend, 
 We shall, on eagles' wings upborne, 
 
 To heaven ascend. 
 We shall behold His face, 
 We shall His power adore, 
 And sing the wonders of His grace 
 For evermore."
 
 LECTURE III. 
 
 APPLE-TREE AMONG THE TREES. ALTOGETHER 
 LOVELY. ALL AND IN ALL. 
 
 The universal enquiry. What is not an answer. What ia an answer. 
 jjpple-tree. Citron. Its Fruit. The wood. The prize. Beautiful 
 picture of Christ Garden of Eden. The two trees. A better tree thau 
 either. Its virtues. Open to all. Altogether lovely. None perfect. 
 Christ alone altoyether lovely. Testimonies of those who know him. 
 Foolish preference. The blind man. His solace. The inward eye. A 
 worse blindness deplored. Exhortation. .-Ill and in all. Christ every 
 where. Sea. Frozen Mountain Where especially present What is a 
 man's all. The covetous. The proud. Children's all. Correct choice. 
 Shortness of time. Only question in eternity. Bacon the sculptor. His 
 all. Inscription MI) his tomb. What the dying Christian takes with him. 
 Worldly man in a storm. What he takes into eteruity. Conclusion. 
 
 THERE axe many who say, " Who will shew us any 
 good ?" And you, children, say so in your hearts. All 
 say so. All want to see good. Now some point to one 
 thing which they call good, and some to another. 
 
 Most men point to gold and silver, and say, " See how 
 they glitter; surely, they must be good, for all the 
 world is gone after them; come let us try to get some." 
 And what if they do get some ? What if they get 
 hundreds and thousands of half-crowns or sovereigns ? 
 what if they heap up treasures like the sand ? Will 
 that satisfy them? Hear what Solomon says. (Ecc. v. 10.)
 
 24 APPLE-TKEE 
 
 " He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied Avith silver." 
 Oh no ! never satisfied with it. Many rich men gnaw 
 their tongues with pain and vexation, because they can 
 find no good in their riches. They do not satisfy. 
 
 But suppose silver and gold did satisfy people. 
 Suppose twenty shillings would always buy a certain 
 amount of happiness ; and suppose a man's joy in- 
 creased just as fast as his riches were multiplied. And 
 suppose that the man who had a hundred pounds was 
 happy ; and he that had a thousand pounds was more 
 happy still ; and he that had got many thousands was 
 happiest of all. What then ? Why, just as the man 
 would begin to think he had got enough, and to say to 
 his soul, " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many 
 years, eat, drink, and be merry;" just then would 
 death strike him with his dart, and God would pro- 
 nounce him a fool, because he had not laid up his 
 treasure in heaven. 
 
 Where, then, is the good of riches, even if they 
 could purchase happiness, seeing that we must so soon 
 be stripped of all, and go out of the world, naked as we 
 came into it. But riches cannot give us content; no, 
 they cannot buy an hour's real pleasure. 
 
 If you will favour me with your attention, I am 
 prepared this day to set before you that which will be a 
 full and satisfactory answer to this most interesting 
 question, "Who will shew us any good?" Attend; 
 and I will shew you that which is really good. 
 
 Behold, the Lord Jesus Christ as the 
 
 (5.) APPLE-TREE among the trees of the wood. 
 Sol. Song, ii. 3. By the apple-tree, to which Jesus
 
 AMONG THE TREES. 25 
 
 Christ is here compared, is most likely meant the 
 citron apple-tree, which, in the East, is a very beautiful 
 tree, and grows to a great size. Its height and come- 
 liness render it the choicest " among the trees of the 
 wood." A powerful reviving scent comes forth from 
 every part of the tree, perfuming the air, refreshing the 
 weary traveller as he passes by, and inviting him to 
 repose under its cool shadow. The leaves are of a deep 
 green, and always continue on the tree ; and its boughs 
 are laden with fruit of a rich golden colour, and of a 
 most delicious taste. And so reviving is even the smell 
 of these delicious apples that the people use them just 
 as we use scent-bottles, to restore the fainting, and re- 
 vive the drooping ; and the women of the country carry 
 them about, or keep them by, for that purpose. 
 
 At one season of the year the golden apples and the 
 snow-white blossoms hang both together on the tree. 
 This may explain that passage, "A word fitly spoken 
 is like apples of gold in pictures (or lattice-work) of 
 silver." Prov. xxv. 11. Words, you know, are in the 
 bible, called " the fruit of the lips." And Oh, how fit, 
 how reviving, how delicious are the fruits of Christ's 
 lips ! His promises, His precepts, His invitations. "The 
 words of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes, re- 
 joicing the heart, converting the soul, making wise the 
 simple. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, 
 than much fine gold ; sweeter also than honey or the 
 honey comb." Psa. xix. 7 10. 
 
 What a word is that, "Come unto me, and I will give 
 you rest ;" and " If any man thirst, let him come unto 
 me and drink." No other tree but the Lord Jesus can 
 bear such fruits as these, fruits which revive the faint-
 
 26 APPLE-TREE 
 
 ing spirit. And well may those who have tried their 
 virtue, say still, "Comfort me with apples." Sol. Song, 
 ii. 5. " As the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood, 
 so is my Beloved among the sons." 
 
 Doubtless, some of you have often wandered in the 
 woods, in the warm summer's day; and, when tired, 
 have been glad to lie down in their cool refreshing 
 shadow. But in those woods you might search in vain 
 for fruit worth the trouble of gathering. No one goes 
 into a wood to look for apples. The trees of the wood 
 are for timber to build with, or to make fires of; they 
 bring forth no fruit, and are of no great use till cut down. 
 
 But suppose you were in a great forest, where you 
 had taken refuge from the scorching heat of the sun. 
 Suppose you had wandered about all day, and were in 
 want of food ; and that you were almost famished with 
 thirst, and parched with heat, and ready to drop down 
 with fatigue. Would you not be delighted, if you were 
 all at once to see before you a great Apple-tree, such as 
 I have described, loaded with rich, ripe, golden fruit, 
 and the branches stooping to the ground with their 
 weight ; while their rich perfume revived your spirits, 
 and invited you to taste ? If you were thus weary and 
 athirst, nothing could induce you to pass it by. It 
 would be too tempting. There is the cool shade ; there 
 is food, meat and drink too ; and there is a reviving 
 fragrance with it all, to entertain one sense, Avhile 
 another is regaled. "Oh," you would say, "here 
 is a prize ! this is just what I want ! this is the 
 best tree I have seen yet." And you would hasten to 
 get under its shadow. You would eagerly pluck the 
 tempting fruit. And oh ! how sweet would it be to 
 your taste !
 
 AMONG THE TBEES. 27 
 
 Now here you have a beautiful picture of the Lord 
 Jesus. As this ''Apple-tree among the trees of the wood, 
 so is my beloved among the sons," so is Christ among 
 all created objects. 
 
 No other tree is to be compared with this. Some are 
 poisonous and destructive, trees of mischief, which 
 Satan has planted. And some are prickly, and wound 
 the hands of those that touch them. Only this Tree of 
 trees can furnish the soul with food and medicine, 
 shelter and support, and satisfy all its wants. Those 
 that have tasted that the Lord is gracious, can witness 
 to this. Each of them is ready to say, "I sat down 
 under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit 
 was sweet to my taste." 
 
 Did you ever think what a delightful place the 
 garden of Eden must have been, when Adam and Eve 
 walked through its groves, before their gin brought a 
 curse upon it, and uprooted it all ? " Out of the ground 
 made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant 
 to the sight and good for food." But amidst all the 
 trees, there were two there, that no other garden or 
 orchard on earth ever had. 
 
 There was the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil ; 
 and that was & forbidden tree. And therefore, however 
 good it might be in itself, it was evil for those who 
 offended God by touching it. Then there was the Tree 
 of Life. The fruit of this tree they were not forbidden 
 to touch. And it stood right in the midst of the 
 garden. 
 
 I dare say you would all listen very attentively if I 
 could undertake exactly to shew you what sort of trees 
 these were, and what kind of fruit they bore. But
 
 28 APPLE-TREE AMONG THE TREES. 
 
 though I cannot satisfy your curiosity ; I cannot shew 
 you any trees like these, nor yet set before you pictures 
 of them, nor yet describe them to you ; yet, blessed be 
 God ! I can shew you a better Tree than either of them. 
 
 "What," say you, "better than the Tree of Know- 
 ledge ?" Yes, better than the Tree of Knowledge, for 
 that turned out to them that eat of it, the Tree of 
 Death. "And better than the Tree of Lifer" Yes, 
 better than the Tree of Life. Behold it ! Come and look 
 at this TREE of trees, the true TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, 
 of which you may eat and grow wise, and not die, the 
 true TREE OF LIFE, of which, if you eat, you shall live 
 for ever. 
 
 Oh, taste its fruit, " taste and see that the Lord is 
 good ;" and tell me if you think there is such another 
 tree in all the world. Its wide spreading branches 
 stretch far away over the whole earth, laden with the 
 blessings of salvation. Its shadow gives safety and 
 defence. Those that dwell under it shall "revive as the 
 corn and grow as the vine." Its leaves are for the healing 
 of the nations ; and itsfntit no tongue can describe it. 
 Angels and men, to all eternity, will feed and feast on 
 it ; and drink in from its wondrous virtue, immortality 
 and eternal life, fulness of joy and pleasures for ever- 
 more. 
 
 But in vain we discourse of its excellence. You must 
 taste it, or you can know nothing of it. Ho ! ye 
 wanderers ! ye discontented ones ! ye who feed on husks, 
 and say " who will shew us any good ?" Bend your 
 steps hither. Come and sit down under the shadow of 
 this Tree. Yea, dwell here, and live on the fruit that 
 continually drops from its branches. " Eat abundantly,
 
 ALTOGETHER LOTELY. 29 
 
 O friends, and drink, O beloved ; eat ye that which is 
 good, and let your souls delight themselves in fatness." 
 So, when you have tasted and handled for yourselves, 
 shall you be ready to speak of Him to others, and 
 joyfully witness, with all true Christians, that He is also 
 the 
 
 (6.) ALTOGETHER LOVELY. Sol. Song, v. 16. 
 There is a loveliness of body, and a loveliness of 
 mind. So we may speak of a lovely face, and a lovely 
 character. These may be found in the same person, or 
 not. There may be a beautiful mind in an ugly body, 
 and contrariwise. 
 
 But neither is the person nor character of any man 
 or woman on earth altogether lovely. We must go to 
 another world to look for one who answers to this 
 description. And you may think that an angel can 
 claim this title. But it is written that God charges his 
 angels with folly. Job iv. 18. Not that they are sinful: 
 for they would not be in heaven if they were ; but that, 
 in the highest sense, it cannot be said of one of them, 
 He is altogether lovely. 
 
 All the people on earth have faults, which they may- 
 see themselves if they will ; but if they cannot see them, 
 others can discern them without trouble. 
 
 Perhaps you are able to think of one who has a 
 beautiful countenance, but a mean body. One whom 
 you knoAv, may have all riches and honours, and, 
 withal be covetous and proud. Another may be kind 
 and good tempered, but ignorant or slothful. Another 
 may be wise and learned, but selfish or wayward. He 
 may be versed in all sciences, but, as dead flies spoil the
 
 30 ALTOGETHER LOVELY. 
 
 savour of the richest ointment, " so doth a little folly 
 him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour." 
 Ecc, x. 1. 
 
 We read in the Bible of a great officer who had fame, 
 and fortune, and whatever men value most ; BUT he 
 was a leper. Absalom was exceedingly handsome in 
 face and figure, BUT he was a monster of wickedness. 
 Solomon was wise above all that ever lived, BUT he 
 was foolish enough to bow to false Gods. Moses was 
 very meek, BUT could not always command his tem- 
 per. Peter was a man of great boldness and courage, 
 and YET once a serving maid laughed him out of his 
 religion. 
 
 And suppose you could find one who was kind, 
 obliging, wise, and lovely ; one who was free from all 
 the faults just mentioned ; still, whoever he is, he is 
 a sinner ; and this you know is a sad deformity indeed. 
 
 But, turn your eyes on the Lord Jesus, and you will 
 behold one who is ALTOGETHER LOVELY. You cannot 
 name a single good quality which He does not possess 
 in all its perfection. He is " the brightest, sweetest, 
 fairest one, whom eyes have seen or angels known." A 
 Lamb truly without spot or blemish. 
 
 " All over lovely is my Lord, 
 Must be belov'd and yet ador'd ; 
 His worth, if all the nations knew, 
 Sure the whole earth would love Him too." 
 
 Oh that I could worthily set Him forth ! Oh that I 
 had the tongue of that man of God, which was like the 
 " pen of a ready writer," when his " heart was inditing 
 a good matter" concerning the King.
 
 ALTOGETHER LOVELY. 31 
 
 "Thou art fairer than the children of men," said 
 David. " Thou art the chiefest among ten thousand," 
 said Solomon. "As the Apple-tree among the trees of 
 the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons." Isaiah's 
 lips are on fire when he talks of Christ. He calls Him 
 the " BRANCH beautiful and glorious," whose " fruit is 
 comely and excellent." And again he describes Him 
 as a Mighty Conqueror arrayed in " glorious apparel, 
 travelling on in the greatness of his strength." Ezekiel 
 paints him as a tender shepherd, moved with compas- 
 sion, going forth on the "mountains, whereon his sheep 
 have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day," and 
 gathering the poor wanderers into His fold. And the 
 apostles who were " eye witnesses of His majesty," 
 and saw how full He was of grace and truth, could 
 scarcely speak or write of Him without constantly 
 breaking out into wonder and praise. 
 
 And can you not recount some of His excellencies ? 
 If we talk of wisdom, does He not know every thing ? 
 If we speak of mercy, is He not Love itself? If of 
 glory, O how glorious must He be who made the bright 
 sun and built the lofty sky ! And yet, though He is 
 the Lord of angels and the King of kings, he is spoken 
 of as " lowly and riding on a colt the foal of an ass." 
 
 Still, though you know He possesses all these excel- 
 lencies, most of you can think of Him without loving 
 Him. Alas ! how deplorable that blindness which does 
 not see His beauty so as to be in love with it. When 
 we speak of Him, you turn away and are ready to say, 
 " Why so much ado? What is thy beloved more than 
 another that we should regard Him?" You prefer the 
 foolish shows of time and sense. A gaudy dress, a
 
 32 ALTOGETHER LOVELY. 
 
 gay ribband, a lively picture, or a little shining dust 
 draws your eyes and hearts ; and for the sake of these 
 you turn away from Him, on whom angels gaze with 
 wonder and joy. 
 
 You are all ready to pity the condition of the poor 
 blind man, who gropes his way in the dark, even while 
 the bright sun is shining on all around ; who never has 
 aught before him but a dismal blank, while you can see 
 the green fields, the lovely sky, and all the fair objects 
 of which the world is so full. And you say when you 
 contrast your own favoured lot with his, " Truly the 
 light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is to behold the 
 sun." 
 
 But yet that blind man yonder, who continually lives 
 and moves in the dark, so far as this world is concerned, 
 may have his inward eye, the eye of his mind open. 
 And like the great poet Milton, who you know was 
 blind, he may, in imagination, see such visions of glory 
 and grandeur pass before him, as may make up to him 
 for the loss of his bodily sight. Or if he be a poor and 
 unlearned man, he may yet be entertained with such 
 delightful spiritual sights of the glory of Christ as may 
 cause him to sing for joy. 
 
 But here is a blindness which shuts the soul quite 
 out from the light of God's love ; so that those thus 
 blinded " cannot SEE the kingdom of God ;" cannot at 
 all " see the good of His chosen." Satan blindfolds 
 them lest the light of the glory of Christ, the Sun of 
 righteousness, should shine into their minds. 
 
 Poor benighted soul ! we pity thy sad state, though 
 thou carest not for it thyself. But what shall we say 
 to arouse thee ? how can we make thee sensible of thy
 
 ALL AND IN ALL. 33 
 
 misery ? Oh, awake out of sleep, and hasten to Him who 
 counsels thee to anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, of 
 His own providing, that thou mayest see. " Rise, He 
 calleth thee," and is waiting to perform that wondrous 
 cure on the eyes of thy mind, which He performed on 
 the bodily eyes of those who formerly cried to Him, 
 " Thou Son of David, have mercy on us." 
 
 Then you will (by that faith which is the evidence of 
 things not seen) " behold the beauty of the Lord," 
 while you "enquire in His temple;" and hereafter, in the 
 land that is very far off, you shall, without a veil, " see 
 the King in His beauty," and be " satisfied when you 
 awake up in His likeness." 
 
 " There, where the blessed Jesus reigns, 
 
 In heaven's unmeasur'd space, 
 You'll spend a long eternity 
 
 In pleasure and in praise. 
 Millions of years your wond'ring eyes 
 
 Shall o'er His beauties rove ; 
 And endless ages you'll adore 
 
 The glories of His love." 
 
 (7.) ALL AND IN ALL. Col. iii. 11. "Christ is 
 all and in all." He is ALL in creation, providence, 
 redemption, grace, glory. He is IN ALL. He is IN 
 ALL events, making all to work together for good to 
 His people. He is IN ALL places. "He compasses 
 our path and our lying down. If we ascend up into 
 heaven, He is there : if we make our bed in hell, be- 
 hold He is there ! and whither can we flee from His 
 presence ?" 
 
 He is at the bottom of the sea, and keeps the great 
 whale alive ; and watches over the scattered bones of 
 
 D
 
 34 ALL AND IN ALt. 
 
 those who have sunk in the mighty waters, till He shall 
 bid them rise. He is at the top of the frozen mountain, 
 where none " can stand before His cold ;" and there, 
 where there is no eye but His, " He giveth snow like 
 wool, and scattereth the hoar frost like ashes." He is 
 alike in the waste howling wilderness, which " no 
 man passeth through," and in the crowded city. He 
 is in the wretched hovel of the beggar, and the gaudy 
 palace of the prince. 
 
 But in a higher sense, He is IN ALL the assemblies 
 of his people, for He has appointed to meet them, and 
 " that to bless them." And in a higher sense still, He is 
 IN ALL their hearts, " formed in them the hope of glory." 
 
 Now is Christ thus IN you ? If He is, He is your 
 ALL, and for you to live is Christ. 
 
 That which men love best, is their all. The covetous 
 man loves gold best. He worships it ; he gives his 
 time, and sells his life and soul for it. It is to him his 
 all, and a wretched All it is. This is his Apple-tree 
 among the trees. He admires it above all the trees of 
 the wood. And he seeks to protect himself under its 
 shadow, and solace himself with its fruits but in vain. 
 He finds out that peace and joy do not grow on this tree ; 
 the apples he gathers from its branches do but mock 
 his hunger, and provoke his thirst. And so, miserable 
 and dissatisfied, he " pines away in his iniquity." In 
 the same manner does the proud man seek for praise 
 and honour. His All is to shine in the world, no 
 matter by what means ; so that he can but climb to 
 a higher, and still a higher pinnacle, and look down on 
 his neighbours, he thinks he shall be satisfied. While 
 she that liveth in pleasure, makes that her All, and is 
 dead while she lives.
 
 ALL AND IN ALL. 35 
 
 And what do children and young people do ? Have 
 they nothing that they make their all. Alas ! who 
 amongst them is of Paul's opinion, that CHRIST is ALL? 
 Do they not give themselves up entirely to childish 
 pastimes, making that their all, which should only be 
 their recreation ? Indeed it is so with the greater part. 
 
 I will here repeat some sweet though simple verses, 
 which shew you what answer the Christian can give to 
 that question " What think ye of Christ?" The title 
 of this hymn is "The Pearl of great Price." 
 
 " I've found the pearl of greatest price, 
 
 My heart doth sing for joy ! 
 And sing I must a Christ I have, 
 
 All gold without alloy. 
 
 " Christ is a Prophet, Priest, and King, 
 
 A Prophet, full of light ; 
 A Priest, who stands 'twixt God and me ; 
 
 A King who rules with might. 
 
 " This Christ, He is the Lord of lords, 
 
 He is the King of kings , 
 He is the Sun of Righteousness 
 
 With healing in His wings. 
 
 " Christ is my Meat, Christ is my Driiik, 
 
 My Med'cine and my Health, 
 My Peace, my Strength, my Joy, my Crow n, 
 
 My Glory, and my "Wealth. 
 
 " Christ is my Saviour and my Friend, 
 
 My Brother, yet my Lord, 
 My Head, my Hope, my Counsellor, 
 
 My Advocate with God. 
 
 ' My Saviour is the Heaven of Heaven, 
 
 And what shall I Him call ? 
 My Christ is First, my Christ is Last 
 
 My Christ is ALL IN ALL." 
 
 D2
 
 36 ALL AND I!C ALL. 
 
 Now all, whether young or old, who come to their 
 right mind, are led thus to make Christ their ALL, For 
 Him they live and labour ; they love to speak of Him, 
 and to praise Him. To serve Him is their meat and 
 drink, and to promote His cause is their business. Is 
 He then your ALL ? 
 
 Very soon you will be laid in the grave. All your 
 worldly plans will be put a stop to ; and that part of 
 you which thinks, and knows, and enjoys, and grieves, 
 will go into another world. 
 
 Do you think it will give you any pleasure there, to 
 reflect on your fine clothes, or your noisy sports ? Will 
 it matter to you there, whether you have been poor or 
 rich ? whether admired or unknown ? Nothing at all. 
 All will have gone away as a dream when one awaketh. 
 Christ will be ALL and these nothing. The most 
 obstinate lover of money, the most devoted follower of 
 pleasure, will then see it to be so. The only question 
 with us in eternity, will be, " Did we love Christ in 
 tune ?" 
 
 A few years ago, there was a great sculptor living in 
 London. His name was Bacon. A sculptor, you know, 
 is one who makes great statues out of blocks of marble ; 
 such statues as you see in St. Paul's Cathedral, and 
 Westminster Abbey, and other similar places. To excel 
 in this work requires great skill and great genius. And 
 Bacon, of whom I speak, was possessed of both ; so 
 that, by his labours, he acquired as much money and fame 
 as most men aim at. But he did not make these his 
 all. He had a better portion than these, for Christ was 
 his ALL; and so his life was useful, and his death
 
 ALL AND IN ALL. 37 
 
 happy ; just as they shall be with every one who thus 
 chooses the good part. 
 
 But the reason why I speak of him now, is this ; 
 He not only made magnificent and costly tombs for 
 other people, but he had his own made. It was a very 
 modest one. And what do you think he had written 
 on it?- 
 
 WHAT I WAS AS AN ARTIST 
 
 APPEARED OF SOME CONSEQUENCE TO ME WHILE I LIVED; 
 
 BUT WHAT I WAS AS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST IS 
 
 THB ONLY THING OF CONSEQUENCE 
 
 TO ME NOW. 
 
 This was the inscription. And after his death it was 
 placed in Tottenham Court Road Chapel ; where by 
 it, he, being dead, still speaketh. When I saw 
 this, some years ago, I was just entering into life ; and 
 as I looked on it, I received instruction. And I men- 
 tion it to you, that you also may have it impressed on 
 your minds, that a man's glory and riches cannot go with 
 him into the other ivorld. 
 
 But what does go with him into the other world ? 
 The dying man takes something away, which he did not 
 bring with him. What is it ? 
 
 What does that man carry away with him, who makes 
 Christ his ALL ? He takes away with him " holiness, 
 without which no man can see the Lord." And this 
 Christ gives him, for He is made unto him sanctification. 
 
 And then the man who made riches and pleasure his 
 all, ah ! what does he take with him ? Can he take 
 nothing away, of all he hath spent his life in raking 
 together? Must others gather all the riches he has
 
 38 ALL AND IN ALL. 
 
 heaped up ? Oh wretched fool ! if this be what he hath 
 spent his days for ! 
 
 I remember reading an account of a dreadful storm 
 at sea, which overtook a vessel on her way from India. 
 Such was the violence of the wind, that the passengers 
 expected every moment to go to the bottom of the sea. 
 There was on board, one who had spent his whole 
 life in getting money, and who was now returning 
 home, as he thought, to live at his ease, and enjoy his 
 fortune. And in that awful moment, when death 
 stared him in the face, he " cursed his God and looked 
 upward ;" and bitterly complained that the treasures 
 he had laboured for so earnestly, were now about to 
 sink in the ocean, and himself and all his hopes with 
 them. Well may the Poet say, 
 
 " How shocking must thy summons be, O death ! 
 To him that is at ease in his possessions ; 
 Who, counting on long years of pleasure here, 
 Is quite unfurnished for the world to come." 
 
 But does the wicked man take nothing away with 
 him, when he goes into eternity ? He takes that away 
 with him, which he would give the world to shake off. 
 But he cannot get rid of it. It cleaves to him, and will 
 not leave him. What is it ? He takes HIS SIN with 
 him. And the burden of this will sink him into hell. 
 " Ye shall die in your sins, and where I am, thither ye 
 cannot come." 
 
 And now, children, you are about to go your ways 
 into the world once more. You daily walk in the 
 midst of tempters. And one says, "Lo here!" and 
 another, "Lo there!" Go not after them, but re-
 
 ALL AND IN ALL. 39 
 
 member that you have had set before you this day, 
 that which is really good ; viz. Jesus Christ as a TREE, 
 bearing all manner of fruit : fruit that makes rich, fruit 
 that gives life, fruit that quenches the soul's thirst, 
 fruit that enlightens the eyes, and abundantly satisfies 
 all who eat of it. 
 
 Also, that same Jesus as the ALTOGETHER LOVELY. 
 He has no spot, nor defect, nor blemish whatever. He 
 is in every way worthy of your highest love. He is 
 ALL AND IN ALL; and having him, you will want 
 nothing. If, in this life, God should give you outward 
 comforts, then you will enjoy Hun IN ALL. And if 'you 
 be destitute of them, then you shall enjoy ALL in God : 
 and be able to say with Habakkuk, " 'Although the fig- 
 tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, 
 the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall 
 yield no meat,' yet, since no mildew can ever reach the 
 fruit which grows on Christ the TREE OF LIFE, I shall 
 still partake of that, and be able to ' rejoice in the Lord, 
 and joy in the God of my salvation.' " Oh come, all of 
 you, " TASTE and SEE that the Lord is good." 
 
 " Dear Saviour, let thy BEAUTIES be 
 
 My soul's eternal FOOD ; 
 And grace command my heart away 
 From all created good."
 
 LECTURE IV. 
 
 ANCHOR. ADVOCATE. ATONEMENT. ALMIGHTY. 
 ANCIENT OF DAYS. APPAREL. 
 
 What is a patron ? One recommended. His qualifications. Anchor. What 
 it is for. Shipwreck. How a figure of the Saviour. Ships in harbour. 
 Boisterous night. What keeps them from destruction. The Martyr's 
 firmness in sufferings. Christian lady of Carthage. Her temptations. Her 
 constancy. Secret of it. Peter. Judas. Advocate. The two travellers. The 
 accusation. The trial. The triend in court. The acquittal. The Christian's 
 accusers. His Advocate. Objections answered. Atonement. Why Christ 
 prevails. Wonderful scheme. What Christ pleads. Why angels could 
 not advocate our cause. Almighty. Return of the young maiden to life. 
 The widow's son. Lazarus. Resurrection of Christ. The last day. The 
 judgment. Ancient of days. Who will be safe 1 Apparel. Th Lord 
 our Righteousness. Conclusion. 
 
 MY DEAR CHILDREN, Do you know what a patron is ? 
 A patron is a friend, stronger, richer, or wiser than 
 ourselves. Do you want such a friend ? " Yes," you 
 say, " we all like to have friends." 
 
 Suppose you were in quest of a friend, and had the 
 world to choose from; what would be the qualities 
 you would look for ? You say, " Oh, I should like 
 him to be wise, and then he could teach me. I should 
 look for strength in him, and then he could defend me. 
 He must be faithful, and not easily offended, and then 
 he would bear with my faults. And he must be a
 
 ANCHOR. 41 
 
 person of worth and dignity, and then he could lift up 
 my head, and exalt my condition." 
 
 This is the kind of friend, then, that you would 
 choose; one who could countenance you, as well as 
 love you. And now you know what a patron is. It is 
 much the same as a friend,^-only a friend may be poor 
 and low like ourselves ; whereas a patron is higher 
 than we, and richer than we, and therefore can do much 
 more for us, than one in our own station. 
 
 Now I know of just such an One. He is willing to 
 befriend you. And I am very anxious to recommend 
 Him to you to-day, as just the friend you want. 
 
 He can plead your cause on earth, and speak a good 
 word for you at the same time in heaven. He can feed, 
 defend, and clothe you till death. And, after death, 
 bring you to life again. In the day of judgment, that 
 tremendous day, He can sustain you, and, before angels 
 and men, pronounce you free from condemnation, and 
 own you as His favourites. 
 
 Listen then, to what I have to say of Him; and 
 then tell me if you will choose Him for your Patron. 
 The first thing I have to mention is, that He is as an 
 
 (8.) ANCHOR of the soul, both sure and stedfast. 
 Heb. vi. 19.* Do these children know the use of the 
 
 *Heb. vi. 18. 19. " 'Hope,' in these two verses, cannot well mean 
 the grace of hope that is in us, for it is said to be a hope set be- 
 fore us, and a hope which we fly to, and take fast hold upon. 
 Hope, therefore includes, and, in this verse, directly signifies, the 
 OBJECT of hope, or that which is hoped in, as it often does in 
 other places ; and this object of it most directly means Christ."
 
 42 ANCHOK. 
 
 anchor ? It is attached to the ship to keep it steady, and 
 to hold it fast in one place. In the dark night, when 
 the sailor cannot see his way, and is fearful of danger, he 
 depends entirely on his anchor ; which, hid amongst 
 the clay, and rocks, and weeds, under water, keeps the 
 vessel from drifting about. Some ships have one anchor, 
 and some more. Anciently, they used to have as 
 many as eight anchors, besides a principal one which 
 was called the sheet anchor. 
 
 So, we read in the Acts, chap, xxvii. 29., that when 
 Paul was on that voyage, in which he and the crew 
 were shipwrecked, they found themselves, one night, 
 running into great danger ; and so, wishing to keep 
 still till morning, " they cast four anchors out of the 
 stern, and wished for the day." Now these four 
 anchors kept them stationary. If it had not been for 
 these anchors, the ship would have been driven ashore 
 amidst the breakers, and dashed to pieces in that dark 
 and stormy night ; and all on board must have been 
 drowned. 
 
 And can you not here see, children, an instructive 
 image of Him who is called our Hope, and our Con- 
 fidence ? And to whom AVC must cleave with purpose 
 of heart, if we would be safe in dangers, and stedfast 
 amidst storms. 
 
 Now the anchor is not seen, and one might wonder 
 why the buoyant ship is so steady amidst the boisterous 
 waves ; and why the wind, that bloweth where it 
 listeth, doth not drive her to destruction. So Christ is 
 not seen. He has entered within the veil, and only 
 faith can reach Him there. But then this faith, like the 
 cable which connects the vessel with the anchor, so
 
 ANCHOR. 43 
 
 joins Christ and the soul together, that, while it holds 
 fast without wavering, it cannot perish nor be cast 
 away ; but shall outride every storm. 
 
 Look at the ships in yonder harbour, heaving up and 
 down on the unsteady wave. Last night you watched 
 them, while the heavens gathered blackness, and the 
 wind rose, and the waves lifted themselves up, and 
 rushing onwards with wild disorder, threatened to 
 carry every thing along with them. But the people in 
 the ships seemed not to be disturbed with thoughts of 
 danger. 
 
 Night came on, and hung her black pall over every 
 thing. You looked at them till you could scarcely 
 penetrate the gloom, and, one by one, they all faded 
 from your view. And you went to your warm bed, 
 wondering whether they would be able to withstand 
 the united force of wind and water. All night long, 
 the wind howled over the roof, and roared in the 
 chimnies, and you thought, surely nothing but a strong 
 house, built on the firm earth, could be safe at such a 
 time. And you called to mind the ships, and feared 
 that they must be all swept away, or dashed to pieces 
 against each other. 
 
 But when the night had passed, and the commotion 
 had ceased, you looked for them, and they were all 
 there ; you counted them, and not one was missing. 
 You called to mind whereabouts, last night, lay that 
 great ship, yonder, with the tall masts and rigging like 
 a forest, and she is just where she was. You looked 
 for the rest, and they were all in their places. Even 
 the little boats had not moved away. How was this ? 
 What enabled them to weather the storm ? such fragile
 
 44 ANCHOR. 
 
 things as they appeared to be, and on such an unsteady 
 and deceitful element ? 
 
 They were all made fast to their anchors, and these 
 were sure and stedfast ; and this it is which accounts 
 for their being unmoved. And that which kept the 
 people in the ships from fear, was the confidence they 
 felt in their anchors. So the Christian's heart is fixed 
 on his Saviour, and he can sing, and give thanks in a 
 storm ; as it is written, " Thou wilt keep him in perfect 
 peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee ; because he 
 trusteth in Thee." 
 
 " Amidst the roaring of the sea, 
 My soul still stays its hope on Thee, 
 Thy constant love, Thy faithful care 
 Is all that saves me from despair." 
 
 Oft has the wicked and cruel world wondered, while 
 fire and faggot, and swords and saws, and all instru- 
 ments of torture, have been applied to drive Christians 
 to deny their Saviour. Those who stood by saw the 
 waves, and they saw the frail, defenceless bark, but 
 they saw not the strong cable of faith, which held fast 
 on an invisible ANCHOR. The cruel hands of persecutors 
 kindled the fire ; and while they themselves would 
 have trembled to hold one of their fingers in the flame 
 for a moment, they looked at the innocent victims of 
 their wicked spite, and behold ! they stood without 
 shrinking, calmly prepared to go through all that 
 malice could inflict, rather than give up their religion. 
 Now the secret of this steadiness was the hold they 
 had on their sure and stedfast ANCHOR, which their 
 enemies saw not, because " within the veil."
 
 ANCHOR. 45 
 
 There lived at Carthage, two hundred years after 
 the crucifixion of our Lord, a Christian lady named 
 Perpetua ; she was about twenty-six years of age at 
 the time of which I speak. She loved the Lord Jesus, 
 and was not ashamed to own Him before a wicked 
 world ; and so she was seized, and, together with her 
 dear little infant, cast into prison, where her fortitude 
 was tried to the utmost. But nothing could move 
 her away from Christ. 
 
 Her father, who loved her tenderly, knowing that 
 there was nothing but a dreadful death before her if she 
 did not recant, went to see her in the prison, and tried 
 to persuade her to deny Christ. And first he sought to 
 move her by tears, and entreaties, and kind words ; and 
 then he tried angry words, and frowns, and reproaches; 
 and then he set before her the grief of her mother, and 
 the helplessness of her babes. But all in vain; she 
 would not deny Christ. 
 
 When she was taken before the judge, he also urged 
 her to consider her own life, her family, and her father's 
 tears. But she loved her Saviour better than all, and 
 she would not forsake Him. So, when it was found she 
 was not to be moved, she was led back to the dungeon 
 again. Her father, in despair, tried to carry her off 
 from the prison, but the soldiers tore her from his em- 
 braces. At last the day of execution came, and this 
 lovely and innocent woman suffered herself to be thrown 
 to the beasts in the amphitheatre to be devoured, in 
 the sight of thousands of people ; rather than deny 
 Christ. 
 
 But what was the secret of this holy woman's firm- 
 ness ? Her faith had taken a fast hold on her unseen
 
 46 ADVOCATE. 
 
 Saviour as the ANCHOR of her soul, and this hold on 
 Him kept her unmoved amidst the fierceness of the 
 storm. She was faithful unto death, and received a 
 crown of life. 
 
 And such women there are at Madagascar, at this 
 very moment, suffering similar cruelties in the same 
 cause, and with the like constancy. 
 
 And in all tempests of trouble, from whatever source, 
 this divine ANCHOR it is, which saves the good man 
 from shipAvreck. " I had fainted," said David, " un- 
 less I had believed." When false reproaches threaten 
 to swallow up the man of God, and his enemies lay to 
 his charge things which he knows not, what but this 
 hidden ANCHOR can compose and steady him till the 
 storm is blown over ? 
 
 In the storm of temptation, Peter, you know, was 
 sorely tossed on the billoAvs, and well nigh wrecked. 
 But this ANCHOR saved him from drifting quite out to 
 sea ; and he lived to write sweetly, years afterwards, of 
 the Lord, " who knoweth how to deliver the godly out 
 of temptation ;" while Judas had no hold on this 
 ANCHOR, and was dashed in pieces against the rocks, 
 like a potter's vessel ? 
 
 Woe ! woe to that ship that loseth her Anchor ! she 
 must be driven to sea, or be broken on the shoals. 
 Wherefore, let us hold fast the beginning of our con- 
 fidence stedfast to the end. Satan desires to have us. 
 But Christ is the ANCHOR of our souls both sure and 
 stedfast ; and hath also entered within the veil to ap- 
 pear for us as our 
 
 (9.) ADVOCATE with the Father. 1. Jno. ii. 1. 
 
 And what is an Advocate ? Amongst us it signifies
 
 ADVOCATE. 47 
 
 one who pleads for another in a court of justice ; or one 
 who undertakes to prove an accused man to be innocent ; 
 or to shew sufficient cause why he should not be 
 punished. 
 
 Two travellers once agreed to pursue their journey in 
 company. They had not been many days together, 
 before one of them missed his purse ; and straightway 
 accused the other of having robbed him ; which he as 
 stoutly denied. But, notwithstanding, he was de- 
 livered to the officers, and cast into prison, there to 
 wait till the assizes came on. 
 
 Now was the poor accused man in a sad plight. There 
 were many things that might be brought against him. 
 Appearances were not in his favour, and his prosecutor 
 would, of course, make out the worst case he could. 
 Well, what did he do ? He sent for one of those, 
 whose business it is to advocate or plead men's causes 
 before the judge and jury who were to try them. So 
 of this Advocate he made a friend, and told him all, 
 and put his case into his hands. 
 
 At last the important day of trial came. The sound 
 of trumpets and bugles proclaimed the judge's approach 
 to the town. And as the sound fell on the ear of the 
 poor prisoner in his cell, he heard and trembled. But 
 yet was he somewhat comforted by the thought, that 
 he had an Advocate, who would do his best for him on 
 the morrow. 
 
 The morning dawned. The accused one was led forth 
 into a great hall crowded with people, and placed at the 
 bar. In the midst, on high, sat the judge ; before him 
 were the lawyers and counsellors ; and around him 
 were officers and jailors and all the forms of justice.
 
 48 ADVOCATE. 
 
 And first the indictment was read. Then a witness 
 was called, to give evidence against him ; afterwards 
 another followed, and then another ; and still matters 
 grew worse, while the poor man at the bar looked pale 
 and fearful. 
 
 But presently when all was said that could be said 
 on that side, his Advocate stood up. He made a long 
 and ingenious speech, called witnesses to the man's 
 character, set all his arguments in order, and in the 
 end overturned all the evidence against him. 
 
 The prisoner listened, and as his Advocate went on, 
 by degrees lost all his fears, and began to lift up his 
 drooping head and to stand erect, as one not only inno- 
 cent, but also seen to be so by others. What could 
 the jury say to all this ? They consulted together, and 
 brought him in NOT guilty. And so the judge, instead 
 of putting on the black cap, and pronouncing sentence, 
 told the jailor to take off his chains, and let him go 
 free. Thus he went forth with his character cleared, 
 and " received beauty for ashes and the garment of 
 praise for the spirit of heaviness." Would this man 
 ever forget his Advocate ? 
 
 Now thus it is written in the New Testament, con- 
 cerning Christ Jesus, " If any man sin, we have an 
 ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the Right- 
 eous." 1 John ii. 1 . And thus it is written in the Old 
 Testament, concerning the same gracious Patron, " He 
 shall stand at the right hand of the poor to save him 
 from them that would condemn his soul." Psa. cix. 31. 
 And who are those that would condemn the soul of the 
 believer ? There are several that accuse and condemn 
 him ; and alas ! there is too much reason. First,
 
 ADVOCATE. 49 
 
 Satan is called the " Accuser of the brethren." He 
 accused Job before God of being a hypocrite. And in 
 Zech. iii. 1, we read that when "Joshua stood before 
 the Lord, Satan stood at his right hand to resist him." 
 And the Lord rebuked his accuser, and told those who 
 stood by to " take away his filthy garments." So his 
 polluted " prison dress" was taken away, and he was 
 clothed with change of raiment. And still Satan accuses 
 the brethren. 
 
 Then if conscience is tender, that accuses. For 
 " what man is he which liveth and sinneth not ?" And 
 that is not a Christian conscience which takes no note 
 of these sins and miscarriages. 
 
 And God who is greater than the heart, and knoweth 
 all things, He by His Spirit convicts, and by His law 
 condemns. 
 
 And the world accuses the Christian ; sometimes 
 falsely ; and sometimes it calls those things crimes, 
 which are his glory. 
 
 What then would the Christian do if it were not for 
 his ADVOCATE ? And oh, ichat an ADVOCATE ! Think, 
 for a moment, who He is that " pleads the causes of 
 his soul." 
 
 Do we look for worth and dignity in our ADVOCATE : 
 " He is lifted up in the heavenly places, far above 
 principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and 
 every name that is named ;" and " all the world doth 
 acknowledge Him to be the Lord." 
 
 But does this His excellence make us afraid, and do 
 we enquire for kindness and condescension ? Are we 
 unwilling to tell our troubles to one so great, so high ? 
 Do we suspect he is too lordly to plead for our unworthy
 
 50 ADVOCATE. 
 
 names ? Behold, it is written, that " the Lord will main- 
 tain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor," 1 
 Psa. cxl. 12. And " though the Lord be high, yet He 
 hath respect to the lowly." 
 
 Further, do we ask for eloquence in an Advocate? 
 Never man spake like this man, for grace is poured into 
 His lips. And Him the Father heareth always. Who 
 then shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? 
 It is Christ that pleadeth. It is God that justifieth. 
 Who is he that shall condemn ? Give Him, then, thy 
 cause to plead, nor fear the result. 
 
 But you still object : you say, " Indeed, if I were 
 innocent, if I could say, ' they lay to my charge things 
 which I know not,' I would expect Him to notice me. 
 But it is not so. My case differs from that just men- 
 tioned ; / am verily guilty. Alas ! alas ! whither shall 
 I go ? I have done the things whereof I am accused." 
 
 Well, Jesus Christ knows all that ever you did. 
 And yet He is still willing to undertake your cause ! 
 What if Satan accuse, and the law arraign, and conscience 
 condemn, and all justly ? Labour not to contradict or 
 satisfy them ! Tarry not to argue it out with them ! 
 AAvay with all your excuses and apologies ! Throw 
 yourself on Christ, the ADVOCATE who "maketh inter- 
 cession for the transgressors ;" who is also your Judge ; 
 and who, after all, will have the last word, when Satan, 
 and sin, and conscience, and law, shall have said their 
 worst. Wherefore lift up your heads, 
 " Your ADVOCATE appears 
 For your defence on high, 
 His plea the Father hears, 
 And lays His thunder by ; 
 Not all that hell or sin can say, 
 Shall turn His heart, His love away."
 
 ATONEMENT. 51 
 
 " If any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. And He is the 
 Propitiation for our sins," or the 
 
 (10.) ATONEMENT. Uno. ii. 2. This word means 
 a covering. And Christ covers our sins by His most 
 precious blood. The crimson stream flows over them, 
 and conceals them from view. Here, then, we see the 
 reason why His Advocacy prevails. You know an 
 Advocate must have something to shew on behalf of 
 his clients. Christ cannot shew our righteousness ; we 
 have none. He cannot say to the Judge, "These 
 accused ones are innocent." No ! we have dishonoured 
 the law, insulted the Majesty of heaven, and done what 
 we could to overturn the government of God. And if no 
 notice is taken of our offence, and we are let off without 
 punishment, how then could God as a lawgiver be 
 respected ? And if we bear the punishment ourselves, 
 it will crush us for ever. What then was to be done ? 
 What way of escape could be devised? Well may we say, 
 
 " Blest be the wisdom and the power, 
 
 The justice and the grace, 
 
 That join'd in council to restore 
 
 And save our ruin'd race. 
 
 " Blest be the Lord that sent His Son 
 
 To take our flesh and blood ! 
 
 He for our lives gave up His own, 
 
 To make our peace with God. 
 
 " He honour'd all His Father's laws, 
 
 Which we have disobeyed ; 
 He bore our sins upon the cross, 
 And our full ransom paid. 
 
 2
 
 52 ALMIGHTY. 
 
 This, then, is what the Advocate shews ; Himself 
 as our ATONEMENT. His blood as the price of our 
 ransom. And He says, " Let these go their way, for I 
 have borne their sins in my own body. I received their 
 chastisement. I was bruised for their iniquities." The 
 Father allows the plea, and thus " with His stripes we 
 are healed." 
 
 Now all the angels in heaven could not have done or 
 suffered thus for us, and therefore angels could not be 
 our Advocates, because they have no means of recon- 
 ciling us to God. But the Lord Jesus could obey, and 
 suffer and die in our stead, and then plead effectually 
 for us, for He is above all beings, the 
 
 (11.) ALMIGHTY. Rev. i. 8. When He was on 
 earth, miracles attended Him wherever He went ; and 
 virtue went forth from Him to all around. The time 
 would fail to shew forth all His mighty acts. At His 
 word devils gave up their captives, and death sur- 
 rendered his prey. 
 
 One day, He entered a house in Judea, and found a 
 young girl smitten, like a blighted rose, by the hand 
 of death ; and the mourners stood around, bewailing 
 her untimely end. But He who is the ALMIGHTY, bade 
 them stay their wailings ; and then, by a word, He 
 brought her back from the realms of death. 
 
 Once, as He journeyed, He met a mournful train 
 at the gates of a city ; a widow following her only son 
 to the grave. He felt for that poor widow. And, 
 stopping the procession, He said, " Young man, I say 
 unto you, arise :" the young man heard the command 
 of the ALMIGHTY, and straightway, he that had been 
 dead, sat up.
 
 ALMIGHTY. 53 
 
 Two sisters wept for the loss of their brother. " In 
 their affliction He was afflicted;'' and He "wept with 
 those that wept." But He said, " Thy brother shall rise 
 again." So He led them forth to the place of the dead. 
 And there, at the mouth of that dreary and silent 
 chamber, He stood and called with a loud voice, 
 " Lazarus, come forth !" And the sound of His words 
 had not died away among the hollow caverns, ere the 
 dead man, aroused by the voice of the ALMIGHTY, 
 stood before them, though bound hand and foot with 
 grave clothes. 
 
 By and by, He who gave life to others, hung sus- 
 pended on a tree, yielded up His Spirit, and was 
 numbered with the wicked in His death. Devout men 
 and holy women carried Him to the tomb, and made 
 his grave with the rich. But at the appointed hour, 
 this ALMIGHTY Captive of the grave, who could see no 
 corruption, nor be holden in the bands of death, burst 
 the fetters by His own power, and raised Himself from 
 the dead. 
 
 And at the last day, he will call to the dead who are 
 under ground ; and raise them up who are hid in char- 
 nel houses, and churchyards, and under the lofty 
 pyramids ; and at his command the sea will give up 
 the dead that are in its dark caves : and all will come 
 to life, and stand up an " exceeding great army." 
 
 Then will his angels gather them together from the 
 four winds, and rise with them to meet the Lord in 
 the air. And He who is ALMIGHTY will set fire to 
 this whole world, and melt it with fervent heat, as in a 
 furnace. 
 
 But while heaven and earth are thus passing away 
 with a great noise, and all the nations of the earth, in
 
 54 ANCIENT OF DATS. APPAEEL. 
 
 one vast crowd, will be waiting, mute with wonder and 
 amazement, the wheels of His chariots will be heard 
 rolling in heaven. And " every eye will see Him" 
 coming in the clouds with power and great glory. And 
 thus when all other thrones are for ever cast down, 
 Jesus, the ALMIGHTY will ascend His great white throne, 
 and sit in judgment ; for He is that 
 
 (12.) ANCIENT OF DAYS, of whom we read in 
 Dan. vii. 9 1 1 . " His garment is white as snow, and the 
 hair of his head like the pure wool ; His throne is like 
 the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery 
 stream issues and comes forth from before Him ; thou- 
 sand thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand 
 times ten thousand stand before Him." And now " the 
 judgment is set, and the books are opened." 
 
 But who can paint that awful scene ? And where 
 shall the impenitent hide their heads ? What rocks 
 can conceal them ? How will they answer those who 
 accuse them? The ANCIENT OF DAYS has been the 
 witness of all their doings. He stood by when Cain 
 slew his brother; and, in the book of His remembrance, 
 are written all the sins of all mankind, from the creation 
 of the world to its burning. And now this book is opened, 
 and " God requireth that Avhich is past." Ecc. iii. 15. 
 
 Oh happy ! thrice happy they, who see in the person 
 of this awful Judge, their prevailing ADVOCATE ! They 
 had made a friend of Him before this " evil day came 
 upon them," and had " put on the Lord Jesus" as their 
 
 (13.) APPAREL, the Lord their Righteousness, 
 Jer. xxiii. 6. They, and only they, can now lift up their
 
 APPABEL. 55 
 
 heads with joy, for their full salvation draws nigh. 
 
 " Jesus, thy blood and righteousness, 
 My beauty are, my glorious dress ; 
 'Midst flaming worlds, in these array'd, 
 With joy shall I lift up my head. 
 " Bold shall I stand in that great day, 
 For who aught to my charge shall lay ? 
 Fully absolved through thee I am, 
 From sin's tremendous curse and shame." 
 And now my dear children, to conclude, Will you have 
 this glorious Being for your Friend and Patron ? I will 
 tell you once more what He is, and what He will do 
 for you who trust in Him. 
 
 1 . As an ANCHOR to your souls, He will keep you 
 quiet in the dark night of sorrow, and peaceful in the 
 midst of storms and troubles. 
 
 2. As your ADVOCATE, he will plead for you in heaven 
 all the while you live on earth ; and such a friend at 
 such a court is surely beyond all estimation. 
 
 3. As the ALMIGHTY, He will do all for you in the 
 best manner 'and without fail ; He will befriend you till 
 you die, and raise you up from the ruins of death. 
 
 4. After He shall have done all this, He it is, and 
 not another, who will sit as the ANCIENT OF DAYS, and 
 judge you. And oh ! who would you have for a Judge, 
 if not one who has known you thoroughly, and loved 
 you sincerely all your life long : who has said all He 
 can say in your behalf; who, as your ATONEMENT, has 
 spilled his heart's blood for you; and who conceals all 
 your shame, by giving you His own most perfect 
 righteousness for your glorious APPAREL ? 
 
 I ask again, WILL YOU HAVE THE LOED CHRIST 
 FOR YOUE FEIEND AND PATRON?
 
 LECTUKE V. 
 
 ADAM. ANOINTED. ALTAR. ASYLUM. 
 
 A question asked. How to solve it. Likeness to Christ. Last Mam. The 
 first Adam's history. Entrance of sin and death. The garden lost. How 
 is Adam a figure of the Saviour ? The resemblance. The contrast. 
 Adam's sin repeated by us. Exhortation. Anointed with the Holy 
 Spirit. Explanation. Kings anointed. Christ a King. Priests anointed. 
 Christ a Priest. Sacred oil. Spiritual unction. Sin of Simon Magus 
 A similar offence. Christ's anointing descends to his followers. The 
 young officer. Joseph. Daniel. Improvement. Altar. The Jew's 
 altar. The Christian's. Sacrifices. Prayer. Praise. Good works. 
 Bodies and souls. The priesthood. Childrens' prayer meeting Youthful 
 priests. The resolution recommended. Asylum. Safety in Christ. 
 Conclusion. 
 
 CHILDREN, I hope you recollect what the last Lecture 
 was about. You know, I tried to tell you something 
 concerning the Lord Christ as a Patron, and what He 
 does for those whom He befriends. But now, here is 
 an important question which I want all of you to ask 
 yourselves this day you> little boy, and you, little girl, 
 each of you ask yourself, Is Jesus Christ my Friend ? 
 Let me try to help you to give a right answer. 
 
 He is your Friend, then, if you love Him. Of this 
 you may be sure : for if we love Him, it is, " because 
 He first loved us." But if you love Him, you will 
 strive to be like Him. All who love Christ have a 
 measure of likeness to Him ; and they who are not
 
 ADAM. 57 
 
 like Him, and are not trying to be like Him, do not 
 love Him. 
 
 When our Saviour was young like you, He obeyed 
 His [parents, He loved the bible, loved prayer, and 
 loved the house of God. If there are children, now 
 before God, who do not love these things, and so are 
 unlike Christ, then I tell you at once (though it grieves 
 me to say it) you are still under the curse, and Jesus 
 Christ is no Friend of yours. 
 
 Most of you have parents ; and brothers and sisters 
 older than yourselves. And if you love them, whether 
 they do right or wrong, you strive to imitate them. 
 Children are constantly trying to do what they see 
 others do. And especially do they strive to be like 
 those they really love. 
 
 Now it is just so with those who love the Lord Jesus. 
 They are, in some measure, already " conformed to His 
 image," and they seek to grow more and more like Him 
 every day. 
 
 The good child reads in the bible, that the Lord 
 Jesus was holy and harmless, and that as he grew in 
 stature, he grew in wisdom, and in favour with God and 
 man. And so he strives to be harmless too, and prays 
 that God would make him like the " Holy Child Jesus." 
 In this Lecture, I am going to say a little about our 
 Blessed Saviour as the Last Adam. You know we are 
 by nature like the first Adam, who ate the forbidden 
 fruit ; but if ever we go to heaven, we must grow like 
 the Second Adam, " who honoured all His Father's 
 laws." Then I am to consider Christ as Anointed with 
 the Holy Spirit, and Anointed to be King and Priest. 
 And so must we, too, be anointed with the same Spirit,
 
 58 ADAM. 
 
 and be made kings and priests unto God, if ever we 
 serve Him properly on earth or in heaven. 
 
 Now can any of you answer the question, Who was 
 Adam ? He was the first man that God made, and the 
 father of us all. In Rom. v. 14, Ave read that the first 
 Adam was a figure of Him that was to come, i. e. 
 Christ ; and hi another place He is expressly called the 
 Last 
 
 (14.) ADAM. 1 Cor. xv. 45. You have all heard, 
 again and again, the sad story of the first Adam, in 
 which we are all so deeply concerned : How that God 
 put him into a beautiful garden, and gave it to him for 
 himself and his children. How He gave him leave to 
 make use of every thing in that garden except one tree ; 
 and how He charged him not to taste the fruit of that, 
 on pain of death. 
 
 And you have heard how the serpent tempted Eve to 
 eat the forbidden fruit, by telling her " that it would 
 make her wise, and that God did not mean what he had 
 said about death." And alas ! Eve believed Satan rather 
 than God, and went and stole some of the fruit, and 
 took it to Adam, and persuaded him also to eat of it. 
 All this you have heard again and again. 
 
 Now, this garden was a sweet place, and a happy 
 place, for God had shut death and sorrow and pain out 
 of it. And Adam might have kept them out. Instead 
 of which, he opened the door and let them all in. God 
 did not, it is true, say to Adam, " I will not let you sin. 
 I will put it out of your power to sin. I will handcuff 
 you, and lock you in ; and take the key of the gate away 
 with me, so that you shall not have power to let in your
 
 ADAM. 59 
 
 enemies." No. This would not have been treating 
 him as a reasonable being. But He closed the door fast 
 against death and sorrow, and shut Adam safely in. 
 And then gave the key of the gate to him, to take care 
 of, and strictly charged him not to open it ; warning him 
 of what would follow if he did. 
 
 Now this garden was fenced in, as with the strongest 
 walls. And there was but one door at which misery 
 and death could enter ; and this door Adam might have 
 kept fast barred and bolted, if he had liked. 
 
 But he chose to disobey God; and, by this one act, he 
 let a host of enemies into the garden, and all its pleasant 
 things were laid waste. And so, instead of keeping this 
 Paradise safely as a portion for his children, he lost it, 
 and has left us, instead, the sad inheritance of sin and 
 death, and pain and woe. 
 
 But, how then, you are saying, could Adam be a 
 "figure of Christ?" 
 
 Why in this, that Adam acted for others as well as 
 himself, and through his sin, millions were undone. So 
 also Christ did what He did for others, and through His 
 righteousness millions are saved. 
 
 Adam opened the door through which sin and death 
 entered, and seized on us all. Then comes the SECOND 
 ADAM ; and he opens a door too, but it is the door of 
 mercy, the gate of life. He opens the kingdom of 
 heaven to all believers. And now, though you cannot 
 go back to Eden, you may all come in at this open gate, 
 and enter a far better Paradise than that which Adam 
 forfeited. 
 
 But let me shew you what the bible says of the First 
 Adam and the Last. Turn to Rom. v. 19, there you
 
 60 ADAM. 
 
 read, " As by one man's disobedience, (t. e. Adam's) 
 many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One 
 (i. e. Christ) shall many be made righteous." Again, 
 see 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22, " For since by man came death, 
 by Man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as 
 in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive." 
 Also ver. 47-49, " The first man is of the earth earthy ; 
 the Second Man is the Lord from heaven. As is the 
 eerthy such are they also that are earthy. And as is 
 the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And 
 as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also 
 bear the image of the heavenly." 
 
 So you see, Adam brought us sin and death and ruin ; 
 and Christ brings righteousness and life and salvation. 
 
 Adam was the first of his kind, and gave a name and 
 nature to us all. Christ also is the first of his family; 
 and gives His name and His nature to all that belong 
 to Him. Adam set us a wicked example, which we 
 have been eager to follow ; but Christ, by example too, 
 teaches us to resist the devil, that he may flee from us. 
 
 Now the history of Adam is very instructive. I dare 
 say you blame him for what he did ; and very justly. 
 And I dare say you are thinking, that if you had been 
 in his place, you would not have been so wicked and so 
 foolish. But why then do you do the very same things 
 yourself ? Why do you believe any body's word rather 
 than God's word ? Why do you have unkind and hard 
 thoughts of God, like Adam ? Does not your own 
 conscience condemn you ? Do you not often covet 
 some forbidden thing, and feel discontented because 
 you have not all you want ? And, when you have done 
 wrong, do you not " cover your sin as Adam?"
 
 ANOINTED. 61 
 
 Surely we cannot but feel that we are indeed all of 
 us his children ; for we are like him, and, in his place, 
 would doubtless have done as he did. 
 
 But now, do you not wish to be like Christ ? Will 
 you bear the image of the earthly always ? Oh strive 
 to be like the SECOND ADAM ! Pray for the Holy Spirit, 
 that you may be born again, and that 
 
 " Prevenient grace descending, may remove 
 The stony from your heart, and make new flesh, 
 Regenerate, grow instead." 
 
 And then, when He sends His message for you to go 
 hence, this will be it " To-day shalt thou be with me 
 in Paradise ;" not the Paradise in Eden, but a far more 
 excellent place. And there you shall wear a bright 
 and glorious body like Christ's, and shine for ever as 
 the sun in the firmament. But of that we can say no 
 more, for " it doth not yet appear what we shall be," 
 but this we know, " we shall be like Him, for we shall 
 see Him as He is." 
 Again, we read of our Saviour, that He is 
 
 (15.) ANOINTED with the Holy Ghost. Acts x. 38. 
 Now can any of you tell me what these words mean ? 
 They signify the communication of the gifts and graces 
 of the Holy Spirit. What are they ? Can you men- 
 tion any of them ? Holiness, wisdom, love, power. 
 Now why are these graces and gifts compared to a rich 
 ointment ? Because they render the person who receives 
 them, attractive, useful, and agreeable to others. 
 Suppose I were to pour on your head a few drops of a 
 very rich ointment, as did Mary on the head of our 
 Saviour ; it would perfume your whole person, and you
 
 62 ANOINTED. 
 
 would carry this perfume about with you wherever you 
 went, diffusing the agreeable odour to others. Now 
 thus the rich influences of the Holy Spirit were all 
 poured out on our Saviour without measure. He was 
 ANOINTED with this oil above His fellows. All good 
 qualities are in Him, and all power is given to Him. 
 
 In past ages, kings and queens were anointed with 
 oil, when they were crowned or set over a people. And 
 this ceremony is still observed. This anointing signifies 
 the conferring on them those qualities which fit them 
 for their office. Thus Samuel anointed Saul to be king 
 over Israel ; and also David. And you may read of 
 Solomon's anointing and coronation in 1 Kings i.32 40. 
 And when our queen Victoria was crowned hi West- 
 minster Abbey, the anointing oil was poured on her 
 head by the Archbishop of Canterbury, amidst many 
 imposing ceremonies. 
 
 So Christ, being the King whom God has " set on his 
 holy hill," is said to be ANOINTED. And in Psa. xlv., in 
 allusion to this Anointing, it is said, " All his garments 
 smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia," as he comes forth 
 " out of his ivory palaces." When He came down 
 from the courts of heaven, though clothed in mean 
 garments, for He put on our nature, yet His excel- 
 lent worth betrayed itself through this disguise. It 
 could not be hid. Nicodemus perceived this fragrance, 
 when he called Him a " Teacher sent from God ;" 
 and they found it out, who being sent to take Him, 
 came back without Him, saying, " Never man spake 
 like this man." It was the " savour of His ointments," 
 in other words, His great worth and goodness, which 
 thus enticed people to Him, and made them admire Him.
 
 ANOINTED. 63 
 
 Priests also were anointed. In Exod. Kxix. 7, we 
 read, that Moses was to consecrate Aaron to be priest, 
 by anointing him with the sacred oil, or sprinkling it on 
 his head and garments. This oil was to be made of 
 the most precious spices, and according to God's own 
 prescription. Now thus we are taught that this was a 
 sacred office, and that none must dare to perform its 
 duties, but those appointed by God, and consecrated 
 according to His directions. "And no man taketh this 
 honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as 
 was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be 
 made an High Priest ; but He that said unto Him, 
 Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. As He 
 saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever, 
 after the order of Melchisedeck'' Heb. v. 4 6. 
 
 Whoever among the Jews made any oil for common 
 use, like this holy oil, was to be cut off, so sacred was 
 it. It was so costly that a small spoonful was worth 
 many sovereigns of our money. And so powerful 
 was its fragrance, that, if we had even a very small 
 quantity of it here, the whole place would be filled with 
 the most delightful odour, more refreshing than that of 
 the choicest flower garden. 
 
 But the oil wherewith Jesus Christ was ANOINTED to 
 be both King and Priest, was infinitely more precious 
 than this. What was it ? The Holy Spirit. Turn to 
 Isa. Ixi. 1, and see how this Anointing prepared our Lord 
 for His great work ; " The Spirit of the Lord God is 
 upon me, because the Lord hath ANOINTED me to preach 
 good tidings unto the meek ; He hath sent me to bind 
 up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the cap- 
 tives, and the opening of the prison to them that are
 
 64 ANOINTED. 
 
 bound." Ah ! how precious was this holy oil, this 
 divine unction ! Talk of sovereigns ! why if the room 
 were full of them, it could not purchase one drop. It 
 is infinitely more precious than rubies. 
 
 Yet there was once a wicked man who thought that 
 this sacred Anointing of the Holy Spirit, by which the 
 servants of God were enabled to work miracles, could 
 be purchased for money ! Can any child tell me the 
 name of this bad man ? His name was Simon Magus. 
 When he saw the miracles which Peter and John did, 
 he offered them money, saying, " Give me also this 
 power of working miracles." And did they take his 
 money ? No ! they were filled with horror at the 
 thought ! And Peter indignantly said, " Thy money 
 perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the 
 gift of God may be purchased with money !" 
 
 Oh let us tremble at the bare thought of offending 
 God, by thinking meanly of the Holy Spirit, and His 
 Anointing. Remember Christ has said, " Whosoever 
 shall speak a word against the Holy Spirit, it shall 
 never be forgiven." 
 
 But do not they offend in the same manner, who 
 think to deserve any thing at God's hand, by any thing 
 they can do ? Let us never think to buy or earn so 
 much as one of the least of God's gifts, much less the 
 gift of the Holy Spirit. He invites us to come to Him 
 for all we want, without money and without price ; and 
 He offers eternal life as a free gift, to all who will be at 
 the pains to take it. But " if a man would give all the 
 substance of Ms house IN EXCHANGE for it, it would be 
 utterly contemned." 
 
 W T ell now, this sacred oil, of which we were speaking,
 
 ANOINTED. 65 
 
 and which was poured on the head of Aaron, ran down 
 upon the beard, even to the skirts of his garments, 
 covering him entirely with its rich perfume. So the 
 anointing spirit which was poured without measure on 
 Christ, comes down upon the lowest and meanest of His 
 followers. And if any young persons here belong to 
 Him, they have received this anointing ; and if so, it 
 cannot be hid, it will surely betray itself. Others will 
 discover it. Out of the fulness of the heart, the mouth 
 speaks, and the actions speak, and the Christian will 
 carry with him the " savour of Christ," wherever he 
 goes. 
 
 A pious young officer was once ordered to a new 
 station, and thrown among strange companions. He 
 was very much grieved, because his new acquaintances 
 were lovers of sin. He no sooner appeared among 
 them, than they found out that he was not one of their 
 stamp, but that he had received the anointing of the 
 Spirit, and they laughed at him for a "saint and a 
 methodist." But as he sat at table with them the very 
 first day, he observed one among them very unlike the 
 rest, and on watching him, the " savour of Christ" was 
 soon made manifest in him, both by words and actions, 
 for he also was a Christian. And so the hearts of these 
 two were drawn to each other, by the same anointing 
 which both had received from Christ ; and, by it, they 
 found each other out, almost as soon as they met. I say 
 it cannot be hid. Like Solomon's " ointment of the 
 right hand," it betrays itself. 
 
 Have you ever read the history of Joseph? He* 
 received this sacred unction; and wherever he went, the 
 fragrance of it went along with him, and made all he 
 
 F
 
 66 ALTAK. 
 
 did to prosper, and recommended him to the favour of 
 all. In the prison, it was this that made the keeper so 
 kind to him. And this it was that taught him to ex- 
 plain Pharaoh's dream, and brought him to be the second 
 man in the kingdom. 
 
 And was not Daniel richly anointed ? so that, even in 
 the court of a wicked king, it made him so acceptable, 
 that he rose to be chief counsellor. But the time would 
 fail to tell of those who, by the sweet perfume of this 
 anointing, were in high favour with God and man. 
 
 Oh my young friends, seek for this anointing ! Pray 
 for it ! It will be the " oil of joy, whereby thou shalt be 
 made glad." It will be the " unction of the Holy One," 
 whereby thou shalt know all things, for " this anointing 
 teacheth us all things." It will bring thee health and 
 beauty, and make fat thy bones. It will make you both 
 useful and pleasant ; others will take knowledge of you, 
 that you have been with Jesus, and will desire to ac- 
 quaint themselves with Him, who hath " anointed thee 
 with oil, and made thy cup run over." Finally, this 
 anointing will entitle you to sit with Christ on His 
 throne, as a King for ever. And, in the mean time, 
 while you live here on earth, it will fit you to be a Priest, 
 to " offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God 
 through Jesus Christ." For He is that 
 
 (16.) ALTAR, "which sanctifieth both the gift and 
 the giver." Heb. xiii. 10. An Altar was that whereon 
 all offerings to God were to be laid. There were two 
 Altars in the tabernacle, and also in Solomon's temple. 
 The brazen Altar for sacrifices in the outer court. And 
 the golden Altar for incense in the Holy Place, before
 
 ALTAR. 67 
 
 the veil. Both were Types of Christ. The one of His 
 dying for us on earth ; the other, of His praying for us 
 in heaven. Rev. viii. 3. 
 
 But now these tAvo Altars are overturned. Solomon's 
 temple is no more ; the sacrifices are done away ; the 
 priests no longer minister. But there is an ALTAR still. 
 For the apostle says, " we have an ALTAR." Heb. 
 xiii. 10. Now this ALTAR is Christ. But an Altar 
 must have priests to minister at it, and sacrifices 
 offered on it. And the bible tells us of a " Holy 
 Priesthood" anointed " to offer up spiritual sacrifices 
 acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 
 
 When God told Moses to build the two Altars, and 
 to anoint .the priests, and get ready the incense, 
 He said, "See that thou make all things according to 
 the pattern shewed thee in the mount." So God hath 
 shewed us what he requires, in the bible. And we 
 take the word of God to guide us in our more spiritual 
 worship, and thus do all things " according to the 
 pattern." 
 
 And first let us see what the sacrifices are, which we 
 are to offer on this ALTAR. 
 
 1. Prayer is one sacrifice. So David asks God that 
 his prayer might be "set before Him as incense, and 
 the lifting up of his hands, as the evening sacrifice." 
 And God expects to see His priests at least twice a day, 
 at the ALTAR, with this sacrifice. Yea, more than this ; 
 you are commanded to " pray always with all prayer." 
 
 And do you ask, What you must pray for ? Pray for 
 your daily bread, and all you stand in need of. But, 
 above all, pray for the Holy Spirit, the pardon of sin, 
 
 F2
 
 68 ALTAR. 
 
 and the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. In 
 the day of trouble, too, call on the Lord, and He will 
 deliver you. " If any be afflicted, let him pray." 
 
 2. Praise is a sacrifice. And this you are to offer 
 continually, " even the fruit of your lips, giving thanks 
 to His name." When you walk abroad in the fields, 
 and see the goodness of God ; when you look upward 
 in the clear night, and behold the moon and the stars 
 which He hath ordained; when you feel happy and 
 cheerful ;^-oh then offer this sacrifice of praise. God 
 looks for it; and complains of those who render not 
 again to the Lord according to what they receive. 
 Praise Him for the gospel. Praise Him that you are 
 taught to read. Praise Him for the Sunday school. 
 Praise Him for every thing. And always be sure to 
 lay this sacrifice of praise, as also that of prayer, on 
 the ALTAR. In other words, Do all in the name of 
 Christ. 
 
 What a delightful sight is a whole assembly, join- 
 ing together with one accord, to offer this sacrifice ! 
 "It is like a little heaven below." If all are spiritual 
 priests, worshipping at the true ALTAR, the incense of 
 their praise, " like pillars of smoke perfumed with 
 myrrh," goes up straight to heaven, and is acceptable 
 to God. 
 
 3. Works of charity and holiness are called sacrifices. 
 Psa. iv. 5. " To do good and to communicate, forget 
 not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." 
 Obey your parents, speak the truth always, and be 
 honest and kind to all. This incense will smell sweet 
 to those who live with you ; and send up " an odour of
 
 ALTAB. 69 
 
 a sweet smell" to God. A wicked life, an idle, swearing, 
 quarrelsome life, is a noisome vapour, an incense which 
 is an abomination. Isa. i. 13. 
 
 4. We must offer ourselves on the ALTAR, body and 
 soul. Our bodies are to be " living sacrifices." We 
 read of some who say, " our lips are our own ; who is 
 Lord over us ?" But God's priests think otherwise. 
 They say, 
 
 " My hands, my eyes, my ears, my tongue, 
 Have Satan's servants been too long, 
 But now they shall be thine." 
 
 And God says, " My son, give me thine heart." 
 This must never be wanting. God abhors the sacrifice, 
 if the heart be left behind. But the heart, if it be a 
 broken heart, is a sacrifice which He will not despise. 
 
 Now all these sacrifices, God's royal priesthood are 
 directed to offer up according to the pattern shewed 
 them hi the bible, on that ALTAR, which sanctifies both 
 the gift and the giver, the Lord Jesus. 
 
 But now, a few words respecting the Priesthood. 
 Who are the Priests that wait on the ALTAR ? 
 
 Every Christian is a priest. You, young people, who 
 really love God, are priests, and offer the spiritual 
 sacrifices we have spoken of. 
 
 The youngest child here may have this honour, and 
 be a priest of the Most High. " Out of the mouths of 
 babes and sucklings, He can ordain praise." When 
 Christ rode into Jerusalem, He was pleased with the 
 songs of children, who shouted " Hosannah !" or, as the 
 word means, " Save, Lord, we beseech thee !" And 
 still He takes great notice of children's praises, and
 
 70 ALTAR. 
 
 children's prayers. He loves most dearly, those little 
 priests, whose hearts are tender, and who seek Him 
 early. 
 
 " When you devote your youth to God, 
 
 "Tis pleasing in His eyes ; 
 A flower, when offered in the bud, 
 Is no vain sacrifice." 
 
 There is not a lovelier sight on earth, than a praying 
 child. Angels look at such a sight with delight and 
 satisfaction. 
 
 I was once at a prayer meeting, where two or three 
 little boys, about thirteen years old, offered up, one after 
 another, their simple prayers, and sang their hymns of 
 praise to God. Oh what a beautiful sight was this ! 
 And how delightful to think that God has His priests, 
 even among young children ! 
 
 And may I not hope that some of you belong to this 
 royal priesthood ? When you sing hymns, and say 
 prayers, is it only talking and singing ? Do not your 
 hearts go with your lips ? Do you not " make melody" 
 there ? Ah ! how useless is all your service, if it be not 
 spiritual ! Oh bring no more such vain oblations ! 
 Who hath required these at your hands ? 
 
 Alas ! I fear yea, I know there are some here, who 
 never thanked God, never offered up a single sacrifice 
 in their lives. Oh ungrateful child ! repent of this thy 
 sin. Beg of God to forgive your past neglect. " He will 
 be very gracious at the voice of your prayer." You need 
 not wait to go home first. The ALTAR is here. Offer 
 your sacrifice now. God can hear the smallest whisper. 
 If your heart now cries to God, " Oh Lord, forgive my 
 wicked neglect, and now help me to serve thee, for
 
 ASYLUM. 71 
 
 Christ's sake ;" He hears that cry, and will not des- 
 pise it. 
 
 Make up your minds to join that glorious company, 
 the " royal priesthood," who offer up acceptable sacri- 
 fices on Christ, the true ALTAR. Say now 
 
 " Yes, I WILL join this holy train, 
 And my first off 'rings bring ; 
 Th' eternal God will not disdain 
 To hear an infant sing. 
 
 " My heart RESOLVES, my tongue obeys, 
 
 And angels shall rejoice, 
 To hear their mighty Maker's praise 
 Sound from a feeble voice." 
 
 Again, the Altar, among the ancients, was a place of 
 refuge. And so, Christ, our ALTAR, is also our 
 Sanctuary, or 
 
 (17.) ASYLUM. Isa. viii. 14. The Altar was so 
 sacred among the heathen, that the vilest wretch was 
 safe, if he could but reach it. This explains to us, why 
 Joab the murderer, when condemned to die, ran to the 
 Altar, and took hold of its horns. He thought that it 
 would be an Asylum, or place of safety. But God had 
 said that no such wicked man as he, should be protected 
 by the Altar. Exod. xxi. 14. So he was dragged away 
 and killed. 
 
 But fear not, you who flee to Christ for safety! 
 None shall drag you away from Him ; neither can you 
 perish there, for He says, " He that believeth on me, 
 shall never be confounded." He has provided for the 
 strongest consolation of those who flee for refuge to the
 
 72 ASYLUM. 
 
 hope set before them in the gospel, and says, "They 
 shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of 
 my hands." 
 
 " Here at thine ALTAR, my God ! 
 I lay my soul beneath thy love ; 
 Beneath the droppings of thy blood, 
 Jesus, nor shall it e'er remove. 
 
 " Should worlds conspire to drive me hence, 
 
 Moveless and firm this heart shall lie ; 
 Resolved, (for that's my last defence) 
 If I must perish, here to die. 
 
 " But speak, my Lord, and calm my fear, 
 
 Am I not safe beneath its shade ? 
 
 Thy vengeance will not strike me here, 
 
 Nor Satan dares my soul invade." 
 
 And now, to conclude, First, 
 
 From the History of Adam, learn to be afraid of sin- 
 Think what an ocean of sorrow came in at one narrow 
 gate. Oh say not, when you are tempted, "It is but 
 tmce, and only a little sin." All sin is hateful to God, 
 and hurtful to His creatures, and must be followed by 
 pain, and loss, and punishment. Oh, then, be per- 
 suaded ; touch not the forbidden fruit, however inviting 
 it may look. 
 
 2. Seek to be like the Second ADAM. Ask Him 
 to "make you kings and priests unto God," by that 
 holy unction which He has to give. 
 
 3. Be careful, when you worship God, to come in 
 the right way. God formerly told His people, that the 
 Altar was the spot, where he would meet with His 
 worshippers. And He would not look at those who
 
 ASYLUM. 73 
 
 pretended to worship Him in ways of their own 
 devising. If you wish that your prayers, and praises, 
 and offerings, should be received, offer them through 
 Christ ; bring them to the ALTAR. And offer them 
 up with affectionate zeal. " Bind the sacrifices with 
 cords'' of love, " even to the horns of the ALTAR." 
 
 4. Think also of the safety of those that flee to Him, 
 and be often sending up that prayer, " O Lord ! in 
 thee have I trusted! let me never be confounded." 
 Amen.* 
 
 * Among the Types of Christ, perhaps the Ark of the Covenant 
 ought not to be omitted. Numb. x. 33. It is thought to have been 
 a Type of Christ ; although the mercy seat which covered it, more 
 plainly referred to Him. 
 
 1. The Ark contained a copy of the law of God. And our Lord 
 says, " Thy law is within my heart." And He fully answered its 
 demands. 
 
 2. It was called the " Glory of Israel," and went before them 
 through the wilderness. Christ, also, is the Glory of the saints, 
 and was given as a " Leader and Commander to the people." 
 
 3. Victories and miracles attended it. At the presence of the 
 Ark, Jordan divided its waters, to make a passage for Israel to 
 the land of Canaan. So Christ, by passing through death before 
 us, destroyed its power, and has made it a afe passage for the 
 Christian to the heavenly Canaan. Before the Ark, the walls of 
 Jericho fell down, and the idol Dagon was overturned. So Christ 
 casteth down all imaginations and every high thing that exalteth 
 itself against Him.
 
 LECTUKE VI. 
 
 ANGEL. APOSTLE. ALPHA AND OMEGA. 
 
 Introduction. The Saviour to be made use of. Hypocrites. The call of 
 Samuel. The mysterious messenger The message. 4ngel. Why 
 Angels were made. The majesty of kings. Solomon's glory. A greater 
 King. His palace. Throne Attendants. Their happiness. How to 
 attain the same station. Angels' titles. Employments Their worship. 
 Their battles. Their errands. Senacherib's army. Multitudes of Angels. 
 Elisha's unseen guard. What we should see, were our eyes opened. How 
 Angels travel The speed of thought. The plain of Mamre. The three 
 Angels. Sodom. Lot. Visit to Babylon. Darius. Daniel. Visit to the 
 prison at Jerusalem The captive. The deliverer. Christ an Angel 
 in four particulars. 1. His appearances. Jacob. Gideon. Maooah. 2 His 
 attachments. 3 His ministrations. 4 His errand. Apostle. Meaning 
 of the word Zlpha and Omega. The A and Z. Key to know, 
 ledge. The Jews. The veil on their hearts. On whose beside. How 
 to remove it. 
 
 WE have now almost gone over those Titles of our Lord, 
 which begin with the letter A. And I hope you have 
 not proceeded thus far in vain. I hope you have re- 
 ceived both delight and instruction, from those rich 
 clusters of fruit, which we have been able to gather on 
 this first tree in our orchard. 
 
 If you have, then you are ready to say with those 
 that love Christ, Truly, " thy name is as ointment 
 poured forth." But forget not, that those that rightly 
 " know His Name, will put their trust in Him."
 
 ANGEL. 75 
 
 If you were very ill, and some one were to tell you 
 of a famous physician, who had cured many in the same 
 condition, would it do you any good to be made 
 acquainted with his name and practice ? It might 
 cheer you for a moment, to know that there was such 
 help to be had ; but you could receive no lasting good, 
 unless you were to send for him, and take his advice. 
 
 So likewise, those that know Christ's Names to any 
 purpose, will make use of Him, according to the mean- 
 ing of His several Names. They say, 
 
 " Is He a FOUNTAIN ? THERE I'LL BATHE, 
 And heal the plague of sin and death ; 
 Is He a DOOR ? I'LL ENTER ix, 
 And walk through pastures fair and green. 
 Is He designed a CORNER STONE, 
 For men to build their hopes upon ? 
 I'LL MAKE HIM MY FOUNDATION TOO, 
 Nor fear the plots of Hell below." 
 
 I have only three more in A : ANGEL, APOSTLE, 
 and ALPHA AND OMEGA. 
 
 If you remember, we first considered Him, as the only 
 Place of SAFETY. In the next Lecture, as the only 
 satisfying PORTION. In the next, our only all-sufficient 
 PATRON, or Almighty Friend, that loveth at all times. 
 The view we had of Him in the last Lecture, set Him 
 forth principally as the PATTERN, after which all those 
 are formed who love Him. And there we saw one 
 evidence of interest in Him, viz. likeness. In this 
 present Lecture, we shall be reminded of another, viz. 
 obedience; for we are to contemplate Him as God's 
 MESSENGER to us, the SENT of God. 
 
 There are many who would be glad of such a Friend
 
 76 ANGEL. 
 
 as Jesus, who care nothing for what He tells them to 
 do. They are willing to have rest, and ease, and com- 
 fort, but as for Christ's yoke, of that they know nothing, 
 it does not fit their shoulders. But now, those who 
 belong to Him, listen to His commands, as well as His 
 promises. They look to the, work, as well as the wayes, 
 and they earnestly ask Him, what He would have them 
 to do. 
 
 I hope all my youthful listeners will try to be like the 
 child Samuel of old, who, when God called him, raised 
 himself on his little bed, and said, " Speak, for thy 
 servant heareth." Now the same Jehovah, who called 
 Samuel in the darkness of the night, calls you in the 
 bright day light of the gospel. He does not, as He 
 stands over your bed at night, call to your outward ears, 
 " Samuel, Samuel !" but yet He calls you, each and all. 
 He calls you by His Son. It is not I that call you, It 
 is not your ministers or teachers that call you. We are 
 but as "the voice" of one or another, "that crieth." 
 He who sends us to utter the voice, telling us what to 
 say, is Christ the Lord from heaven. And what is He ? 
 He is God's Messenger to a lost world. 
 
 What an important message must that be, which God 
 could intrust to no one else but His own Son ! 
 
 If the son of some great one of this land, were to 
 seek out one of you children, enquiring for you by name, 
 and saying he had a message from his father for you, 
 what an honour you would think it ! How attentive 
 you would be to his words ! It must needs be an 
 important message, since it could not come by the 
 hands of a servant, but must be brought by the son.
 
 ANGEL. 77 
 
 And if that message were sweetly worded, and 
 kindly delivered by the son, with embraces and loving 
 looks, how woxild the messenger win your heart, almost 
 before you knew what he had to say ! 
 
 But who can do justice, either to God's message, or 
 to Christ's gentle and kind way of delivering it ? 
 
 God might have sent His Son into the world to con- 
 demn the world ; and Christ might have entered as 
 God's Messenger, to lay waste the earth with the 
 thunderbolts of His wrath. But instead of this, " God 
 sent His Son to save the world." 
 
 Now let us glance at the Saviour, as the 
 
 (18.) ANGEL, or "Messenger of the Covenant." 
 Mai. iii. 1. See also Gen. xlviii. 16., and Isa. Ixiii. 9. 
 There are several reasons why He is called an ANGEL. 
 And these we shall best learn, if we first enquire, What 
 Angels are ? what they were made for ? and, how they 
 are employed? 
 
 Kings and emperors, you know, have all their favourite 
 cities, and their castles and palaces, where they dwell in 
 state. And there they set up their thrones, and sur- 
 round themselves with pages and guards of honour, 
 and servants of all kinds. 
 
 All the country of Judea was under king Solomon, 
 and all the Jews were his subjects. But there was one 
 place above all others, where his greatness was seen, and 
 where he held his court. That was Jerusalem. 
 
 And there he built a sumptuous house of costly 
 stones and cedar. And he set up, on lofty steps, his 
 famous ivory throne, overlaid with pure gold, and 
 adorned with carved figures of lions. There he sat in
 
 78 AXGEL. 
 
 royal state, and sent forth his mandates. And around 
 it stood his officers and cupbearers, and crowds of 
 servants in gorgeous apparel. 
 
 You have heard of the queen of Sheba, and of the 
 visit she paid to king Solomon. We are informed that, 
 when she saw all his palaces, and gardens, and foun- 
 tains, and the cupbearers and officers, and the silver, 
 and the gold, and the ivory ; and when she heard 
 Solomon's wisdom, for he was wise above all princes 
 I say, when she heard and saw all, she almost envied 
 his servants, and exclaimed, " Happy are thy men, and 
 happy are these thy servants, which stand continually 
 before thee, and hear thy wisdom !" 
 
 But I know of a greater King than Solomon, and 
 happier servants than his ! I know of a much more 
 glorious palace, and a far loftier throne ; where, robed 
 in splendour, and clothed with majesty, and hid in 
 dazzling brightness, sits the Almighty Lord of Angels, 
 and King of Kings. 
 
 All creation was built for a temple, to shew His 
 glory ; and all creatures are His servants, and do His 
 pleasure. But in that splendid house He is most seen, 
 and best served. 
 
 We here, beneath, see but the " beams of His cham- 
 bers," which He hath laid in the firmament, and on 
 which He hath reared His stories in the heavens. And 
 the stars we gaze at in the clear night, are but as the 
 distant glimmering of the ten thousand lamps, that 
 encircle the throne of the Eternal. 
 
 The bible tells us of a " city, not made with hands, 
 eternal in the heavens." Its foundations are "garnished 
 with precious stones," its gates are pearls, its " streets
 
 ANGEL. 79 
 
 are of pure gold, as it were transparent glass." And 
 there, in the third heavens, the Almighty has His 
 " throne, high and lifted up," whence He issues His 
 commands. And in His palace, there are many 
 mansions for His servants and attendants. And, 
 though He needeth not their help, there continually do 
 ten thousand times ten thousand bright Angels sur- 
 round Him, to wait on Him, and do His pleasure. 
 For this purpose, and this alone, were the Angels 
 created. 
 
 And surely, if the queen of Sheba was overcome with 
 admiration, when she saw Solomon's glory, and called 
 his servants " happy !" much more nrust we say of the 
 Angels, which " stand continually" before God, " Happy 
 are they !" 
 
 And would not you, little child, like to be an Angel ? 
 To see God as He is, and live at His palace ; and 
 walk and talk with those shining ones ? I can tell you, 
 how you may, by and by, be like those happy Angels. 
 You must repent of sin, and turn from it ; for not one 
 of all in those glittering ranks, ever so much as thinks 
 an evil thought. And you must ask the Holy Spirit to 
 wash your heart clean, and make you holy. Give 
 yourself up to Him, and He will take you by the hand, 
 and, before long, lead you into that holy company. 
 
 But now listen a little longer, and I will tell you 
 more about the Angels. They are called "Thrones, 
 Dominions, Principalities, and Powers in the heavenly 
 places." Col. i. 16. Eph. iii. 10. And we read of them, 
 that they excel in strength, that they burn with love, 
 that they are wise and holy. 
 
 Some of them " do always behold the face of the
 
 80 ANGEL. 
 
 Father," abide by His throne, and cry one to another, 
 " Holy ! holy ! holy ! is the Lord of Hosts ! Heaven 
 and earth are filled with the majesty of His glory !" 
 
 Some fly hither and thither, swift as the lightning to 
 do His errands ; and, coming again at the appointed 
 times, give account of their embassies. 1 Kings xxii. 19. 
 Job i. 6. and ii. 1. 
 
 Some fight the battles of the Lord, against the Prince 
 of the power of the air. Michael and his Angels, 
 " contend with the Devil and his Angels." For there 
 are wicked Angels as well as good. Jude 9. Rev. xii. 7. 
 
 Sometimes they come to earth with orders to kill and 
 to destroy. An Angel, one night, killed one hundred 
 and eighty-five thousand soldiers, who were come up 
 to fight against God's people. Isa. xxxvii. 36. 
 
 At evening, when the sun went down, there they lay 
 encamped in the field, like grasshoppers for multitude ! 
 But when the king arose early in the morning, " behold 
 they were all dead corpses !" 
 
 " For the Angel of death spread his wings on the blast, 
 And breath'd in the face of the foe as he pass'd ; 
 And the eyes of the sleepers wax'd deadly and chill, 
 And their hearts but once heav'd and for ever grew still. 
 
 " And there lay the warrior distorted and pale, 
 With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail ; 
 And the tents were all silent, the banners alone, 
 The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown." 
 
 But oh, I cannot tell you how often since the foun- 
 dation of the world, they have winged their way to it, 
 on errands of love. And still, they encamp around the 
 good at night, and bear them up in their hands by day,
 
 AJfGEL. 81 
 
 and wait on them continually. " Millions of spiritual 
 beings walk the earth," and throng the ah-. And all are 
 invisible as the wind, and swift and silent as the sun- 
 beams. We do not see them, nor hear them, though we 
 are surrounded by them. 
 
 The king of Syria once sent a great army to take 
 Klisha. They came by night, and drew up all round 
 his house, and compassed the village where he was. 
 And when the prophet's servant got up in the morning, 
 and saw the soldiers, he was afraid, and cried to his 
 master, " Alas ! my master ! how shall we do ?" 
 Elisha answered, " Fear not, for those that are with us, 
 are more than those that are with them.'' The young 
 man could not understand this, for they were in a poor 
 little village with few men, while the soldiers were a 
 great host. What could the prophet mean ? Why he 
 knew that there were not only hosts of hostile soldiers, 
 but hosts of friendly Angels, encamped around them. 
 But his servant could not see them. So he prayed to God 
 to open the young man's eyes. And the Lord opened 
 the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold ! the 
 mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round 
 about Elisha. No wonder Elisha was without fear ! Who, 
 that had a legion of Angels to attend him, would give 
 way to fear? 
 
 In the same way, they invisibly attended Jacob as he 
 journeyed. But once, it is written, that, " as he went 
 on his way, the Angels of God met him ;" that is, his 
 eyes were opened, and he saw them. And Jacob said, 
 This is God's host. 
 
 And do you think the Angels are less attentive to 
 ivhat goes on in the world now : No indeed ! Children, 
 

 
 82 ANGEL. 
 
 if your eyes were now opened, as were those of the 
 prophet's servant and of Jacob, what would you 
 see ? I'll tell you. You would see wicked Angels, 
 tempting men and seeking to destroy them. And you 
 would see " God's host'' also, the good Angels, with- 
 standing them ; and defending and bearing you up in 
 their hands. You would see that wondrous ladder, of 
 which Jacob had a vision, whose top is lost in the 
 clouds, and the Angels ascending and descending 
 thereon. And, doubtless, you would, see some of them 
 at this very moment in this schoolroom, observing us, 
 whether we take heed how we hear and how we behave. 
 For this is one reason why we are told to behave with 
 care, when in the house of God. 1 Cor. xi. 10. 
 
 But the Angels are not now allowed to be seen. 
 Formerly they often appeared. And when they did, it was 
 generally in the form of young men ; only more bright 
 and beautiful than the sons of men, as you may see by 
 referring to Dan. x. 6, 16 ; Luke xxiv. 4; Jno. xx. 12. 
 You must not, therefore, think of them as really having 
 gross bodies like ours, or, as you have seen them 
 painted, with wings on their shoulders. This outward 
 frame and furniture would but hinder them in their 
 movements. For they are spirits, and fly swift as the 
 lightning. 
 
 Now, if you ask me how they live and how they move 
 without bodies, I cannot tell you. Perhaps the ease 
 with which your thought moves about may best explain 
 it. You know we can send our thought to the most 
 distant part of the world. Our thought can travel about 
 like an Angel. It can go a thousand miles in an instant. 
 It can swim across seas and oceans without fear of
 
 ANGEL. 83 
 
 shipwreck. It can fly over deserts and forests where the 
 foot of man cannot tread. Stone walls offer no impedi- 
 ment to its progress ; it can get into palaces and prisons, 
 and climb up the steep mountain side without danger. 
 
 Let us try. Let our thought or our imagination, take 
 a flight or two. We will imagine ourselves, hundreds of 
 years ago, in Canaan. Before us lies a plain, with 
 clusters of palm trees, and the beautiful blue hills 
 beyond. On this plain there are flocks, and herds, 
 and camels ; and many servants busied in tending them. 
 In the midst are tents ; and at the door of one of them, 
 to shade himself from the heat of the day, sits a mild 
 and venerable man, called Abraham. . While we admire 
 this lovely scene, behold three men draw near. They 
 are persons of a dignified aspect ; and when they stand 
 before Abraham, he makes haste, and bows himself to 
 the ground, and invites them to eat with him. They 
 agree to this, and, resting themselves under a tree while 
 Sarah, Abraham's wife, makes ready a calf, they enter 
 into friendly conversation. And soon Abraham finds 
 out, that in entertaining these strangers, he has " en- 
 tertained Angels unawares." One of the three is the 
 Lord Jesus, the uncreated ANGEL. And after their 
 repast, the Lord, giving the two Angels, His attendants, 
 their orders, and telling them to go forward to Sodom, 
 stays behind with Abraham and talks with him. 
 
 But what can the good Angels be sent to that riotous 
 and wicked town for ? Let us go after them, and see 
 what their business is. It is evening when they get 
 to Sodom, and, going in at the gate, they are seen by 
 Lot, Abraham's nephew, who hastens to salute them, 
 and entreats them to tarry all night at his house. 
 
 o2
 
 84 ANGEL. 
 
 They seem unwilling to abide in such a wicked place ; 
 but, nevertheless, they go in. 
 
 They appear to be strangers, but they know more of 
 the town than Lot does, and they tell him more than he 
 knew before. What do they tell him ? That the cry 
 of the wicked people had gone up to God ; and that 
 they were sent to deliver him, and burn the place and kill 
 all the people. So they urge him to arise, and call all 
 his sons and daughters, and get ready to depart. 
 
 And at the early dawn, these kind Angels hasten him, 
 and while he lingers, they lay hold on him, and bring 
 him forth, and his wife, and his daughters. And they 
 say, " Escape for thy life ! Make haste ! for we cannot 
 do any thing till thou art safe." 
 
 And so Lot hurried away ; and as the sun arose, he 
 entered Zoar. And when Lot was safe, a horrible 
 tempest of fire and brimstone came down on the guilty 
 place he had left behind, and burned it up. What a 
 most important service did these Angels render to Lot ! 
 and how kindly did they discharge their errand ! 
 
 But now let our thought go elsewhere. Let it go to 
 Babylon, that far famed city, with its hundred gates 
 of brass, and its lofty towers, and pyramids reaching the 
 clouds, and walls whose broad tops were like the widest 
 streets. 
 
 We stand by the palace of the king. The shadows 
 of night are breaking away, and streaks of light in the 
 sky, tell of the coming day. The gate of the palace 
 suddenly opens, and forth issues Darius the king. In 
 great haste, he moves onward to a distant part of the 
 town. Let us follow him. He quickens his steps. He 
 makes his way to the place of execution. The guards
 
 ANGEL. 85 
 
 open the prison gate as he draws near. And now he 
 stops close beside the dens where the lions are kept, 
 which devour the condemned. Listen ! He calls with a 
 lamentable voice, as if to some one within the den, 
 among the beasts. What does he say ? " O Daniel ! 
 servant of the living God ! is thy God whom thou 
 servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions :" 
 At once, a cheerful voice from within answers, "O king 
 live for ever ! My God hath sent His Angel, and he 
 hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me." 
 An Angel visit again ! 
 
 If you are not tired, we will take another journey. 
 And this time we stand within the walls of a prison. 
 On the ground, chained up, is a captive. Beside him 
 sit two grim looking Roman soldiers, clad in steel, with 
 spears in their hands. But see the captive ! he is asleep. 
 How peaceful are his slumbers ! "What a smile lights 
 up his face, as if in his dreams he was thinking about 
 heaven ! 
 
 But suddenly the dark cell is filled with a dazzling 
 light! An Angel stands over him, and, causing his 
 chains to fall off, tells him to " gird himself, put on his 
 garments, tie on his sandals, and follow him." Like 
 one in a trance, he starts up, throws on his clothes, and 
 follows his shining leader ; while the iron gates of the 
 prison, one after the other, fly open before them of their 
 own accord. They reach the street, and then the 
 Angel disappears, leaving Peter scarcely yet certain that 
 it was not a dream. 
 
 But presently he comes to himself, and says, " Now 
 I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent His Angel, 
 and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod,"
 
 86 ANGEL. 
 
 But we must return : You see what Angels are, and 
 what they do. They do what God bids them, and go 
 where He sends them. They are the guards and the 
 guides of God's people, and minister to them always. 
 When they fall into trouble, these guardian Angels wait 
 on God, and ask in what way He chooses to have these, 
 His suffering servants, delivered ; For that they are to 
 be delivered out of all their troubles, they know full well. 
 And when God gives them their charge, they fly 
 swiftly to do His will. And lastly, when the good man 
 lies on the bed of death, there, in the sick chamber, 
 unseen, unheard, 
 
 " Angels, joyful to attend, 
 Hov'ring, round his pillow bend ; 
 Wait to catch the signal giv'n, 
 And escort him quick to heav'n." 
 
 But now it is high time to ask, Why is our blessed 
 Saviour called an ANGEL ? Is He of the same nature as 
 the Angels ? That cannot be. For it is written, " He 
 took not on Him the nature of Angels." In what way, 
 then, does He resemble them ? 
 
 1 . Christ is like the Angels in His appearances. 
 
 Long before He took on Him the seed of Abraham, 
 He used often to appear hi the world. And when He did 
 so, He chose to come in the form in which Angels ap- 
 peared, which seems to have been that of beautiful and 
 dignified men. 
 
 Thus He visited Abraham in company with two others 
 as we have seen ; and Abraham took Him for a way- 
 faring man, and set before Him food. 
 
 After that, one night, " there wrestled a man with 
 Jacob, and He held him till morning." And then this
 
 AX GEL. 87 
 
 unknown traveller said, " Let me go, for the day 
 breaketh." But Jacob held him fast, and clung yet 
 more closely to him. He could not, he dared not let 
 go his hold on Him ; for he found it was his Saviour, 
 who thus stooped to try the strength of his faith. And 
 Jacob " wept, and made supplication to Him," till he 
 obtained the blessing. 
 
 In after years, the Lord, the uncreated ANGEL, came 
 to Gideon, as he was thrashing wheat ; and sitting 
 down in a friendly manner, He kindly saluted him, 
 " The Lord be with thee, thou mighty man of valour." 
 
 Again, He came to Manoah and his wife. And this 
 time He came in the garb of a prophet, or man of God ; 
 only with a countenance so glorious, that the woman at 
 once saw He was more than man ; and when they asked 
 after His name, He told them it was Wonderful or 
 Secret. Thus in His appearances, He was an ANGEL. 
 
 2. dhrist is like the Angels in His attachments. 
 
 The Angels take great delight in this world. When 
 it was first built, these " morning stars (the Angels) 
 sang together, and the sens of God shouted for joy." 
 
 And when little children and young people repent, 
 and are sorry for their sins, and begin to pray to God, 
 Oh ! then these Angels carry the news straight to 
 heaven. And there is joy and singing about it among 
 the Angels in the presence of God. Yes, Gabriel, the 
 highest Angel, rejoices over a little penitent praying 
 boy ; or a little girl, who loves her bible and her Saviour. 
 
 So the great ARCHANGEL, the Lord Christ, when the 
 foundations of the earth were laid, " rejoiced in the 
 habitable parts of it, and His delights were with the 
 children of men." On earth He was a Man of sorrows.
 
 88 ANGEL. 
 
 But what was that, which once made Him rejoice in 
 spirit, and break out into a song of praise ? Hear him ! 
 " I thank thee, Father ! Lord of heaven and earth ! 
 that thou hast hid these things from the wise and pru- 
 dent, and hast revealed them to babes /" 
 
 And still, when He finds His lost and scattered sheep 
 on the mountains of sin, He layeth them on His 
 shoulders rejoicing, and gladly bears them to His fold. 
 
 3. Christ is like the Angels in His ministrations, 
 
 As angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister 
 to the heirs of salvation ; so Christ " came not to be 
 ministered to, but to minister." He stooped to wait on 
 us, to carry our burdens, and guard and guide us 
 through life ; and in death He will come again, and 
 receive us to Himself. 
 
 He is the "ANGEL who redeems us from all evil." 
 the " ANGEL of God's presence who saves us." In all 
 our afflictions, He is afflicted ; and in His love and pity 
 He redeems us, and carries us in His everlasting arms 
 as He did His people all the days of old. " Call upon 
 me," He says, " when you are in trouble, and I will 
 deliver you." 
 
 We may not pray to Angels, we may not worship 
 them ; oh no ! for they are creatures. But we may 
 pray to this uncreated ANGEL. We must worship the 
 Lord of Angels. As did the Patriarch Jacob, when 
 Joseph's two boys stood at his bedside, waiting for his 
 last, his dying blessing. Laying his hands on their 
 heads, the venerable old saint said, " God, the God 
 that fed me all my life long unto this day, the ANGEL 
 which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads,"
 
 ANGEL. 89 
 
 You remember the Angel coming to shut the lions' 
 mouths while Daniel was among them. Just so does 
 our blessed Saviour, the uncreated ANGEL, restrain that 
 " roaring lion'' who desires to have us, to devour, and to 
 destroy, and to sift us. Glory be to Him ! He will take 
 the prey from the mighty. He will bruise Satan under 
 our feet. Fear not, then, young Christian, to walk in 
 the path of duty ! The lions may roar, but they are 
 chained. They may be all around you. You may have 
 to walk through their very midst. But fear no evil. 
 The ANGEL of the Covenant is by. Keep the straight 
 and narrow path of duty, for " no lion shall be there, 
 neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon." 
 "Who shall harm you if you be followers of that which 
 is good ?'' 
 
 You remember the Angel leading Peter forth from 
 the prison. Oh what a delightful emblem of Christ's 
 work in this world ! He comes to deliver the lawful 
 captive out of prison. He comes to take off their chains ! 
 He comes with kind aspect, to tell us to " follow Him," 
 and He will lead us where no frowning walls of despair 
 shall enclose us, no chains of darkness, no fetters of sin 
 shall gall our bruised limbs ; but where we shall walk 
 at liberty, and rove unrestrained through the streets of 
 the heavenly Jerusalem. 
 
 Hast thou learned to rejoice in the ANGEL who 
 comes to preach deliverance to captives, to proclaim the 
 jubilee, the year of release ? Only those who know 
 what it is to groan under their spiritual fetters, know 
 how to prize the liberty He brings. " If the Son shall 
 make you free, you shall be free indeed."
 
 90 AKGEL. 
 
 " Long my imprison'd spirit lay, 
 Fast bound in sin and nature's night ; 
 Thine eye diffus'd a quick'ning ray, 
 I woke the dungeon flam'd with light ; 
 My chains fell off, my heart was free, 
 I rose, went forth and followed thee." 
 
 You remember the Angels delivering Lot. Thus does 
 Christ come to snatch us from a fiery doom, a far worse 
 tempest of brimstone, than that which buried the five 
 wicked cities of the plain. And He holds back the 
 tempest till " all that the Father hath given Him shall 
 come to Him." And, not till the last of His servants 
 is safe, will He pour out the tempest of His wrath on 
 the world. 
 
 But what the Angels said to Lot, that Jesus Christ 
 says to us, as we loiter ; " Escape for thy life ! Tarry 
 not in all the plain." "Remember Lot's wife !" "Strive 
 to enter into the strait gate." Oh listen to His counsels, 
 linger no more, give not slumber to your eyelids ! The 
 night of respite is far spent ! The day is at hand ! " the 
 day of His fierce wrath, which will burn as an oven." 
 If the word spoken by the Angels to Lot was sted- 
 fast, and every thing came to pass as they had said, 
 Oh what will become of you if you neglect the warnings 
 of this Lord and Maker of Angels ? 
 
 Oh thou Messenger of the Covenant ! thou AXGEL who 
 dost redeem us from all evil ! hear our prayers for these 
 children and young persons now in thy presence ! 
 While they linger among the trifles of the world, lay 
 thine hands on them, and draw them forth ! oh pluck 
 them as brands from the burning ! Be merciful to them, 
 and constrain them to flee from the wrath to come !
 
 AXGEL. 91 
 
 4. Christ is like the Angch in His errands. 
 
 As Angels are messengers, so Christ is the bearer of 
 messages. He was SENT with tidings. And what are 
 these tidings ? what is God s message to me and to 
 you : This is the message : 
 
 Poor sinner, thou hast destroyed thyself body and 
 soul ! But I have good news for thee. I am willing 
 to save thee. I have one only begotten beloved Son. 
 He is the bearer of these tidings. I have sent Him to 
 die for thee, and to " bless thee in turning thee away 
 from thy iniquities." Yield thyself up to Him, and 
 thou shalt be saved. Thou art poor, but return to 
 me through Him and I will enrich thee. Thou art vile, 
 but I will cleanse thee. Thou art starving, but there is 
 bread enough and to spare in my house. There is room 
 in my heart for you all, and room in my house too. 
 Come then, I have spread my table, I have killed the 
 fatted calf, I have made ready the feast ; come to the 
 banquet ! Let not shame exclude thee ! I will clothe 
 thee in fine linen, clean and white, which is the 
 righteousness of saints. I will lift up thy head so that 
 thou shalt appear with honour before my holy Angels. 
 I will enrich thee, and exalt thee. I know thou art 
 unworthy of all this ; thou hast greatly sinned against 
 me. I know it all. But how shall I give thee up 
 Ephraim ? How shall I deliver thee to destruction ? 
 My heart is turned within me, and my repentings are 
 kindled together. I will not destroy thee, for I am God 
 and not man. I have seen thy ways, and will heal 
 thee and restore comfort to thee. Peace, peace, to him 
 that is near, and to him that is far off. Wherefore 
 look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.
 
 92 APOSTLE. 
 
 This is the message. And how kind and conde- 
 scending it is ! Here I should like to stop and ask you, 
 What you think of it, and whether you have accounted 
 it worthy of your acceptation ? But I must hasten to 
 another title of Christ akin to this, namely, the 
 
 (19.) APOSTLE of our Profession. Heb. iii. 1. 
 Now I will tell you what the word Apostle means. It 
 signifies an AMBASSADOR, one sent with tidings, or on 
 important business, or entrusted with power to make 
 proposals. You know the Lord Jesus chose from among 
 His disciples, twelve to be Apostles. And He said to 
 them, Jno. xx. 21, " As my Father hath SEXT me, even 
 so send I you." 
 
 An Apostle, then, is a minister of the gospel. But, 
 just as an Archangel is great among Angels, so an 
 Apostle is chief among preachers. God had sent many 
 with great tidings to the Jews, from age to age. " Last 
 of all He sent His Son." Moses was the great Apostle 
 of the Jewish church, and was faithful in all his house. 
 But a greater APOSTLE than Moses is here. 
 
 How richly has God kept that promise to the church, 
 " I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good 
 tidings." And when Christ went up into the mountain, 
 and His disciples came unto Him, and He preached 
 unto the assembled multitudes, as they sat or stood 
 scattered about on the hill side, Oh " how beautiful on 
 the mountains were the feet of Him that brought good 
 tidings, that published peace !" Well might the chil- 
 dren surround Him with palm branches, and shout as 
 they followed Him hi to Jerusalem, " Hosanna to the 
 Son of David!" And are you ready thus to welcome Him?
 
 ALPHA AND OMEGA. 93 
 
 Cannot you say, " Hosanna ! blessed is He that cometh 
 in the name of the Lord ?" 
 
 Angels are not sent to preach the gospel. It is not 
 their business. When an Angel came to Cornelius, it 
 was not to shew him the way of salvation, but to tell 
 him to send for an Apostle, Peter, and to ask of Him 
 what he should do. 
 
 Angels delivered the law on Sinai, as we read, Acts vii. 
 53, and in other places.*' But it was reserved for the 
 uncreated ANGEL, the Prince of Angels, to be also the 
 great APOSTLE, to bring the joyful tidings of salvation, 
 and to preach the gospel. To this He was anointed. 
 " Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to 
 the things which we have heard, lest at any time we 
 should let them slip. For if the word spoken by Angels 
 was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience 
 received a just recompence of reward ; how shall we 
 escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the 
 first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed 
 unto us by them that heard him ; God also bearing 
 them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with 
 divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according 
 to his own will :" Heb. ii. 1 4 
 
 I have but one more title in A. 
 
 (20.) ALPHA AND OMEGA. Rev. i. 8. See how 
 familiarly our great Teacher stoops to our simple way of 
 talking and thinking. Amongst His highest Titles, we 
 meet with this again and again. 
 
 In what language was the New Testament first 
 
 * Gal. iii. 19. Hcb. ii. 1, 2,
 
 94 ALPHA AND OMEGA. 
 
 written ? The Greek. And Alpha and Omega were 
 the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. If 
 spoken in our language, then, it would be, I am A and 
 Z. Now the least child in the school knows where A 
 stands in the alphabet, and where Z is. 
 
 Remember then, that as A is the first letter, so Christ 
 is the beginning of all things, the oldest of all beings. 
 He lived before the world was. He always lived. And 
 in all other respects Christ stands before all. He is the 
 greatest and best, the strongest and kindest of all. 
 
 And as Z is the last, so Christ will live Avhen this 
 world will be put away as a worn out garment, and the 
 skies rolled up like a scroll of parchment. And those 
 that love Him will live with Him all the time he shall 
 live, and that will be for ever. 
 
 Then, Alpha and Omega are not only the first letter 
 and the last, but may represent all between. So the 
 Poet says of Christ, 
 
 " Him first, Him last, Him midst," 
 
 for " He filleth all in all." You know there are twenty- 
 six letters in the alphabet, and with these twenty-six 
 letters you can make thousands of words. Whatever 
 word you want to spell, if you have first learned the 
 use of the several letters, you can get it out of the 
 Alphabet. 
 
 Now just so, when we have rightly learned to know 
 Christ, we need never be at a loss for any thing ; for all 
 we want is treasured up in Him. We are complete in 
 Him, for " in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom 
 and knowledge." 
 
 You know if the little boys here want to read the
 
 ALPHA AND OMEGA. 95 
 
 bible, they must learn their A, B, C, first ; and till they 
 have learned that, they cannot read one word ; for 
 that is the key to unlock the sense of it. And if ever 
 they spiritually understand the scriptures, as well as read 
 them, it must be by learning first this divine Alphabet. 
 for we cannot rightly know them, till we know the 
 ALPHA AND OMEGA, the true key to the whole. 
 
 The Jews have the bible, and they read it from 
 Sabbath to Sabbath in the synagogue. But they cannot 
 truly understand a word of it. And why not ? Because 
 they have not first learned to know the ALPHA AND 
 OMEGA. So the bible is a sealed book to them, for the 
 veil is on their hearts ; they cannot unlock its treasures, 
 nor make out its meaning. Nor will they ever, " till 
 they turn to the Lord," Him who is ALPHA AND OMEGA, 
 and " then the veil shall be taken away." 
 
 And, my child, is the veil on thine heart still ? Are 
 the words of that blessed book " unto thee as the words 
 of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that 
 is learned, saying, read this I pray thee ; and he saith, I 
 cannot, for it is sealed." And so all is strange to you. 
 You can read it, and you can repeat it ; but, " seeing, 
 you see not, and hearing, you understand not." You 
 have not yet " so learned Christ," as to be able to read 
 the hidden meaning of the word. But oh, remember, 
 " if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost !" 
 Wherefore, bethink yourselves of the sin and danger of 
 ignorance, and come to Christ Jesus the ALPHA AND 
 OMEGA. So shall you understand the Scriptures, and 
 be able to unravel its hidden meaning ; " crooked things 
 shall be made straight, and rough places plain," before 
 your wondering eyes.
 
 96 ALPHA AND OMEGA. 
 
 There is another book too which we can read, when 
 'we come to know Christ truly. We can " read our 
 title clear,"' to the heavenly mansions, and rejoice that 
 our names are -written in the Lamb's book of life. 
 
 And many other hidden things we shall be able to 
 find out, when once we shall have " learned Christ,'' the 
 ALPHA and OMEGA. 
 
 May the Lord add His blessing, and impart to us all. 
 this saving knowledge ! Amen.
 
 LECTURE VII. 
 
 BABE. BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE. BRIGHT 
 AND MORNING STAR. 
 
 The city of Lystra. Paul and Barnabas taken for Gods and worshipped. 
 The real visit of God to earth not approved of. City of Bethlehem. 
 Visited one day by many travellers. The Caravanserai. Who were 
 among the travellers? No room in the inn. The stable. The infant's 
 birth. The scene contemplated. More meanly lodged than other children. 
 What should this teach us? The virgin mother. The interruption at 
 midnight. Who are the visitors? What brings them? The band of 
 angels. Their contempt of the proud and rich. Their appearance des- 
 cribed. Their message to the shepherds. Their ready obedience. Their 
 report. How received? Christ's name rightly called Wonderful. 
 Blessed and Only Potentate. Nature of His kingdom. Peace on earth. 
 Emblem of the true peace. This destined to be universal. Sure presage 
 of day. Bright and Morning Star. The mariner. Joy at Christ's 
 birth. Miraculous star. Beautiful hymn. Star of Bethlehem. COD. 
 elusion. Address to two sorts of children. The idle. The profane. 
 Bright morning. Another morning at hand. Christ's second coining to 
 judgment. Praise to Christ. 
 
 WE have gone through the first letter in the Alphabet. 
 There were twenty Titles of our blessed Saviour be- 
 ginning with A. To-day we begin with B. And the 
 first cluster I have plucked from the branches of this 
 tree to set before you, is most rich and attractive. 
 It consists of three of our Lord's Titles, viz. BABE, 
 BI.KSSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, and BRIGHT AND 
 MORNING STAR. 
 
 H
 
 98 BABE. 
 
 The city of Lystra was once thrown into great com- 
 motion, through the working of a miracle by Paul and 
 Barnabas. The people were running about, shouting 
 that " the Gods had come down in the likeness of men !" 
 The cry reached the ears of the priests of Jupiter ; and 
 straightway they brought oxen adorned with garlands 
 and flowers, and prepared to offer them up in the streets, 
 as sacrifices to the two strangers, whom they mistook 
 for Gods in human shape. 
 
 But when the apostles heard this uproar, and saw the 
 sad mistake which the people had made, they ran in 
 amongst them, and said " Sirs ! why do ye these things ? 
 Turn from these vanities to the living God !" And 
 scarcely could they keep the people from paying them 
 divine honours. 
 
 Paul and Barnabas informed these idolaters that 
 they themselves were only men ; but that there had 
 been a real visit of this kind to earth. They told them 
 that the One True God, the God that made heaven and 
 earth, had come down in the likeness of a man. Yea, 
 that He had actually become a Man ! And that He had 
 lived a life of poverty and reproach, and that He was at 
 last crucified, and that He rose again from the dead. 
 
 But these pagans cared not to hear of this. It was 
 foolishness to them. The visit of Christ was not to 
 their minds. They saw no glory in His humble life 
 and shameful death ; so they stoned those who told them 
 so strange a history, though just before, they had been 
 ready to worship them. Alas ! how the god of this 
 world had blinded their eyes ! 
 
 Now this wondrous visit of our Lord to earth, we are 
 about to contemplate this day. And I trust we shall
 
 BABK. 99 
 
 not be like the Lystrians, but be all led to admire this 
 " great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the 
 flesh !'' Let us consider our Lord as the 
 
 (1.) BABE of Bethlehem. Luke ii. 12, 16. One 
 day, about eighteen hundred years ago, the pathways 
 leading to the little town of Bethlehem in Judea, were 
 unusually thronged with passengers. They were of 
 different ranks in society, but were drawn together by 
 the same object. All were going to have their names 
 enrolled or set down in the records of the city, in order 
 that they might be taxed. 
 
 From all parts little groups and companies of tra- 
 vellers were seen making their way to this ancient 
 city of David. Some were toiling along on foot, 
 carrying their little stores of provision ; while others 
 were mounted on camels and asses, and were better 
 furnished with such conveniences as were required 
 in that country. For you must know that there were 
 no such inns for accommodation, as there are here in this 
 country. An eastern inn, or caravanserai, is a large 
 square court surrounded by buildings, containing a 
 great many apartments. But there are no provisions to 
 be had in them ; they are only places provided for shelter. 
 And just such a building as this, is supposed to have 
 been "the inn" at Bethlehem, at the time of which 
 we speak. 
 
 The travellers to Bethlehem on that day, made 
 their way to this great inn, or caravanserai, in the 
 centre of the town. They continued to arrive till the 
 inn was full, and all the apartments were occupied; so that 
 those who came afterwards, and had no acquaintances 
 
 H2
 
 100 BABE. 
 
 in the town, to whose houses they might go, were 
 obliged to put up with such accommodation as the sta- 
 bles and outhouses adjoining the inn, could afford them. 
 Amongst those who thus arrived too late to secure 
 the best places, was a poor couple meanly clad, 
 and very weary. They had travelled all the way from 
 Nazareth, a distance of eighty miles, and stood in 
 special need of repose and accommodation. Yet no 
 one was found who was willing to give up his apart- 
 ment for their use. All were lovers of their own ease. 
 None would make way for these weary travellers. They 
 must go into the stables, and do the best they could 
 there. Now the stables of that country and that day, 
 were much like what they are now. There were stalls 
 and mangers for cattle, but no comforts suitable for 
 human beings. 
 
 However, into the stable were our two travellers, 
 Joseph the carpenter, and Mary, his espoused wife, 
 compelled to betake themselves. And there it was, in 
 that wretched place, that Mary " brought forth her first 
 born SON, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and 
 laid him in a manger." But though thus meanly 
 lodged, and poorly accommodated, this little family was 
 visited and attended by those glorious beings, the 
 angels ; who, unseen and unheard, hovered over the 
 lowly place, and worshipped their infant Lord. 
 
 Come, then, all of you, let us go, this afternoon, to 
 Bethlehem, and " see this great thing, which is come to 
 pass, and which the Lord hath made known unto us." 
 Let us, in our imagination, pay a visit to this stable. 
 And let our thoughts dwell on this most interesting 
 scene, till our hearts are filled with wonder and praise.
 
 BABE. 101 
 
 That little smiling BABE that lies in yonder manger, 
 is not just what He seems to be. It is true, He is a 
 babe ; like what you, and I, and all of us, once were ; 
 but He is also the Lord of glory, and the King of 
 kings. 
 
 Well, but, you say, if He be a Prince, why is he not 
 the Child of some king's daughter ? And why not born 
 in a palace, surrounded with the state and splendour 
 suited to his high rank ? Or at least, why is He not 
 born in a decent dwelling, why in this poor out- 
 house ? Ah ! my dear children, this is indeed a mystery. 
 Angels, who hovered round Hun, wondered, just as 
 you do. But none of the princes of this world knew 
 Him : else they had crowded around Him, and been 
 forward to pay their homage to One from whom they 
 had received their crowns and kingdoms. 
 
 This Prince of the kings of the earth, and Lord of all 
 worlds, was more meanly lodged than any of you were, 
 when brought into this world. There is not a child 
 here, whose parents were so destitute at the time of his 
 birth, as to be compelled to put up with the incon- 
 veniences of a stable. There is not one, who was 
 cradled in a manger when an infant. But the Son of 
 God, when He began His life here, " had not where'' 
 else " to lay His head !" Wonder, O heavens ! and be 
 astonished, O earth ! 
 
 Ah ! how should this teach us to despise the riches and 
 honours of the world ! WTiat contempt does this pour 
 on the splendid palaces of kings and emperors ! What 
 scorn does this cast on the finery and state of lords and 
 dukes ! Oh children ! do not complain if you have to 
 live in lowly huts or mean cottages. And if your fare
 
 102 BABE. 
 
 and your work be hard, and you are but coarsely clad ; 
 complain not ! But think, I beseech you, of the poverty 
 of Christ's parents, and the lowliness of his birth. 
 
 But let us look again. There, on yonder hard bed, 
 lies this lovely, this mysterious Infant. And over Him 
 bends Mary, (highly favoured, indeed, among women !) 
 gazing, with the fond yearning affection of a mother, at 
 her first born. She beholds in Him, one who is at the 
 same time, her child and her Lord ! her offspring and 
 her Creator ! But oh ! how completely has He laid 
 aside all His majesty ! How has He veiled His glory ! 
 It must indeed have been a strong and lively faith, which 
 could recognize in this helpless babe, thus attended, 
 and thus lodged, the Prince of glory. 
 
 "Blessed BABE ! what glorious features ! 
 
 Spotless, fair, divinely bright ! 
 Must He dwell with brutal creatures ? 
 How could Angels bear the sight ? 
 
 " Was there nothing but a manger, 
 
 "Wicked sinners could afford, 
 To receive the heavenly Stranger ? 
 Did they thus affront the Lord t" 
 
 But while, in the stillness of the night, we stand 
 gazing and wondering at this BABE, what is that noise 
 on the outside ? It comes nearer. Hark ! there is the 
 trampling of feet ! It is a crowd of rude countrymen 
 from the fields, with their lanterns, and staves, and 
 sheep dogs. They come in haste ! What can they 
 want at this unseasonable hour of the night ? They 
 enquire loudly where Mary is sojourning, and are 
 directed to the stable. 
 
 Fear not, they come on no hostile errand. They do
 
 BABE. 103 
 
 not come to disturb the mother and her Infant. They 
 want to see this wonderful BABE. They are eager to 
 feast their eyes on this great sight. Yea, they draw near 
 with gentleness, and their unruly haste is checked as 
 they approach the stable. And now they crowd within 
 the walls, and stand around the manger, and look on 
 the lovely and interesting object of their search. 
 
 But how came these shepherds to know anything 
 about Him ? Who informed them, that at such a place, 
 and at such a time, this BABE was to be born r I will 
 tell you. The angels knew of it in heaven. And they 
 could not contain their joy, but longed to come and tell 
 of it on earth. And so they got permission, and came 
 trooping down, whole armies of them, with songs and 
 music. 
 
 And whither did they wing their way ? Surely they 
 would go straight to the palace of Herod, and cause its 
 lofty roof to ring again with their songs. But no, 
 they would rather go to Rome, to the imperial halls of 
 Caesar, the greatest potentate of the earth, and tell him 
 of the event ; that with all his court he might make 
 haste and come to Judea, and do homage to his Lord 
 and King. Or would they not rather go to the temple 
 at Jerusalem, where priests and Levites watched by 
 night, around the altars of God ? singing, at intervals, 
 to each other, and praising God surely they would go 
 there, and tell them that the true Sacrifice, the true 
 Altar, the great High Priest himself was now come, 
 and that their work was soon to cease. 
 
 No ; they passed by gorgeous palaces and lordly- 
 castles. The marble walls of the temple echoed not 
 to their heavenly music. They did not sing their songs 
 in the ears of kings and emperors. They did not call
 
 104 BABE. 
 
 the wise men after the flesh, the mighty, and the 
 noble, to hear this message. But they chose the foolish 
 things of the world, instead of the wise, and the weak 
 things, instead of the things which are mighty. 
 
 There were abiding hi the fields near Bethlehem, 
 that night, a company of despised, though industrious 
 shepherds, watching their flocks to protect them from 
 beasts of prey. To them, swift as the lightning, the 
 angel messengers wing their way ; and in their untutored 
 ears alone, they pour forth their unearthly music. 
 
 These simple men are at their work, when, all at 
 once, in the dark still night, they are surprised with a 
 blaze of light, shining on them from heaven, above the 
 brightness of the sun at noon-day ! While they stand 
 amazed, the angel of the Lord comes upon them ; and 
 they are frightened and would fain hide themselves from 
 his view. But listen, the angel speaks. And soon 
 their disturbed minds are quieted ; their fears are dis- 
 persed. " Fear not," says this kind messenger, " for 
 behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which 
 shall be to all people ; for unto you is born this day, in 
 the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. 
 And this shall be a sign unto you, Ye shall find the 
 BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'' 
 
 No sooner do these words reach the astonished ears 
 of the shepherds, than suddenly there is seen in the 
 heavens a multitude of the heavenly host, surround- 
 ing the angel. And they praise God, and say, " Glory 
 to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill to- 
 wards men." 
 
 For a little time the heavenly music rings in their 
 ears, and ravishes their hearts. And then the glorious
 
 BABE. 105 
 
 army, mounting on high, is once more lost in the gloom 
 of night ; while the last sound of their triumphant song 
 dies away in the clouds. 
 
 Then said these shepherds one to another, " Let us 
 go now even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which 
 is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto 
 us." And they arose with haste to search for the 
 stable, and the wondrous BABE. 
 
 Though it was night, nothing could keep them back. 
 " They loved their souls more than their sheep," and 
 better than their ease. They left all to follow Christ. 
 As soon as they heard of Him, they sought Him, for 
 they came with haste. They were not offended at the 
 " sign," by which they were to know this Prince of 
 glory. It was as if the angel had said, Enquire for 
 the Babe that is most meanly lodyed in all Bethlehem ; 
 THAT is HE. This sign they kept in view, and no 
 sooner did they commence their search, than, as we have 
 seen, they found the stable, and the manger, and the 
 
 B AIM.. 
 
 How perplexed and astonished were they, to see Him, 
 whose birthday song a whole host of angels had just 
 been singing, lying in such a place ! And how eagerly 
 did they tell His delighted mother the strange tale of 
 the bright and glorious light that shone upon them, 
 and the message, and the heavenly music, and the 
 angel band ! 
 
 With what wonder and rapture did they gaze on Him ! 
 One moment, though fearful to disturb His slumbers, 
 they were eager to embrace Him ; and the next, they 
 were ready, with solemn awe, to prostrate themselves 
 before Him, and to hail Him as the promised Messiah.
 
 106 BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE. 
 
 So when they had worshipped Him, and had looked 
 around, wondering at the meanness of the place, and 
 the poverty of the parents, and all the strange circum- 
 stances which attended the birth of this truly great One, 
 they went forth again, spreading the news abroad, 
 and, with loud voices, glorifying God, who had thus 
 visited His people. 
 
 And some, when they heard, wondered. And some 
 there were, who would not believe, but laughed at the 
 shepherds, and reckoned all they said, a cunning fable. 
 
 But, believed, or not believed, the report was all 
 true. The Lord of Glory, the Ancient of Days, the 
 great I AM, had laid aside the brightness wherewith 
 He shone in heaven shone so, that the angels covered 
 their faces with their wings, they were so dazzled I say 
 He had laid aside all this glory and majesty, and had 
 come down to be a little BABE. And wherefore did He 
 thus come ? For your salvation, and mine. 
 
 Let us, then, with the shepherds, praise God. " For 
 unto us a SON is born, unto us a CHILD is given. And 
 the government shall be upon His shoulders ; and His 
 name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty 
 God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." 
 
 And well might His name be called WONDERFUL ! 
 To the eye of sense, He was only a feeble BABE, brought 
 forth in a stable, and cradled in a manger, and nursed 
 in poverty ; the helpless offspring of lowly parents ; 
 yet He was at the same time, the 
 
 (2.) BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, the 
 King of kings, and Lord of lords, who only hath im- 
 mortality. 1 Tim. vi. 15. This glorious name He hath
 
 BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE. 107 
 
 written on His vesture and on His thigh." He is the 
 ONLY POTENTATE or Ruler of men, angels, and all 
 other beings. One with the Father, BLESSED, or most 
 happy. Himself, and making others happy, God over 
 all, BLESSED for ever, and the spring or fountain of 
 blessedness to the universe. 
 
 The kingdom of this BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE 
 is a kingdom of peace and love. And to this end was 
 He born, that He might establish this kingdom of 
 peace. 
 
 At the time of His birth, all the nations of the 
 world were at peace one with another. Wars had 
 ceased, and all the earth was still. And that was the 
 time chosen for this BLESSED POTENTATE to enter on 
 His peaceful reign. 
 
 " No war, or battle's sound 
 
 Was heard the world around. 
 The idle spear and shield were high up hung. 
 
 The hooked chariot stood 
 
 Unstained with mortal blood. 
 The trumpet spake not to the armed throng ; 
 
 And kings sat still with awful eye, 
 As if they surely knew their sov'reign Lord was nigh. 
 
 And peaceful was the night ! 
 
 Wherein the Prince of Light, 
 His reign of Peace upon the earth began." 
 
 This BLESSED POTENTATE shall reign till all his 
 enemies shall become His footstool ; and till all kings 
 shall own Him for their only sovereign Lord, from whom 
 they receive their crowns. He shall reign till all nations 
 shall partake of the blessedness of His peaceful rule. 
 
 Then, in a higher sense will peace be universal. True 
 peace shall be every where known. And then will the
 
 108 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 
 
 angels, who sung " Peace on earth," at the beginning 
 of His reign, again be heard harping with their harps. 
 And the song shall be " Hallelujah ! for the Lord God 
 Omnipotent reigneth ! The BLESSED AND ONLY 
 POTENTATE rules ! The Prince of Peace governs ! 
 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms 
 of our Lord, and of His Christ !" 
 
 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. He 
 will hasten it in His time. It is true, gross darkness 
 still covers many nations. They walk in darkness, and 
 sit in the shadow of death. And the servants of God. 
 who have " light in their dwellings," as they try to look 
 through the gloom that overhangs their neighbours, 
 are often anxiously saying, " Watchman, what of the 
 night ? Watchman, what of the night ?" And what is 
 the answer? 
 
 " The watchman saith the day is nigh 
 
 Enquire with earnest heed ; 
 
 Plain is the word of prophecy, 
 
 And all who run may read." 
 
 The sure word of prophecy began to be fullfilled when 
 Jesus " the Day Star," the Star of Bethlehem, arose on 
 the earth, the earnest and pledge of the coming day. 
 And He is called the 
 
 (3.) BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. Rev. xxii. 
 16. What a cheering sight to the traveller or the 
 mariner, who has lost himself in the long dark night, 
 is the Bright and Morning Star. Bright, in that it 
 shews him where he is. And the Morning Star, in that 
 it ushers in the light of day, and puts an end to his fears.
 
 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 109 
 
 And what a joyful hour was that when Jesus, the 
 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, first rose on this 
 wretched dark world ! Long had those who looked for 
 His coming, waited for His salvation. Throughout the 
 dark night of types and shadows, they had longed for 
 this MORNING STAR. And many times they were 
 ready to faint, while they looked for His coming, 
 " more than they that watched for the morning." 
 
 But He, whose " goings forth are prepared as the 
 morning," came at the appointed hour. When the 
 angels appeared to the shepherds, this BRIGHT AND 
 MORNING STAR made its appearance above the horizon, 
 and gave promise of the coming day. And all who 
 looked for consolation in Israel, when they saw this 
 MORNING STAR, rejoiced with great joy. And blessed 
 be God, this gospel day thus ushered in, is still ad- 
 vancing, and shortly the glory of the Lord shall cover 
 the whole earth. 
 
 You have heard of the " Star hi the east," which 
 guided the wise men from then* own country, until it 
 stood over where the young Child was. And when they 
 saw the wondrous Star, hovering over the city of David, 
 it is said, "They rejoiced with exceeding joy." 
 
 And what was the cause of their joy : Not this 
 blazing meteor, however much they might have admired 
 it, as the product of God's creating power ; but that 
 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, the Lord Jesus, to whom 
 this had but led them, in whose light all the nations of 
 the earth were to be blessed. 
 
 This is the STAR that brings promise of relief to the 
 poor disconsolate, convicted sinner, who mourns over 
 his dark and bewildered state. When he sees this STAR,
 
 110 BKIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 
 
 hope springs up in his bosom, and he begins to rejoice, 
 though with trembling. But it lights him on his way, 
 it cheers his heart, and raises his courage, and as he 
 gazes, he waxes stronger and stronger ; and " his path 
 shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 
 
 " Once on the raging seas I rode, 
 
 The storm was loud, the night was dark, 
 The ocean yawn'd,--and rudely blow'd 
 The wind, that toss'd my found'ring bark. 
 
 " Deep horror then my vitals froze, 
 
 Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem, 
 When suddenly a Star arose, 
 
 It was the STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 
 
 " It was my guide, my light, my all, 
 
 It bade my dark forebodings cease ; 
 And through the storm and danger's thrall, 
 It led me to the port of peace. 
 
 " Now safely moor'd my perils o'er, 
 
 I'll sing first in night's diadem, 
 For ever and for ever more, 
 
 THE STAR ! THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM ! 
 
 But now, my young friends, to conclude, Allow me 
 to ask how you have received the tidings of Christ's 
 coming into the world. Are you any better for His 
 coming ? You have again and again heard the history of 
 the BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, becoming a BABE, 
 " for us men, and for our salvation," and for yours. 
 You have been told of Jesus rising on a dark world, as 
 the BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, to guide our feet 
 into the way of peace. Does all this afford you no 
 matter for praise ? Did the angels sing, and will not
 
 BRIGHT AND MORNIXG STAR. Ill 
 
 you r Do they still desire to look into these things, and 
 will you, whose eternal interests are bound up with 
 them will you turn away with carelessness and in- 
 difference ? 
 
 "\Vhat did the people of Bethlehem say to the strange 
 things the shepherds told them ? You know the story. 
 It is written, they " wondered." It does not say they 
 believed. 
 
 And still most people are satisfied with wondering at 
 what the bible tells them. They are amused. They think 
 it an interesting story, when they read that bright 
 bands of angels came down out of heaven with songs 
 and music, while a blaze of glory changed the midnight 
 hour into the brightness of day. But that is all. There 
 they stop. They are at no pains to enquire what they 
 themselves have to do with all these things. 
 
 Oh, how will they repent of their folly, when they 
 shall hereafter " wonder and perish !'' Now, they 
 wonder with feelings of idle curiosity. Then, when 
 there is no place for repentance, they will Avonder that 
 they were such fools as to pass by such blessings. 
 
 Here, they wonder why Christians make so much stir, 
 and talk so much of the excellence of Christ. But 
 there, when they stand before His great white throne, 
 their wonder will be, that they did not love Him 
 more, and worship Him better, and obey Him with 
 greater zeal. 
 
 I say, again, my dear children, if your wonder does 
 not now lead you to embrace Him, and rejoice in His 
 salvation, then you will wonder with far different feelings, 
 when God shall say, " Behold, ye despisers ! and won- 
 der, and
 
 112 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 
 
 God grant that we may never come to this ! God, 
 in His mercy, save us all from the bitter pains of 
 eternal death ! And oh ! (for our sakes, who are your 
 teachers) God grant that we may not give you cause to 
 wonder at us, for speaking so coldly of the Lord Jesus, 
 and warning you so little of the wrath to come ! 
 
 But there are those who do not even ivonder. They 
 do not care a rush about the most glorious things that 
 ever were done ! They hear and turn away, as if all 
 were an idle tale, or a childish story, or an old wife's 
 fable. What shall be done unto such r Will not God 
 say to the angels " Take those wicked children, who, 
 when I sent teachers and ministers to warn them, and 
 talk to them of my beloved Son, turned away and re- 
 fused to listen, take them, and bind them hand and 
 foot, and cast them into outer darkness !" 
 
 For if idle people, who wonder and do no more, but 
 straightway forget God ; if they must be turned into 
 hell, what will become of those who trample under foot 
 the Son of God, who swear, and lie, and steal, as if 
 God did not see them, and as if Christ had not come to 
 deliver them from their vain conversation ? 
 
 That was a glorious morning which dawned upon 
 this fair world, when God pronounced all that he had 
 made, very good, and the " Morning Stars," those " sons 
 of God, sang together and shouted for joy." 
 
 Arid that, too, was a glorious morning, which rose on 
 the earth, when the Holy Child Jesus was born ; and 
 the shining ones, the messengers of God, came down 
 out of heaven, to sing in heavenly strains, His birthday 
 song. 
 
 But there is another morning coming, the brightness
 
 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 113 
 
 of which will suddenly burst on the careless world, 
 when the same Jesus will be revealed in flaming fire, 
 taking vengeance on His enemies. 
 
 Nor will the angels then be silent. As He comes in 
 the clouds, they will surround Him, not singing, " Glory 
 to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will ;" 
 but sounding the dreadful trump of God, and singing, 
 " Glory to God in the highest, on earth judgment, 
 indignation, and wrath ! Tribulation and anguish on 
 all that have not obeyed the gospel !" 
 
 And all in heaven will answer and say, " Allelulia ! 
 salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the 
 Lord our God: for true and righteous are His judg- 
 ments." And again they say " Allelulia," while the 
 smoke of their torment, who would not have Christ to 
 reign over them, ascendeth up for ever and ever ! 
 
 Fearful thought ! I dare not pursue it any farther. 
 My dear children, I cannot part with you so ; do not, 
 I beseech you, entail all this on yourselves by slighting 
 the message. Do not let the angels, who would gladly 
 speak of your repentance in heaven, and rejoice over 
 your conversion, do not compel them hereafter, to 
 gather you with others that offend and do iniquity, and 
 bind you in bundles to be burned. 
 
 Swearing children, Sabbath breaking children, leave 
 your sins, and come and submit yourselves to Him, who 
 was once the BABE of Bethlehem, and who now sitteth 
 as the BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, at the right 
 hand of the Father. Be wise now. Be entreated. 
 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the 
 way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. 
 
 I
 
 114 BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. 
 
 And now let us devoutly offer praise to Christ for His 
 great love, wherewith He loved us : 
 
 We praise thee, Lord Christ ! Thou King of glory ! 
 Thou everlasting Son of the Father ! 
 
 We praise thee, that when thou didst take upon thee 
 to deliver us, thou didst not decline the stable and the 
 manger ; thou didst not despise the poverty and re- 
 proach of the lowly condition wherein thou wast born. 
 
 We praise thee, that thou didst accomplish thy 
 mighty undertaking ; and that when thou hadst over- 
 come the sharpness of death, thou didst open the 
 kingdom of heaven to all believers. 
 
 Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of 
 the Father. 
 
 We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge. 
 
 We therefore pray thee, help thy servants whom thou 
 hast redeemed with thy precious blood, and make them 
 to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting^ 
 Amen.
 
 LECTURE VIII. 
 
 BEGINNING OF THE CEEATION OF GOD. BKIGHTNESS 
 
 OF THE FATHEB'S GLOBY. BBOTHEK. 
 
 BONDSMAN. BISHOP OF SOULS. 
 
 The desert of Arabia. Mount Sinai. Awfnl manifestation of God there.- 
 Mount Zion. The contrast. Christ the Bey inning of the Creation of 
 God. Brightness of the Father's Glory. The sun too bright to be gazed 
 upon. So God only to be looked at through Christ. The holy place. 
 Shechinah. Cloud of incense. Glory of Christ Its appearance to Saul. 
 Light cheering to the mind. The morning walk. Effects of a sight of 
 Christ. Christ a Brother, in five particulars. Encouragement from 
 thence to pray to Him. What we expect from an elder brother. The 
 rescue from drowning Christ's promises/ All His brethren to be with Him 
 Who they are Bondsman. Story of Judah and Benjamin. How it 
 applies to Christ. What He does as our Bondsman. Bishop of souls. 
 Duties of a bishop. Christ's charge to ministers and teachers. Invitation 
 to the wandering. African desert. Spiritual danger*. 
 
 Do you know where Arabia is ? It is in Asia, far away 
 in the east. And a desolate place it is. A scene of 
 savage wildness, of which I can give you but a faint 
 idea. Rugged rocks, and huge, shapeless blocks of 
 granite, are piled up on the barren mountains in the 
 most wild disorder. The little spire of grass cannot 
 grow there ; the sweet flowers never blossom there. 
 But there are frightful chasms, the abodes of serpents ; 
 and steep precipices whereon the eagle and the vulture 
 build their nests. It is in the midst of the most terrific 
 
 i2
 
 116 BEGINNING OF THE CREATION. 
 
 part of this dreary scene, that Mount Sinai lifts its 
 rugged summit. 
 
 Mount Sinai, you know, was the place where God 
 gave His law to the Jews. 
 
 Around this mountain, once stood the thousands of 
 Israel, gazing with awe and terror on the solemn mani- 
 festation, which God chose there to make of Himself, 
 when He came down to converse with them. On that 
 morning, as they were sleeping in their tents, they were 
 aroused by the rolling of thunder, and the voice of a 
 trumpet exceeding loud ; so that all the people trembled. 
 And Moses summoned them together, and led them 
 forth to meet with God. 
 
 Now, there was a fence set up around the foot of the 
 mount, lest bold men, breaking through to gaze, should 
 perish ; and at the top of the mountain, was the " fire 
 and thick darkness, where God was." The smoke 
 went up as the smoke of a great furnace, covering the 
 sky over their heads as with a black curtain. From 
 the midst of the dark cloud, the dreadful lightning 
 flashed, and the crashing thunder pealed. And all 
 the mountain quaked and trembled greatly. 
 
 But above all the din of the tempest the sound of the 
 trumpet is still distinguished. It grows louder and 
 louder ! There is silence throughout the camp ! And 
 now the awful voice of God, louder than all, falls upon 
 the ear, and fills every heart with terror and dismay. 
 
 So dreadful were the sights, so fearful the sounds 
 of that day, that even Moses exclaimed " I exceedingly 
 fear and quake !" Well might the people say to Moses, 
 " Let not God speak to us ; we cannot bear it. We are 
 so frightened, we shall die, if we hear that awful voice
 
 BEGINNING OF THE CREATION. 117 
 
 again. Do thou speak to us, for thy voice we can 
 bear.'' This was at Mount Sinai. 
 
 But, children, we are come this afternoon to another 
 mountain. Its name is Mount Zion. And God also 
 manifests Himself here. But oh ! how differently ! Is 
 this the same God, who once came down in such terrible 
 majesty ? The very same. There is but one God, and 
 His name is Love. He is a serene, and happy, and 
 merciful Being. But when He deals with sinners, it is 
 needful to let them know, how greatly He hates their 
 sins. 
 
 A milder morning has dawned upon us, wherein 
 we also are summoned from our beds of sloth "Awake, 
 thou that sleepest, and Christ shall give thee light." 
 
 As on Sinai, so on this mountain there is brightness ; 
 but it is the mild light of the day star, not the fierce 
 blaze of the lightning. 
 
 There is the sound of a trumpet ; but it is the silver 
 trumpet of the gospel ; not harsh and terrible to the ear, 
 but inviting and soothing, as well as awakening. 
 
 There is a " pillar of smoke'' also, going up towards 
 heaven, but it is the smoke of the incense of Christ's 
 intercession. 
 
 There is the voice of words ; but it comes to us in 
 accents of peace and love: the still small voice of pity 
 and compassion " Come unto me, and I will give you 
 rest." The voice does not say, " keep this law which I 
 have engraven on stones and live ;" but it speaks of a new 
 covenant, and says, " I will write my laws in your 
 hearts." It does not say, " Away, get you down," 
 but " Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." 
 
 Jesus, the Mediator, has taken away all that was
 
 118 BEGINNING OF THE CEEATION. 
 
 terrible ; and sprinkled the mountain with His " blood, 
 which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel." 
 The fierce glare of the lightning, and the commotion of 
 the tempest, have yielded to the quiet sunshine of God's 
 love, soothing to the mind, and inviting us to gratitude 
 and thanksgiving. 
 
 At Mount Sinai, Moses said to the people, " Stand 
 afar off; come not nigh, lest ye perish !" But at 
 Mount Zion, we hear an invitation from the New 
 Testament, " Draw nigh with boldness. Come with 
 assurance." Let us therefore seek to comply with 
 this .invitation. Let us now gaze on the glory of 
 Christ, as the only Mediator between God and man, 
 through whom alone we can approach that holy Being, 
 who was justly angry with us on account of our sins. 
 
 The first Title we are to consider this afternoon, is 
 the 
 
 (4.) BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD. 
 Rev. iii. 14. In the eighth chapter of Proverbs, Christ 
 speaks of Himself, verses 22 31. "The Lord pos- 
 sessed me in the beginning of His way I was set up 
 from everlasting, Before the hills was I brought 
 forth." 
 
 God is a Spirit, and therefore we cannot see Him. 
 But when the world was about four thousand years 
 old, the Word (which was God) put on a created nature, 
 and made Himself visible to His creatures. Thus in 
 the person of Christ, the Creator and the Creature are 
 joined in one. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt 
 among us. 
 
 This wonderful event we talked of in the last Lecture.
 
 BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S GLORY. 119 
 
 We then spoke of the Ancient of Days becoming the 
 Babe of Bethlehem. And I want you all ever to think 
 of Christ as at once the BEGINNER OF THE CREATION 
 OF GOD, for He made all things, and is therefore 
 TRULY GOD. Also, the BEGINNING OF THE CREA- 
 TION, the First and Chief of all creatures ; for He is 
 TRULY MAN. In Him, God, before unseen, was 
 manifest in the flesh. 
 
 Again, this glorious God-Man is called the 
 
 (5.) BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S GLORY. 
 Heb. i. 3. Now God, the great Spirit, dwelleth in 
 light which no man can approach unto. His habi- 
 tation is 
 
 " Dark with excessive bright." 
 
 But Christ is God come down to be a Brother, to set 
 Himself before us in a form on which we can look, and 
 look without fear. 
 
 You know we cannot gaze upon the sun. The eye that 
 dares to look at it, aches and is distressed. But our 
 eyes can bear that milder light which beams from the 
 sun. It is refreshing, and sweet, and pleasant. 
 
 So we cannot see God. He is veiled in " terrible 
 brightness." But as the sun enlightens us, and warms 
 us by his beams, so God manifests Himself to us by 
 His Son Jesus. And we become acquainted with God 
 by means of Him who is the BRIGHTNESS OF THE 
 FATHER'S GLORY. For Christ says, " He that hath 
 seen me, hath seen the Father also." All the glory of 
 the divine character is seen in the Lord Jesus. And we
 
 120 BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S GLORY. 
 
 can gaze on His countenance " His dread does not fall 
 upon us, His excellency does not make us afraid.'' 1 
 
 You have read in your bibles of that part of the 
 temple called the Holy of Holies. This, you have heard, 
 was a sacred place. No footsteps ever trod its un- 
 polluted floor, save those of the high priest. But even 
 he could not go in without incense, because of the blaze 
 of the divine glory, or Shechinah, which shone forth 
 from the ark of the testimony. 
 
 But when the cloud of incense arose and moderated 
 the lustre of this painful brightness ; then he could 
 enter without being destroyed by the dazzling glory. 
 
 Now Jesus Christ is like this incense; He is the 
 glass or medium, through which the rays of the 
 Godhead come to us, in a way in which we can best 
 bear them. So we view the insupportable glory of God, 
 shining through our nature. 
 
 The Lord Jesus was found in fashion as a man. He 
 humbled Himself, that we might become familiar with 
 Him. He was lowly, and meek, and self-denying. And 
 yet what lustre was there in His wisdom and know- 
 ledge ! What glory beamed from Him, when He 
 cast out devils ! What bright proofs of His Deity be- 
 trayed themselves from time to time, to the confusion 
 of His enemies ! 
 
 He is now gone up into heaven. And He is still 
 the same as when He lived on earth as " a Man of 
 sorrows." The outward brightness of His glorified 
 person, as weD as His spiritual glory, none can conceive 
 of. He fills all heaven with light ; for " the city has no 
 need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it ; 
 fQf the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is
 
 BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S GLORY. 121 
 
 the light thereof." He diffuses life, and joy, and hap- 
 piness, through all hearts. 
 
 " Oh the delights, the heavenly joys, 
 
 The glories of the place, 
 Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams 
 Of His o'erflowing grace." 
 
 How bright are the stars that twinkle in the midnight 
 sky ! How bright is the fierce lightning which plays 
 around the dark cloud in the summer's night ! And 
 how bright is the sun at noon day ! But what is the 
 brightness of the stars, or the lightning, or the sun, 
 compared with that unearthly light, which beamed from 
 heaven on Saul of Tarsus, and struck him to the ground ! 
 It was a brightness above that of the mid-day sun ! 
 The Lord Jesus, the BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S 
 GLORY, appeared to him. And Saul's eyes, unused to 
 such dazzling brightness, lost their power, and he be- 
 came blind for many days. 
 
 Our eyes could not bear this glory of Christ now. 
 When we shall see Him as He is, our eyes and our 
 minds will be fitted for the dazzling vision. But those 
 who are enlightened by the Spirit, already see much of 
 His spiritual glory here on earth. And the sight of this 
 rejoices the heart. 
 
 We connect brightness in our thoughts with gladness 
 and exultation. There is something in it, which ex- 
 cites the mind, and fills the heart with joy. How 
 refreshing is the morning hour ! How cheering are 
 the bright beams of the sun after darkness ! They 
 awaken you, and invite you to walk abroad in the 
 meadows, and to wander beside the streams. And you 
 rise up, refreshed and cheerful. You call your younger
 
 122 BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S GLORY. 
 
 brother or sister ; and forth you go to brush away the 
 dew with your little feet. 
 
 How lovely every thing looks bathed in the glory of 
 the sunbeams ! As you trip along, the fields seem to 
 laugh, and the little hills to leap for joy ! The spark- 
 ling brook dances and exults in the sun's bright ray ! 
 There is life and joy spread through all nature. And 
 even the inanimate things, the little murmuring rills, 
 and the rustling trees, seem almost endued with voices, 
 wherewith to utter their delight. " The little hills 
 break forth before you into singing. The vallies shout 
 for joy, and all the trees of the field clap their hands." 
 
 What a contrast is all this to the dismal gloom which 
 hung over every thing during the absence of the sun ! 
 
 So when the BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER'S GLORY 
 penetrates the darkness of our minds, (and oh ! how 
 dark and comfortless they are till this takes place !) 
 when Christ shines into our hearts what unspeakable 
 delight fills our expanded souls ! How do we exclaim, 
 " My soul doth magnify the Lord ! My spirit hath re- 
 joiced in God my Saviour !" 
 
 Nevertheless, the severe glory of God out of Christ, 
 we cannot gaze at. It fills the heart with fear. But we can 
 bear the milder glory of Immanuel, and we say with 
 Dr Watts, 
 
 " Till God in human flesh I see, 
 
 My thoughts no comfort find ; 
 The holy, just, and sacred Three 
 Are terrors to my mind. 
 
 " But if Immanuel's face appear, 
 
 My hope, my joy begins ; 
 His name forbids my slavish fear, 
 His grace removes my sins."
 
 BEOTHEE. 123 
 
 In the Lord Jesus, then, we see Immanuel, God with 
 us. He is God, come down out of heaven, to take part 
 of our flesh and blood, and thus to become our 
 
 (6.) BROTHER. Heb. ii. 11, 12. What a won- 
 derful thing for us to be permitted to call Christ our 
 BEOTHER ! Let us see how He is our BEOTHEE. What 
 is a Brother ? A very dear, and a very near relative. 
 
 1. Brothers are children of the same parents, and 
 members of the same family. 
 
 And all who receive the gospel are the children of God. 
 They are born of God. And God has a great family, 
 some of whom are in heaven, and some on earth, and 
 all are named after Himself. And Christ is the elder 
 BROTHEE of this great family, " the first-born among 
 many brethren." When Christ was about to leave the 
 world, He sent a message to His followers. And this 
 was it. " Go to my BRETHREN, and say unto them, 
 I ascend to MY FATHER AND YOLTK FATHEE." 
 
 2. Brothers are partakers of the same nature and 
 likeness. 
 
 Angels are not called the brethren of Christ. Of 
 them it is not said, " They are members of His body, 
 of His flesh, and of His bones." But this is said of 
 believers ; so close is the relationship. There is a 
 oneness of nature in them ; and therefore He is not 
 ashamed to call them Brethren. He takes their nature 
 on Himself; and then He makes them " partakers of 
 the divine nature," and changes them into His own 
 image. 
 
 3. Brothers share in the same privileges and are joint 
 heirs of the same inheritance. 
 
 The father commonly lays up for his children, and
 
 124 BROTHER. 
 
 when he wants his wealth no longer, his children 
 succeed to it, and share it amongst them. And 
 Christians are " heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ." 
 All things are theirs through their union to Him. 
 
 4. Brothers receive the same education and discipline, 
 or training. 
 
 Christians, you know, must enten heaven through 
 much tribulation. They must suffer troubles. You 
 must have trouble before you get to heaven ; "for what 
 son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?" So Christ 
 Avas "made perfect through suffering." And He "learned 
 obedience by the things which He suffered." And this 
 because He would in all points be made like unto His 
 brethren. 
 
 In all these respects, Jesus Christ is a Brother. 
 Wherefore, dear child, (if thou art a praying child.) 
 throughout thy future life, be not afraid to approach 
 Him in the hour of thy sorrow and temptation. He is 
 thy brother, thy kinsman, thy nearest relative ! He will 
 not disown thee, nor turn away from thy complaint 
 
 He who says to us " Hide not thyself from thine own 
 flesh," will not do this Himself. He who says, " Thou 
 shalt not despise thy poor brother, will not despise us, 
 though we are poor and needy. No ! He cannot, 
 
 " His heart is made of tenderness, 
 
 His bowels melt with love. 
 " He who in days of feeble flesh, 
 
 Pour'd out His cries and tears, 
 Still in His measure feels afresh 
 
 What every BROTHER bears. 
 " Touch'd with a sympathy within, 
 
 He knows their feeble frame ; 
 He knows what sore temptations mean, 
 
 For He has felt the same."
 
 BROTHER. 125 
 
 All that \ve expect a kind brother to be to us, that 
 Christ is to those who love Him. What do you look 
 for from your brother, your elder brother ? You expect 
 him to love you, and feel for you, and help you in your 
 difficulties. 
 
 If you were journeying together, you would con- 
 fidently look to his superior knowledge for guidance. 
 If you were to stumble and fall, you would expect him 
 to lift you up. If you were to see some furious beast 
 running towards you, you would look to him to defend 
 and help you. You would lean on him when weary, 
 and cling to him when in danger. 
 
 Your teacher who now addresses you, has twice been 
 indebted to an elder brother, for the saving of his life 
 when in imminent danger. 
 
 On one of these occasions, if it had not been for a 
 brother stronger than himself, and bolder than himself, 
 he would inevitably have been drowned. But a brother's 
 friendly hand was promptly stretched out for his de- 
 liverance, just when the strong tide was carrying him 
 away. And he drew him out of "many waters,'' and 
 set him in a place of safety. 
 
 So Christ says to his brethren, " Fear not, I am with 
 you. When you pass through the waters, they shall 
 not overflow you. Let not your heart be troubled. 
 I am at your side. Cast your burden of weakness and 
 sin on me. I will deliver you in trouble, and shew you 
 my salvation." Let us then lean on Him, and lie in 
 His bosom, for to this intimacy He invites us. 
 
 Brothers, also, often dwell together, and their interests 
 are one. And if one brother should come to the pos-- 
 session of great honour and riches, he would naturally
 
 126 BROTHER. 
 
 share them with the rest of his family. Now the Lord 
 Christ has gone to heaven ; but He does not mean to 
 live there alone in His grandeur. What did He tell 
 His disciples He was going to heaven for ? To prepare 
 a place for them. Yes, and when He has made the 
 place ready for them, and them ready for the place, 
 He will come again, and receive them to Himself. He 
 is determined that they shall all be with Him where 
 He is, that they may behold His glory. He has left 
 word, that He will not be satisfied, till He has all of 
 them, every Sunday scholar that loves Him, every one 
 of His little brothers and sisters, all sitting down with 
 Him, at His Father's table, and all dwelling beside Him 
 at His " Father's house, where there are many man- 
 sions." 
 
 But remember, He only OAvns those for His brothers 
 and sisters, who pray to Him, and love Him, and do the 
 will of His Father. Now if you, my dear children, 
 belong to this number, He will not deny you any request 
 which you may make to Him. He will not withhold any 
 good thing from you; so that you may, each of you, 
 boldly say, " The Lord is my helper, my shepherd, my 
 friend, my BROTHER. I shall not want seasonable, 
 suitable, and sufficient supplies, all my life long; 
 
 'And when I'm to die, receive me, I'll cry, 
 For Jesus hath lov'd me, I cannot tell why ; 
 But this I do find, we two are so join'd, 
 He'll not live in heaven, and leave me behind.' " 
 
 Such, then, is the Friend, that loveth at all times, and 
 sticketh closer than a brother. Faithfully, indeed, has 
 He acted the part of a " BROTHER born for our ad-
 
 BONDSMAN. 127 
 
 versities." For when we owed ten thousand talents, and 
 had nothing to pay, and our lives were forfeited, He 
 became our 
 
 (7.) BONDSMAN, or Surety. Heb. vii. A bondsman 
 is one who undertakes to pay the debts of another ; or 
 makes himself accountable for his good behaviour, or his 
 safety. 
 
 There is a beautiful story in the bible about the devotion 
 of Judah (one of Jacob's sons) to Benjamin, his younger 
 brother. Some of you remember the story, I dare say. 
 
 You know, when Jacob's sons were returning from 
 Egypt the second time, with the corn they had bought, 
 they had not gone far, before they heard a messenger 
 calling to them to stop. And when he came up with 
 them, he accused them of having stolen his master's 
 silver cup. They denied it. But he would search all 
 their sacks to see who had it. So they all set down 
 their sacks to be searched, beginning at the eldest. 
 The first opened his sack, and the man looked into it, 
 but there was no cup there. And then the second 
 shewed his sack, but neither was the cup there ; and so 
 on, till the youngest brother's sack was opened. And 
 there, sure enough, hidden amongst the corn in 
 Benjamin's sack, was the lost silver cup ! 
 
 Then they all rent their clothes, and laded every orie 
 his ass, and returned to the city. And the Lord of the 
 country seemed to be very angry with them. And this 
 was his sentence, " The man in whose hand the cup is 
 found, he shall be my slave." And that was poor 
 Benjamin, his father's darling, whom they had promised 
 to bring back to him in safety !
 
 128 BONDSMAN. 
 
 Then came Judah near to the ruler, to plead the cause 
 of his younger brother. And oh, how affectionately 
 did he plead ! You can read his touching speech in 
 Gen. xliv. 18-34. And he finished his eloquent appeal 
 with these words, " Now then, I pray thee, let me, 
 thy servant, abide instead of the lad, a bondman, (a 
 slave) to my lord, and let the lad go up with his 
 brethren." 
 
 Was not this generous ? Was it not a most won- 
 derful act of kindness ? " Well might dying Jacob say, 
 ' Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise !' " 
 
 But why does Judah thus undertake his younger 
 brother's cause ? Why is he so anxious for his safety ? 
 Can you not tell ? 
 
 He was not only Benjamin's Brother, but Benjamin's 
 Bondsman. He had said to his father, " I will be 
 SURETY for him. Of my hand shalt thou require him. 
 If I do not bring him to thee, and set him before thee, 
 then let me bear the blame for ever." And so his 
 honour and his truth were engaged, as well as his 
 affection. He had made himself answerable for Benjamin. 
 And he remembered his bond, and rather than break 
 his word, he would suffer loss of liberty or life. 
 
 And now, my children, you can apply this story 
 yourselves. I think I need not tell you how Judah in 
 all this resembles Christ, our elder BROTHER. He, too, 
 offered to become our BONDSMAN, and has solemnly 
 undertaken to save to the uttermost them that come 
 unto God through Him, all that the Father giveth 
 Him. 
 
 And think you that He can break His word, His 
 oath ? Shall Judah feel himself bound by his promise, 
 and will not Christ abide by His ? Most assuredly.
 
 BISHOP OF SOULS. 129 
 
 " His honour is engaged to save 
 The meanest of His sheep ; 
 All that His Heavenly Father gave, 
 His hands securely keep." 
 
 According to this agreement, this bond, He pays 
 their debts to the law, answers all its demands, and 
 bears the punishment due to them. He knew before- 
 hand " what it would come to at the worst to save.'' 
 So He set His face as a flint, and was not discouraged 
 till He had finished the work His Father gave Him 
 to do. 
 
 "Immense compassion reigns 
 
 In our Immanuel's heart ; 
 
 He undertook to act 
 
 The Mediator's part. 
 Our BUOTHER He, and BONDSMAN too, 
 Divinely kind, divinely true." 
 
 But this is not all. His work as a BONDSMAN does 
 not end when He has paid His brethren's debts, and 
 borne their punishment, and procured their release. No; 
 as Judah engaged to bring Benjamin home in safety to 
 his father, so Christ has engaged to bring every one of 
 His brethren safely home to " His Father and their 
 Father." He has undertaken to give them all needful 
 grace by the way, to defend them from their spiritual 
 enemies, and to attend them all their journey through. 
 This He does as the 
 
 (8.) BISHOP OF THEIR SOULS. 1 Peter ii. 25, 
 And what is a Bishop ? A Bishop is a spiritual overseer. 
 It is the duty of a Bishop to watch over his flock, to 
 comfort the feeble, to nurse the sick, to take care of the 
 
 K
 
 130 BISHOP OF SOULS. 
 
 lambs, to lead all to wholesome pastures, and to set 
 before them their portion of meat in due season. 
 
 The Lord Jesus, the BISHOP OF SOTTLS, is very care- 
 ful of the lambs, the little ones of His flock. You 
 remember that sweet passage, " He shall lead His flock 
 like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in His arms, 
 and carry them in His bosom ; and gently lead those 
 that are with young." Isa. xl. 11. 
 
 In His care for them, He has provided under pastors 
 and overseers, and appointed them to their work. And 
 what He said to Peter, He says to them all ; " If thou 
 lovest me, feed my lambs." He has set Sabbath school 
 teachers over you. And it is their duty to watch for 
 your souls as those that must give account to Jesus the 
 BISHOP OF SOULS. If they neglect their duty, He will 
 require it at their hands, and take care of His flock 
 Himself. He says " I will seek that which was lost, I 
 will bring again that which was driven away. I will 
 heal that which is sick, and bind up that which is 
 broken." 
 
 Oh you who are still going astray like lost sheep, 
 return, I pray you, to this Shepherd and BISHOP OF 
 SOULS. You are exposed to a thousand dangers. Oh 
 come back from your wanderings. Come and commit 
 " the keeping of your souls to Him." They are well 
 kept whom He keeps. Only those are safe, whom He 
 puts into His fold. Without are grievous wolves, and 
 roaring lions, wicked spirits and wicked men, all 
 watching to devour your souls. 
 
 If you were walking all alone and defenceless in a 
 great African desert, towards night you would hear the 
 roaring of lions, and the growling of leopards, and tigers,
 
 BISHOP OF SOULS. 131 
 
 and hyaenas, thirsting for your blood. And as the dark- 
 ness increased, so would this wild uproar increase, and 
 come nearer and nearer. How great would be your 
 horror at the thought of spending the night in such an 
 exposed condition ! With what hurried steps would 
 you urge your way, and long to come up with a party of 
 travellers who were well armed and defended against 
 their attacks ! And how gladly would you put yourself 
 under their care ! 
 
 But these wild beasts could only devour your bodies. 
 That is the worst they could do. Satan, that old ser- 
 pent, that savage, roaring lion, desires to have your 
 souls. Oh will you not run for shelter and defence to 
 Christ ? None but Jesus can defend you from his rage 
 and malice. And He will not do it, except you come 
 into His fold. 
 
 Come then to the BISHOP OF SOULS ! He will keep 
 you in safety. He will instruct you, and feed you in 
 green pastures, and guide you beside the still waters, 
 and wash you, and strengthen you, and do every thing 
 for you, and at last lead you to fountains of living waters 
 in heaven, and wipe away all tears from your eyes. 
 
 And now, from what has been said, I will observe 
 four things which I hope you will try to remember. 
 
 1. That we can have no knowledge of God, except 
 through Christ, " for no man hath seen God at any 
 time." 
 
 2. That in order to make God known, Christ was 
 made flesh ; " the only begotten son of God, who was 
 in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him," or 
 made Him known.
 
 132 BISHOP OF SOULS. 
 
 3. That it is a great honour which Christ puts on us, in 
 that He is not ashamed to call us His BRETHREN. 
 Therefore we must not be ashamed of Him or of His 
 words, but confess Him resolutely before men. 
 
 4. That since we cannot do this, or any good work, 
 of ourselves, we must look constantly to Christ ; for He 
 hath undertaken, as our BONDSMAN, to " work all our 
 works in us," and as our Shepherd and BISHOP, to lead 
 us through all temptations, safely to heaven.
 
 LECTURE IX. 
 
 BRAZEX SEUPEXT. BKANCH. BREAD. 
 
 Great importance of faith. What it is to the soul 1. Faith compared to the 
 eve Use of the eye. The Brazen Serpent. Its history. The sin of 
 murmuring:. Its dreadful punishment. God's remedy. Scene in the camp. 
 The mother and her child. The obstinate unbeliever. No other remedy. 
 Five particulars in which Christ resembles the serpent. Reflections. Invi- 
 tations. What it is to look to Christ. Effects of looking to Him. II. Faith 
 i> a hand tn the soul. Uses of the hand. Christ the Branch. Walk by 
 the river side. The drowning boy. Deliverance. The deep river. Over- 
 banging branch. Waters of affliction. What can keep IK from sinking in 
 them. The day of small things. Increase. Reason's estimate of the Saviour. 
 What He was. What He is. The branch spreading itself. Who sit under 
 its shadow, aud eat of its fruit. Ill Faith as a mouth to the soul. Christ 
 the Bread of God. Christ as necessary to the soul as food is to the body. How 
 the soul feeds on Christ. This provision not relished by all. Conclusion. 
 
 No one can read many pages of the bible without being 
 struck with the great importance of faith. How fre- 
 quently do we read of its wondrous virtues ! and how 
 plainly do we see that without faith, it is impossible to 
 please God, or escape the pollution of the world ! 
 
 Now, my dear young friends, since faith is so im- 
 portant, I want you all to understand what it is. But 
 above all, I wish you all to possess and enjoy it. 
 
 It is by faith alone you can be made acquainted with 
 Christ Jesus. Your eyes do not see Him, as they do 
 your friends around you. You cannot hear His voice, 
 as you do mine at this time. You cannot touch Him
 
 134 BRAZEN SERPENT. 
 
 with your hands, nor walk to Him with your feet. But 
 yet we are said to see Him, to hear Him, to go to Him. 
 How then do we hold this intercourse with Him ? By 
 faith. And because He speaks, therefore faith is the 
 ear that listens. Because He calls us to Him, therefore 
 faith is the foot that moves towards Him. Because He 
 tells us to look to Him, faith is the eye that sees. Faith 
 is the mouth that feeds on Him, and the hand that takes 
 hold on Him. What a Avonderful thing is faith ! It is 
 all that to the soul which every separate sense is to the 
 body the hand and the foot, the eye and the ear. 
 
 My dear children, I am to set Christ before you, this 
 afternoon, under three similitudes ; the BRAZEN SER- 
 PENT, the BRANCH, and the BREAD of Life. But how 
 are you to apprehend the Saviour under all these various 
 figures ? What will it avail to have your fancy only 
 amused as you trace the resemblance ? Nothing. Unless 
 you have faith to mix with what I speak concerning 
 Him, this afternoon's service will not profit you. 
 
 Oh that God the Holy Ghost would now come down 
 upon us all, and produce within our hearts true faith, 
 which shall be to us as an eye, as a hand, as a mouth. 
 Then shall we be able, this afternoon, 
 
 To look to Christ as the BRAZEN SERPENT. 
 
 To feed on Him as the BREAD of Life 
 
 To lay hold on Him as the BRANCH, and to pluck 
 from Him such fruits as shall refresh and replenish our 
 souls. 
 
 I. Faith is to the soul what the EYE is to the body. 
 The Eye enables us to see the worth and beauty of 
 things. Choice paintings, heaps of valuable jewels,
 
 BRAZEN SERPENT. 135 
 
 chests full of gold, might be placed before a blind man, 
 but he would not see them, nor know that they were 
 near him. 
 
 So we may set before men who have not faith, the 
 most excellent and precious blessings, but they cannot 
 perceive their beauty and worth. " The natural man 
 discerneth not the things of the Spirit of God for they 
 are foolishness to him ; neither can he know them, be- 
 cause they are spiritually discerned." 
 
 Again, the Eye enables us to discover danger. And if 
 there be a way of escape, it is by the Eye that we discern 
 it, and are directed to it. 
 
 A blind man may be just on the brink of a deep river, 
 but he knoweth it not. And unless some one speak to 
 him of danger, he doth not suspect any. Or he may be 
 in imminent peril from wild beasts, and there may be a 
 covert at hand, yet can he not flee to it, because he seeth 
 it not. 
 
 Thus without faith we should be lost, because it is by 
 faith that we discover the danger we are in of hell fire. 
 And by faith we discern the salvation there is in Christ. 
 "We see also His worth, and His fitness, and His all- 
 sufficiency. And thus we are persuaded to embrace Him 
 as our Saviour. 
 
 May this faith be in exercise now, while we direct your 
 attention to the Lord Christ, under the type of the 
 
 (9.) BRAZEN SERPENT. John iii. 14; Num. xxi. 
 9. The occasion of the setting up of this Serpent of 
 brass by Moses was the sin of the people of Israel, and 
 the punishment wherewith God visited their sin. The 
 people were very obstinate, and though God was so kind
 
 136 BRAZEN SERPENT. 
 
 and bountiful to them, yet they murmured against Him. 
 and were very discontented. 
 
 My dear children, you cannot think how heinous this 
 sin of murmuring or discontent is in the sight of God. 
 He always punishes it, though not in the same way ; for 
 He hates it now as much as He did then. 
 
 But wherefore did the Jews murmur ? They com- 
 plained that the manna was not good enough for them, 
 though it came down from heaven, and was the portion 
 God had appointed for them. 
 
 So God was sorely displeased. And how did He 
 chastise them ? He sent among them a host of fierce 
 fiery serpents. And these dreadful creatures stung and 
 poisoned them, so that much people died. There was 
 no charming them, and it was hard to escape from them, 
 for they were active and lively creatures, (called flying 
 serpents in Isaiah,) and they came in great numbers. So 
 that whithersoever the miserable people turned, there 
 were these serpents, waiting to torment and kill them. 
 What shocking bites their venomous fangs must have 
 inflicted ! What festering wounds covered the sufferers, 
 depriving them of strength and poisoning the springs of 
 life, filling them with burning fever, and torturing them 
 with raging thirst, till they were consumed. 
 
 Ah ! if you wish to see what dreadful afflictions sin 
 brings with it, survey the scene of desolation in the 
 camp of Israel ! How dreadful to see so many, one after 
 another, turning pale, and dying in pain and anguish ! 
 
 But God will not always chide, neither will He keep 
 His anger for ever. The people were sorry for their 
 sin, and besought Moses to pray for them. So God 
 told His servant to set up a Serpent of brass on a
 
 BBAZEX SERPEXT. 137 
 
 pole in the midst of the camp, where all might see it. 
 Whoever should look on that was to be healed. " So 
 Moses made a Serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, 
 and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any 
 man, when he beheld the Serpent of brass, he lived." 
 
 What a movement there must have been amongst the 
 wounded, to the doors of their tents, the moment the 
 joyful news spread through the camp, that the pole 
 was set up ! How would the poor fainting men and 
 women strain their dim dying eyes, just to get one 
 glimpse of it ! 
 
 And those who were so exhausted that they could 
 not move, how would they implore their relatives to 
 take them up and carry them to some spot whence they 
 might, by one glance at the remedy, be redeemed from 
 death ! 
 
 See that mother. Her darling child is bitten. She 
 takes him up in her arms, and holds him up, and with 
 her gentle fingers, lifts up the heavy eyelids, almost 
 closed in death, and cries, " Look, look at yon shining 
 Serpent !'' He strives to look, and though just now the 
 fiery poison drank up his spirits, x and swelled all his 
 bursting veins, yet one look quite cures him ! Oh what 
 an easy thing to do only to look ! And what a mar- 
 vellous cure the power of God can perform ! 
 
 Now what if one of these bitten people had refused 
 to look at this brass Serpent ? Imagine him dying of 
 his wounds, and his brother comes to him and says. 
 " Let me carry you to the tent door. One look at yon 
 pole will cure you. / was bitten, and I looked, and 
 now I am quite well look, brother, look. " No," says 
 the dying man, " I am sure that cannot cure me I am
 
 138 BKAZEN SERPENT. 
 
 too far gone It is too late. I must die." " Nay," 
 but, says the other, " you need not die ; while you have 
 strength to look, there is hope " But the wretched man 
 turns away, and will not regard that which can alone 
 deliver him. He refuses God's own medicine, and 
 nothing can save him. 
 
 Thus it is, that "wise men after the flesh" despise 
 God's way of salvation, and esteem it foolishness. Alas ! 
 that so many refuse to " behold the Lamb of God," 
 who alone can take away their sin ! For such there 
 remaineth no further sacrifice, no other contrivance for 
 their deliverance, nothing but a certain fearful looking 
 for of judgment and fiery indignation ! 
 
 Hear the words of our Saviour ; " But as Moses 
 lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, so was the Son 
 of Man lifted up, that whosoever believeth on Him 
 should not perish, .but have everlasting life." Christ 
 here compares Himself to the Serpent which Moses 
 lifted up. And I must, in a few words, shew you wherein 
 the likeness consists. 
 
 1 . As the lifting up of the Serpent was by the ap- 
 pointment of God, so Christ crucified is God's own 
 remedy for those who are wounded by sin. 
 
 2. As the Brazen Serpent was in the form of the 
 poisonous serpent, but yet had no poison ; so Christ was 
 made like Adam, by whom sin came into the world ; yet 
 was without sin. 
 
 3. The Serpent of brass was lifted up in the sight of 
 all ; so Christ is set up for all the world to look at. 
 The salvation He offers is called "the common sal- 
 vation," because it is for all who are willing to have it. 
 
 4. There was no other cure for the Israelites but this.
 
 BRAZEN SERPENT. 139 
 
 So there is no name given under heaven, whereby men 
 can be saved, but the name of Christ. 
 
 5. It was a certain and infallible remedy. So the 
 blood of Jesus Christ CLEANSETH FROM ALL SIN. 
 
 All mankind are ruined by sin. This fatal poison 
 hath spread itself through his whole nature, and cor- 
 rupted all its streams. It has not the same effects in 
 all. Some are excited by it, and evil passions and 
 deeds of violence are the modes in which it displays its 
 malignity. Some are filled with anguish, by which 
 their lives are made bitter unto them. Others are lulled 
 to sleep and cannot be awakened, or persuaded that 
 there is anything the matter with them. Nevertheless, 
 all are badly, fatally wounded, and from the sole of the 
 foot to the head, there is no soundness, but wounds, and 
 bruises, and putrifying sores. 
 
 But, whoever, of all the children of men, (let him be 
 ever so far gone) looks to Christ with the eye of faith, 
 receives an immediate and effectual cure. He is able to 
 save to the uttermost. It is true, that while they are 
 in the wilderness, they are liable to get fresh wounds in 
 their fight with sin and Satan. But here is God's 
 grand remedy, Jesus Christ, set forth evidently crucified 
 before them. To Him let them continually turn. On 
 Him let them fix their gaze ; and they shall find the 
 tide of health gushing into their souls, and springing 
 up into everlasting life. " They looked unto Him, and 
 were enlightened, and their faces were not ashamed." 
 
 Come, then, thou poor serpent-stung sinner, who 
 feelest thy misery, who art dying of thy wounds, be of 
 good cheer; rise, He calleth thee. Thou hast not
 
 140 BRAZEN SERPENT. 
 
 strength to go to Him. Then look to Him. Cast thy 
 burden of sin on Him, for indeed He careth for thee. 
 
 Come, all of you, and gaze on this Saviour lifted up. 
 You who have looked before, come and look again. 
 You cannot look at Him too much or too often. God 
 hath set Him up on high, in the view of an expiring 
 world, on purpose that all may look to Him. And that 
 not once but often. We are to run the race set before us, 
 looking unto Jesus. 
 
 Let us all, then, be daily, hourly looking to this 
 blessed Saviour. So shall the wounds the old serpent 
 hath given us, be cured. They shall not be the death 
 of us. " Iniquity shall not be our ruin." The poison 
 shall be drawn forth, and we shall be healed. But if ye 
 will not look, ye shall die in your sins, and where Christ 
 is, you can never come. 
 
 But perhaps some young person is now saying in his 
 heart, " I wish Jesus Christ were still on the earth, and 
 then if I could see Him with my bodily eyes, I would 
 look to Him. But, my dear young friend, this is not 
 the kind of seeing I speak of. It would not cure you of 
 the disease of sin to see Christ with your bodily eyes, 
 Thousands saw Him thus, when He was on the earth, 
 who were never benefited by the sight. They looked 
 on while He wrought miracles. Yea, they saw Him 
 suffer and die. But they were not cured. Why? 
 Because they did not believe on Him. While they 
 turned their eyes towards Him, they turned their hearts 
 away, and so their sin remained. 
 
 What kind of looks must they be, then, which will heal 
 our souls ? Must we set up a crucifix before us, or gaze 
 on a picture of Christ crucified, as the Roman Catholics
 
 BBAZEN SERPENT. 141 
 
 do ? No ! that will be of no service. "Will it do for us 
 to, read of Him, and think about Him, and sing 
 hymns to Him ? Will these kind of looks serve ? No, 
 not altogether. They must be believing and affec- 
 tionate looks. 
 
 If you read of Him, you must mix faith with what 
 you read. If you think of Him, your thoughts must be 
 affectionate. If you sing hymns, your heart must make 
 melody as well as your lips. 
 
 And do you ask how you are to know that you have 
 looked aright ? I answer, You will have spiritual life ; 
 Just as the dying Israelite, on looking to the Brazen 
 Serpent, found himself suddenly restored. 
 
 You will have peace. The rage of sin will be quieted, 
 and the pain arising from a guilty conscience, and fear 
 of God's anger will be eased. 
 
 You will also have a dread of sin. The Israelites, 
 after they were healed, must have had a great fear of 
 the serpents, and a great fear of the sin of murmuring, 
 which had been the cause of their suffering. If you are 
 healed, you are also afraid of sin, which " is as the gall 
 of asps within." Job xx. 14. Though sin may-be ever so 
 sweet or pleasant, those who trifle with it, find out, that, 
 like those serpents, it has a most fatal sting ; for the 
 wages of sin is death. But we must proceed. We have 
 seen that faith is as the Eye of the soul. Again, 
 
 II. Faith is to the soul what the HAND is to the 
 body. 
 
 The hand, you know, is useful in a variety of ways. 
 The beggar who stops you in the street, asking for 
 relief, what does he do if he sees you ready to assist
 
 142 BRANCH. 
 
 him ? He holds out his empty Hand to receive your 
 bounty. Now Christ has alms to bestow, heavenly 
 blessings to give. He offers them freely to us ; and 
 faith is the empty hand stretched out to take what He 
 gives. 
 
 If you wished to get possession of the fruit which 
 hangs on the bending boughs of yonder tree, what 
 would you do ? You would put forth your Hands to 
 pluck it. So does faith procure spiritual blessings for 
 the soul. It is the hand by which we pluck fruit from 
 the BRANCH of the Lord, the Tree of life. 
 
 If a man had fallen into a deep pit, and some, hearing 
 his cries for help, were to let down a rope to him, how 
 would he avail himself of their assistance ? He would 
 take hold of the rope with his Hands, and cling to it, till 
 he was drawn out of danger. And thus it is said con- 
 cerning the act of faith. " Let him take hold of my 
 strength." And we read in the bible, of our faith 
 " laying hold on the hope set before us." 
 
 Now, then, let us consider Christ as the 
 
 (10.) BRANCH of the Lord, "beautiful and glorious." 
 Isa. iv. 2 ; Zech iii. 8. And let us see how faith, as the 
 hand of the soul, has to do with Christ as a BRANCH. 
 
 Suppose you and I to be walking by the side of a 
 deep river. Suddenly we hear a cry, and a splash 
 like something falling into the water. What can it 
 be ? We look anxiously towards the quarter from 
 whence the sound proceeded, and there, on the 
 other side, we see some one struggling in the 
 waters. It is a poor boy, fallen into the river ! See 
 him carried away with the flood ! Oh who will save
 
 BEANCH. 143 
 
 him ? There ! he is gone down, and the gurgling wave 
 closes over him ! No ! there is his head again, just 
 above the swelling tide, close by the overhanging trees 
 on yonder bank ; and he cries for help, " Oh save me !" 
 How can we save him ? Cry aloud to him ! tell him to 
 take hold of the Branch that dips into the stream. 
 There ! see ! he has got fast hold of the bough. And 
 now he is climbing up, and will soon be out of danger, 
 Was not that a beautiful Branch, think you, which 
 saved him from destruction when no other help was 
 near ? 
 
 A few months since a poor artizan, known to some of 
 us, fell into the neighbouring river. The water was 
 very deep, and had it not been for a Branch, which hung 
 over the stream, he must have been drowned. But, 
 grasping the friendly bough with his hands, he escaped 
 a watery grave. With what feelings he must have 
 regarded the Branch ! How " beautiful" did it appear 
 in his eyes when he had got out safely, and looked 
 on it as the instrument, under God, of his deliver- 
 ance ! It must have been to him the loveliest Branch 
 on the tree. 
 
 That Branch is a figure of Christ. And the hand 
 by which the drowning man laid hold on it, and clung 
 to it, is an emblem of that faith by which the perish- 
 ing sinner cleaves to the Saviour. 
 
 And now, my dear children, I am going to say what 
 I cannot say without pain. But you must not think, 
 because I say it, that I take pleasure in dark fore- 
 bodings. You must not suspect that I wish needlessly 
 to fill your minds with dismal thoughts of the future. 
 But this is what I wish to say. You will all know,
 
 144 BRANCH. 
 
 sooner or later, if you grow up to be men and women, 
 what it is to suffer trouble and temptation. Man is born 
 to troubles. Now these are compared to deep waters, 
 and the tide seems sometimes as though it would carry 
 us away ; and we " sink in deep waters, where there is 
 no standing." You will escape many troubles by being 
 Christians. But I have no commission to promise you 
 exemption from all trials. Even David was heard once 
 complaining to God, " Deep calleth unto deep at the 
 noise of thy waterspouts. All thy waves and billows 
 have gone over me." And the believer in the present 
 day, may be almost ready at times to say the same 
 thing. But blessed be God ; this BRANCH, this divine 
 BRANCH from the root of Jesse, overhangs the deep 
 dark waters. And if we seize hold of it by the hand of 
 faith, it keeps us up that we sink not. And then we 
 find out what this meaneth, " In that day]' the day of 
 affliction, " the BRANCH of the Lord shall be BEAUTIFUL 
 and GLORIOUS." 
 
 Therefore remember this, all of you, when in any 
 trouble, or when ready to be swallowed up by sin and 
 temptation, remember to keep fast hold of this "beautiful 
 BRANCH." Never fear it will break. It is the BRANCH 
 which God made strong for Himself. It. holds up 
 millions of people, for God holds it in His right hand, 
 and stretches it forth that we may be saved. Therefore 
 " take fast hold of it ; let it not go ; keep it, for it is thy 
 life." 
 
 Can you mention two or three other particulars in 
 which Christ is like a Branch ? He resembles a Branch 
 in the meanness of His beginning, and the glory of His 
 increase. You know a Branch is first a tender slip, and
 
 BRANCH. 
 
 145 
 
 its present form gives no clue to its future appearance. 
 Then it becomes a little twig, then a bough, and at last 
 the Branch grows into a great tree. Thus Christ, the 
 BRANCH, is first a Babe, then a Child, then a Man. 
 
 Which of you, who have seen the little oak sapling 
 springing from a buried acorn, would imagine that it 
 co\ild ever become a tall tree, producing multitudes of 
 boughs and heaps of acorns ? the little one becoming 
 a thousand. Or who that has observed the little bud, 
 just peeping forth from the stem of that sapling, could 
 ever expect it to grow and increase till it became a 
 wide spreading Branch, on which the birds might build 
 their nests, and under the shadow of which, the flocks 
 might rest themselves on the sultry summer's day ? 
 
 So those who saw Christ in His low estate, turned 
 away from Him, saying, " This is not the Messiah." 
 They judged by the sight of the eye, and by the 
 dictates of carnal reason. 
 
 What was He ? A little helpless babe, cradled in a 
 manger, and nurtured in poverty ; His anxious parents 
 fleeing hither and thither to screen Him from the murder- 
 ous hands of bad men. Is this He of whom it was pro- 
 phesied, "The government shall be upon His shoulder?" 
 
 What was He : An interesting boy, dutiful to His 
 parents, and gentle in all His behaviour, seeking in- 
 struction from the Jewish doctors in the temple, and 
 surprising them by His answers and remarks. But did 
 He then look like the Saviour of the world ? 
 
 What was He ? A benevolent man, scattering to all 
 around, wherever He came, life and health, happiness 
 and peace. But still a poor man, and therefore despised 
 and rejected by almost all. 
 
 L
 
 146 BRANCH. 
 
 What was He next ? In the eyes of the nation a 
 malefactor, scourged, spit upon, buffeted, hung on the 
 cross, the scorn of all, save a few poor timid followers. 
 " If He be the Son of God," said His revilers, " let Him 
 prove it now." But instead of coming down from the 
 cross, He gave up the ghost ; and all that remained 
 of Him was a mangled corpse, which weeping, disap- 
 pointed friends took down from the cross, and laid in a 
 tomb. "Alas !" said they, " we thought it had been He 
 which should have redeemed Israel." And so it was. 
 For, "Who hath despised the day of small things?" 
 This despised root out of a dry ground, so destitute of 
 form and comeliness in their eyes, was, all the while, 
 the "BRANCH of the Lord, beautiful and glorious," 
 whose fruit was destined to be " comely and excel- 
 lent," throughout the whole earth. 
 
 And what is He now ? The tongue of angels cannot 
 worthily describe the majesty and transcendent glory to 
 which He is exalted, much less human tongues. All 
 power is in His hands. All riches are His possession. 
 All worlds depend on His care. He is Lord of all power 
 and might ; and to Him every knee shall bow, every 
 tongue confess. 
 
 Already this BRANCH is beginning to fill the whole 
 world with its blessings. And some of all nations sit 
 down under its shadow ; and by faith they pluck the fruit 
 which grows so plentifully upon it, and it administers 
 to them life and health. And, my dear children, it is 
 your privilege to sit down under the shadow of this 
 BEAUTIFUL BRANCH. You are sitting under it now. 
 Every time you come to school, and every time you 
 hear a gospel sermon, you sit down under its shadow. 
 And it is covered over with fruits pleasant to the eye,
 
 BEEAD. 147 
 
 and worthy to be desired to make you wise. I hope 
 you will not be satisfied with the bare sight of them, 
 but put forth the hand of faith, and pluck them and make 
 them your own. 
 
 III. Faith is to the soul what the MOUTH is to the 
 body. So we read, " Eat ye that which is good." Isa. 
 Iv. 2. "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gra- 
 cious." 1 Pet. ii. 3. 
 
 The use of the mouth is to feed on that which 
 nourishes and supports the frame ; so the soul, by the 
 mouth of faith feeds on the Lord Jesus, and finds 
 strength and nourishment ; for " His flesh is meat 
 indeed, and His blood is drink indeed." Let us then 
 contemplate our Lord for a few moments as the 
 
 (11.) BREAD of God, which came down from 
 heaven, and giveth life to the world. John vi. 51,58. 
 You know, children, that we cannot live without food. 
 Every body knows we must eat in order to sustain life. 
 And bread is called the staff of life, because it is the 
 principal thing on which we subsist. Indeed, by bread 
 we generally understand all kinds of food, meat and 
 drink. So man is said to eat his bread in the sweat of 
 his brow, that is, to earn his food by his labour. 
 
 Xow just as food is necessary to the life of the body, 
 so Christ is needful to our spiritual life. His taking on 
 Himself our nature, and dying for us in that nature is 
 our Bread. It is that by which we live ; that which 
 gives us life, and sustains it. His death is the means of 
 our life. And when we gladly regard and think of it 
 as such, we are said to eat and drink the body and 
 blood of Christ. L 2
 
 148 BREAD. 
 
 Those who do not eat this BREAD of Life pine away, 
 and die eternally. 
 
 Those who partake of it, live by it. They shall never 
 hunger. They shall have all they want in this world-, 
 and live for ever in the next. 
 
 But how may we be said to eat of this BREAD : When 
 we believe and meditate on what the bible says of 
 Christ Jesus ; when we receive Him into our hearts ; 
 when we think of Him and His great work with delight. 
 Then it is that our hearts feed on Him. You know 
 that Bread can do no one any good unless it be eaten. 
 So it will be of no use to us if we only hear and read 
 of Christ. We must hunger after Him, and take Him 
 into our hearts, and then He will be Christ in us the 
 hope of glory 
 
 Neither is it enough to eat Bread only a few times, 
 and then to cease. We stand in need of food frequently. 
 So also must we continually feed on Christ. 
 
 What was that on which the Israelites were sup- 
 ported in the wilderness ? Manna. This was to them 
 their bread. Well, perhaps you remember that it is 
 written that the people loathed this light food ; they 
 wanted a change. And just so it is now with the 
 BREAD OF LIFE. Some people are ready to say, " Why 
 do you talk so much of Christ r Whatever you begin 
 with when you address us, you are sure to get to Christ 
 directly. We are tired of this same thing over and 
 over again." Ah ! they would not talk so if they 
 truly knew the taste of this BREAD OF LIFE. He that 
 really eats this, will have an appetite for more of the 
 same kind of spiritual food, but will never hunger after 
 any other.
 
 BREAD. 1 49 
 
 Wherefore, children, ask God to give you a relish, an 
 appetite for this heavenly BREAD, and then the more 
 ministers preach about Christ, the more you will approve 
 and enjoy their sermons. 
 
 Except you eat this BREAD, you must for ever remain 
 dead in trespasses and sins. Come, then, to Christ, 
 that you may be quickened, for " this is the BREAD 
 that cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat 
 thereof, and not die." Observe, He cometh for this 
 very purpose, that " a man," any man, any child, 
 " may eat thereof, and not die." 
 
 And now my young friends, I hope you will bear in 
 mind the things to which I have just called your 
 attention. Remember the importance of faith, as that 
 by which alone we can receive any good from Christ. 
 As we cannot see without eyes, nor handle without 
 hands, nor support life without eating and drinking, so 
 no more can we be saved without faith. Wherefore, 
 have faith in God. Look unto Christ if you would be 
 saved, as the Israelites looked to the BRAZEN SERPENT. 
 Lai/ hold on Him as your only hope. He is the " BRANCH 
 which God made strong for himself." Feed on Him as 
 the source of life and health." He is the " BREAD of 
 God which came down from heaven." Do not enquire, 
 " How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" Do not 
 object that you cannot see Him, and cannot touch Him. 
 Say not in thy heart, " Who shall ascend up into heaven 
 to bring Christ down from above ?" For the word is nigh 
 thee, the word of faith which we preach, that if thou 
 confess with thy mouth, and believe with thine heart on 
 the Lord Jesus, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.
 
 LECTURE X. 
 
 BRIDEGROOM. BELOVED. 
 
 Love. What it is amongst men. All understand it. Christ's love unfathom- 
 able. The love ol Jonathan to David. Of David to Absalom. Of Jacob 
 to Rachel. Christ's love to the church greater than all. What the 
 church is. Christ the Bridegroom. What He does for His people. What 
 He requires of them. Beloved, A serious question considered in five 
 particulars. Those who love Christ, 1. Think of Him 2. Converse with 
 Him. 3. Long to be with Him. 4. Love all that belongs to Him. 5. 
 Are anxious to please Him. Things to be avoided. Things to be done. 
 Two commandments. Improvement. 1. Advice. 2. Warning. 3. 11- 
 couragemeut. 4. Invitation. 
 
 UNDER the two titles, BRIDEGROOM and BELOVED, I 
 am going to speak to you to-day concerning the love of 
 Christ to His disciples, and their love to Him. 
 
 I suppose I need not stop to tell you what it is for 
 one person to love another. Surely you all know what 
 love is. You know it by experience, for you feel it. 
 You love your parents. You feel your affections drawn 
 towards them, and your heart going out after them. 
 You love your brothers and sisters, and all your rela- 
 tions. You have fond and tender thoughts towards 
 them, and you delight to please them. 
 
 Now God is love. He is the fountain of love. And 
 He it is who has given us these affections. He it is 
 who has made us capable of thus loving whatever we 
 think worthy of our regard. God has opened in all our
 
 BKIDEGBOOM. 151 
 
 hearts this fountain. And it continually gushes forth. 
 All people, bad and good, have something which they 
 love. It is as natural for them to love, as to breathe, 
 although, alas ! their affections are often sadly misplaced. 
 
 We all, then, the least of us, know what it is to love. 
 But the oldest and wisest of men have very mean and 
 unworthy thoughts of that wonderful love which Christ 
 feels towards His people. We read of it that it passeth 
 knowledge. But yet we are to try to comprehend its 
 " length, and breadth, and depth, and height." 
 
 Oh may the Holy Spirit take of the things of Christ 
 and shew them unto us ! May He come upon us while 
 we speak of Christ's love, and shed it abroad in our 
 hearts ! 
 
 We read in the bible of Jonathan's love to David. 
 It is said, " The soul of Jonathan Avas knit with the soul 
 of David, and he loved him as his own soul." When 
 the cruelty of Saul forced David to hide himself in 
 the woods, Jonathan used to go to him to comfort 
 him in his solitude. The beautiful story of their 
 friendship you may read at length in 1 Sam. xx. And in 
 2 Sam. i., also, you may see the affecting lamentation 
 which David made over his friend at his death. 
 
 " How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle ! 
 
 Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places ! 
 
 1 am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan ; 
 Very pleasant hast thou been to me ; 
 
 Thy love to me was wonderful, 
 
 Passing the love of women. 
 
 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished !" 
 
 How tenderly also, did David love his unworthy son 
 Absalom! When tidings were brought that he was
 
 152 BKIDEGROOM. 
 
 ilead, David covered his face and cried, " O my 
 son Absalom ! O Absalom ! my son, my son !" He 
 refused to be comforted, and went up into his chamber 
 and wept. And as he went, this he said in the hearing 
 of the people, " O my son Absalom ! my son ! my son ! 
 Would to God I had died for thee ! O Absalom ! my 
 son ! my son !" 
 
 And how Jacob loved Rachel ! He served her father 
 Laban seven years for her. And all these seven years 
 " seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to 
 her." 
 
 But neither the love of Jonathan to David, though it 
 was so generous ; nor the love of David to Absalom, 
 though it was so passionate ; nor the love of Jacob to 
 Rachel, though it was so devoted can set forth the 
 love of Christ to His people. It is but as a drop com- 
 pared with the ocean. 
 
 David's heart yearned over his lost Absalom, because 
 he was his own child. Jonathan loved David because 
 his virtues attracted his regard. Jacob loved Rachel 
 for her beauty and for her goodness. But Christ set 
 His affections on His people while they were yet sinners 
 and ungodly. He loved the Church, while as yet she 
 was poor and worthless, and at enmity with Him. 
 
 But do these young people know what " the Church" 
 means ? If they do not, I will tell them. It means 
 the whole company of good people, whoever and where- 
 ever they are, all the good people who are in the world, 
 and all that ever did live, and all that ever will live. 
 And Jesus Christ loves them all alike. The promises 
 He makes to one belong to all. At this time, He 
 puts them all together in one great company, and calls
 
 BEIDEGBOOM. 153 
 
 them " the Church." And in order that we may have 
 great thoughts of His tender love for this Church, He 
 calls her by that endearing name, the Bride, the 
 Lamb's wife. 
 
 And Himself He condescends to call the 
 
 (12.) BRIDEGROOM. Matt. ix. 15. That "Song 
 of songs which is Solomon's," and the forty-fifth Psalm, 
 and many other parts of the bible, describe the love of 
 the royal BRIDEGROOM to His Church. 
 
 Now there was nothing in a company of poor ignorant 
 sinners, (for such they all were) to draw His love. He 
 was happy in Himself, and could have done as well 
 without them. He loved them because He chose to do 
 so, and took delight in making them happy. 
 
 " Stronger His love than death or hell, 
 Its riches are unsearchable ! 
 
 The first-born sons of light 
 Desire in vain its depth to see ; 
 They cannot reach the mystery, 
 
 The length, the breadth, the height !" 
 
 And what does He propose to do for His church ? 
 Having betrothed her to Himself in righteousness, He 
 clothes her in a beautiful wedding garment, a white 
 shining robe of righteousness which He hath wrought 
 out Himself. And in this He will present her to His 
 Father without spot or blemish. 
 
 Moreover, He endows her with all His riches, and 
 means to share His throne with her. He will provide 
 for her beyond her utmost thoughts, and study by all 
 means to make her happy, and holy, and honourable, 
 and glorious throughout eternity.
 
 154 BELOVED. 
 
 Oh how greatly must He love His church ! How 
 precious must she be in His sight ! Think of the price 
 at which He redeemed her ! It was not with corruptible 
 things such as silver and gold. The ransom was not a 
 whole world, nor twenty worlds ! As if all these were 
 nothing, He gave HIMSELF for her ; and stooped to 
 share her misery that He might raise her to His glory. 
 And thus she is His purchased possession. And He 
 " rests in His love," and says to her with delight, " yea, 
 I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and therefore 
 with loving kindness have I drawn thee." 
 
 And what does He require of her in return ? LOVE ! 
 What less can He ask ? He requires an undivided heart. 
 He will engross all her affection in return for His infinite 
 love. "Hearken O daughter, and consider, and incline 
 thine ear. Forget also thine own people and thy father's 
 house. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty ; 
 for He is thy Lord ; and worship thou Him." 
 
 Let us then consider the Lord Jesus as the church's 
 
 (13.) BELOVED. Sol. Song, ii. 16. He wins her 
 love, and gains her consent and she becomes His, and 
 loves Him with a pure heart fervently. And being made 
 willing in the day of His power, she cries out, 
 
 " Lord ! thou hast won ! at length I yield 
 My heart by mighty grace compell'd, 
 
 Surrenders all to thee ! 
 Against thy kindness long I strove, 
 But who can stand against such love ? 
 
 It conquers even me." 
 
 Now my 
 question, 
 
 11 conquers even me. 
 
 7 dear children, I am going to ask you all a 
 Well, you say, what is this question ? But
 
 BELOVED. 155 
 
 will you promise to answer it ? I do not want you to 
 stand up and answer it aloud before all your school- 
 fellows. I want you all to take a moment or two to 
 consider, and then answer it silently to your own con- 
 sciences. 
 
 Is Jesus Christ your BELOVED ? This is the question. 
 And, believe me it is a very serious one. If you can 
 truly say, Yes, happy are ye ! But if conscience says, 
 No, then the bible pronounces you ACCURSED ! But 
 let us consider it a little further. 
 
 1. Is Christ your BELOVED? then you often think 
 of Him. 
 
 Now, how often do you think of the Lord Jesus? 
 Only once in a week, or once in a day ? Or only when 
 some one mentions His name ? Then I think He is not 
 your BELOVED. Impossible ! you could not think so 
 little of Him if you really loved Him. Love would 
 draw your thoughts very frequently towards Him. You 
 would think of Him when you rose in the morning ; 
 throughout the day the desire of your souls would be to 
 the remembrance of His name ; and some of your last 
 thoughts at night would be concerning Him. 
 
 2. Is Christ your BELOVED ? then you often converse 
 with Him. 
 
 When real friends meet, they have such delight in 
 each other's conversation, that the hours seem to fly 
 away with the speed of thought. One who well knew 
 the delight there is in the mutual society of friends 
 wrote thus concerning it.
 
 156 BELOTED. 
 
 -" Oh ! when my friend and I 
 
 In some thick wood have wandet'd heedless on, 
 
 Hid from the vulgar eye, and sat us down 
 
 Upon the sloping cowslip cover'd bank, 
 
 Where the pure limpid stream has slid along 
 
 In grateful errors through the underwood, 
 
 Sweet murmuring ; methought the shrill-tongued thrush 
 
 Mended his song of love ; the sooty blackbird 
 
 Mellow'd his pipe, and soften'd every note : 
 
 The eglantine smell' d sweeter, and the rose 
 
 Assumed a dye more deep : whilst every flower 
 
 Vied with its fellow- plant in luxury 
 
 Of dress. Oh ! then the longest summer's day 
 
 Seem'd too, too much in haste : still the full heart 
 
 Had not imparted half." 
 
 But though they must bid each other farewell, they 
 console themselves with the hope of another meeting. 
 And when they are many miles asunder, one sends a 
 letter, and the other answers it ; and so they still keep 
 up the interchange of kind thoughts. 
 
 What would you think of two friends never calling 
 on each other for weeks together, though they lived in 
 the same street ; and when absent, never writing to 
 each other? You would say, of course, that their friend- 
 ship is all pretence : and you would not be far out in 
 your judgment. 
 
 But now apply this truly to yourself. Christ Jesus 
 has written long and loving letters to you. They are 
 contained in the bible. Do you take delight in reading 
 them ? And have you some of them laid up in your 
 memory, and hidden in your heart that you might not 
 sin against Him ? 
 
 Now, in the bible Jesus speaks to believers. And 
 then in prayer they speak to Him ; they can go to Him
 
 BELOVED. 157 
 
 and tell Him all that passes in their minds. Do you 
 love prayer ? Do you tell the Lord all your troubles ? 
 Do you ask His advice : Or when you have no trouble 
 to drive you to Him and no counsel to ask, do you go 
 to Him to tell Him how much you love Him, and how 
 sorry you are that you do not love Him more, and how 
 it grieves you that you have offended Him so ? And do 
 you tell Him how greatly you prize his love, and 
 beseech Him to shed it abroad in your hearts more and 
 more ? 
 
 Oh, if you know nothing of all this, Christ is not your 
 BELOVED ! 
 
 3. Is Christ your BELOVED ? then you " love His ap~ 
 })c(iri>t(/," and you often look forward to heaven as your 
 home. 
 
 What is the meaning of those sad feelings which 
 oppress the tender heart of the boy when for the first 
 time he leaves his home, and finds himself among 
 strangers ? And why does he long to get alone and 
 weep ? It is love which makes him mourn. His heart 
 yearns after his home. He says " Oh that I could but 
 see my father's face, or hear my mother's voice, if it were 
 only for an hour, how it would cheer me ! But among 
 strangers, my heart is heavy and I cannot feel happy." 
 And though by degrees he grows -more calm and con- 
 tented, yet, still he cannot forget his home. His thoughts 
 often wander thither. There is no place to him like 
 home. That is his chief joy : and he dreams of the 
 meadows where he used to sport with his brothers. 
 And when he gets an opportunity of returning, with what 
 joy does he embrace it, and fly into the arms of those
 
 158 BELOVED. 
 
 whom he loves. Or if in his exile, his friends come 
 to see him, how does he love then* " appearing." 
 
 Now the Christian thus thinks of heaven, and looks for 
 " the appearing of his Saviour," and often longs to be 
 at home with Jesus his BELOVED. Thus it will be with 
 you, if you love Christ. You have not seen that bright 
 world whither He is gone, but you have heard of it, and 
 you often have sweet thoughts of it, and pleasant long- 
 ings after it. I do not say it is always thus with you ; 
 But sometimes when your heart is more softened than 
 usual, you say, " Oh that I had wings like a dove ! then 
 would I fly away and be at rest" 
 
 " There is my house and portion fair, 
 My treasure and my heart are there, 
 
 And my abiding home. 
 For me my elder brethren stay, 
 And angels beckon me away, 
 And Jesus bids me come." 
 
 4. Is Christ your BELOVED ? then you love all that 
 belongs to Him. 
 
 You will be glad when Sunday comes ; and call the 
 sabbath a delight, because it is the LORD'S day. You 
 will love to go where His people worship Him, because 
 that is the Lord's house. He has recorded His name there, 
 and there He has promised to meet them. You will 
 love all true Christians, because they are the Lord's people. 
 Christ shed His blood for them, and bought them, and 
 they belong to Him ; and they also bear His image. 
 You will love Missionary societies, and Bible societies, 
 because they are useful to spread abroad the knowledge 
 of Christ. You will constantly pray, " Thy kingdom
 
 BELOVED. 159 
 
 come.'' You will be ready to part with your money, 
 when you get any, to send His gospel to others. If a 
 man love his country, he will take great delight in its 
 prosperity. And if he love his king, he is pleased to 
 see him honoured. So, when you hear that Christ's 
 name is preached and believed on among the heathen, 
 you will greatly rejoice. 
 
 His honour will be very dear to you. If you were to 
 hear people reviling your father, or speaking evil of 
 your mother, would it not give you great pain ? Just 
 so when you hear profane people taking Christ's name 
 in vain, it wounds your very heart, if He is your BE- 
 LOVED. You are ready to take it up as your own quarrel, 
 yea, you would rather hear them speak against yourself 
 than against God. Your feelings are something like 
 those of the Psalmist, who said, " Rivers of waters run 
 down mine eyes because the wicked keep not thy law." 
 
 5. Is Christ your BELOVED : then you are anxious 
 to please Him. 
 
 That little girl yonder, does not love her mother if 
 she does not try to please her, oh no ! tell me not of it. 
 She cannot have any real affection for her unless she 
 try to make her happy by her obedience. 
 
 So if you love Christ, you will avoid what He hates ; 
 you will try to do what He commands. 
 
 What does Jesus Christ hate ? He hates all sin. 
 He says, "Oh do not this abominable thing that I 
 hate." Jer. xliv. 4. He hates disobedience to parents. 
 He hates lying and stealing. He hates all bad behaviour 
 in the house of God. He has warned you against evil 
 company. He hates swearing people, and quarrelsome
 
 160 BELOVED. 
 
 people, and idle people. And do you think Christ is 
 your BELOVED, while you choose such for your com- 
 panions ? No ! it cannot be. 
 
 Again, what does Jesus Christ tell us to do ? A great 
 many things ; and if you love Him, you keep his com- 
 mandments. And they are not grievous to you. Jesus 
 Christ was Paul's BELOVED, and Paul said, " I delight 
 in the law of God after the inward man ;" that is, I love 
 it from my very heart. Now do you feel this ? 
 
 I will only mention two commandments now. The 
 first is this That we believe on Him. Jno. iii. 18. To 
 believe on Him, is to go to Him, and ask Him to 
 save us in His own way. Till you have obeyed this 
 commandment, you cannot keep any of the rest. This 
 is the first step in the way to heaven. Shall I tell you 
 who will fare worse in the day of judgment than the 
 wicked inhabitants of Sodom ? Those who have heard 
 of Christ as the only Saviour, and yet have not believed 
 on Him. Such people are in greater danger than very 
 wicked people who never heard of Him. Nicodemus, 
 who came to Jesus by night was not an immoral, or 
 outwardly wicked man. He was honest, and perhaps 
 charitable. He was a Pharisee, and spent much time 
 in prayers and fastings, but he had not believed on 
 Christ, and therefore Christ told him that he was 
 " condemned already," and that he must be born again 
 before he could go to heaven. Now, if you really love 
 Christ, you have obeyed this command Believe on 
 Him ; and you are obeying it every day. 
 
 Then the other commandment I shall mention is, 
 That we follow His example. Or in other words ; that 
 we try to be like Him. Let me tell you one thing
 
 BELOVED. 161 
 
 which He did as an example. One evening at supper 
 He arose from the table at which He was sitting with 
 His disciples, laid aside His upper garments, took a 
 towel and some water, and went round to them all 
 one by one, and washed their feet. They were very 
 much surprised that their Lord and Master should stoop 
 to do them such a mean service. And they were almost 
 ashamed to let Him do it. But when He had washed 
 their feet, and put the towel away, and sat down again, 
 He explained it to them, saying, " Do you know 
 what I have done to you ? You call me your Master, 
 and so I am. If I, then, your Lord, have washed your 
 feet, ye ought to wash one another's feet. For I have 
 given you an example, that ye should do as I have done 
 to you." 
 
 Was not this astonishing ? That the Lord should do 
 that for them, which, as His servants, they ought to 
 have done for Him ! 
 
 Well, now let us learn from it to be kind to all, and 
 to be ready to do any little service for those beneath 
 ourselves, if such there be. If Christ is your BELOVED, 
 this mind is in you in some measure. You are not 
 proud and lofty, but meek and humble. And when 
 you find pride making way in your heart, as sometimes 
 you do, you remember Jesus, and pray that the Spirit 
 may give you the same mind that was in Him. 
 
 Now I will finish with a word of Advice, a word of 
 Warning, a word of Encouragement, and a word of 
 Invitation. 
 
 1 . A word of Advice. I speak now to those who love 
 the Saviour. Try to love Him more. If you ask, How
 
 162 BELOYED. 
 
 shall I do this ? I answer, think much of Him. Think 
 of His beauty and worth. Think of His matchless love. 
 Think of the bitter pains He suffered for sinners. Love 
 will grow and increase the more you thus think of Him. 
 
 Be careful not to slight Him. How do you do this ? 
 When you resist His Spirit. Jesus has gone away to 
 heaven ; but He has sent another Comforter to abide 
 with us always, even the Spirit of truth. Now do not 
 grieve this heavenly Visitor. Make room for Him in 
 your heart. Put away every thing that displeases Him. 
 He is a serene and holy Being, and hates every thing 
 impure and violent. 
 
 You know, when the people of this world have a visit 
 from a choice friend, they prepare for his coming, and 
 gladly entertain him when He is come. They do not 
 neglect him and leave him to himself. They do not 
 turn away when he converses with them. They do not 
 put things before him which they know he dislikes. 
 No ! they do all they can to please him. And thus 
 ought we to entertain this heavenly Guest, the Holy 
 Spirit, whom Jesus sends to dwell with us, and make 
 our bodies His temples. 
 
 2. A word of Warning. You that do not love Christ, 
 I have| a sa( i message for you, a sad thing to tell 
 you. It is this. He is not your BELOVED, then you 
 are His Accursed. This may sound very harsh. But it 
 is true. I know love is a free and noble affection. You 
 cannot be forced and scolded into it. You must be 
 drawn to Christ if ever you love him. But yet it is my 
 duty to tell you what the bible says. Turn to 1 Cor. 
 xvi. 22. Thus it is there written. " If any man love
 
 BELOVED. 163 
 
 not "the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be AXATHEMA, 
 MARAN-ATHA." And what does this mean ? Anathema, 
 Accursed. And if you care not for that, then Maran-atJia, 
 The Lord cometh to punish you. 
 
 Know then that it is both a disgraceful and a dan- 
 gerous thing, not to love Christ. 
 
 It is disgraceful not to approve the things that are 
 excellent. It is shameful not to love the best, the 
 sweetest, and the kindest of beings, and to be ungrate- 
 ful to Him for all His goodness to us. 
 
 And then it is dangerous. Remember, Jesus Christ 
 is God's BELOVED. And God will be offended with us, 
 and will surely punish us, if we do not make Him our 
 BELOVED. 
 
 3. A word of Encouragement. And this is for those 
 who are seeking Him. I think I hear some young person 
 saying, " Ah, I wish I could say I truly loved Christ. 
 I think sometimes I do love Him. I know I long to 
 love Him. But at other times I can feel another mind 
 within me, that turns away from Him. At one time, 
 when I read of Him and hear of Him, my heart is 
 softened. At other times it is like a stone ; and I am 
 ready to weep, because I cannot weep. 
 
 4 To hear the sorrows thou hast felt, 
 Dear Lord, an adamant would melt ; 
 But I can read each moving line, 
 And nothing move this heart of mine. 
 
 4 The rocks* can rend, the earth can quake, 
 The sea can roar, the mountains shake, 
 All things, of feeling shew some sign 
 Save this unfeeling heart of mine.' " 
 
 K2
 
 164 BELOVED. 
 
 Well, poor mourner, there is hope. It is something- 
 to know that your heart is hard. It is one step towards 
 a cure to be convinced of the disease. But do not rest 
 here. Take thy heart to Christ. He will soften it. 
 Remember His gracious promise, and ask Him to fulfil 
 it in you ; " I will take the stony heart out of your 
 flesh, and give you a heart of flesh." 
 
 4. A word of Invitation. This is for all. Jesus calls 
 upon all to make Him their BELOVED. None are left 
 out. Ho, every one ! whosoever will, let him come. 
 The youngest sinners who have just begun their evil ways, 
 and the oldest sinners who are just about to die, all 
 may come. But my business is with the youngest to-day. 
 
 Jesus Christ wishes to have all your hearts. And I 
 am come, on His behalf, to ask you whether you are 
 willing to give them up. Yea, He comes to you Him- 
 self, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock." And 
 what is His request ? " My son, give me thy heart." 
 What condescension ! He does not sit at a distance, 
 and call to you, but He comes near, and stands knock- 
 ing. He does not send for an answer, but He comes 
 Himself and ivaits for it. Ah ! how often has He thus 
 knocked at your heart ! How often has He asked you 
 to open to Him that He may come in. And will you 
 shut Him out still ? 
 
 It is true there are many others who want to have 
 your heart. And they stand at the door and knock too. 
 Pleasure comes and says, " Let me in, and I will make 
 you merry." The World knocks, and offers to enrich 
 you. Sin invites you, and promises happiness. And 
 Satan comes and says, " Worship me, and I will give 
 you a world of good things."
 
 BELOVED. 165 
 
 All these stand and knock at the door of your hearts. 
 Ah ! must I not recall that word ? Do they stand at 
 the door ? Have you not already let them all in ? Oh 
 beware of them ! They are deceivers. They never 
 keep their promises, and if they did, the things they 
 promise are nothing worth. 
 
 But now Christ, the Heavenly BRIDEGBOOM, waits 
 upon you. And what does He promise ? He says, 
 " Open to me, and I will give you joy and peace." Ah ! 
 that is more than all the rest can give. " Open to me, 
 and I will give you pardon and salvation." Will that 
 satisfy you ? " Open to me, and you shall lie in the 
 bosom of my love, and be kissed with the kisses of my 
 mouth. Open but the door of your hearts, make me 
 your BELOVED, and I will come in and sup with you, 
 and you with me." 
 
 Now then, my dear children, what prevents you from 
 opening the door ? Alas ! some one else has possession. 
 Is this the secret ? Other lords have dominion. Satan 
 is there ! And if you speak the truth, you say, " My 
 sins are strong, my heart is rebellious." Well, never- 
 theless, open but to Christ ; He will bind the strong 
 man, and cast him out. Whoever you are, He is able 
 and willing thus to make room for Himself. Only give 
 your consent to His entrance. 
 
 Take heed you do not provoke Him by your neglect. 
 He has a claim to your heart, and this is why He knocks 
 at the door. He is the Master of the house, and has a 
 right to come in. 
 
 But is there some one saying, " How does He knock, 
 and when am I to know that He knocks ;" I tell you 
 that He is knocking now, and perhaps for the last
 
 166 BELOVED. 
 
 time. "Whenever you hear an address from this desk, 
 " He stands at the door and knocks." Every time you 
 lose a schoolfellow or a friend by death, He knocks at 
 the door. Whenever you feel your mind oppressed, and 
 your heart melted ; whenever conscience reproves you, 
 then Jesus stands waiting for your answer. Oh make 
 haste and open to Him lest He withdraw. Observe His 
 attitude. He stands at the door ; ready to enter, it is 
 true, the moment you open to Him ; but ready also 
 to turn away if you do not attend to Him. Harden 
 not your hearts, but while it is called to-day, hear His 
 voice, admit Him, and give Him your affections. Then 
 you will begin to comprehend with all saints, the length 
 and breadth of His love, and you will understand, and 
 enter into the sweetness of these verses which we 
 sometimes sing. 
 
 " Oh love divine, how sweet them art I 
 
 When shall I find my willing heart 
 All taken up with thcc ? 
 
 I thirst^ I pant, I long to prove 
 
 The greatness of redeeming love, 
 The love of Christ to me. 
 
 " God only knows the love of God ; 
 Oh that it now were shed abroad 
 
 In this poor stony heart ! 
 For love I sigh, for love I pine,. 
 This only portion, Lord, be mine, 
 
 Be mine this better part. 
 
 " Oh that I might with Mary sit 
 For ever at the Master's feet, 
 
 Be this my happy choice ; 
 My only care delight and bliss, 
 My joy, my heav'n on earth be this, 
 
 To hear the BRIDEGROOM'S voice."
 
 LECTURE XI. 
 
 BUNDLE OF MYRRH AND CLUSTER OF CAMPHIRE. BALM 
 
 OF GILEAD. BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. 
 
 BURNT OFFERING. BUCKLER. 
 
 Bundle of Myrrh and Cluster of Camphire. Virtues of plants. Camphire 
 ami Myrrh. Their uses. Analogy to our Saviour. When, where, and by 
 whom His fragrance is perceived. State of unregeneracy. A criminal 
 resolve. Deliverance from death. Visits to God's house refreshing. An 
 enquiry. Numhers indifferent to Christ. A prayer. Halm of Gilead. 
 What it was. Unsound state of the Jewish nation. Only remedy rejected. 
 Spiritual diseases. The cure. Application. Begotten of the Father. 
 The only Son. How much God loved the world. Story of Abraham. The 
 proof of love. Faint image of God's love Sufferings of Christ disregarded 
 by most. Burnt offering. First institution. Truths taught thereby to 
 the Jews. Superior privileges of Christians. Huckler. What it is. 
 Christ a shield. Arrows of the Almighty. Darts of Satan. Reproaches 
 of men. Conclusion. Five uses for self examination. 
 
 FIVE more similitudes in B remain to be considered. In 
 a former Lecture, I had occasion to compare faith to those 
 three members of the body by which we are enabled to 
 see, to handle, and to taste. It may also be compared 
 to that sense by which we perceive the fragrance of 
 flowers, the perfume of spices, and other grateful odours. 
 Thus we read in the Psalms, concerning Christ, that 
 " all His garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia." 
 And the church, in Solomon's song, says of Christ, 
 " a Bundle of Myrrh is my well beloved unto me." He 
 is also " the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys."
 
 168 BUNDLE OF MYRRH. 
 
 (14.) BUNDLE OF MYRRH and CLUSTER OF 
 CAMPHIRE. Sol. Songi. 13, 14. Wonderful are the 
 virtues with which the Creator has endowed the plants 
 and shrubs that grow on the surface of the earth. Some 
 are fragrant in their scent, and others beautiful to the 
 sight. Some destroy life, others restore and preserve 
 it. Some are useful for food, while others are good for 
 medicine. 
 
 Myrrh and Camphire were both small trees or shrubs, 
 bearing flowers and berries, and producing a gum, 
 exceedingly odoriferous. Myrrh was supposed to pre- 
 serve from putrefaction and infection. It was also used 
 as a medicine, and for healing wounds. And as a per- 
 fume, the Persian women, to this day, carry it in their 
 bosoms in little caskets, or smelling boxes. 
 
 Camphire was a beautiful plant, with large clusters 
 of pale yellow flowers of a most delicate scent. These 
 flowers are still highly prized by the people of the 
 East, and have various uses. Amongst others, they 
 serve for complimentary or friendly gifts, and are carried 
 in the bosom as remembrancers. 
 
 To these two beautiful productions of the east, Solomon 
 compares our blessed Saviour, and represents the church 
 as declaring that she will bear on her heart the constant 
 remembrance of His love, and His beauty, just as an 
 eastern female might wear in her bosom a Cluster of the 
 sweet smelling Camphire flowers, or a Bundle of odor- 
 iferous Myrrh, whether for the sake of its scent, or in 
 remembrance of some friendly hand which had presented 
 it. The desire of the believer's soul is towards Christ, 
 and " the remembrance of His name." 
 
 Myrrh was desirable on account of the perfume which
 
 BUNDLE OF MYRRH. 169 
 
 itjmparted to the clothes. One could not take a Bundle 
 of Myrrh into his bosom, without contracting the fra- 
 grance of it, nor move about without imparting that 
 fragrance to others. Thus those who dwell near to 
 Christ are like Him. The fragance of their holiness 
 resembles His. Their virtues are sweet to those with, 
 whom they converse, and disperse the savour of Christ's 
 name to all around. 
 
 Strong perfumes are sometimes used to arouse people, 
 when overcome with unseasonable sleep. So when the 
 Christian, dwelling in the deadening atmosphere of the 
 world, feels spiritual sloth creeping upon him, nothing 
 is so effectual to arouse him as a timely remembrance 
 of Christ, 
 
 " His wondrous love awakes the lip 
 Of saints that were almost asleep, 
 To speak the praises of His name, 
 And makes their cold affections flame." 
 
 And you know, children, that often when people are 
 fainting, their friends apply some strong aromatic scent 
 to their nostrils, and that revives them. So the name 
 of Jesus is useful against the fears and faintings of 
 believers. In their depressions, 
 
 " The vital savour of His name 
 Restores their fainting breath." 
 
 There is something wonderfully refreshing in a grate- 
 ful odour, as of Camphire and Myrrh. And thus, 
 with other beautiful things in nature which are used to 
 set forth the exceeding loveliness of the Lord Christ, 
 these two productions of the earth are pressed into the 
 Bervice of our Lord, and are made to suggest some 
 pleasant thoughts of His excellencies.
 
 170 BUNDLE OF MYRRH. 
 
 Now you may all regale yourselves whenever you please 
 with this delicious fragrance, that is, if God has given 
 you a taste and relish for it. But there are some days, 
 and some places, where this " sweet savour of Christ," 
 is more especially to be enjoyed. I mean the Lord's 
 house, on the Lord's day. There, amidst sabbath 
 worshippers, it is, that this fragrant odour is shed 
 abroad, and Christ becomes a BUNDLE OF MYRRH and 
 a CLUSTER OF CAMPHIRE to all His churches. And the 
 people go away from the assemblies of the saints, 
 delighted and revived. 
 
 What tongue can describe the pleasure and satisfac- 
 tion which fill the soul of the believer, while he listens 
 to some plain, though powerful discourse on the love 
 of Christ, and the fulness and all-sufficiency of His 
 grace ! The time flies with such speed, that he feels 
 surprised when the hour is up, and the service ended. 
 Thus on one occasion, Paul held the wakeful attention 
 of his hearers, and continued his speech till midnight. 
 
 Perhaps the Christian goes into the house of God on 
 the sabbath morning, worn out with the labours and 
 cares of the week. He feels faint and dejected, and 
 ready to halt. He takes his seat, and sighs to think 
 how cold his heart is towards spiritual things, and how 
 far he is from God, his chief joy. 
 
 Then the preacher comes forth from his retirement, 
 where, mindful of his people's necessity, he has been 
 all the week, as a wise householder, bringing out 
 from his treasures, things new and old for the sabbath. 
 
 After earnest prayer for God's blessing, he opens the 
 bible, and preaches Christ. On this Plant of Renown 
 great and precious blessings grow in rich profusion
 
 BUNDLE OF MYRRH. 171 
 
 and endless variety, like Clusters of Camphire and 
 Bundles of Myrrh. And while the preacher divides 
 to each his portion in due season, the Holy Spirit takes 
 of the things of Christ, and shews them to the listening 
 congregation. To some it is a savour of death, for they 
 scorn it. To others it is a savour of life. The drooping 
 pilgrim revives as he hears again of the faithfulness of 
 his Saviour, and his sympathizing care for all his 
 tempted children ; of the blood of Christ which cleanseth 
 from all sin, and of the eternal weight of glory to which 
 he is called. Straightway he arises, strong in the Lord 
 and the power of his might. His heart is nerved, and 
 his spirits are refreshed, and he rejoices as a strong 
 man to run a race. The Lord Jesus is to him as a 
 BUNDLE OF MYRRH and a CLUSTER OF CAMPHIRE. 
 He presses Him to his bosom, as one would a bunch of 
 reviving flowers, and goes on in the strength of that 
 refreshment, many days. He " had fainted unless he 
 had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the 
 land of the living." * 
 
 A state of sin and unregeneracy is also compared to 
 faintness. Isa. i.5. And wonderful indeed is the virtue 
 of Christ as MYRRH or CAMPHIRE, to restore from this 
 dreadful state. Often have men gone into the house of 
 God dead in sin ; they have heard the gospel, have been 
 quickened to spiritual life, and have come away new 
 creatures in Christ Jesus. 
 
 Once there was a poor man very heavily afflicted, who 
 sunk under his disappointments. And Satan came to 
 him, tempting him to put an end to his life. He resolved 
 to do so, thinking thereby to rid himself of trouble. 
 Ah ! he little thought of that text, " No murderer hath
 
 1 72 BUNDLE OF MYKRH. 
 
 eternal life." He little thought that by thus throwing 
 away this life, he would lose his all in time and eternity. 
 Well, he went forth to carry into effect this dreadful 
 purpose. But as he went, he passed a place of worship, 
 where a preacher was discoursing on the love of Christ. 
 He stood at the door for a moment to listen, and heard 
 of Him who offer's rest to the weary and heavy laden. 
 The word reached his heart. Straightway he forgot his 
 dreadful purpose of self murder, or remembered it only 
 to repent of it ; he believed in Christ, and sought par- 
 don through His blood, and received grace to help in 
 time of need. Thus was the poor man, by the savour 
 of Christ's name, and by the wondrous virtue of the 
 gospel, delivered from the death of the body and the 
 ruin of the soul. 
 
 With this delightful and reviving scent David was 
 well acquainted in his day, and often did he experience 
 its quickening virtues. And not only David. All 
 God's people, in all ages, have perceived more excellence 
 in Christ than^in all the delights of sense. " Thy love 
 is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy 
 good ointments, Thy name is as ointment poured forth ; 
 Therefore do the virgins love thee." Sol. Song, i. 2, 3. 
 
 And now children, I stay a moment to ask you 
 whether the name of Christ and His love are thus 
 refreshing and pleasant to you, and whether you de- 
 light to hear and think of Him. Happy are they who 
 thus know the joyful sound ! They walk all day in 
 the light of God's countenance. 
 
 But alas ! it is not every one that can perceive the 
 fragrance of Christ. Most people are so taken up with 
 other gratifications, and are so dull and besotted, that
 
 BALM OF GILEAD. 173 
 
 they even wonder what strange sweetness the Christian 
 can possibly find in communion with the Saviour. Oh 
 if you are amongst this number, do not, I pray you, 
 rest satisfied till you do understand it, and can 
 enjoy the Lord Jesus as the Christian does, till you 
 can say, " My beloved is unto me as a CLUSTER or 
 CAMPHIKE in the vineyards of En-gedi." 
 
 Let us then pray, in order that this afternoon's lesson 
 may be profitable to us, 
 
 " Breathe thy Spirit, so shall fall, 
 Unction sweet upon us all, 
 Till by odours scattered round, 
 Christ Himself be traced and found." 
 
 Then we shall go home presently, and tell our friends 
 that there is such richness in Christ that we remember 
 His love more than wine, more than ointment poured 
 forth, more than all the most beautiful flowers that ever 
 grew in the choicest gardens. "A BUNDLE OF MYBRH 
 is my well beloved unto me." 
 
 (15.) BALM OF GILEAD. Jer. viii. 22. The Balm, 
 here spoken of, was a gum or juice flowing from a 
 small tree resembling the turpentine tree, peculiar to 
 Judea. Some travellers have asserted that this tree 
 grows no where else but at mount Gilead. However 
 that may be, there were groves of them there, and from 
 those trees the best Balm was procured. " This Balm 
 was a famous medicine in the days when Jeremiah 
 prophesied. 
 
 At that time the Jewish people were in a state of 
 disorder. They had forsaken God, and God was frowning 
 upon them. Isaiah had described their condition thus,
 
 174 BALM OF GILEAD. 
 
 " The whole head is sick, the whole heart faint ; from 
 the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no 
 soundness, but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores, 
 which have not been closed, nor bound up, nor softened 
 with ointment." Isa. i. 5, 6. And in Jer. viii., the 
 prophet, deploring their miseries, asks, " Is there no 
 Balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician there ? Why, 
 then, is not the health of the daughter of my people 
 recovered?" He does not mean that their miseries 
 could be cured by human physicians and earthly medi- 
 cines. He means simply that, not only had they 
 brought all on themselves, but the reason why they were 
 not better was, that they were too slothful or too proud 
 to use the remedy prescribed for them. When he urged 
 them to seek recovery from God, their only Physician, 
 they replied, " No, there is no hope, for we have loved 
 strangers, and after them we will go." 
 
 My dear young friends, I know r not what complaints 
 this famous Balm of Gilead was capable of curing, nor 
 whether it was a certain cure in all cases. But the 
 diseases of the soul are far worse than any that ever 
 yet afflicted the bodies, of men. And with these, I, and 
 you, and all your friends and neighbours are tainted. 
 But I know also of a certain cure, a never failing remedy, 
 or else I should not be here, this afternoon, to speak to 
 you of your complaints. A remedy so sweet, so effi- 
 cacious, so open to all, that when we look around on 
 our friends, and see them still suffering from their 
 various spiritual maladies, we may well exclaim, " Is 
 there no Balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician there ? 
 Why, then, is not the health of my people recovered ?" 
 
 I am sure I need only name some of these spiritual
 
 BALM OF GILEAD. 175 
 
 sicknesses, and you will at once know that you have 
 them. Hardness of heart is one. I do not mean that 
 heart which you feel beating within you ; but I mean 
 that your affections and mind are averse from God, and 
 insensible to every thing good. Our hearts are called 
 in the scriptures " stony hearts," and are said to be 
 harder than a millstone. My heart and your heart 
 are thus affected. And what can soften them? The 
 blood of Christ, the BALM OF GILEAD. Oh that every 
 little child here would go to-night to Jesus Christ, and 
 say, "Lord, my heart is very hard; I would like to 
 have it soft and tender. Thou art the BALM that can 
 soften it ! Oh let my heart be melted by thy gracious 
 influence ! Then shall I repent, and be converted, 
 and be fit for heaven." 
 
 But there are other complaints. There is Pride. 
 That is a disease which, like a leprosy, renders you 
 unfit to live amongst your fellow creatures. You cannot 
 dwell amongst them without doing them harm. Satan 
 was turned out of heaven for his pride, but not till he 
 had infected many others with the same disease ; and 
 then he came to earth and communicated the fatal 
 leprosy to our first parents, and they again to us. Then 
 there is unbelief, blindness of mind, and very many 
 others. Read a list of them in Gal. v. 1 9-21 . " Adultery, 
 fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousncss, idolatry, witch- 
 craft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, 
 heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings. 
 Also Rom. i. 29-31. All these different kinds of sins 
 are as so many destructive diseases, one of which is 
 enough to ruin the soul for ever ; for " they which do 
 such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
 
 176 BALM OF GILEAD. 
 
 Now, if the Balm of Gilead, or any other medicine on 
 the earth, were capable of curing all the maladies to 
 which our bodies are liable, what an inestimable thing 
 would it be ! How men would esteem it ! Neither 
 danger, nor expense, nor toil, would deter them from, 
 seeking to obtain it. 
 
 Oh that men would think as highly of God's remedy, 
 for spiritual disorders ! Christ is the BALM, that can 
 cure them all. But how are we to get at it ? Does it 
 grow only in one favoured country r Must we travel 
 to the uttermost parts of the earth, and search for it in 
 some forest far from the haunts of men, or must we dig 
 in the earth with immense labour to look for it there ? 
 Or is it so expensive, that we cannot find wherewithal 
 to purchase it ? No such thing. It is to be bought 
 indeed, but without money, and without price. You 
 can have it at the throne of grace, on these gracious 
 terms, of Him who counsels you to go there for it. 
 
 Have you thus sought it, and have you applied it, 
 and found it in part successful ? Is the cure begun in 
 you ? Or if not, why is not your health recovered ? If 
 sin reign in your mortal body, you have no excuse for 
 it. Christ waits upon you with long suffering ten- 
 derness, and says to each of you, " Little boy, little 
 girl, wilt thou be made whole ?" Alas ! how frequently 
 have you turned away from Him, refused to be healed, 
 and chosen death rather than life ! And how often has 
 He made this complaint of you, " Ye will not come 
 unto me that ye might have life." 
 
 But now I call to you once more. You may never 
 be called again. And you must die of your sickness if 
 you come not. The way is open. The cure is freely
 
 BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. 177 
 
 offered you. You cannot therefore plead, by and by, 
 if you perish, that there was no BALM provided, no 
 Physician to apply to, and that therefore you were not 
 healed. If you perish, it is because you will not be 
 saved. And the doom of the servant, who knew his 
 lord's will, and did it not, must be yours ; you must 
 be beaten with many stripes. 
 
 (16.) BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. Jno. i. 14, 
 iii. 16. Is there a little child here who happens to be 
 the only child of his parents ? No doubt you are all 
 greatly beloved ; but if you are the only one, that love, 
 and care, and kindness which they would divide amongst 
 four or five, if they had them, they expend wholly on. 
 you. If you were to die, how would they grieve ! 
 What sad work it would be to part with you ! The 
 sorrow of a mother for her only child, is mentioned in 
 the bible as expressive of the highest degree of sorrow. 
 " They shall mourn," it is said, " as one mourneth for 
 his only son, and as one that is in bitterness for his 
 first born." 
 
 My dear children ; the great God who made you and 
 me and all creatures, and who, in this sense, is the 
 Parent of all, had yet one ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, who 
 was Partaker of His own divine nature and dignity. 
 He delighted greatly in Him, and would have every one 
 else to delight in Him also. For when He brought 
 this His FIHST BEGOTTEN into the world, He said, " Let 
 all the angels of God worship Him." When God laid 
 the foundations of the earth, then was this ONLY 
 BEGOTTEN SON by Him, as one brought up with Him. 
 He was daily His delight, rejoicing always before 
 
 N
 
 178 BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. 
 
 Him, having " glory with the Father before the world 
 was." 
 
 Now our Saviour says in His prayer to God, Jno. 
 xvii. 24, " Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the 
 world." And yet God so loved the world as to part 
 with this ONLY BEGOTTEN and well beloved SON ; 
 to give Him up to disgrace, to poverty, to anguish and 
 death, that we might have life. Behold what manner 
 of love the Father hath bestowed on us ! What greater 
 proof of His love could He give us ? Herein, indeed is 
 love, that God sent His SON to be the Propitiation for 
 our sins. 
 
 Abraham was once called to part with his only be- 
 gotten son, and though he loved him greatly yet he so 
 loved God as to give him up. You remember the story. 
 We shall lose nothing by dwelling on it for a moment. 
 God promised Abraham a son, in whom all the world 
 was to be blessed. In due time He gave him the 
 promised son. And Abraham rejoiced greatly in this 
 gift from the Lord. But one day, God said to Abraham, 
 " Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, Avhom thou 
 lovest, and offer him up for a burnt offering on yonder 
 mountain !" Doubtless Abraham was filled with sur- 
 prise and grief. Yet, nevertheless, without delay, he 
 did as God commanded. It does not appear that he 
 told Sarah his wife about it, lest her maternal feelings 
 should interfere with the quiet performance of his duty 
 to God. So, rising up early in the morning, he saddled 
 his ass, called his son, and went forth towards the place 
 God had told him of. They travelled on for three days ; 
 and then lifting up their eyes, saw the mountain before 
 them, on which the altar was to be built. At once they
 
 BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. 179 
 
 began to climb the steep mountain ; Abraham carrying 
 the knife and the censer with fire, and Isaac carrying 
 the wood. Abraham spoke not to his son ; his heart 
 was full. How could he explain this mysterious com- 
 mand of God ? They went on thoughtfully and silently 
 together, till Isaac, unable to contain any longer, broke 
 silence, saying, " My father ; behold the fire and the 
 wood ; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering ? 
 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself 
 a lamb for a burnt offering." So on they went. Pre- 
 sently they came to the top of the hill. And now the 
 sad truth came out that Isaac was to be the sacrifice. 
 What must have been the parent's feelings when he 
 told him this ! And what were Isaac's feelings, when 
 he found he was to bid this world adieu, and go out of 
 it in so sad a way, perishing by a father's hand. But 
 away with unbelief ! It was God's command, and must 
 be obeyed. So Isaac yielded himself up to be bound on 
 the altar, and became a most illustrious type of Him, 
 who afterwards, on this same mountain, Moriah, suf- 
 fered Himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter. 
 
 But now the altar is reared, the wood laid in order, 
 the victim bound and laid upon the wood ! The dread- 
 ful moment is come ! Abraham puts forth his hand, 
 takes the knife, and is about to slay his son. Suddenly 
 the voice of the angel arrests the stroke, and directs him 
 to substitute another victim, even a ram, just caught in 
 a thicket close at hand. This the glad father takes, 
 and offers up. And Isaac, freed from his bonds, is 
 received again as from the dead. 
 
 Now this prompt obedience of Abraham was very 
 beautiful. And God was very much pleased, and 
 
 N2
 
 180 BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. 
 
 looked upon it as a great proof of his love. For 
 Abraham delighted in his son Isaac above all things. 
 He had great riches. He had a multitude of camels, 
 and thousands of sheep and oxen. He had changes of 
 raiment, and stores of all kinds. He had hundreds of 
 men and women servants, young and old. But he 
 loved his Isaac better than all. Therefore when God 
 wanted to prove his love, no less a sacrifice would 
 suffice, than this son, this only son, whom he loved. 
 Neither must he be taken away by a common death, 
 but Abraham must offer him up himself, the father's 
 own hands must slay the darling son. 
 
 Oh it was a wonderful thing that Abraham's faith did 
 not fail ! We might have expected to hear him say, 
 " Ah Lord ! how can I part with my only begotten son r 
 Take all my servants, but oh spare my son ! Or let 
 me make an altar of my goods, and consume them 
 together ; and let me offer all my flocks and herds for a 
 sacrifice upon this altar ; but oh spare my son ! Yea, 
 take my own life away, but oh let my son, mine only 
 son Isaac, live to bless all the nations of the earth, 
 according to thy promise." Bnt we read of no such 
 remonstrances, no such excuses ; nothing but obe- 
 dience. 
 
 Oh that all would follow the example of this " pattern 
 of believers." But how unlike him are many of you ! 
 God says " Give me thine heart ;" you answer, " Lord, 
 only leave me my heart, and I will part with some of my 
 money. Only leave me my heart, and I will give thee 
 up one day out of every seven. Let me but keep my 
 heart, and I will give thee almost any thing else." But 
 this will not do. Thus did not Abraham. He loved
 
 BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHEB. 181 
 
 God, and could not withhold anything from Him. 
 Therefore when God asks this trying proof of his love, 
 he is ready to yield implicit obedience. And God said, 
 " Now I am satisfied that thou lovest me. Now I know 
 that thou fearest me, seeing that thou hast not withheld 
 thy son, thine only son, from me." 
 
 This is an image, though a faint one, of the infinite 
 love of God to sinners. We stand amazed at this most 
 expensive proof of His love, in that He has not with- 
 held His Son from us. We may well, each one of us, 
 cry out in astonishment, " Lord, I ask no farther sign, 
 I want no farther proof of thy love. Now I know that 
 thou hast loved mankind with an everlasting love, seeing 
 that thou hast not withheld thy Son, thine ONLY BE- 
 GOTTEN SON Jesus, from us ! Hast thou indeed given 
 Him up for me ? Stupendous thought ! I will resist 
 thy love no longer. My heart relents. Lord I believe, 
 help thou my unbelief." 
 
 Consider to what God gave Him up. To agony 
 untold, unutterable ! To suffering and to death, not 
 inflicted altogether by the hand of man, but by the hand 
 of God. " Awake, O sword, against the man that is my 
 fellow, saith the Lord ; smite the shepherd 1" Thus did 
 Jesus Christ suffer from the hand of His Father, the 
 strokes which were due to us, until, in His anguish, He 
 cried out, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 
 me?" 
 
 Yes, children, while hard hearted men stand aloof, or 
 contemplate this scene carelessly for a moment, and then 
 turn away their eyes for ever, angels desire to look 
 into it ; angels search day and night with adoring 
 wonder, into all the depths of the infinite love of God,
 
 182 BTJENT OFFEEING. 
 
 here displayed ; angels laud and magnify God the 
 Father, who so loved the world, that He took His Son, 
 His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON Jesus, and offered Him up 
 on mount Calvary for a 
 
 (17.) BURNT OFFERING, to atone for the sins of 
 men. In Leviticus chap. i. we have a full account of 
 the institution of the Burnt Offering under the law. 
 Under that dispensation, as well as under the Christian, 
 every one who wished or expected to have his sins 
 pardoned, was of course to repent of them. But this 
 was not all. He was required to choose a bullock, or 
 other animal mentioned, without spot or blemish, and 
 bring it before the Lord to the door of the tabernacle. 
 There he was to lay his hand on the head of the victim, 
 and (as the Jewish Rabbins say) to confess that he had 
 done evil in the sight of the Lord, and left undone that 
 which he should have done. Thus was signified the 
 transferring, or putting off all his sins on the animal, 
 that he might suffer hi his stead. Then the priest 
 killed it and burnt it entirely on the altar. 
 
 Thus were the Jews taught that they were sinners, 
 that sin brings suffering and death ; that God was 
 willing to forgive, on this ground, that same one else 
 should suffer in their stead. Now it must have been 
 plain to them that the blood of bulls and goats could 
 not take away sin. If it had been so, " they would 
 have ceased to be offered, for the worshippers once 
 purged, would have had no more conscience of sin." 
 
 The mind of the pious worshipper, therefore, while he 
 stood and saw the bullock or lamb cut up and bound on 
 God's altar, was directed to Christ who was to come.
 
 BUCKLEK. 183 
 
 And God's continual acceptance of these confessedly 
 insufficient sacrifices, was a pledge and promise that 
 He would at a future day, " provide a Lamb for a 
 BURNT OFFERING," who should by the one sacrifice 
 of Himself, for ever put away sin. 
 
 All the sacrifices taught them these lessons. They 
 set before them most impressively the truth, that as the 
 unoffending animal which was slain, had never com- 
 mitted the sins for which his blood was spilt, so Christ 
 the Lamb without spot, would in like manner pay debts 
 he had never contracted, and die for crimes He had never 
 been guilty of. 
 
 We live, thank God in a clearer day, and see more 
 plainly the end of those ceremonies which are abolished. 
 Christ has come, and there is no farther offering required. 
 He is the true BURNT OFFERING. Oh let not the Jew 
 who saw Christ " through a glass darkly," rise up in 
 judgment against us, who see " Christ evidently set 
 forth crucified amongst us." Let us go to Him and 
 say, 
 
 " My faith would lay her hand 
 
 On that dear head of thine, 
 While like a penitent I stand 
 
 And there confess my sin." 
 
 (18.) BUCKLER. Psa. xviii. 2, 30. This is the last 
 image of the Saviour I am to bring before you to-day, 
 and the last under the second letter of the alphabet. A 
 Buckler is a shield, a piece of armour used by the 
 ancient warriors, to ward off the weapons of their 
 enemies, chiefly arrows, darts, and spears. Arrows 
 were shot from bows with great force by archers ; and
 
 184 BUCKLER. 
 
 darts were hurled by the muscular arm of the soldier 
 with unerring aim. These were either poisoned, or sup- 
 plied with combustible matter and set on fire ; so that 
 wherever they entered, they produced rankling wounds 
 which ended in death. 
 
 Now there are three kinds of arrows or darts, from 
 which the spiritual warrior would suffer greatly, if it 
 were not for Christ his divine BUCKLER. 
 
 1. " The arrows of the Almighty.' 1 '' Job complains, 
 vi. 4, that " the poison of these drank up his spirits." 
 David also says, Psa. xxxviii. 2, " Thine arrows stick 
 fast within me." Both were saints, and yet they suf- 
 fered greatly from these arrows on account of their sins. 
 Oh then, if the righteous scarcely are saved from them, 
 what shall become of the ungodly ? Hear the Psalmist, 
 " If they turn not, God will whet (or sharpen) His 
 sword. He hath bent His bow and made it ready, 
 and ordained His arrows against them." And in 
 another place we read that His " arrows are sharp in 
 the heart of the King's enemies." 
 
 Now there is no defence against the dreadful arrows 
 of the Almighty, whether for saints or sinners, except 
 one, and that is a tried BUCKLER, the Lord Christ. He 
 came between us and God's wrath, and making bare His 
 bosom, received into His very heart the arrows of God's 
 quiver. He expired beneath them, but now He lives 
 again. And we are by faith to hold up this BUCKLER, 
 and say, " Behold, O God, our SHIELD." 
 
 2. " The fiery darts of the ivicked one."" Satan is a 
 warrior. He is fighting against the Most High. He has
 
 BUCKLER. 185 
 
 enlisted all men under his banner. And while they side 
 with him, and are at war with their Maker, he is satisfied 
 with them, and promises them promotion and honour, 
 ceasing not to persuade them that all is well. 
 
 But the Spirit of God from time to time, inclines some 
 in this Apostate's army, to come over to the camp of the 
 saints. And from the moment they do so, he strives, by 
 all means, to distress and annoy them. 
 
 Among other weapons, he uses fiery darts. He 
 pours into the mind, evil thoughts and blasphemies. 
 These are called darts, because they enter suddenly, and 
 penetrate deeply, and wound sharply. And fiery darts, 
 because they inflame and scorch the mind, and consume 
 the strength. And whereas the enemy is called the 
 Wicked One, this is to denote the union there is among 
 all the legions of devils by whom we are assaulted, 
 They all aim at one thing, viz. to devour whom they 
 may. 
 
 Now then, Christian, there is no discharge in this war. 
 From this conflict nothing can save you. The way to 
 the crown lies straight through the very midst of the 
 battle field. But look to God for strength and courage, 
 and take the divine BUCKLER for thy protection. Then 
 under cover of that, thou mayest easily, with the sword 
 of the Spirit, hew thy way through the ranks of thy 
 foes. Be vigilant, be valiant ; quit yourselves like men. 
 And though thou art the very mark at which Satan 
 daily shoots his poisoned arrows, and hurls his fiery 
 darts, yet go on. This BUCKLER shall cover thy head 
 in the day of battle, and God will " bruise Satan under 
 thy feet shortly." Thou shalt inherit the blessing pro- 
 nounced upon Joseph concerning whom we read,
 
 186 BUCKI/EK. 
 
 " The archers have sorely grieved him, 
 And shot at him and hated him ; 
 But his bow abode in strength, 
 And the arms of his hands were made strong 
 By the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." 
 
 Gen. xlix. 23, 24. 
 
 3. " The sharp arroios of the mighty ;" in other 
 words, the reproaches of wicked men, Psa. cxx. 4. 
 These are frequently compared in the Psalms to " spears 
 and arrows," and " drawn swords." David suffered 
 bitterly from them. And all who will live godly 
 in Christ, shall suffer this kind of persecution. They 
 will have these sharp arrows shot at them. But Christ 
 will guard their good name and shield them from re- 
 proach, hiding them under His shadow as in "a 
 pavilion from the strife of tongues ;" for " He is a 
 BUCKLES to all who trust in Him."* 
 
 Remember, then, my young friends, the various 
 Similitudes and Titles under which we have regarded 
 our Saviour this day, and use them for purposes of 
 self examination. I will mention them again. 
 
 1. He is precious and fragrant to those who believe. 
 The Christian can say, " a BUNDLE OF MYRRH is 
 my Well beloved to me." Is He thus dear to thee ? 
 
 * Another Title, namely, BREAKER, mentioned in Micah ii. 13, 
 is by some applied to Christ : " He is the BREAKER, that broke in 
 upon the powers of darkness, and broke through them ; that rent 
 the veil, and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. The 
 learned Bishop Pearson applies it to the resurrection of Christ, by 
 which He obtained the power, and became the Pattern of our 
 resurrection. The BREAKER is gone up before us out of the grave, 
 and has carried away its gates, as Samson did Gaza's, bar and all, 
 and by that breach we go out." MATTHEW HENRY.
 
 BUCKLER. 187 
 
 2. He is a BALM for all their wounds. A specific 
 infinitely more efficacious than the far famed Balm of 
 Gilead. Hast thou applied to Him for health and cure ? 
 
 3. He is the ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. 
 Dost thou regard jHim as such, and admire the grace 
 which gave Him up for the sins of the world ? 
 
 4. He is the true BURNT OFFERING. He was- 
 offered up as a victim that thou mightest escape. 
 Hast thou seen Him as the Lamb of God bearing 
 away thy sin ? Oh rest not till thou hast this view of 
 Him ; and come not before God except in this new and 
 living way. 
 
 5. He is a BUCKLER to them that trust in Him. 
 He can defend thee from the arrows of God's deserved 
 wrath, from the fiery darts of Satan's malice, and from 
 the spiteful reproaches of your fellow men. Dost thou 
 hide thyself in Him ? Dost thou place Him between 
 thee and danger ? If so, happy shalt thou be, and it 
 shall be well with thee ; well with thee in trouble and 
 in joy, well with thee in life and in death, well in time 
 and eternity. 
 
 " Should all the hosts of death, 
 And powers of hell unknown, 
 Put their most dreadful forms 
 Of rage and mischief on, 
 
 You shall be safe, 
 
 For Christ displays 
 
 Superior power 
 
 And GUARDIAN grace."
 
 LECTURE XII. 
 
 CREATOR. CHILD. CARPENTER. CHRIST. 
 
 The atheist and the peasant. Christ and the scribes. Marvellous extremes. 
 Creator. Works of art Picture gallery. Claude Loraine. Beautiful 
 imitations. The painter dependent on God. Forgetfulness of God 
 inexcusable. Nebuchadnezzar. Works of creation contemplated. The 
 garden. Forest. Ocean. Starry heavens. Heavenly bodies. Vast 
 distances. Man. His fall. Recovery. Earth doomed to destruction. 
 New creation. Child. Compared with other children Holy Child 
 Jesus. His virtues. Domestic Jife Early employments. Pattern for 
 other children. His early history. Visit of the wise men. Journey to 
 Jerusalem. Return. The lost treasure. Joyful meeting. Carpenter . 
 Peter the great. Condescension. Christ an example of industry. Folly 
 of pride. True ornament. Christ. Expectation of the Jews. His 
 ministry. His reception. Woman of Samaria and others. Interesting 
 enquiry. AH without excuse who reject Hun. Four inferences. 
 
 AN atheist being one day disposed to sport with a poor 
 man, whom he knew to be religious, asked him in a very 
 irreverent way, the following question, " Is your God 
 a great God, or a little God ?" The poor man silenced 
 the proud caviller with this answer, " My God is so 
 great, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, 
 and so little, that He can dwell in my heart." This 
 peasant had a more sublime idea of God than the scoffer, 
 because he had read the bible with a teachable mind, 
 and seen it written there, that " the High and Lofty
 
 CREATOR. 1 89 
 
 One that inhabiteth eternity, dwells also with him that 
 is of a contrite and humble spirit." 
 
 Our Lord, in the days of His flesh, was often sur- 
 rounded by the scribes and rabbins, the atheists and 
 infidels of that day, who asked Him questions and 
 sought to ensnare Him in His words. One day, after He 
 had answered many enquiries, He said to them, " I also 
 will ask you a question, What think ye of Christ ? 
 whose Son is Her" They say, "The Son of David." 
 He saith unto them, " How then doth David call Him 
 Lord r If David call Him Lord, how is He then his 
 Son?" And no man was able to answer Him a word, 
 neither durst they ask Him any more questions. And 
 no wonder ; for here was enough to confound the wisdom 
 of the wise, and bring to nought the understanding of 
 the prudent. Nevertheless, although we cannot under- 
 stand hoiv this great mystery of godliness can be, 
 that the Son of David is also the Lord and Maker of 
 David, yet we can understand that such is the fact. 
 
 We are about to enter on the consideration of those 
 Names and Similitudes of Christ, which range them- 
 selves under the letter C. This afternoon I shall call your 
 attention to four Titles of our Lord, which combine the 
 most wonderful extremes the mind can conceive of, as 
 meeting in one person. We are to contemplate Him as 
 the CREATOR, " without whom nothing was made that 
 was made ;" the " CHILD born unto us ;" the CARPEN- 
 TER, at which trade He wrought for years while He 
 dwelt among us ; and the CHRIST, the Son of the Living 
 God, on whom the church is securely built, and on 
 whose shoulders is the government of the world.
 
 190 CREATOR. 
 
 Let us put off the shoes from our feet, and draw- 
 near with devout minds to look into more of those 
 wonders which appear in the person of our adorable 
 Redeemer. 
 
 (1.) CREATOR. He calls Himself the " CREATOR 
 of Israel." Isa. xliii. 15. In Jno. i. 3. we read that 
 "without Him was not any thing made that was made." 
 In Heb, i., God the Father, speaking to the Son, saith, 
 "Of old hast thou laid the foundations of the earth, and 
 the heavens are the work of thy hands." In Col. i. 16, 
 we read that " by Him all things were created, that are 
 in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, 
 whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, 
 or powers : all things were created by Him, and for 
 Him." Thus plain is the testimony of the scripture to the 
 almighty power of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 When we survey the works of our fellow men, we 
 justly wonder at the skill and contrivance displayed 
 in them. We cannot read of Thebes, or Babylon, or 
 Nineveh, without astonishment at the might and in- 
 genuity of the men who built those vast cities. Or if, 
 in our own country, we visit some ancient cathedral, we 
 admire its beauty, and the massy strength of the walls, 
 and do not forget to praise those who set them up. 
 
 Every house is builded by some man, and the builder 
 hath more honour than the house. Now He that built 
 all things is God. But how is He robbed of His glory ! 
 How many are there, who while they admire the works 
 of creation, refuse to converse with the CREATOR, and 
 banish all thoughts of Him from their minds ! 
 
 If we go to some picture gallery, to look at the works
 
 CREATOR. 191 
 
 of the various great masters who have flourished in past 
 years, we cannot but commend the ingenuity of the 
 men, who, with coloured earths, and other simple 
 materials, were able to cover their canvass with such 
 beauteous forms, and give them such an appearance of 
 life and expression. 
 
 Young people are generally fond of pictures. Let us 
 then look at these paintings of which we speak, a little 
 longer. Yonder, hang two or three byplaude Loraine, 
 .xnd beautiful things they are. There are waterfalls, 
 rivers, trees, temples, and scenes crowded with figures 
 full of life and activity. And over them all, the setting 
 sun is represented as throwing his golden beams, and 
 bathing all in a flood of glory. And every thing is 
 painted so naturally, that we can almost imagine that it 
 is a real sun which lights up the landscape ; a real river 
 which sparkles and winds among the trees ; and that 
 the blue mountains in the back ground, are really such 
 as one might climb and explore. 
 
 The beholder starts, and says, "What a beautiful mind 
 must this painter have had, to form such lovely con- 
 ceptions ! With what skill has he delineated the beau- 
 ties of nature, so that the eye is almost imposed upon, 
 and persuaded to believe the scene real !" 
 
 But he passes on, and is as much struck with the 
 works of other artists, in different departments of the 
 art. He is filled with admiration and in his fervour, calls 
 them all creations, creations of the painter's fancy and 
 imagination. But they are no such thing. The artist 
 does but feebly copy the inimitable works of creation, 
 which are set before our eyes by the wonder working 
 hand of Jesus Christ the CREATOR. Upon Him also
 
 192 CREATOR. 
 
 the painter is dependent for his sight, his hands, hia 
 imagination, his skill, and the various materials out of 
 which he makes his canvass and paints. All the men on 
 earth, and all the angels in heaven, could not make a grain 
 of red sand, or a particle of brown earth. These were all 
 formed out of nothing by the mighty power of the 
 CREATOR. 
 
 Now men often forget this ; and the consequence of 
 this forgetfulness is, that they arrogate to themselves 
 the praise which is due to God. So Nebuchadnezzar 
 walked to and fro in his palace, and said, " Is not this 
 great Babylon which I have built by the might of my 
 power, and for the honour of my majesty ?" But what 
 hast thou, proud man, which thou hast not received ? 
 Whence came the mind that planned all ? Who made 
 the stones and trees to grow with which this mighty 
 monument was reared ? Whose were the thousands of 
 hands and heads, which were employed by thee to effect 
 thy purpose ? Did not all owe their being to God ? 
 Wherefore, let not the rich man glory in his riches, nor 
 the strong man in his strength, nor the wise in his 
 wisdom, but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord, 
 from whom cometh every good gift. This haughty 
 prince, because he gave not God the glory, was deprived 
 of his reason, and driven to herd with the beasts. And 
 though men who now forget God, are not all thus 
 punished, yet still there is a curse recorded against 
 them, which will sooner or later come upon them. 
 " Because they regard not the works of God, He shall 
 destroy them and not build them up." 
 
 And there is no excuse for this forgetfulness of the 
 CREATOR. Wherever we go, we are surrounded with
 
 CREATOR. 193 
 
 proofs of His skill and power. If we walk in the flower 
 garden, His exhaustless ingenuity displays itself before 
 our eyes, at every step, in an inconceivable variety of 
 lovely forms and beautiful colours. There the stately lily 
 lifts its head, and the blushing rose fills the air with its 
 fragrance : while the passion flower, the honey suckle, 
 the hyacinth, the anemone, all present themselves to us 
 with some fresh peculiarity, either of scent, or colour, 
 or form ; and each proclaims silently though plainly, 
 " The hand that made me is divine." 
 
 How wonderfully must be the mind of Him who con- 
 trived them all. How beautiful His conceptions ! How 
 lovely His ideas ! See them in all their endless variety, 
 their wonderful minuteness and richness ; 
 
 " Admire their colour, fragrance, gentle shape, 
 And thence admire the God who made them so, 
 So simple, complex, and so beautiful." 
 
 And yet men can spend much time in cultivating 
 their flowers and plants, without ever thinking of the 
 CREATOR who makes them what they are. It is the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, without whom nothing is made, who thus 
 clothes the lily and paints the violet. It is your Saviour, 
 children, who lavishes so much contrivance and care 
 on these little fading things, and invests them with such 
 beauty. Let this thought endear them all to you, 
 and let every flower in the garden henceforth become a 
 remembrancer of Him. 
 
 If we w ander into the forest, there we are struck not 
 only with the beauty of the divine ideas, but the 
 grandeur of them. The stately cedar, the majestic 
 oak, the lofty fir, lift up their heads, towering towards
 
 194 CREATOR. 
 
 the sky, and cover the ground with their dark shadows. 
 The solemn gloom invites to thoughtfulness of God. 
 And as the wind rustles among the trees, they wave 
 their branches, and with hoarse murmur seem to acknow- 
 ledge the presence and power of their great CREATOR. 
 
 If we walk on the shore of the vast ocean how 
 does the mighty mass of water fill us with wonder 
 at the stupendous power of Him " who measures the 
 waters in the hollow of His hand, and layeth up the 
 depth in storehouses." 
 
 If AVC roam abroad by night and survey the sky, 
 bespangled with countless worlds, there is still more 
 to amaze us, and we shrink into nothing before that 
 mighty CREATOR, who " telleth the number of the stars 
 and calleth them all by their names." 
 
 Yonder sun which warms and enlightens us, is ninety- 
 five millions of miles distant ; and the nearest star is so 
 far off, that we are confounded when we think upon the 
 amazing distance. Suppose you could travel like an 
 angel from world to world, and were to fly at the rate 
 of ten miles every minute, how long do you think it 
 would take you to reach the sun ? Twenty-five years ! 
 And how long to reach the nearest fixed star at the 
 same rate ? Fourteen hundred thousand years ! If an 
 angel had set out from earth to one of those stars, on the 
 day Adam was driven out of Paradise, and had travelled 
 two thousand miles every minute till now, he would not 
 have arrived there yet ! So vast are the spaces between 
 the heavenly bodies. And there are millions of these 
 worlds thus divided from each other. 
 
 Blessed Lord Jesus ! are those " heavens the work of 
 thine hands ?" Heb. i. 10. And didst thou create those
 
 CEEATOR. 195 
 
 great worlds, and hang them upon nothing in yonder 
 fields of space ? And dost thou sustain them from day 
 to day ? Lord, what is man, poor, degraded, insignifi- 
 cant man, that thou shouldest take upon thyself his 
 nature, and suffer and die for him ? 
 
 But amongst all His wondrous works which we see, 
 the creature Man is the most wonderful. At his 
 formation, there seems to have been a consultation held 
 by the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. " Let 
 us make man in OUR image, after OUH likeness." So 
 man was made in the image of God. Fearfully and 
 wonderfully was he made. And God gave him a rea- 
 sonable soul, and thus fitted him for an exalted state 
 of friendship with his Maker. But alas ! man being in 
 honour, continued not. He sinned, and fell, and lost 
 the image of God. And there must be a new creation, 
 he must be made over again, or he can never hold con- 
 verse with God. 
 
 Now Jesus Christ calls Himself the " CREATOR of 
 Israel." " This people," He says, " have I formed for 
 myself." They are His workmanship. He calls and 
 quickens them, and takes great delight in this new 
 creation. Over His Israel He rejoices with singing, 
 and rests in His love. 
 
 The first creation was most beautiful. But sin hath 
 marred it, and introduced death. This outward frame 
 is therefore destined to pass away. The flowers flourish 
 for a day, and then fade, and droop, and die. The 
 trees arise, and, year after year, flourish and grow ; 
 but the axe levels them to the ground, or they are 
 weakened by decay, till the wind casts them down. The 
 mightiest cities have yielded to the ravages of time. 
 
 o2
 
 196 CREATOR. 
 
 Where is Nineveh or Babylon now ? The traveller can 
 scarce find any trace of them. Even man, the lord 
 of the earth, comes up like a flower, lives a few years, 
 and then, like a flower, bows his head, and passes away. 
 Thus generation after generation is swept from the earth. 
 And at last, the fire shall devour all which death has 
 spared. All, all is destined to perish. 
 
 " The cloud cap'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, 
 The solemn temples, the great globe itself, 
 Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, 
 Nor leave a wreck behind." 
 
 But in the midst of this universal ruin, the voice of 
 the great CREATOR shall be heard, saying, " Behold I 
 make all things new ; I create new heavens and new 
 earth." And in them " there shall be no more death, 
 neither sorrow, nor crying, nor pain ; for the former 
 things are passed away." 
 
 Now only those who are new creatures, created anew 
 by Christ Jesus, will find a place in that new heavens, 
 and new earth. You have heard that you must be born 
 again before you can see the kingdom of God. This is 
 that new creation, of Avhich Jesus Christ is the Author. 
 Cry to Him, then, for a new creation. Take with you 
 words, and say, " Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
 and renew a right spirit within me." 
 
 Thank Him that you are in being. Thank Him that 
 He has placed you where you are in the scale of crea- 
 tures. Enquire diligently after your CREATOR, who 
 hath " made you wiser than the beasts, and caused you 
 to know more than the fowls." Beg of Him that you, 
 the creature of His power, may be the subject of His
 
 CHILD. 197 
 
 grace. Then you shall have part in the new heavens 
 and the new earth, which are to take the place of former 
 things, when they shall have passed away. 
 
 You shall join those millions of glorious beings, who 
 cast their crowns at His feet, and say, " Thou art worthy, 
 O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power ; for 
 tliou hast CREATED all things, and for thy pleasure, they 
 are and were created." 
 
 Thus have we considered Jesus Christ as the CBEA.TOB. 
 But this glorious Being was also a 
 
 (2.) CHILD, " the holy CHILD Jesus." Acts iv. 27, 
 We have seen Him taking into union with Himself, 
 the little feeble frame of a helpless infant, and appearing 
 in this world as the Babe of Bethlehem. Of this we 
 have spoken before. A few words now on His child- 
 hood. 
 
 Let us not lose sight of the one grand distinction 
 there was between this CHILD, and all other children. 
 It is true that, like others, He was born into the world, 
 helpless and liable to disease and death. Nor did He 
 become a perfect man at once. He had to grow in 
 stature like others. Yea, even to acquire ideas, and 
 grow in wisdom also, like others. In all these respects, 
 He was really and truly a CHILD. But yet there was 
 a marked superiority. He was the Son of the Holy One 
 of Israel, and therefore was the HOLY CHILD Jesus. 
 You and I, dear children, were born unholy. And all 
 other children are likewise unholy. They go astray 
 from their birth, speaking lies. Every imagination of 
 their heart from childhood is only vanity. Foolishness 
 is bound in their hearts, and they have within, the 
 seeds of every vice. The HOLY CHILD Jesus stands
 
 198 CHILD. 
 
 alone amongst all others. He was perfect, and without 
 spot or taint of sin. 
 
 What is holiness ? Oh it is a beautiful thing ! To 
 have no bad tempers, no wicked thoughts ; to do no 
 unwise actions, to speak no foolish words ; to love God 
 with all the heart, and one's neighbour as one's self, to 
 love mercy, to be gentle, and kind, and affectionate-; 
 Oh it is indeed a beautiful thing ! 
 
 Behold this HOLY CHILD walking about on the earth, 
 mingling with other children in their education and 
 pastimes. When they were angry and spiteful, there 
 Were no rebukes in His mouth, no quarrelsome words, 
 no railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing. 
 
 He was obedient to His parents. He loved and 
 honoured His mother Mary, and till He was required to 
 be " about His Father's business," He attended to her 
 wishes, and sought to please her in all things. In His 
 behaviour to others there was nothing forward or unbe- 
 coming, but He was modest and retiring. And yet He 
 was evidently of a social disposition; for when His mother 
 missed Him on the journey from Jerusalem, she con- 
 cluded at once that He was among their kinsfolk and 
 acquaintance. She would hardly have looked for Him 
 amongst them, had it not been His custom to converse 
 familiarly with them. 
 
 As He grew up, such rare virtues attracted the notice 
 and regard of every one. It was such a new thing to 
 see a HOLY CHILD. There never had been such a 
 sight on earth before, so that He was in high favour 
 with God and men. 
 
 It would be interesting to us to know a little of His 
 domestic history, and to see how He spent the years of
 
 CHILD. 199 
 
 His childhood and youth, which are usually but vanity. 
 But the scriptures say very little to satisfy our curiosity. 
 
 Without doubt, as soon as He could lisp, His infan- 
 tine tongue was employed in prayer and praise. As 
 soon as He had learned to read, the holy scriptures 
 were His constant delight. There, in the Law, and the 
 Psalms, and the Prophets, He would read with eager- 
 ness, of all the wonderful things which were prophesied 
 and expected of Him, the works He was to perform, 
 and the sufferings He was to bear. And often we may 
 imagine Him rising from their perusal, and saying, 
 " The Lord God hath opened mine ear. I will not be 
 rebellious, nor turn back. (Isa. 1. 5.) In the volume 
 of this book, I find it thus and thus written of me. O 
 righteous Father ! here I am, thy willing servant. Lo, 
 I come to do thy will. Thou hast prepared me a body. 
 In that body, I will fulfil thy law, and suifer for the 
 sins of those in whose fashion I am found. The Lord 
 God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded.'' 
 
 And as He became older and more able to under- 
 stand the difficulties of His work, doubtless He spent 
 whole nights in strong crying and tears unto Him who 
 was able to save. Many parts of Isaiah and the Psalms 
 are written in His person, and detail the workings of 
 His mind, His anxiety, or His confidence in prospect of 
 His mighty work. 
 
 Now in these things you are able to imitate Him. He 
 has passed through childhood, and has set before the 
 youngest of you a pattern of holiness. Walk in His steps ; 
 
 " Let love through all your actions run, 
 
 And all your words be mild ; 
 Live like the blessed virgin's Son, 
 That sweet and lovely CHILD."
 
 200 CHILD. 
 
 Think what snares and dangers you would escape, 
 if you were now to begin, like the HOLY CHILD, 
 to love prayer and the bible. God requires duties from 
 you as well as from Him, and He gives you full 
 directions about them in the bible. Of yourself you 
 cannot perform them, but must cry to Him for strength. 
 Make His book then your constant study. Learn its 
 sacred portions, till you can say, " Thy word have I hid 
 in my heart, that I might not sin ; by the words of 
 thy mouth, I have kept myself from the paths of the 
 destroyer." 
 
 " When quiet in your house you sit, 
 
 God's book be your companion still, 
 Your joy His sayings to repeat ; 
 
 Talk o'er the records of His will, 
 And search the oracles divine, 
 Till every heartfelt word be thine." 
 
 But to return to the early history of our Lord. The 
 New Testament gives the following particulars, with 
 which I know you all to be very familiar. When He 
 was eight days old, He was circumcised according to 
 the Jewish ritual. About thirty-three days after this, 
 He was presented in the temple by His mother. On 
 that occasion, Simeon and Anna, two devout persons, 
 who were waiting for this promised Consolation of Israel, 
 saw Him, and praised God, speaking also of Him to all 
 those who looked for redemption in Israel. Luke ii. 27. 
 
 When He was very young, there came wise men from 
 the East, instructed by the Holy Spirit, to worship Him. 
 They were led by a miraculous star to Judea, and went 
 straight to Jerusalem, thinking, no doubt, to find the 
 young Prince lodged in a palace. But they were
 
 CHILD. 201 
 
 eventually led to Bethlehem ; and, entering the shed, 
 over which the star rested, they worshipped Him as 
 the infant King of Israel ; and, presenting Him with 
 costly gifts, gold and frankincense, departed to their own 
 country. By means of their enquiries for Him at 
 Jerusalem, Herod heard of Him, and being moved with 
 jealousy, sent for the learned doctors, to enquire where 
 this expected King of the Jews was to be born. They 
 answered him, that the prophets had named Bethlehem 
 as the place of His birth. Immediately, this cruel and 
 impious man sent soldiers to this little town, and 
 caused all the young children of a certain age to "be 
 murdered, in hopes to kill the HOLT CHILD. But God 
 sent an angel to warn Joseph of the intended mischief, 
 and to direct him to take the CHILD and His mother 
 into Egypt. So he arose, and took them away by 
 night. Then, after the death of Herod, an angel told 
 Joseph he might return. They therefore came and 
 dwelt in Nazareth. 
 
 The next thing we read of Him is, that at twelve 
 years of age, He went up to the temple with His 
 parents to celebrate the passover in the month of April. 
 
 It was the practice of the Jews to go up to Jerusalem 
 to their holy festivals, in troops and large companies. 
 Almost all the people of a town used to go and return 
 together. At night they pitched their tents and rested 
 themselves. By day they travelled forward by short 
 stages, beguiling the toils of -their journey with the 
 songs of Zion. Psalms cxvii. and Ixxxiv. and others, 
 seem to have been intended to express the feelings of 
 the pious Jews, in their journeys to the much loved city 
 of their solemnities. Thus they went on from strength
 
 202 CHILD. 
 
 to strength, till each one of them appeared before God 
 in Zion. And we may imagine the shout of rapture which 
 would burst from their lips, when the white marble walls 
 of their glorious temple, rising like a mountain of snow 
 above the hills, first appeared in view ; " How amiable 
 are thy tabernacles, Lord of Hosts !" As they ap- 
 proach, the buildings of the holy city become more 
 visible. They can descry the lofty walls and vast 
 colonnades of the temple ; and plainly discern many 
 spots endeared to them by a thousand holy recollections. 
 Again a shout of sacred joy arises, and they sing with 
 united voices their songs of praise. " Our feet shall 
 stand within thy walls, O Jerusalem ! Jerusalem is 
 builded as a city that is compact together ; whither the 
 tribes of the Lord go up, the tribes of the Lord to the 
 testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the 
 Lord." 
 
 It was on an occasion of this kind that our blessed 
 Lord, now twelve years old, accompanied His parents 
 to Jerusalem. The feast is ended, and they prepare to 
 return. They all meet at the appointed time, and set 
 out on their journey to Nazareth. The parents of Christ, 
 knowing His social disposition, and that He is a 
 favourite amongst their acquaintance, and occupied 
 themselves with other cares, have proceeded a long way 
 before they discover that they have left Him behind. At 
 night, when the cavalcade halts, they seek for Him. 
 
 How great is their surprise and grief when to all 
 their anxious enquiries at evening they hear these sad 
 words, " He is not with us, neither have we seen Him !" 
 How sorrowfully do they begin to retrace their steps,
 
 CAKPENTEB. 203 
 
 reproaching themselves all the way, for their carelessness 
 of so choice a treasure ! 
 
 They arrive in Jerusalem, and immediately commence 
 a search in all directions after their lost CHILD. At 
 last, on the third day, they find Him. And where ? 
 Not in the streets and broadways of the city, wandering 
 about and vainly amusing Himself. But in the temple, 
 sitting at the feet of the doctors and expounders of the 
 law, asking them questions, and astonishing every one 
 by His wonderful knowledge and suitable answers. 
 Whether some one of these doctors, pleased with His 
 manners, had taken Him to his home and fed Him 
 during these three days, or whether He had been sus- 
 tained by miracle, the holy scriptures do not inform 
 us, nor does it concern us to enquire. To His mother's 
 question, why He had thus dealt with them, He 
 ansv4ered that " He was about His Father's business." 
 
 This was a joyful meeting, and a satisfactory explan- 
 ation ; so they all three return to Nazareth, where this 
 HOLY CHILD, as it is written, was still " subject to 
 them." 
 
 From this time we have no farther account of Him 
 till He entered on His ministry. During this interval 
 of eighteen years, it appears that He laboured with 
 His hands, and earned His own livelihood. The early 
 Christian writers tell us that He learned the trade of 
 His reputed father Joseph, and lived with him in his 
 employment, as a CAKPENTEB; and that He made 
 ploughs and yokes for oxen. And Jesus is called a 
 
 (3.) CARPENTER, in Mark vi. 3. The farther we 
 go, the more astonishing the subject grows. The Lord
 
 204 CARPENTER. 
 
 of glory a CARPENTER ! His name may well be Won- 
 derful ; for such indeed He is. We have regarded Him 
 as the CREATOR of this lovely world we live in, and 
 every thing in it ; also as the CHILD of poor parents, 
 dwelling in obscurity in His own world which He had 
 created. Now let us be filled with reverence and 
 admiration while we think of Him as a CARPENTER ! 
 
 You all know what that is ; I need not explain it. 
 But I will tell you a little story concerning a Carpenter. 
 
 Many years since there was to be seen in the dock 
 yard at Woolwich, a foreign looking man, working as 
 a common Carpenter at the ship's side. He kept the 
 same hours as the rest of the workmen, wore the same 
 sort of dress, and worked as hard as any of them. 
 There was little externally to distinguish him. And 
 yet there was a great difference between him and his 
 fellow workmen. For though he laboured thus, he was 
 possessed of palaces and churches, and millions of acres 
 of land, and thousands of servants. He had under him 
 dukes and lords, generals and captains. Whole towns 
 and cities were subject to him, so numerous that only 
 to mention them would occupy an hour. " Well," you 
 say, " this was very extraordinary." So it was. And 
 you will wonder more still when I tell you that this 
 ship's Carpenter was an Emperor ! His name was Peter 
 the Great ; and he was Emperor of Russia. " Peter 
 the Great, an Emperor," you exclaim, " working at the 
 ship's side like a labouring man !" Yes, indeed ; though 
 strange, it is true. 
 
 Now that was called condescension, for he undertook 
 those labours for his country's good. But what is this 
 compared with the condescension of our Saviour ? This
 
 CARPENTER. 205 
 
 is indeed a wonder of wonders ! Though heaven and 
 earth were rilled with the majesty of His glory, and 
 legions of angels waited to do His commandments, yet 
 was He found in fashion as a man, a poor man ! And 
 in this condition He would not be idly dependent on 
 others, He would not sit still and command the stones 
 to be made bread, but wrought with His own hands, 
 and at a common trade, in order to earn His livelihood. 
 
 " In vain the loftiest princes try, 
 
 Such condescension to perform, 
 For worms were never rais'd so high 
 Above their meanest fellow worm." 
 
 Thus our Saviour endured in His own person, the 
 curse pronounced on fallen man : " In the sweat of 
 thy brow shalt thou eat bread." Thus also He became 
 a most illustrious example to us. Oh let us learn of 
 Him who was thus meek and lowly in heart ! Let us 
 hear Him saying, " If I, your Lord and Master, was 
 contented with a lowly condition, when I might have 
 commanded all wealth, all ease, all splendour, ye 
 ought also, in like manner, to submit to the will of your 
 heavenly Father, and be content with such things a? ye 
 have." 
 
 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is 
 exalted : exalted by being made a companion of so 
 illustrious a Labourer. I dare say those shipwrights 
 who worked with the Emperor, were proud of their 
 comrade, and thought themselves and their trade very 
 highly honoured by his being engaged with them. How 
 much rather has our Lord put an honour on industrious 
 poverty by partaking of it Himself.
 
 206 CHRIST. 
 
 Ah ! how do those foolish people mistake the nature 
 of things who pride themselves on their distinctions of 
 dress, on their gold rings and chains, and gay apparel ! 
 I do not say that it is improper for the rich to wear 
 these things ; but it is improper to pride themselves on 
 account of them. The true ornament, and a more 
 beautiful one than any other, also a scarce ornament, 
 and yet one which all may acquire, is that which Jesus 
 Christ wore, 1 Pet. iii. 4. It is the ornament of a meek 
 and quiet spirit. Let us then often think of Him " who 
 though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor." 
 Let us pray that the same mind may be in us ; and let 
 it be our daily study thus to " put on the Lord Jesus," 
 by careful imitation. 
 
 In due time, this illustrious CARPENTER of Nazareth, 
 laid aside His labours, and entered on the great duties 
 of His ministry. He began to be about thirty years of 
 age, when, by His miracles and discourses He drew 
 upon Himself the eyes of His countrymen, and com- 
 pelled many of them to exclaim, Is not this the 
 
 (4.) CHRIST? Jno. i. 41. In other words, Is not 
 this that ANOINTED ONE whom God hath promised to 
 send, and whom we and our forefathers have waited for 
 so long ? At this period, as you have often heard, there 
 were great expectations of the promised Messiah among 
 the Jews. And not without ground. The prophets had 
 predicted that about this time, there would appear in 
 the world a great King, who would come in His glory 
 and sway the sceptre of the whole earth. A Deliverer 
 who would save His people from their enemies, and 
 exalt them to honour and glory. The greater part of
 
 CHRIST. 207 
 
 the Jews interpreted all this literally, so that when they 
 saw the Saviour in His lowliness, they laughed Him to 
 scorn, and rejected Him with disdain. 
 
 He began His ministry among the people of Nazareth, 
 where He had been living. He entered their synagogue, 
 one sabbath morning, and stood up to address them. 
 After reading as His text a most beautiful prophecy 
 of Isaiah, concerning the CHRIST, He began His sermon 
 by saying, " This day is this scripture fulfilled in your 
 ears." 
 
 As He went on, for a time they were struck with 
 wonder and admiration at His gracious words. But 
 towards the close of His discourse, being offended at 
 His faithfulness, they cast Him out, saying, " this is 
 only the CARPENTER, we will not receive Him, nor ac- 
 knowledge Him to be the CHRIST." 
 
 He then went about preaching every where, the 
 gospel of the kingdom, and working miracles to prove 
 the divine origin of His mission. But though the 
 devils whom He cast out of those who were possessed, 
 knew Him, and cried out, " Thou art the CHRIST !" yet 
 these obstinate Jews believed not still, but said, He 
 casteth out devils through Beelzebub. 
 
 Nevertheless, some understood the prophecies, to 
 which we have referred, spiritually ; and when they saw 
 His miracles, and heard His words, they believed 
 on Him, and sought to bring others to Him, saying, 
 " We have found the Messiah, which is called CHRIST. 
 Come and see." 
 
 Some astonished at His miracles, and yet still in 
 doubt whether to receive Him or no, asked timidly 
 whether CHRIST, when He should come, would do
 
 208 CHRIST. 
 
 mightier things than these ? While the prejudices of 
 others at once gave way to conviction. As in the case 
 of the woman of Samaria, with whom He conversed so 
 closely and convincingly, as He sat wearied with His 
 travels on a well by the way side, that she straightway 
 left her waterpot, and ran into the neighbouring city, 
 saying, " Come, see a man who told me all that ever I 
 did. Is not this the CHRIST ?" 
 
 Whilst all men wondered at what they saw, John 
 the Baptist sent his disciples to our Lord with this 
 question, " Art thou the CHRIST, He that should 
 come, or look we for another ?" Jesus answered not a 
 word ; but turning to the crowd of suppliants who 
 surrounded Him, healed their various maladies as they 
 pressed upon Him. He then said to the messengers, 
 " Go, tell John what things ye have seen and heard ; 
 how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are 
 cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. Blessed 
 is he who is not offended in me." 
 
 After a time, the Lord asked His disciples who had 
 been witnesses of all these things, " Whom do men say 
 that I am ?" They answered that some said one thing, 
 and some another. "But whom say ye that I am?" 
 Then Peter, in the name of the rest, said, " THOU ART 
 THE CHRIST, the Son of the living God." Happy 
 Peter ! flesh and blood had not revealed this to him, 
 but God Himself. Happy all they likewise who thus 
 call Jesus Lord and CHRIST, by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Now, my youthful hearers, what think ye of CHRIST ? 
 You have as much to do with this question as the Jews, 
 for you need Him as much as they. " He is a Light to 
 lighten the Gentiles," as well as " the Glory of His 
 people Israel." Have you thought of this ?
 
 CHRIST. 209 
 
 The Jews were without excuse from first to last. At 
 His birth all Bethlehem was in commotion through the 
 report of the shepherds. The event was burned into 
 men's memories by Herod's cruel destruction of their 
 young children. And all Jerusalem was troubled at the 
 enquiries of Herod, and the wise men of the East. The 
 very doctors of the temple were made to point out 
 Bethlehem as the place of the Saviour's birth. And 
 the same men were afterwards astonished witnesses of 
 His wisdom when, at twelve years of age, He visited 
 Jerusalem. Why did they not enquire farther ? 
 
 Throughout His whole ministry, also, one miracle 
 followed another in quick succession. They saw those 
 whom they knew to have been blind, walking about 
 without any one to lead them. They saw those who a 
 little while before could scarcely crawl from one door to 
 another, leaping and walking. The dumb were made 
 to sing His praise. The very devils, by strange signs, 
 shewed that they recognized Him, while some who had 
 died, were brought again from the dead, and were the 
 living witnesses that He was certainly the CHRIST. 
 
 But all in vain ; the Jews despised and rejected 
 Him. And finally, " against the HOLY CHILD Jesus, 
 whom God had anointed, both Herod and Pontius 
 Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Israel, were 
 gathered together, to do whatsoever God's counsel 
 determined before to be done." They wickedly rejected 
 the CHRIST, God's Anointed, and the insulted Jehovah 
 hath poured upon them the vials of His wrath. 
 
 But if the Jews were without excuse in rejecting Him, 
 so are you. I ask again, What think ye of Cin;ivrr 
 Do you now believe, or do you want any farther proof 
 
 JP
 
 210 CHRIST. 
 
 of His Messiahship ? Do you ask for signs from heaven 
 and wonders on earth ? They are all here. The New 
 Testament is full of the miraculous story, and every 
 page of history combines to prove that the HOLY 
 CHILD Jesus, the CARPENTER of Nazareth, was indeed 
 the CHRIST, the Anointed Saviour of the world. 
 
 And now, what ought we to infer from these things ? 
 
 1. That men may confidently trust their souls in the 
 hands of Jesus, seeing He made them at first, and can 
 therefore form them anew, and save them to the utter- 
 most. "Let us therefore commit the keeping of our 
 souls to Him, as unto a faithful CREATOR." 
 
 2. That convinced sinners should not fear to approach 
 God, and converse with Him, seeing that He presents 
 Himself as a lovely artless CHILD, inviting us to love 
 and confidence. " Unto us a CHILD is born." 
 
 3. That young persons should honour the industrious 
 poor, and be willing to learn some trade and work with 
 their hands, seeing that Jesus hath set us an example of 
 lowly diligence. " Is not this the CARPENTER ?" 
 
 4. That all should hasten to acknowledge Him as 
 their Saviour, and say with Peter, " Thou art the 
 CHRIST, the Son of the living God." Blessed are all 
 such ; but if any are offended in Him, it is at their 
 peril, for other foundation can no man lay. " On this 
 Rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall 
 not prevail against it."
 
 LECTURE XIII. 
 
 CHAMPION. CONQUEROR. COMMANDER. CAPTAIN OF 
 
 THE LORD'S HOST. CAPTAIN OF SALVATION. 
 
 CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND. 
 
 Alexander. Successful Commanders. Their reward A mighty man of war 
 described. Champion. David and Goliah. Christ a Champion. Promised 
 to our first parents Waited for by the church. His coming. His recep- 
 tion. The battle and its issue. Conqueror. Rejoicings after victory 
 Commemoration of Christ's victory. Triumphant ascension. Saints 
 Angels. Chariots. Music. Songs. Who have interest in this triumph ' 
 Have we been conquered ! Warning. Commander. The necessities of 
 the people. Christ's qualifications. Attachment to Him. His commands. 
 Captain of the Lord's host. Appearance to Joshua. Invisible to us. 
 His portrait. Invitation to enlist. The proclamation. His service recom- 
 mended. Dreadful to have Him for an enemy. Why must we fight? 
 Training. Cromwell's Ironside*. Gideon's test. Who is on the Lord's 
 side? Counsels to those enrolled. Enemies. Traitors. Armour Prize. 
 Captain of Salvation, Christ and His soldiers invincible. Chief 
 among ten thousand. Use of standards. Christ's standard. Obstacles 
 to success. Dissensions in the camp. Better things to come. 
 
 MY beloved young friends. I dare say you have all 
 heard of Alexander the Great. He lived many years 
 ago. But he was a mighty warrior. He conquered all 
 the world, and therefore to this day the world rings with 
 his fame. 
 
 Every country, and every period has its renowned 
 generals and commanders. None make so much noise 
 in the world as the successful warrior. No matter how 
 unjust the quarrel in which he is engaged, if a general 
 
 p 2
 
 212 CHAMPION. 
 
 do but lead forth his armies to victory and spoil, he is 
 rewarded with the applause of all. The poet makes 
 songs in honour of his exploits. The sculptor is hired 
 to hew a monument to his memory out of blocks of 
 marble. And the painter is set to work to hand down 
 pictures of him and his deeds to children's children. 
 
 Who has not heard in our day, of Washington, Nelson, 
 and Napoleon ? The events of their lives are a favourite 
 theme with the historian, and every schoolboy is familiar 
 with their names. The fields where they fought their 
 battles, and the places where they won their victories, 
 are still pointed out with wonderful interest, to the 
 traveller. And when they die, their arms and even 
 their clothes, are laid up wjtli care, and looked at with 
 reverence ; and the places of their burial are regarded 
 as sacred. And all this, without caring to enquire 
 whether they were good men and holy, and whether 
 they fought on the side of right and virtue. 
 
 But, my young friends, there is one mighty Man of 
 war, who exceeds all others in valour, and who always 
 draws the sword succesfully, and always on the side of 
 righteousness, of whom, however, comparatively few 
 care to speak. Every one has heard of His wonderful 
 doings among the children of men, and yet only one 
 here and there, cares to sing His praise, or speak well 
 of His works. Who is this great Conqueror ? What 
 is His name ? He has many names. In Exod xv. 3, we 
 read, " The Lord is a man of war. JEHOVAH is His 
 name." In Rev. xix. 11, He is called FAITHFUL and 
 TRUE. And in verse 13, "His name is called THE 
 WORD or GOD." 
 
 We hear many talking with rapture of the skill of one
 
 CHAMPION. 213 
 
 general and the bravery of another ; and yet if we 
 mention to them the triumphant wars of IMMANUEL, 
 His trophies, His victories, His " chosen and faithful" 
 armies, they care not to listen, nor can they be brought 
 to enter into the subject at all. 
 
 My dear children, let us not be like them. Let it be 
 our delight to " declare His mighty acts, and to talk of 
 the glorious honour of His majesty." 
 
 We are then to behold our Redeemer under a new 
 aspect to-day, viz. a " MAN OF WAR." And first, let 
 us consider Him in the character of a 
 
 (5.) CHAMPION. Isa. Ixiii. 1. What is a Champion? 
 One who fights a battle, or decides a cause, single 
 handed. In ancient times the quarrels of nations used 
 to be frequently decided by single combat, a Champion 
 being chosen from each army. Do you not remember 
 an example of this in the scriptures ? It was as a 
 Champion that Goliah of Gath came out, and defied the 
 armies of Israel. Great consternation was felt, when 
 this giant stalked forth at the head of the Philistine 
 army, and challenged any one of them to single combat. 
 Until at length the Spirit of God stirred up the stripling 
 David to enter the lists. In the name of the God of 
 Israel, he accepted the challenge, and with his sling and 
 stone, brought the monster to the ground at the first 
 stroke. 
 
 In this way, the Lord Jesus is our CHAMPION. He 
 undertook our cause alone. A most magnificent view 
 of Him in this character, you may have in the sixty- 
 third chapter of Isaiah. The people are represented 
 wondering at Him as He comes forth glorious in His
 
 214 CHAMPION. 
 
 apparel, and travelling in the greatness of His strength. 
 And He gives an account of Himself. " I that speak 
 in righteousness, mighty to save." In the fifth verse, 
 He speaks of there being none to uphold or help, when 
 the year of His redeemed had come ; and therefore He 
 trod the wine-press alone, and His own arm brought 
 salvation. 
 
 You remember that it was foretold to our first parents 
 that such a CHAMPION should be provided. They had 
 been overcome by Satan, and he brought with him sin 
 and death, and a whole army of evil spirits. And lest 
 they should be disheartened and fall into despair, God 
 told them that He would raise up One, who should 
 espouse their cause, and fight their battles, and be 
 revenged on Satan for this mischief ; One who should 
 bruise the head of Satan, while the adversary would be 
 able only to bruise His heel. They believed the promise 
 and were comforted. So that when Eve brought her 
 first born into the world, thinking this to be the pro- 
 mised Champion, she cried out, " I have gotten the man 
 from the Lord." But although the Lord is not slack 
 concerning His promise, yet many long years must pass, 
 ere He should appear to fight the important battle. 
 
 The church, in all ages, from Adam downwards, 
 looked out for the coming of this promised CHAMPION. 
 Four thousand years they waited. Hymns were made 
 in honour of Him long before He came. Prayer also, 
 was made for Him continually, and daily was He 
 praised. They used to pray Him to make haste and 
 shew Himself. " Be thou like a roe or a young hart, 
 upon the mountains of separation." They used to sing, 
 " Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, most Mighty, with
 
 CHAMPION. 215 
 
 thy glory and thy majesty ; and in thy majesty ride 
 prosperously." " Let God arise, and His enemies be 
 scattered." " Before Ephraim and Manasseh, stir up 
 thy strength, and come and save us." Thus did they 
 importune Him to shew Himself on their behalf. 
 
 And God sent messengers and heralds from time to 
 time, to assure them of His coming, and to reveal the 
 time and manner of His approach. He was to come, 
 they said, like the rain, and steal upon them like the 
 dew. The majesty and glory with which He was to be 
 invested, were unseen and spiritual. To the outward 
 eye, His appearance would be without form and at- 
 traction. 
 
 Well, in process of time, after they had waited and 
 prayed, He did come, this CHAMPION, this Desire 
 of nations. And He came, as had been foretold, softly 
 and silently. There was neither pomp nor glitter. Xo 
 sound of a trumpet proclaimed Him near. No voice 
 lifted up in the streets, called the people from their 
 labours to come and behold Him. But as David, when 
 he went up against Goliah, refused to put on Saul's 
 glittering armour, and chose the sling and the stone, 
 so Christ would not clothe Himself in kingly power and 
 outward glory, but came in all simplicity, with scarcely 
 any one to attend Him. With a still small voice, He 
 told the people that He was the great Person they 
 looked for. Some believed it, and said, " This is He." 
 But the most said, " We will not have such a man as 
 this for a Champion." So they put Him to death, 
 because He told them the truth. 
 
 But in that very hour of outward weakness it was, that, 
 alone, and by Himself, He encountered all the strength
 
 216 CONQUEROR. 
 
 of hell. Then it was that this Seed of the woman, this 
 Offspring of David, hurled that fatal stone at the Old 
 Serpent, which effectually bruised his head, and caused 
 him to fall like lightning from heaven. 
 
 Legions of armed cherubim, unnumbered glittering 
 hosts of bright angels hovered roxind the cross, invisible 
 beholders of the mighty battle. At the ninth hour, 
 those weighty words, " It is finished," proclaimed to all, 
 that the conflict was ende I, and the cause decided. But 
 how was it decided ? Satan had bruised the heel of 
 his Opponent. The CHAMPION of Israel staggered and 
 fell beneath the stroke. He was carried off the field, 
 covered with scars and wounds, and lay three days 
 concealed in the grave. For a time the issue seemed 
 doubtful. Satan wondered all the while whether he 
 had gained the victory or no ; while Christ's followers 
 complained of their disappointment, and were ready to 
 give up their cause for lost. Luke xxiv. 21. But on the 
 third day, all doubts were at an end. Christ rose from 
 the dead, burst the bars of the tomb, came forth to the 
 light, and openly declared Himself the 
 
 (6.) CONQUEROR. " O sing unto the Lord a new 
 song, for He hath done marvellous things ; His right 
 hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory." 
 Psa. xcviii. 1 . 
 
 Now on the part of Conquerors, you know, there are 
 usually great rejoicings. The people express their 
 delight by bonfires and ringing of bells. There are 
 grand triumphal processions and martial music. And 
 still, in some countries, as among the ancients, the 
 vanquished chief and the prisoners taken in battle, are
 
 CONQUEROR. 217 
 
 led through the streets and broadways of the capital 
 city, amidst shouts of joy, and waving of flags and 
 banners ; while coins and gifts are freely scattered 
 among the crowd. 
 
 Nor can we suppose that the victory won by our Lord, 
 was destitute of a joyful and triumphant commemoration. 
 The Psalmist says, " Thou hast ascended up on hiyh. 
 Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received yifts 
 for men." Psa. Ixviii. 18. We read of a chariot of fire 
 being sent to grace the joyful ascension of Elijah. And 
 " the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thou- 
 sands of angels." And shall they be wanting to grace 
 the triumphal ascent of God's well beloved Son, the 
 mighty CONQUEROR over sin, death, and hell ? Shall 
 the morning stars sing and shout when the work of 
 creation is completed, and shall they be silent when 
 the greater work of redemption is finished ? Shall they 
 who hastened to sing His birth day song, when, as the 
 long looked for CHAMPION, He entered the field of 
 battle, be absent, when, as a triumphant CONQUEROR, 
 He returns from His mighty work, laden both with the 
 scars and the spoils of victory ? Without doubt, the 
 angels in countless legions, surrounded and escorted 
 Him to the heaven of heavens with joy and praise, as in 
 like manner they will, when He comes to judge the 
 world. Acts i. 11. 
 
 Forty days after His glorious victory, He led five 
 hundred of His followers forth, as far as Bethany. 
 There He spread forth His hands, and blessed them. 
 He then gave them His last commands. Again He 
 blessed them, when suddenly a cloud veiled Him from
 
 218 CONQUEROR. 
 
 their sight. He stepped into His fiery chariot, and 
 went up into the skies. 
 
 The mighty CONQUEROR, " having spoiled princi- 
 palities and powers, made a show of them openly, 
 triumphing over them." And Satan, the prince of the 
 power of the air, and all his routed hosts, Avere over- 
 whelmed with shame and disgrace. 
 
 Then was the Lord received again among His angels, 
 as in Sinai, in the holy place. But who can reveal that 
 which the cloud covered from the view of the disciples, 
 as they stood gazing upwards after the ascending 
 CONQUEROR ? The great multitude which no man can 
 number, of the spirits of just men made perfect old 
 testament saints, who having been redeemed from 
 amongst men, and become the first fruits unto God and 
 the Lamb, follow Him whithersoever He goeth, every 
 one having the harps of God, and arrayed in white robes 
 with palms in their hands, the ten thousand times ten 
 thousand chariots of God rolling in the heavens, the 
 innumerable company of angels and archangels, the 
 thrones and dominions, the principalities and powers 
 in the heavenly places, all coming forth to greet Him. 
 Surely heaven must have emptied itself of all its 
 bright inhabitants, and sent down all its shining ranks, 
 to meet the Lord in the air. 
 
 " Legions of angels strong and fair, 
 
 In countless armies shine, 
 And swell His praise with golden harps, 
 
 Attuned to songs divine. 
 " They saw Him burst the gates of death, 
 
 And triumph o'er its power, 
 They saw th' illustrious CONQUEROR rise, 
 And hailed the blissful hour.
 
 CONQTJEKOB. 219 
 
 " They brought His chariot from above, 
 
 To bear Him to His throne, 
 Spread their triumphant wings and cried, 
 
 ' His glorious work is done !' " 
 
 And who can describe their heavenly music ? The 
 harpers harping with their harps, the sound of the 
 trumpet, and the voice of the many angels round about 
 Him, the number of whom was ten thousand times ten 
 thousand, and thousands of thousands, coming on the 
 ear like the voice of many waters, and the voice of 
 mighty thunderings. And what is the burden of their 
 songs ? Listen ! as they answer one to another. 
 
 " Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to 
 Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come !" 
 
 " We give thee thanks, O Lord Almighty, which 
 wast and art, and art to come, because thou hast taken 
 to thee thy great power and hast overcome." 
 
 " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive 
 power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and 
 honour, and glory, and blessing ! 
 " Alleluia ! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." 
 As the glorious company soars upwards, Oh what 
 mighty joy fills all their hearts ! While the attendant 
 seraphs, that lead the way to heaven's gates, answer 
 one to another in hymns of triumph ; 
 " Lift up your heads, ye gates, 
 And be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, 
 And the King of Glory shall come in." 
 " Who is this King of Glory ? 
 The Lord strong and mighty, 
 The Lord MIGHTY IN BATTLE." 
 
 And again the mighty chorus bursts forth from all 
 the choir, " Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift
 
 220 CONQUEKOE. 
 
 them up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory 
 shall come in." Thus the CONQUEROR passed into the 
 heavens, and there He sitteth at the right hand of the 
 Majesty on high. " The Lord said unto my Lord, sit 
 thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy 
 footstool." 
 
 In the meantime, the disciples returned with joy to 
 Jerusalem, praising God, and saying to all who would 
 listen, " God is gone up with a shout, even the Lord 
 with the sound of a trumpet." There they waited till 
 He gave the promised gifts unto them, and then they 
 went every where to publish the news of His triumph. 
 
 Here let us pause for a moment, and enquire into the 
 state of our own souls. Remember, we can have no 
 interest in this glorious CONQUEROR or His triumphs, 
 unless we ourselves have been conquered. It is a sad 
 truth, that the Lord has none to love and serve Him 
 here. on earth, except those whom He has first con- 
 quered. Alas ! Satan has been too successful in stirring 
 up rebellion against Him. We all are among Christ's 
 foes till He overcomes us. Your heart and my heart 
 are by nature full of hatred to Him. And how does it 
 ever become otherwise ? He wins and overcomes the 
 hard heart by His love. Do we know any thing of 
 this ? Have we submitted to Him ? Oh ! if we have, 
 then we can gladly sing with Dr. Watts, 
 
 " My dear Almighty Lord, 
 
 My CONQUEROR and my King, 
 
 Thy sceptre and thy sword, 
 
 Thy reigning grace 1 sing. 
 Thine is the pow'r, behold I sit, 
 In willing bonds, beneath thy feet."
 
 COMMANDER. 221 
 
 But remember that if we are not made willing in the 
 day of His power, if we are not brought by His love to 
 submit, hereafter He will conquer after another fashion. 
 He will break us with a rod of iron, and dash us in 
 pieces like a potter's vessel. Choose therefore now 
 this day which shall be your portion. Conquered, you 
 see, in one way or other you must be. Will you yield 
 to His love now, or be conquered hereafter by His 
 dreadful wrath. Sinner ! you must yield sooner or later 
 in one way or other. Oh fall at once into His hands. 
 Kiss the Son. Go to Him now, and tell Him on your 
 knees, that you " would be led in triumph too." Beg 
 of Him to overcome your remaining unwillingness and 
 aversion. 
 
 And if any of you have sins and temptations which 
 have been hitherto too strong for you, and led you cap- 
 tive, take them to this mighty CONQUEROR, and He 
 will subdue your iniquities, and cast them into the 
 depths of the sea. 
 
 Thus the Lord Christ, the divine " Man of war," 
 becomes first a CHAMPION, and then a CONQUEROR. 
 God hath therefore highly exalted Him, and put all 
 government into His hands, and having trained Him in 
 the wars, and made Him perfect through sufferings, God 
 giveth Him as a Leader and 
 
 (7.) COMMANDER to the people. Isa. Iv. 4. You 
 know God has set His people a great work to do. It is 
 thus described; warring a good warfare,^ h tiny the fight 
 of faith, wrestling with principalities and powers, keeping 
 under the body and bringing it into subjection. The truth 
 is, they are all called to glory and honour. But the road
 
 222 COMMANDER. 
 
 to the palace of their King runs through the heart of 
 the enemy's country. And an arduous thing it is to 
 fight their way on from day to day. Of themselves 
 they know not what to do. They need much instruction 
 and direction. So God gives them a COMMANDER, and 
 says to them, " This is my beloved Son ; hear Him." 
 
 And indeed He has the most wonderful qualifications 
 for this office. Let me enumerate a few of them. 
 
 1. He has almighty power. He commandeth the sun, 
 and it riseth not. He commandeth the devils, and they 
 are subject to Him. He commandelh the stormy wind, 
 and it fulfils His word. He toucheth the mountains, 
 and they smoke. He uttereth His voice, and the earth 
 melteth. With a word He can create legions of servants, 
 and with a word He can destroy armies of foes. 
 
 2. He has wonderful skill and knowledge. He knows 
 what Satan is plotting down in the very depths of hell. 
 Earthly Commanders may lay their plans with great 
 wisdom, but some counterplot of the enemy may frus- 
 trate all. But this can never happen with our Omniscient 
 COMMANDER. He can never be taken by surprise, for 
 He knows every movement of the enemy in the most 
 distant part of the field. He knows also all His officers 
 and soldiers thoroughly. Earthly Commanders are 
 frequently deceived. They often set men in places of 
 trust, who have not wisdom or honesty enough to fill 
 them. Not so the COMMANDER of God's host. He 
 knoweth what is in man, and needeth not that any 
 should testify of Him. 
 
 3. He is full of compassion and love. Thus there is 
 every thing in Him to win the confidence of His ser- 
 vants. It is said of the armies of Napoleon, that they
 
 CAPTAIN OF THE LOBD's HOST. 223 
 
 worshipped their leader, and would obey His orders at 
 all hazards. Nothing could daunt them. They would 
 venture on almost certain death, rather than disobey 
 him. But oh what love ought all the soldiers of Christ 
 to have for their COMMANDER ! How should they take 
 delight in the most hazardous services ! And thousands 
 of thousands have thus loved and thus laboured for 
 Him. They loved not their lives to the death ; and if 
 each had had a hundred lives, they would have been at 
 His service. He is their beloved COMMANDEB. 
 
 And what commands has He issued ? " Watch and 
 pray. Endure hardness as good soldiers. Be sober. 
 Be vigilant. Put on the whole armour of God. Fight 
 the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life. Be 
 thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown 
 of life." These are some of them, and there are many 
 more which we cannot now speak of. You may 'find 
 them in the Book of His wars, which is in the hands of 
 every one of His soldiers. 
 
 But not only is He their COMMANDER. He is more. 
 Commanders may sit at home in their strong holds, and 
 issue their orders, declining to share in the toils of the 
 camp. But Jesus Christ leaves His palace and takes the 
 field Himself against the foe. He asks His soldiers to 
 submit to no drudgery, nor toil, nor labour, which He 
 has not tried and taken part of in His own person. He 
 has been in the thickest of the fight, and has set us an 
 example of courage and constancy, as the 
 
 (8.) CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. Joshua 
 v. 14, 15. And, though we see Him not, He is always 
 and every where present throughout His whole camp,
 
 224 CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. 
 
 amongst all the thousands of Israel. On some occasions, 
 however, He has made Himself visible to His servants 
 for their encouragement. Joshua once had an interview 
 with Him. And it was on this wise. The children of 
 Israel were encamped around Jericho, straitly besieging 
 it. Joshua, their general, was in the fields beside the 
 town, busy, most likely, in devising the plan of attack. 
 Suddenly, he looked up, and saw, over against him, a 
 man with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua was at 
 once struck with His noble appearance, and went up to 
 Him, saying, " Art thou for us, or for our adversaries ?" 
 " To this the warrior replied, " Nay, but as CAPTAIN 
 OF THE LORD'S HOST am I come." Then Joshua fell 
 on his face to the earth, and did worship Him, saying, 
 " What saith my Lord unto His servant ?" And the 
 Lord talked with him. 
 
 Without doubt all Immanuel's soldiers would greatly 
 delight in an occasional visit like this. We should very 
 much like to see our great CAPTAIN with our bodily 
 eyes. We think it would be a great encouragement 
 to us, and would wonderfully help the cause in which 
 we are engaged. But His thoughts are not as our 
 thoughts. We are not to see Him here. Our fight is 
 the "fight of faith." 
 
 But though we cannot hope to see Him, we have the 
 testimony of those who have seen Him, " glorious in 
 His apparel." And more than that, He has left us His 
 portrait, drawn by the unerring hand of the Holy 
 Ghost. Let us survey this majestic picture together. 
 " Behold a white horse ! And He that sits on him, is 
 faithful and true. His eyes are as a flame of fire, and 
 on His head are many crowns; and He has a name
 
 CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. 225 
 
 written that no man knows, but He Himself. And He 
 is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. And His 
 name is called the Word of God. And out of His mouth 
 goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the 
 nations. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh, 
 a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF 
 LORDS." 
 
 Lo this is the CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST ! Who 
 would not enlist under such a COMMANDER ? Who 
 would not feel honoured in being allowed to fight 
 under His banners, and to be enrolled in the number of 
 His followers ? 
 
 Well, my young friends, you have the opportunity. 
 Now is the accepted time. He is willing to receive you, 
 one and all, and put down your names as His soldiers. 
 My business among you this day, is to beat up for 
 recruits. My gracious COMMANDER purposes to gather 
 more than those already gathered. " He will have all 
 men to turn unto Him;" and He has issued a procla- 
 mation to that effect. He would fain have some from 
 amongst you, young people ; and I am therefore com- 
 missioned by Him this afternoon, to enquire, " Who is 
 on the Lord's side ?" Let me read to you the substance 
 of the proclamation. 
 
 " To all that dwell on the earth, of every nation, a>,d 
 kindrt'd, and ])ca/j]f. and tongue ; to all, both small and 
 great, rich and poor, young and olft, bond and free. 
 Ho ! erery one ! 
 
 "The Majesty on high, the King of kings, will enlist, 
 for the camp of the saints, a number which no man can 
 number, of faithful and valiant warriors. He requires 
 
 Q
 
 226 CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. 
 
 them in the war between ' Michael and His angels* 
 and the ' Dragon and his angels.' The fight is 
 arduous, but the victory is certain, and the reward 
 glorious. The wages are eternal life. Invincible 
 weapons of war will be provided, without money and 
 without price, and every want supplied at the expense 
 of the King of kings. The Spirit and the bride say, 
 Come ! and let him that heareth say, Come ! And 
 whosoever will, let him come. But cursed are all they 
 who come not to the help of the Lord, to the help of 
 the Lord against the mighty." 
 
 This is, for substance, the King's proclamation. And 
 there is no time to be lost. If you will come at all; 
 you must come now. The Lord will be offended if you 
 trifle with His summons. How long then halt ye be- 
 tween two opinions ? If the Lord be God, follow Him. 
 
 Need I say a word to recommend His service ? I 
 may well assure you that He is a good Master. His 
 commandments are not grievous. His service is perfect 
 freedom. And though He is so exalted a Being, yet 
 He is very considerate, and does not disdain to eat and 
 drink, and walk and talk, with the meanest of His 
 followers. 
 
 I have one thing to tell you. Whether you know it 
 or not, you are all either fighting against this CAPTAIN, 
 or else fighting with Him. You cannot stand on neutral 
 ground. There is none. You cannot be merely spectators 
 of the battle. Either you are on the side of the old 
 Dragon, or else on the side of Immanuel. Which is it ? 
 Conscience will decide. Do you speak lies and falsehood? 
 Do you steal, and take God's name in vain ? Do you
 
 CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. 227 
 
 despise God's sabbaths, and live without prayer ? You 
 are the person ! The seal of Satan is on your forehead. 
 He is your Captain, and his commands you are obeying. 
 
 Unhappy being ! let me whisper one word in your 
 ear. It is a horrible thing, and most disgraceful, to be 
 on the side of Satan, that old Serpent, the Father of 
 lies. And it is a most dangerous thing, to be found 
 fighting against such a Warrior as this CAPTAIN OF 
 THE LORD'S HOST. Indeed it is a ruinous battle which 
 you fight. It is dreadful to rush on the " thick bosses of 
 the Almighty's buckler." " Every battle of the warrior 
 is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, 
 but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire." For 
 the day is coming wherein the CAPTAIN will say, 
 " Bring hither mine enemies, and cast them into outer 
 darkness." Oh " it is a fearful thing to fall into the 
 hands of the living God !" 
 
 But now I can imagine that some of you are almost 
 persuaded, but want just to ask a question or two, 
 before you set your names down. You say, Why 
 are we required to fight ? Why not go to heaven the 
 moment we are converted ? Or why does not God 
 destroy our enemies by one stroke of His power ? 
 
 I will answer your question. First, it is the will of 
 God that we fight. And there is no appeal against 
 that. Second. We are to be " conformed to the image 
 of His Son." He was a " Man of war." We must 
 therefore learn to handle our weapons. Third. We are to 
 be trained in difficult service, and thus prepared for the 
 places we are to fill hereafter in the future state. God 
 will have no cowards in heaven. They are all " good 
 soldiers" that get there. The " fearful and the unbe- 
 
 Q2
 
 228 CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST. 
 
 lieving" must be cast into hell, along with the vilest 
 of rebels. Heaven is no place for them. 
 
 " The fearful soul that tires and faints, 
 
 And walks the ways of God no more, 
 Is but esteemed almost a saint, 
 
 And makes his own destruction sure." 
 
 For such, I say, there is no room in heaven. Those 
 who will wear the crown of glory, must first bear the 
 cross. A certain renowned English general wanted to 
 raise for himself a regiment of valiant soldiers. So 
 he enlisted a number of those who offered themselves. 
 They all professed to be very courageous. But he 
 thought within himself, " How shall I know whether 
 these fair speaking men are all brave men or no ? What 
 if some run away just when I want them to face the 
 foe." So he must needs try them before he would trust 
 them. On a certain day, he appointed that they should 
 be ready on their horses, to go with him on a journey. 
 Now they were to pass through a wood, where, 
 unknown to his men, he had stationed a party of sol- 
 diers, hidden among the trees. These were instructed 
 to rush out when he should pass, and fall upon his 
 little regiment. So when they arrived at the wood, the 
 concealed soldiers started up, and made a great show of 
 opposition. Now was the time for this Captain to see 
 what his men were. The faint-hearted straightway 
 turned their backs and fled, while the valiant stood 
 their ground. Thus did he rid himself of all the timid 
 and fearful. And his little army, after being thus tried 
 and sifted, were never known to flee from an enemy, 
 and were never beaten in the obstinate wars which
 
 CAPTAIX OF THE LOED's HOST. 229 
 
 followed. Wherever they went, they conquered, and 
 thus earned for themselves the title of " Ironsides." 
 
 In a somewhat similar way, God told Gideon to prove 
 his army. He appointed a test by which to try them 
 all. And by this test, he discovered who among them 
 were hardy, and who were effeminate. The army was 
 in this way reduced from thirty-two thousand men, to 
 three hundred ! But with this little remnant of tried 
 and chosen men, Gideon wrought wonders. Will you 
 read the story r It is very interesting. You will find 
 it in Judges, chap. vii. 
 
 And the CAPTAIX OF THE LOED'S HOST chooses and 
 tries His followers in a somewhat similar way. In Rev. 
 xvii. 14, we read that those who are with the Lamb, are 
 " called, and chosen, and faithful." He prepares them 
 here on earth, for the places they are designed for here- 
 after in heaven. If they are faithful over a few things, He 
 makes them rulers over many. He gives them according 
 to their deeds. To one He will say, " Be thou ruler 
 over five cities," and to another, " Be thou over ten." 
 Let us therefore (like Moses) have respect to the 
 recompense of the reward; and, asking no questions, 
 endure the cross, despising the shame and the suffering, 
 since it is through much tribulation we must enter the 
 kingdom. 
 
 Thus I have answered your enquiries ; and now I ask 
 again, Who is on the Lord's side ? Who among you 
 has determined to write his name down in the muster 
 roll of Christ's army ? Must I go back to Him that 
 sent me, and say, " Lord, it is done as thou didst com- 
 mand. I read the proclamation, and explained the 
 matter, but they would not hear." Or may I say,
 
 230 CAPTAIN OF THE LOKD's HOST. 
 
 "Lord, I had no sooner delivered my message, than 
 many came forward, and offered themselves. And one 
 said, ' I am the Lord's, and another subscribed with his 
 hand unto the Lord, and another surnamed himself by 
 the name of Israel.' " Oh it will be a happy day, if any 
 of you are thus brought to make this surrender of 
 yourselves. 
 
 I will address a few counsels and cautions to all who 
 have already enrolled themselves, or are about to do so. 
 
 Your enemies are lively and strong. You are to 
 withstand the world, the flesh, and the devil The 
 world will either flatter and ensnare you, or else ridi- 
 cule and frown on you. The devil will, by all means, 
 seek to mislead and blind you. But your chief foes are 
 those of your own household ; I mean sinful desires and 
 propensities. Against these you have need to be doubly 
 watchful. 
 
 Beware of false professors, foes in the garb of friends, 
 traitors in the camp of Israel. These are worse than 
 open enemies, and will constantly strive to draw you from 
 your allegiance to your CAPTAIN. But tremble at the 
 dreadful threatenings which He has caused to be pro- 
 claimed, as with sound of trumpet, against the Apostate, 
 the Turnaway, and the Deserter. " If any man draw 
 back, my soul hath no pleasure in him." There 
 remaineth nothing for him, but the same " fiery indig- 
 nation, which shall devour the adversary." 
 
 Look to your armour, and keep it bright. Seek to 
 adorn your profession, and to walk worthy of the Lord. 
 You go not to this warfare at your own charges. Your 
 great CAPTAIN has supplied you with all things neces- 
 sary for life and godliness. He teaches your hands to
 
 CAPTAIN OF THE LOHD's HOST. 231 
 
 war, and your fingers to fight, and provides you with 
 armour from head to foot. Furnish yourselves, then, at 
 His expense, and " put on the whole armour of God." 
 
 Let me shew you where you are to obtain the 
 armour. You must go to the " tower of David, which 
 was builded for an armoury, where there hang a thou- 
 sand bucklers, all shields of mighty men." The bible 
 is this armoury. Thither you may go as often as you 
 please. There you can take a view of Samson's shield, 
 and Gideon's sword. There also you may see the 
 weapons wherewith David slew the giant. And there 
 you may see how the mighty men of old " waxed 
 valiant iu fight, subdued kingdoms, and turned to flight 
 the armies of the aliens." They overcame by their 
 faith, and by the sword of the Spirit, " by the blood of 
 the Lamb, and the word of their testimony." There 
 also you may see the very arms which were worn by our 
 great CHAMPION*, when after forty days of fasting and 
 prayer, He entered the lists against Satan, and overcame 
 him. Matt. iv. 1 . Often pay a visit to this armoury, for 
 there these same weapons are still laid up for us against 
 our time of need. 
 
 Fix your eyes ever on the prize of your high calling, 
 There are mansions of glory, diadems of beauty, palms 
 of victory, golden harps, and white robes. He that 
 overcometh shall inherit all these things, and many more. 
 
 Lastly, although I would not advise him who put- 
 teth on his harness, to boast as he who putteth it off, 
 yet settle it in your minds, that none can harm you, if 
 ye be followers of Christ ; and, that victory is certain. 
 
 " The promises are on your side, 
 And safe to glory lo ! you ride, 
 By countless deaths surrounded."
 
 232 CAPTAIN OF SALVATION. 
 
 The very name of our CAPTAIN imports this, for He 
 is called the 
 
 (9.) CAPTAIN OF SALVATION. Hebrews, ii. 10. 
 In other words, He leads to certain victory. He never 
 yet lost a battle. He must reign till He hath put all 
 His enemies under His feet. 
 
 Some generals have been thought by their soldiers to 
 possess charmed lives, so that bullets and swords had no 
 power to wound them. Under leaders thus invested 
 with unconquerable qualities, the soldiers have fought 
 with wonderful energy, and untiring zeal. 
 
 But hi this case, not only is the CAPTAIN Himself 
 unconquerable, but all His soldiers are destined to 
 overcome. He not only never lost a battle, but He 
 never yet lost a true follower. Those whom God gives 
 to Him, He keeps, and not one of them is lost. They 
 are all like Mount Zion which can never be moved. 
 They abide under His shadow ; and though a thousand 
 shall fall at their right hand, and ten thousand on their 
 left, destruction cannot come nigh them. Where- 
 fore, young soldier of Christ ! gird up your loins, and 
 hope to the end, for the reward that is to be brought to 
 you at the coming of Christ. 
 
 " Watch ye ; stand fast in the faith ! quit you like 
 men; be strong!" 
 
 " Now let your soul arise, 
 
 And tread the Tempter down ; 
 
 Your CAPTAIN leads you forth, 
 
 To conquest and a crown, 
 A feeble saint shall win the day, 
 Though death and hell obstruct the way."
 
 CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND. 233 
 
 Having offered these few counsels to the soldiers of 
 Christ, I will close by just mentioning one more Title, un- 
 der which He is known on the field of battle. It is this : 
 
 (10) CHIEF, or rather STANDARD BEARER, 
 AMONG TEN THOUSAND. Sol. Song, v. 10. We 
 are exhorted to exert ourselves in our conflict, " looking 
 to Jesus." Now, lest we should be deceived by the 
 enemy saying, Lo here is Christ ! or Lo there ! it is well 
 for us to know where to look for Him, and by what 
 signs to know Him. For if the standard be hidden, or 
 the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare 
 himself for the battle : Now Christ is CHIEF AMONG 
 TEN THOUSAND. His standard may be known from 
 all others. King Saul attracted attention because He 
 was taller, by head and shoulders than his fellows. So 
 Christ draws all eyes on Him, being declared to be the 
 Son of God with power. He is the most extraordinary 
 Being in the world, as God and Man. His name is 
 Wonderful, and He is altogether lovely. 
 
 Among the Israelites, during their journies in the 
 wilderness, standards were borne by the princes or 
 chiefs of each tribe, round which the whole tribe was 
 gathered. They were used also by the Romans and 
 other nations in their wars. Each commander had his 
 standard. These were of various colours. Mottoes also 
 were inscribed on them, such as Victorious, Thunderer. 
 Thus were they distinguished from each other. 
 
 These standards were lifted up on high, and being 
 seen from afar, served for direction where td go ; also 
 for union to draw those together who would otherwise 
 be separated ; and as a point to which to retreat in time
 
 234 CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND. 
 
 of danger. A standard lifted up, served also for en- 
 couragement during the battle, and triumph afterwards. 
 
 Various passages of the bible refer to Christ and His 
 truth as a STANDARD. " There shall be a Root of 
 Jesse which shall stand for an Ensign of the people ; to 
 it shall the Gentiles seek." Isa. xi. 10. " Thou hast 
 given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be 
 displayed because of thy truth." Psa. Ix. 4. " When 
 the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the 
 Lord shall lift up a standard against him." Isa. lix. 19. 
 And " His banner over me was Love." Sol. Song, ii. 4. 
 
 Yes, " LOVE !" This is the inscription on our 
 STANDARD BEARER'S banner, and this is the watch- 
 word which should unite every soldier to his fellow. 
 But there are many imperfections in Immanuel's armies. 
 These are not to be attributed to Him. Concerning 
 these He has often complained, " Oh that thou hadst 
 harkened to my voice, I should soon have subdued your 
 enemies under you." 
 
 Amongst other errors and sins which hinder their 
 auccessful progress against Satan, is a lamentable pro- 
 pensity to divide th emselves into parties and fight under 
 separate banners, (banners which Christ never dis- 
 tributed to them), and to assert the superiority of one 
 division of the army over another. They do not obey 
 to the letter, the directions of their great CAPTAIN, 
 who would have them all to unite and arrange them- 
 selves under His one banner. His banner over us is 
 LOVE. " By this shall all men know that ye are my 
 followers, if ye have love one to another." 
 
 Instead of this affectionate union, Satan hath sown 
 many divisions in the camp. And often may be heard
 
 CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND. 235 
 
 high words between brethren and fellow soldiers. Their 
 contentions issue in the setting up of various standards, 
 besides the one true standard of Christ. One party 
 lifts up a banner with some watchword inscribed on it ; 
 asserting that all should arrange themselves under it, 
 The rest remonstrate against this, and, dividing into 
 parties, lift up standards of their own ; every one hav- 
 ing some peculiarity in which it glories, to distinguish 
 it from others, while each accuses the other of beginning 
 the strife. 
 
 But in the midst of so many divisions and fanciful 
 distinctions, is there no danger of confounding friends 
 with foes ? Indeed there would be, were it not that 
 the glorious banner of our great STANDAED BEARER 
 waves among them, and towering far above all, is seen 
 from afar as the CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND. Yet, 
 scarcely can they be kept together. At times they all 
 rally round it in pursuit of the " common salvation," 
 and in opposition to the common foe. But when the 
 danger which called them together is past, they again 
 fall out by the way and stand aloof, each from the other. 
 
 Thus is their strength weakened. And for want of 
 union, that victory which will eventually crown the 
 efforts of Christ's followers, is deferred from age to age. 
 
 There is a time coming, however, when these divisions 
 will be healed. Judah will no longer vex Ephraim, 
 nor shall Ephraim envy Judah. Then shall the church 
 of God, purged from her errors, go forth with her Lord 
 to the conquest of their mutual foes, " clear as the sun, 
 fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners."
 
 LECTURE XIV. 
 
 COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST. CLEFT OF THE ROCK. 
 CITY OF REFUGE. CONFIDENCE. 
 
 Sin connected with danger. Sickness. Tempest. The storm on the lake 
 The apparition Fears appeased. Affliction Retreat from danger. 
 Covert from the Tempest. The flood. Sodom. Egypt Various kinds of 
 tempests 1. Conviction. Sinai. Peter's Sermon. 2 Temptation. Peter. 
 3. Inbred sin. David. 4. Affliction Job. Succession of trials. 5 Ever- 
 lasting wrath. No escape. Animals in a thunder storm. Cleft in the 
 Rock. Persecution. Scotch Covenanters. Hill of'Garrickfell. The little 
 assembly. Mr. Peden. Singular interruption Moss troopers Hasty 
 dispersion. Safe retreat. Christ the Rock cleft for us. City of Refuge. 
 Six particulars. A quarrel supposed. Fatal issue. The manslayer urged 
 to fly. Hesitates. Makes foolish excuses. Reluctantly sets out. Loiters 
 by the way. The supposition improbable. Retlections on conduct still 
 more absurd. Sinners urged to fly to Christ. Strong consolation. Con. 
 fidence. Consciousness of safety. Necessity of abiding in Christ. Con- 
 clusion. 
 
 SIN and danger go together. If there had never been 
 sin in the world, there had been no dangers. Eden was 
 a safe place so long as its bowers remained unpolluted. 
 
 Its skies were never blackened by tempests till sin 
 brought wrath and punishment. And Adam lived there 
 undisturbed by so much as the thought of danger, be- 
 cause his conscience was free from every stain of guilt. 
 But sin changed the whole state of things. 
 
 Now, dangers stand thick through all the ground. 
 The mariner cannot sail to the distant shore without
 
 COVERT FKOM THE TEMPEST. 237 
 
 danger of shipwreck. The traveller cannot pass through 
 the desert without danger from beasts of prey. The 
 rich man is in danger from robbers. The poor man is 
 in danger of stars-ing. Dangers are all around us ; 
 and we are constantly exposed to pain and sickness, 
 and troubles and death. 
 
 Not that men are always mindful of this state of 
 things. They go about their daily labours without 
 thinking of danger. Though frequent witnesses to 
 the misfortunes of others, yet are they apt to fancy 
 themselves secure. 
 
 But when some dire disease or plague is raging 
 around, and one after another is carried to the grave, 
 then they see danger, and hasten to escape from the 
 scene of contagion. 
 
 If a wild tornado or tempestuous wind cover the 
 roads with fallen trees, and strew the streets with 
 fragments of roofs and chimnies, and there is danger 
 abroad, then how do men prize a safe hiding place from 
 the violence of the storm ! 
 
 When the sailor is tossed up and down on the yawn- 
 ing ocean, and his soul is melted for fear, then he cries 
 unto God. If He hear him, and make the storm a calm, 
 so that the waves thereof are still, and he is delivered 
 from danger, how he enjoys the first moment of peace 
 and tranquillity ! " Then they are glad because they are 
 quiet ; so He bringeth them to their desired haven.'' 
 
 One night, a good while ago, there were several 
 fishermen in a little ship, in the middle of a lake a great 
 way from the land. All at once the sky grew black, 
 the waves began to roar, and a dreadful storm came on. 
 The ship groaned and creaked as though it would go to
 
 238 COVERT FEOM THE TEMPEST. 
 
 pieces, and heaved up and down on the unsteady billow 
 as if it had been a nutshell. They feared every moment 
 that they would all sink to the bottom. They thought 
 within themselves, oh what would we give to be hi a 
 safe place ! Oh that we had wings like a dove, how 
 would we hasten our escape from the windy storm and 
 tempest ! 
 
 Suddenly a flash of lightning ran along the heavens. 
 And all with one accord shrieked aloud with fear. For 
 what do you think they saw in the momentary glare ? 
 They saw a little way off a figure moving along on the 
 tops of the foaming waves, just as if they had been so 
 many hills on dry land ! 
 
 Another flash ! there was the same figure again ! and 
 it came nearer and nearer. There could be no mistake, 
 for they all saw it. What should they do ? Their knees 
 smote together, and their hair stood upon their heads. 
 " Oh," said they with one voice, "It is a spirit !" 
 
 But the next moment, they heard soft soothing words, 
 rising like the sweetest music, above all the din of the 
 tempest and the howling of the wind, "Be of good 
 cheer ; it is I : be not afraid !" The well-known voice 
 of their Master, in a moment, quieted their fears ; and 
 then hushed the tempest, making the waves smooth as 
 oil. Thus was their sorrow suddenly turned into joy. 
 Oh ! who can tell, save those who have experienced it, 
 how refreshing is the consciousness of safety, immedi- 
 ately succeeding to fright and alarm. 
 
 Now thus it often is with the children of God. They 
 are overtaken with a storm of affliction. The floods of 
 sorrow lift up their waves, and they feel the boisterous
 
 COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST. 239 
 
 winds of temptation, so that their hearts are over- 
 whelmed within them, and they begin to sink. 
 
 But Jesus Christ knoweth the way which they take. 
 And He comes after them, walking on the billows. 
 His soothing and encouraging voice is heard louder 
 than the noise of many waters, and rising above the 
 roar of the elements. And what does it say ? " Come, 
 my people, here in my bosom is a hiding place from the 
 storm. Enter into thy chambers and shut the doors 
 about thee, and hide thyself for a little moment, till 
 these calamities are overpast." Oh how precious is 
 this safe hiding place from threatening danger ! 
 
 Let us this afternoon proceed to contemplate the 
 Lord Jesus in several particulars, as a Retreat from 
 danger. And first let me direct you to Isa. xxxii. 2, 
 where He is called a 
 
 (11.) COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST. Also, 
 Isa. iv. 6. What is a Tempest ? A violent commotion 
 of the elements, a storm of wind, rain, or hail, with 
 thunder and lightning, earthquake, or flood. We have 
 accounts of several tempests in the bible. 
 
 That was a most memorable tempest which laid waste 
 the whole earth in the time of Noah. The fountains of 
 the great deep were broken up, and meeting the floods 
 descending from the heavens, speedy ruin swallowed up 
 the earth and all living creatures. And was there a 
 Covert from this fearful tempest ? None, saving the 
 ark in which Noah and his family found refuge. 
 
 That was a dreadful tempest which covered the cities 
 of Sodom and Gomorrah with destruction. The Lord 
 rained fire and brimstone out of heaven upon them, and
 
 240 COTEKT FROM THE TEMPEST. 
 
 they were quickly buried beneath the dreadful shower. 
 Was there a Covert provided ? Yes. Zoar was spared 
 for the sake of Lot, and there he and his two daughters 
 were securely hidden, in that day of the Lord's fierce 
 anger. 
 
 That was a " very grievous" storm, which laid waste 
 the land of Egypt in the time of Pharaoh. Fire mingled 
 with hail ravaged the fields, and smote all the beasts 
 which were abroad. And was there any Covert for God's 
 people ? Yes. The scriptures say, " In the land of 
 Goshen was there no hail." 
 
 These were all dreadful tempests. And happy were 
 they for whom God provided a Covert. 
 
 But there are other kinds of tempests, viz. tempests 
 of the mind and conscience, and storms of sorrow and 
 wrath. There is no retreat on earth from these, neither 
 is there any Covert provided in all the universe except 
 Christ. 
 
 I will speak of five tempests, and we shall see how 
 precious Christ is as a COVERT from them. Remember 
 them all. 
 
 1. There is the Tempest of Conviction. And what do 
 I mean by conviction ? I will explain myself. All men 
 and all children know that they are sinners. But to feel 
 it is another thing. Now conviction of sin is when one 
 is made to feel that he is a sinner, and that sin is a 
 dreadful thing. A man will never feel this till the Holy 
 Spirit brings the law of God into the conscience. And 
 this stirs up a tempest. 
 
 When the law was given on Mount Sinai, there was 
 a great commotion. There were " thunders and light- 
 nings and thick clouds." There were " blackness and
 
 COVEKT FBOM THE TEMPEST. 241 
 
 darkness, and tempest." So when the law enters the sin- 
 ner's conscience, it produces a great commotion, and fills 
 him with fear. When Peter preached his famous sermon 
 on the day of Pentecost, there were three thousand thus 
 moved and pricked in their hearts ; and all crying out 
 " What shall we do ?" This was the Tempest of con- 
 viction. And Peter shewed them the COVERT, and they 
 all went in, and were safe and happy, and " walked in 
 the comforts of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 Now if any of you are distressed in conscience, and 
 feel that it is a bitter thing to rebel against God ; if you 
 are filled with dread of the wrath and anger of God 
 against sin, turn your eyes this way. Behold a safe 
 COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST ! It is open to you all. 
 Enter by faith, and you will straightway feel calm and 
 secure; for "we which do believe, do enter into rest." 
 Happy are all they who are overtaken with this tempest, 
 if it do but drive them to Christ for shelter ! 
 
 2. There is the Tempest of Temptation. David suf- 
 fered from this, and was almost shattered to pieces by 
 it. Hear his complaint. " The enemy hath persecuted 
 my soul, and smitten my life down to the ground. He 
 hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have 
 been long dead; wherefore my soul is overwhelmed, 
 and my heart within me is desolate." And Peter, when 
 he was overtaken, was put to a sad plunge, and all his 
 wonted courage forsook him. Jesus Christ knows full 
 well the danger we are in when in this Tempest, and 
 therefore He hath taught us to put up this prayer, 
 which you should never forget when you go forth in the 
 morning, " Lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
 us from evil." 
 
 B
 
 242 COVERT FROM; THE TEMPEST. 
 
 Alas ! many have been shipwrecked in these storms. 
 "What was Peter's temptation ? He was led to fear that 
 he would be laughed at and ill used, if it should be 
 known that he was one of Christ's followers. And the 
 devil tempted him to deny, with oaths and curses, all 
 knowledge of Christ ; that thereby the people might be 
 led to believe that he was not one of Christ's friends. 
 And Peter yielded to the temptation. Oh what a storm 
 must the good man have felt in his bosom, before he 
 could thus lose himself ! And if such a man as Peter 
 was overcome with temptation, ought not we to fear ? 
 Now Christ is a COVEET from this tempest. He knows 
 how to deliver the godly out of temptation. And even 
 if you have been overcome, Christ is still a COVEET. 
 You must not keep away from Him. Peter found Him 
 so. Affrighted at what he had done, he first ran away 
 from Christ. But he was glad to get back again. And 
 oh how refreshing was it to find himself once more safe 
 in the arms of Christ's love ! 
 
 3. TJiere is the Tempest of Inbred Sin. "We read of 
 the wicked, that they cannot rest. They are like the 
 sea casting up mire and dirt. They are like a burn- 
 ing mountain, Vesuvius or Hecla, full of inward fires. 
 Their bosoms are the seat of frequent tempests, which 
 are sometimes pent up within, till they drive them 
 mad ; and sometimes they break forth to the terror 
 of others. Sin, wherever it is, is more or less, of this 
 nature. Now the Christian is only in part made holy, 
 and the remainders of sin within, give him great 
 pain. And many violent tempests he passes through, 
 on account of the sin that dwelleth in him. David was 
 a man after God's own heart. But being left to himself,
 
 COYER! FROM THE TEMPEST. 243 
 
 how was he filled with terror through the motions of his 
 own inbred sin ! Now when we feel such temptations 
 rising within us, whether pride, anger, envy, or dis- 
 content, we must betake ourselves to our divinely 
 provided COVERT ; for there is safety nowhere else. 
 " When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, lead me 
 to the Rock that is higher than I." 
 
 4. There is the Tempest of Affliction, Most people 
 know something of this sort of tempest. But I have 
 read of one man who had such afflictions as are hardly 
 ever known. He was a very rich man. And I will tell 
 you how the tempest broke in upon him. One day, 
 when he was sitting in his house, a man ran in and told 
 him that a set of murderous thieves had killed his 
 ploughmen while they were at work, and driven away 
 five hundred yoke of oxen. And while he was speaking, 
 there came another, and said, " The lightning has 
 burned up seven thousand sheep and all the shepherds, 
 and I only have escaped." Directly afterwards, there came 
 another messenger, and said, " The robbers have just 
 driven off three thousand camels, and slain those who had 
 the care of them." And he had but just told the sad news, 
 when another came running in out of breath, saying, 
 " Your seven sons and three daughters were all feasting 
 together in their brothers house, when a great wind 
 blew the house down, and smothered them all." 
 
 Here was a succession of troubles ! What a frightful 
 tempest was this to break all at once on the head of 
 the poor sufferer ! But alas ! black as it was, it grew 
 heavier still. For Satan smote his poor body with sore 
 boils from head to foot. And thus being desolate, 
 his property, his children, his health, all gone, he sat 
 
 R 2
 
 244 COVEET FROM THE TEMPEST. 
 
 him down on the ashes seven days, and uttered not a 
 word. But Satan's spiteful malice was not satisfied yet ; 
 he filled his mind with dreadful thoughts of God, so 
 that, almost desperate, he opened his mouth, and 
 cursed the day of his birth. And, last of all, his three 
 friends, who came to comfort him, spoke unkindly and 
 exasperated his grief. 
 
 Here were the four tempests we have spoken of, all 
 bursting on him at once. And his inward troubles 
 Avere even greater than his outward. 
 
 But was not Christ a COVEKT ? Yes, He was. For 
 though it was so dark, and the clouds were so thick, 
 that the poor afflicted man could not see Him, yet he 
 was enabled to say, " I know that my Redeemer liveth," 
 Thus was he supported till the skies again cleared. 
 And after he had suffered as much as was good for him, 
 God made it all up ; and his last days were better than 
 his first. 
 
 Perhaps it may be the lot of some of us, to be af- 
 flicted in this manner, though not in the same degree. 
 We may be afflicted in mind, body, and estate, all at 
 the same time. And then, as the stormy wind raiseth 
 up the waves, and as deep calleth unto deep, so do these 
 troubles call forth and urge on another tempest, even 
 that of inbred sin. And if, in this condition, we are 
 driven from our COVEET, or cannot find our way to it, 
 all will be over. But all will yet be well, if we are able 
 to say, 
 
 "Amidst temptations sharp and long, 
 
 My soul to this dear COVERT flies ! 
 My hold on Christ is firm and strong, 
 While tempests rage and billows rise."
 
 COYEET FEOM THE TEMPEST. 245 
 
 5. There is another Tempest, even the Tempest of the 
 Everlasting Wroth of Almighty God. Oh who can de- 
 scribe that? What burning and dreadful words can 
 we choose, which shall suitably set forth that most 
 awful storm, which which will for ever beat upon the 
 wretched heads of the impenitent ? I dare not touch 
 it. There is enough in a few passages of the bible to 
 appal the stoutest heart. " Upon the wicked God will 
 rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tem- 
 pest /"' Psa. xi. 6. " There shall be iceeping, andivailhig, 
 and gnashing of teeth." 1 Matt. xiii. 42. " The lake that 
 burneth with^re and brimstone." Rev. xxi. 8. "Their 
 worm dieth not, their fire is not quenched." Markix. 44. 
 Thus it is described by the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Remember, then, that there is a COVERT from the 
 first four tempests, even in the midst of them, while as 
 yet they are coming down. But, unless you enter 
 before it comes, there is none from the last ! Those 
 who feel one drop of it must bear it all. Every way of 
 escape will be closed. No prophet will say unto you, 
 as Elijah to Ahab, " Arise, get thee down, that the rain 
 stop thee not." There will be neither shelter nor hiding 
 place provided from this pitiless storm through all 
 eternity. Believe it, the day is coming, which will 
 burn as an oven. " Now therefore be ye not mockers, 
 lest your bands be made strong ; for I have heard from 
 the Lord of Hosts, a consumption," a tempest, " even 
 determined on the whole earth." 
 
 Do you not see, when a thunder storm is approaching, 
 and the heavens grow black, and the distant thunder 
 begins to growl, and comes nearer and nearer, how 
 the cattle, perplexed and affrighted, betake themselves
 
 246 CLEFT OF THE EOCK. 
 
 to a Covert ? how the little birds fly hither and thither, 
 and try first one shelter and then another, and still flit 
 to and fro, dissatisfied, till they attain to some Covert 
 which promises to hide them quite from the violence 
 of the tempest ? Now do you imitate them, for indeed 
 there is a storm coming ! Oh rest not till you are safe ! 
 You cannot say you were never warned of the coming 
 tempest. / warn you. Wherefore hide yourselves in 
 time ; and then, secured and enclosed within this divine 
 COYEST, " the tempest shall not come nigh thee ; only 
 with thine eyes shalt thou see the reward of the 
 wicked." And " when it shall hail, coming down on 
 the ungodly, thou shalt be in a quiet resting place, and 
 a sure habitation." Isa. xxxii. 19. 
 
 But let us proceed to consider another emblem of 
 Christ as a Retreat from danger, namely, 
 
 (12.) CLEFT OF THE ROCK. Exod. xxxiii. 22. 
 Cant. ii. 14. We read in Isaiah of those who " go into 
 the Clefts of the Rock, and into the tops of the ragged 
 rocks for fear." During the persecutions which Satan 
 has stirred up against the people of God, the Clefts of 
 the Rocks have frequently offered a safe retreat from 
 the rage of pursuers. In the wilds of Scotland, there 
 are many Clefts and cavities in the Rocks, which are 
 pointed out, as having been the hiding places of the 
 persecuted Covenanters of former days, when the fierce 
 dragoons and moss troopers of that infamous man, 
 Claverhouse, used to hunt them like hares upon the 
 mountains. 
 
 There is a cave in the hill of Garrickfell, hi Scotland, 
 which was used for this purpose. And it must have
 
 CLEFT OF THE EOCK. 247 
 
 furnished an excellent retreat. Within, it was com- 
 modious, and would hold several people ; while the 
 entrance was small, and covered up with bushes and 
 brakes, which effectually concealed it from sight. 
 
 In those days the pious worshippers could not meet 
 together in towns, and in the broad daylight, as we do, 
 " none daring to make us afraid." No, they were forced 
 to get together on the hill side, or in the forest ; unless, 
 occasionally, when their enemies were thought to be far 
 away, they could venture to assemble for an hour, in some 
 lone farm house or shepherd's cottage. 
 
 One day, there was a little party of these Covenanters 
 assembled in a shepherd's house, at Closeburn, in 
 Xithsdale. They were listening with great earnestness, 
 while a godly minister, Mr. Peden, expounded to them 
 the word of God. 
 
 While they were thus engaged, the bleating of a 
 sheep was heard. It came nearer and nearer, till the 
 noise disturbed the little congregation ; and the shep- 
 herd was obliged to go out and drive the sheep away. 
 As he turned it out to the heath, and followed it a little 
 way to prevent its returning, he lifted up his eyes, and 
 saw at a distance a party of moss troopers, coming 
 towards his cottage. He no longer thought of the 
 sheep as an intruder, but, regarding it as a deliverer 
 sent by Providence to warn them, he hastened back to 
 give the alarm. All instantly dispersed and hid them- 
 selves, some in one place, and some in another. Mr. 
 Peden betook himself to the Cleft of the Rock, the cave 
 of Garrick fells, and crept into it. There he hid himself 
 as in a stronghold. And soon, the clattering of horses'
 
 248 CLEFT OF THE ROCK. 
 
 hoofs and the ringing of armour told him that his foes 
 were at hand. But there, safe in the Cleft, he sat 
 unmoved, and, through an opening, saw the fierce 
 dragoons gallop past, without a suspicion that he whose 
 life they sought, was so near at hand. " His place of 
 defence was the munitions of rocks." And there God 
 hid His servant from His murderous pursuers. 
 
 Thus the believer runs to Christ for shelter. He is 
 the Rock of ages. And He was cleft for us, that we 
 might find in Him a sure hiding place from the avenging 
 sword of justice. For out of Christ there is no safety 
 from the just wrath of God. Nor yet from the power 
 and malice of wicked spirits, who range up and down, 
 throughout the world, seeking whom they may destroy. 
 
 The Clefts of high Rocks, also, are places from which 
 extensive prospects may be seen. And we read of 
 travellers sometimes standing on a lofty eminence, and 
 seeing beneath their feet, all around them, the fierce 
 thunder storm raging ; while they have been secure, the 
 skies above them unclouded, and the sun shining brightly 
 on their heads. So Moses, when he was to see the glory 
 of God, was placed in a Cleft of the Rock Horeb, from 
 which, when the Lord passed by, he had a glimpse of 
 His majesty, and yet was unharmed. That Rock was 
 like Christ. Ro. x. 5. It is only through Christ that we 
 can obtain comfortable views of the glory of God. But 
 if we are not hidden in Christ, the CLEFT OF THE 
 ROCK, that glory will be to us a consuming fire. 
 
 From out of the Clefts of that Rock also there came 
 forth those refreshing waters, which followed the 
 Israelites through the wilderness, and sustained their
 
 CLEFT OF THE HOCK. 249 
 
 drooping spirits. So from the wounded side of Christ 
 there flows a stream which gives life and health, par- 
 don and purity, to all who partake of it. 
 
 " Rock of ages CLEFT for me, 
 Let me hide myself in thee ; 
 Let the water and the blood, 
 From thy riven side wMch flow'd, 
 Be of sin the double cure, 
 Cleanse me from its guilt and power." 
 
 Blessed Lord Jesus ! Thou art indeed the Hope of 
 Israel! Thou art the Saviour thereof in the time of 
 trouble ! We bless thee with joyful lips for all thy 
 sufferings on our behalf. Thou wast bruised for our 
 iniquities, and didst pour out thy life's blood for us, 
 that in thee we might find a Hiding Place. Thy sacred 
 side was torn and pierced, that there we might be 
 screened from danger. Teach us ever to regard thine 
 anguish as the source of our peace, thy death as the 
 spring of our life. With thy stripes may we be healed, 
 and every moment may we take refuge in thy wounds ! 
 
 " Ah ! shew us that happiest place, 
 The place of thy people's abode, 
 Where saints in an ecstacy gaze, 
 And hang on a crucified God. 
 
 " 'Tis there with the lambs of thy flock, 
 
 There only we covet to rest ; 
 To lie at the foot of the rock, 
 Or rise to be hid in thy breast. 
 
 " 'Tis there we would always abide, 
 
 And never a moment depart ; 
 
 Concealed in the CLEFT of thy side, 
 
 Eternally held in thy heart !"
 
 250 CITY OF KEFTJGE. 
 
 Another similitude of Christ setting Him forth as a 
 Retreat from danger, is the 
 
 (12.) CITY OF REFUGE. In Numb, xxxv., we 
 have an account of this institution. God directed the 
 Jews to appoint six Cities of Refuge for the manslayer. 
 If a man had killed his fellow without meaning to do so, 
 he might flee thither, and be safe from the avenger of 
 blood. 
 
 The ancient City of Refuge was a very beautiful Type 
 of Christ. Let me enumerate six points of resemblance 
 which commentators, acquainted with Jewish writings, 
 have taken notice of. 
 
 First, every thing was done to render the city easy 
 of access. It was not to be built in a valley, concealed 
 among trees, but set on a hill, that it might be seen 
 from afar. " So Christ is exalted to be a Prince and a 
 Saviour," and " exalted to show mercy." 
 
 2. The roads leading to it were to be very wide and 
 spacious. Once every year, the magistrates sent work- 
 men to clear them, and put them into complete repair. 
 So the way to Christ is plain, and it is the work of 
 ministers to keep it clear. God says to them, " Cast up 
 the highway, take up the stumbling block, gather out 
 the stones, prepare the way of my people." 
 
 3. Stones were set up on the roads at every cross 
 way, for fear the fugitive should go astray. The word 
 REFUGE ! was written on the stone in large letters ; so 
 that one might read as he ran. Thus do faithful 
 preachers and teachers direct sinners to the Saviour, 
 and cry Refuge ! " Flee from the wrath to come !"
 
 CITY OF REFUGE. 251 
 
 4. The gates were never shut, day nor night, so that 
 at any hour, the manslayer could enter. Christ says, 
 " Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." 
 
 5. The people of the city were to receive the fugitive, 
 and provide him with food and lodging, and every thing 
 he needed. So does Christ feed and clothe those who 
 flee to Him. He that believeth shall never hunger fitor 
 thirst. There is no want to them that fear Him. 
 
 6. This city was for all strangers as well as for Jews ; 
 So Christ is offered alike to all, of every kindred and 
 people, and nation and tongue. 
 
 Thus was the City of Refuge a Type of the Saviour, 
 as our Retreat from danger. 
 
 Suppose you had dwelt in the land of Judea, some 
 hundreds of years ago. You are walking along a street 
 of one of its cities. Suddenly your notice is attracted 
 by angry words passing between two men. From words 
 they proceed to blows ; and now they grapple with 
 each other, and fall together to the ground. The 
 commotion draws many around them, and at last they 
 are separated. One of the combatants is badly wounded. 
 The bystanders declare the poor man to be all but dead ; 
 and while they speak, he ceases to breathe. They 
 instantly urge the wretched man, who had struck him 
 this mortal blow, to make haste, and flee to the nearest 
 City of Refuge. " Fly !" they say to him, as he lingers, 
 scarcely believing the mischief he has done, " fly ! before 
 his relatives hear of it. They will certainly avenge 
 him. Get upon the high road instantly, as you value 
 your life !'' Would you not be greatly surprised if the 
 man were to answer, " True ; but it is a long journey, 
 and I may be absent a long while. I have just bought
 
 252 CITY OF EEFUGE. 
 
 some oxen, and I must first fetch them from the field ; I 
 am building a house, and I must tell the labourers how 
 to proceed ; a certain man owes me money, and I must 
 go and receive it." " Fool !" they would exclaim, " If 
 you trifle thus, in less than an hour you will be a dead 
 man ! then whose will be the money and oxen you 
 speak of ? and of what use will your house be to you ?" 
 With these words, the man is scarcely persuaded to see 
 his danger, and set out on his journey. And at last he 
 turns his face towards the City of Refuge. 
 
 You follow him a little way on the road, pitying the 
 condition he has brought himself to, and wishing that 
 he may escape. And lo ! the first person he meets, he 
 turns aside to gossip with. And bye and bye, he stops 
 to pick up some flowers that grow by the way side. 
 And presently, seeing a pleasant arbour, he turns aside, 
 and sits himself down. In pity to the man, you run to 
 him ; and you say, " My dear friend ! you must indeed 
 make haste your life is at stake !" " Oh but," says 
 he, " I can hide myself behind this wall. I shall fare 
 well enough. Do you mind your business, and I will 
 mind mine !" " Alas !" you say, " for this man's folly !" 
 And you return to the town, concluding in your own 
 mind, that he will surely be overtaken and slain by the 
 avenger, who will soon be at his heels. 
 
 Ah, you say, no man in his senses would throw 
 away his chance of escape in this foolish way. He 
 must be a madman, who would act thus in a matter of 
 life and death. You condemn such folly at once ; and 
 you turn to me, and tell me, that it is a very foolish 
 story, this which I have related ; for such a thing never 
 could have happened. Perhaps not.
 
 CITY OF BEFTJGE. 253 
 
 But who are they that are risking the precious life of 
 their souls in a way still more absurd ? Are there none 
 here, who are thus trifling, and throwing away their fair 
 opportunity of escape, for foolish vanities, like those 
 which occupied the attention of the man in this parable ? 
 
 I tell you, the life of your soul is threatened ! there 
 is instant danger ! You are urged to flee at once to 
 Christ ! God urges you ! conscience urges you ! your 
 teachers urge you ! death among your schoolfellows 
 urges you ! every thing conspires to urge your instant 
 flight. But you loiter away week after Aveek, and 
 despise all warning. Once more, I implore you to hear 
 instruction. The gospel gates are open. The CITY OF 
 REFUGE waits to enclose you within its friendly pre- 
 cincts. Be persuaded ! " Do this now, my son ; give 
 not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids ; 
 deliver thyself as a roe from the hands of the hunter, 
 and as a bird from the snare of the fowler !" Escape for 
 thy life ! Tarry not in all the plain ! Flee to the 
 Mountain, lest ye be overtaken and destroyed ! 
 
 Happy ! thrice happy are those who have already 
 entered the CITY, who have fled for refuge to Christ ! 
 If you are of that number, I congratulate you. There 
 is " strong consolation" for you. We have a strong 
 CITY. Salvation has God appointed for walls and 
 bulwarks. " Blessed be God, who has shewed us His 
 marvellous kindness in a strong CITY." Survey your 
 goodly heritage. Walk about the Place of your Refuge, 
 tell all its towers and battlements ; examine its security. 
 Study the great and precious promises of God, those 
 immutable barriers which shut you in on every side. 
 " Mark ye well her bulwarks, and consider her palaces.
 
 254 CONFIDENCE. 
 
 For this God is your God for ever and ever. He will be 
 your guard even unto death." For " The Lord shall be thy 
 
 (14.) CONFIDENCE, and shall keep thy foot from 
 being taken. 1 " Prov. iv. 26. Now may you look forth 
 on your pursuers with triumph, just as people in a 
 strong city, with lofty walls and solid bulwarks, and 
 plenty of stores for many a day, would be disposed to 
 look forth on their besiegers, and laugh at their threats. 
 So may the people of God say to their foes, " The 
 virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and 
 laughed thee to scorn ! The daughter of Jerusalem 
 hath shaken her head at thee !'' " The Lord of hosts 
 is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge." 
 
 But always remember one thing. If the avenger of 
 blood ever found the manslayer outside the walls of the 
 City, he might slay him. So we must abide in Christ. 
 For Satan has full power over every one whom he finds 
 in his own grounds. And he will shew them no mercy. 
 As it is written, Num. xxxv. 28, " Because he should 
 have remained in the City of his Refuge." "Wherefore 
 cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart. 
 
 In conclusion, I call upon you all to admire the grace 
 of God in providing, of His own accord, this divine 
 COVERT. But if you are not yet within its safe en- 
 closure, do not content yourselves with good thoughts of 
 it. The manslayer, when he arrived at the City, would 
 not pause without the gate, while he examined the 
 strength of his retreat, the height of its walls, or the 
 beauty of its architecture. He would not content 
 himself with having good thoughts of it. He would
 
 COS FIDES CE. 255 
 
 hasten to get within, and would admire it afterwards 
 at his leisure. The persecuted Covenanter, when pur- 
 sued by the bloodthirsty dragoons, would not stand 
 without, curiously to observe the strength and other 
 qualities of the rock, but would creep within its Clefts, 
 that he might there find " a Covert from the spoiler." 
 
 Wherefore come into this divine Hiding place while 
 you may. Your convictions, and tears, and prayers, all 
 go for nothing till you come to Christ ! Salvation is not 
 connected with mourning, or praying, or feeling your 
 burden, but with flying to Christ! Vain would all the 
 tears and entreaties of the manslayer be, if overtaken by 
 the avenger. And all in vain, his regret, and shame, 
 and sorrow, and grief, on account of what he had done. 
 There was only one path of safety, and that was to yet 
 within the City. Wherefore fly at once to Christ! Then 
 will you praise Him with joyful lips. 
 
 " Awake ! sweet harp of Judah wake ! 
 And tune thy strings for Jesus' sake ! 
 "We sing the Saviour of our race, 
 The Lamb, our Shield and Hiding Place. 
 
 " When God's right arm is bared for war, 
 And thunders clothe His cloudy car, 
 Where, where, oh where shall man retire, 
 T" escape the horrors of His ire ? 
 
 " "Tis He, the Lamb to whom we fly, 
 While the dread tempest passes by ; 
 God sees His Well-beloved's face, 
 And spares us in our Hiding Place. 
 
 " And while we dwell in this low scene, 
 The Lamb is our unfailing Screen ! 
 To Him, though guilty, still we run, 
 And God still spares us in His Son."
 
 LECTURE XV. 
 
 CHOSEN OP GOD. CALLED. CONSECRATED. COVENANT 
 
 OF THE PEOPLE. COENEE STONE. CEOWN 
 
 OF GLOEY AND DIADEM OF BEAUTY. 
 
 God's various gifts. His unspeakable gift. 1. Its preparation. Chosen, 
 God's purpose. The happy family. The offence. Wisdom necessary to 
 the exercise of forgiveness. Work of redemption. Difficulties in the way. 
 A council in heaven. Christ's fitness for the work. Therefore Chosen. Also 
 Called and Consecrated. II. The bestowment of the Gift- Three par- 
 ticulars. Covenant What it is. Covenant with Noah. Rainbow. God's 
 Covenant with Christ, With Adam. With the Jews. The new Covenant. 
 Substance of it. Who are the parties to it? All urged to subscribe it. 
 Generous offer and eager acceptance. The Covenant offered to all. The 
 dying child taking hold of God's Covenant. Christ the All of the Cove- 
 nant. Corner Stone. Solemnities observed at the foundation of the 
 temple. God's temple and Corner Stone. Its qualities. Stone of stumbling 
 to unbelievers. The Corinthian pillar. Crown of Glory. Hopes false 
 and true. Conclusion. Three things to be learned 1. Right thoughts of 
 God. 2. Of Christ 3. Of the nature of faith. 
 
 GOD has given us many gifts. He gave us life at first. 
 And He gives us all things by which that life is sus- 
 tained. He gives us food to eat, and raiment to put on. 
 The bed on which we recline our weary limbs at night 
 is His gift. The health and cheerfulness which make 
 our lives pleasant to us, and the friends who take care 
 of and provide for us, are all alike God's gifts. We 
 have nothing but what He gives us.
 
 CIIOSEX OF GOD. 257 
 
 But there is one gift which, by way of eminence, is 
 called God's unspeakable gift. You know what that is. 
 It is Christ. " Thanks be to God for His unspeakable 
 gift.'' And why is it culled unspeakable ? Because no 
 tongue of men or angels can utter the thousandth part 
 of its worth. God alone knows its value. And He 
 knows also how men pass by good things, and set, their 
 hearts on worthless things ; also how they love His 
 common gifts, and even thank Him for them, while they 
 take no notice of His unspeakable gift. And therefore 
 He calls their attention particularly to it. He says, 
 " Btkold my Servant whom I have chosen, mine Elect 
 in whom my soul is well pleased." 
 
 Suppose a father had given many things to His child, 
 but intended as a special expression of his love, to 
 bestow some very valuable gift. He would first choose 
 something suitable for his purpose. And then, having 
 found what he wanted, he would call the child, and 
 set the gift before him, and explain its nature and 
 worth. 
 
 So God intending to enrich His people, chooses His 
 beloved Son as the unspeakable gift. He sets Him 
 apart for this purpose, and then summons every one to 
 behold Him. He commends His love in giving such a 
 gift, speaks of the advantages which will flow from it, 
 and finally informs us how He expects us to receive it. 
 " This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 
 Hear Him." In this Lecture I shall bring before you 
 some particulars regarding 
 
 I. The Preparation of this Gift. 
 
 II. The Bestowment of it.
 
 258 CHOSEN OF GOD. 
 
 I. Its Preparation. 
 
 God first prepared the gift, for He speaks of Christ 
 as CHOSEN, CALLED, CONSECRATED. 
 
 When a master has some very difficult errand to be 
 done, he looks about amongst his servants, and considers 
 who would perform it best. And he chooses that servant 
 who is most fit for it. When he has thus fixed on a proper 
 person, he next calls him out, and gives him directions. 
 And lastly, he empowers him to act, and provides him 
 with whatever is necessary to bear the expenses of his 
 journies. Thus God chose the Lord Jesus, and called 
 and consecrated Him as His " Servant, to bring Jacob 
 again to Him." Let us then consider Christ as the 
 
 (15.) CHOSEN OF GOD. Lukexxiii.35; Psa.lxxxix. 
 19. God, from eternity, knew that Adam would fall 
 into sin, and that he would bring all his children into 
 the same state. But He determined to disappoint the 
 enemy of souls and glorify Himself, by bringing many 
 from among this fallen race to heaven. But there were 
 very great obstacles in the way. Their sins must be 
 atoned for, and the outrage done to God and His 
 government must be repaired. God's character must 
 not be injured by the way in which they are saved from 
 punishment. 
 
 Suppose there existed somewhere a large family of 
 young persons, who were all happy in each other's love, 
 and in the approbation of their father. Suppose that 
 every luxury and enjoyment within reach were to be 
 procured for these children ; and that they were allowed 
 to follow their sports every where throughout their 
 father's mansion and grounds, excepting to one par-
 
 CHOSEN OF GOD. 259 
 
 ticular spot, which he chose to reserve for his private 
 retreat. One day, some of these indulged, and till then, 
 happy children, disregarded the injunction, and were 
 found by the father within the sacred enclosure. Now 
 do you not see that if these offenders were to be forth- 
 with forgiven and treated with the same kindness as 
 before, how the authority of this wise parent would be 
 undermined ? Do you not see how this indulgence 
 might have an evil influence on the rest of the family ? 
 Might they not suppose that after all, the wishes of 
 their parent were not eo sacred, but that they might 
 transgress occasionally, and prefer their own pleasure to 
 his, without much mischief attending the transgression. 
 And thus by degrees disorder would spread from one to 
 another, and this once happy family would become as 
 notorious for confusion, as it was before remarkable 
 for order. If the offenders were forthwith banished 
 from the place, then the rest might fear, and the father's 
 authority would be kept up. But suppose he loved 
 these children very much, and could not bear to part 
 with them, but was determined to spare them ; would it 
 not require great wisdom indeed, so to bestow his for- 
 giveness as not to sap the foundations of his authority, 
 and make them all think lightly of it ? 
 
 Keep this in your minds when you consider the state 
 of fallen man, in reference to God. Sin must be 
 followed by a suitable punishment, and that for the 
 honour of God. And yet God had determined to redeem 
 a remnant according to the election of grace. But their 
 redemption must be so planned, that He shall be more 
 honoured in receiving these rebels back again to His 
 favour, than in destroying them. 
 
 s 2
 
 260 CHOSEN OF GOD. 
 
 But by whom was this to be accomplished ? Who 
 could work out this great question, How man could be 
 just ivith God, or how God could continue to be righteous, 
 and yet justify the ungodly? Who was able to unfold 
 this secret, and loose the seals thereof? None in 
 heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, except Christ 
 the CHOSEN Servant of Jehovah. 
 
 Milton represents God calling a council in heaven, 
 when the devil had brought about the ruin of Adam, 
 and setting before the assembled principalities His 
 purpose to save man; unfolding the difficulties of the 
 work, and asking of them what was to be done, and who 
 was able or willing to undertake it. 
 
 " Man, with his whole posterity, must die, 
 Die, he or justice must, unless for him 
 Some other able, and as willing, pay 
 The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 He asked ; but all the heavenly quires stood mute, 
 And silence was in heaven ; on man's behalf 
 Patron or intercessor none appeared." 
 
 The angels were all unequal to the mighty under- 
 taking. They felt that none of them could by any 
 means, redeem his fellow creature man, or give to God 
 a ransom for him. 
 
 But God hath abounded towards us in this, as in all 
 His other works in wisdom and prudence. He says, " I 
 have found David my servant. I have exalted One 
 CHOSEN out of the people. He shall perform the 
 work, and my hand shall be with Him." 
 
 He was verily foreordained before the foundation of 
 the world, and CHOSEN to this work, because He was
 
 CALLED. CONSECRATED. 261 
 
 the only Being fit for it, and equal to the difficulty. He 
 alone could give to God a fit and proper ransom for 
 man. And being CIIOSKX, He is also 
 
 (16.) CALLED. Isa. xlix. 1; Heb. v. 10. 
 of God, a High Priest for ever after the order of 
 Melclusedcck.'' 
 
 Aaron the Priest did not minister at God's altar of 
 his own accord, but was called of God to the work. 
 Moses, Samuel, and David were also called to their 
 several offices. So also Christ glorified not Himself, 
 did not take the office of His own will merely, but was 
 " CALLED of God as was Aaron." 
 
 He speaks of Himself in Isaiah xlix. 1, 2, as God's 
 CALLED Servant. And when He lived on earth, He 
 often told the Jews that they must attend to Him, 
 because He was CALLED of God, and appointed to do 
 what He did by His express wan-ant. He came into 
 the world, and offered up His life on the cross, in 
 obedience to this call. He was not constrained, but 
 CALLED. " Lo I come to do thy will." " I lay down 
 my life of myself." And He is also 
 
 (17.) COXSECRATED for evermore. Heb. vii. 28. 
 You know the meaning of this word, consecrated. It 
 was applied to the anointing and setting apart of kings 
 and priests. Of this we have spoken before, page 61. 
 
 Christ was COXSECRATED to His great work by the 
 solemn " word of the oath" of God, " thou art a Priest 
 for ever after the order of Melchiscdcck." And " Him 
 hath God the Father sealed." 
 
 He was CONSECRATED by the special anointing of 
 the Holy Spirit, and thus endowed with all the gifts
 
 2t>2 COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. 
 
 required for His undertaking. At His baptism the Holy 
 Dove descended on Him and pointed Him out to all as 
 the CONSECKATED one, separated for the service of God 
 and man. 
 
 And the office to which He is set apart doth never pass 
 away. Aaron died, with all his sons, and his priesthood 
 is abolished. " But this man hath an unchangeable 
 priesthood." King David's throne is overturned, but 
 the throne of this Prince, CONSECRATED of God, is for 
 ever and ever. 
 
 Thus have we seen how God hath prepared for us 
 this unspeakable gift, now let us consider 
 
 II. Its Bestowment. 
 
 And here are three particulars. First, " I will give 
 Him for a COVENANT." Second, " I lay Him in Zion 
 for a] CORNER STONE." Third, " He shall be for a 
 CROWN of GLORY and a DIADEM OF BEAUTY." 
 
 (18.) COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. Isa. xlii. 6. 
 I will explain to you what a Covenant is, and try to 
 shew you how Christ is a COVENANT. A Covenant, then, 
 is a mutual agreement entered into between two or 
 more parties, each engaging to perform certain condi- 
 tions. It is not in this sense that Christ is a Covenant. 
 Again, a Covenant is a sign, token, or pledge of such 
 an agreement. Amongst us this sign is commonly a 
 paper or parchment duly signed and sealed, on which 
 the agreement is written. This is the earnest or pledge 
 of the things which are to be made over from one party 
 to another. It is the bond or title deed. And the man 
 who owns the title deed claims the estate. And even if
 
 COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. 263 
 
 he do not immediately take possession, he has that by 
 him which will ensure it at last. Now this is the sense 
 in which Christ is a COVENANT. He is a pledge and 
 security of God's covenant promises. " All the pro- 
 mises of God are in Christ," and "He that hath the 
 Son hath life," and every good thing. 
 
 When God promised Noah that He would no more 
 drown the earth, He appointed the rainbow as a token 
 or sign of the Covenant. He said to Noah, " This bow 
 shall be in the clouds, and I will look on it and remember 
 my Covenant." Noah looked on it also, and assured 
 himself of God's protection. And we look on it still as 
 the sign of a Covenant made with all the earth, and rest 
 satisfied that God will keep His promise. 
 
 You have often seen God's beautiful bow in the 
 heavens with its seven lovely colours glistening in the 
 sun. And perhaps you have remembered what it is 
 placed there for, namely, to be a sign of God's promise 
 that the waters shall not return to destroy the earth. 
 
 When you next look on this beautiful bow, remem- 
 ber Christ. He is the pledge of a more important, even 
 an eternal Covenant. " For this is as the waters of Noah 
 unto me. For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah 
 shall no more return to destroy the earth, so have I 
 sworn that I will no more be wroth with thee nor 
 rebuke thee." 
 
 We read in the bible of several Covenants in which 
 God binds Himself by promises. One was made in 
 eternity between God the Father and Christ the ever- 
 lasting Son of the Father. In this Covenant God com- 
 mits a work to Christ which He undertakes : and God 
 promises a reward. " He shall see of the travail of His
 
 264 COVENANT TO XHli PEOPLE. 
 
 soul and be satisfied." But this is not the Covenant we 
 have to speak of to-day, although it is the foundation 
 of it. 
 
 Again, there was a Covenant with Adam, the terms 
 of which are these, " Obey my commands, and thou 
 and thy seed shall be blessed ; but if thou disobey, thou 
 shalt die." This Covenant has been long since declared 
 void ; so that this is not the one we enquire for. 
 
 There was a Covenant with the Jews, that if, as a 
 nation, they would obey God's laws, they should live 
 and prosper, but if not, they should become a byword 
 everywhere. It is written, " God sware and entered 
 into Covenant with them, but they despised the oath, 
 and brake the Covenant." Therefore neither is this the 
 Covenant we are in quest of. 
 
 But the same Book which informs us of these ancient 
 Covenants, tells us also of another, called the New 
 Covenant. In this God undertakes to give grace, and 
 glory, and all good things. And on the other part, 
 there is nothing required in exchange, and nothing to 
 be done, but that those entering into Covenant with 
 Him do agree to these terms, and take the blessings so 
 freely offered. This is, as you see, totally unlike all 
 the other Covenants. One party is to give the most 
 precious gifts ; the other party in exchange is to give 
 nothing, only to receive. 
 
 Now this Covenant is for substance as follows : 
 That God will freely save all who "take hold of" it. 
 That He will work in them faith and repentance, and 
 take away their stony hearts. That He will write His 
 laws in their hearts, and keep them blameless till 
 Christ's coming. That He will make all things work
 
 COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. 265 
 
 together for good, and finally bring them to heaven. 
 There they are to be presented faultless before the 
 throne of God, to walk in white shining garments, to be 
 crowned with a royal diadem, to be introduced to the 
 society of angels, to see the King in His beauty, to be 
 like Him, and sit with Him on His throne, In short, 
 they are to inherit all things, being made heirs of God, 
 and joint heirs with Christ. 
 
 Xow all these glorious things are free gifts on the 
 part of God. But He condescends to engage Himself 
 by oath to bestow them, and also to give us His dear 
 Son, as the pledge or earnest of them all. 
 
 But an important question occurs here. "Who are 
 those with whom this Covenant is made ? There must 
 be tsvo parties to a Covenant. God is one. He gives 
 the blessings, but who are those that receive them ? God 
 writes the Covenant, and seals it with an oath, and 
 signs it on His part with a " Thus saith the Lord." 
 But who subscribes it on the other part ? I answer 
 that every man, woman, and child, who believes in 
 Christ, signs the Covenant, and thus gains a title to 
 all its blessings. To as many as receive Him, to them 
 God gives a right to become His children and heirs. 
 Jno. i. 12. 
 
 Have you subscribed with your hand to the Lord, or 
 if not, will you now do it ? Ah ! I know you will not, 
 while you think yourselves rich and hi need of nothing. 
 But indeed you are poor and wretched all the time you 
 are destitute of a title to the heavenly inheritance. He 
 that hath not the Son hath not life. Oh strive to obtain 
 a part in the Covenant ! Despise not your birthright ! 
 Sell it not for the pleasures of the world. Hasten at once.
 
 266 COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. 
 
 to secure " bags which wax not old, a treasure in the 
 heavens which decayeth not." 
 
 Or do you doubt whether you may sign it ? Do you 
 look at the gift and say, " Christ for a Covenant ! and 
 with Him durable riches and righteousness, a crown, a 
 throne, an unfading inheritance ! how do I know it is 
 offered to me?" Read the direction, "I will give Him for 
 a Covenant to the people /" Not the Jews only, but the 
 Gentiles also, all people. You must be included in this 
 description ; for what is said of all is said of each, you 
 have only therefore to take hold of the Covenant, and 
 set your seal to it, and it is yours. 
 
 If one were to put into the hands of a needy man the 
 title deeds of some valuable estate, and bid him look 
 over them, he might give them back and say, " this is a 
 fair estate and a good thing for the owner, but I have 
 no interest in it ; it does not concern me." But suppose 
 the owner were to say, " I am willing to make all this 
 over to you. Here is a Covenant with my name and 
 seal at the foot of it ; put your name also, and it shall be 
 your title to the estate, and a sign between us of this 
 agreement." This would be quite another affair. Do 
 you think the man would hesitate if he liked the estate ? 
 Nay, he would hasten to set his name to the Covenant 
 and make it his own. 
 
 Now my young friends, God in His word speaks just 
 as pointedly to you and to me. " Incline your ear and 
 come unto me, and I will make an everlasting Covenant 
 with you, even the sure mercies of David. I give my Son 
 to you for a COVENANT or a Pledge of eternal life." 
 Now can you truly say, " Lord, I take thy Son for a 
 Covenant. I dare not doubt thy sincerity. I embrace
 
 COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. 267 
 
 the offer, and set to my seal that thou art true." Then, 
 if your heart be sincere in this, all things are yours, 
 whether the world, or life, or death, or things present or 
 things to come, all are yours. And you have as much 
 warrant as Dr Dodclridge or any other believer, to say, 
 
 " My God, the Covenant of thy love, 
 
 Abides for ever sure ; 
 And in its matchless grace I feel 
 My happiness secure. 
 
 " This Covenant in the darkest hours 
 
 Shall heavenly rays impart, 
 Which when my eyelids close in death, 
 Shall warm my chilling heart." 
 
 There lived a little while ago, a sweet little child who 
 was a comfort to her parents, and a favourite with all 
 who knew her. But she was taken ill, and her life drew 
 near to the grave. Her Sunday school teacher went to 
 see her, and found her very ill, but very happy. Wishing 
 to know the ground of her happiness, he said, 
 
 " My dear child, you seem very ill ; I am afraid you 
 will not live long. Are you willing to die." 
 
 " Oh yes, sir, I am quite ready to die." 
 
 " But what makes you so happy in the prospect of 
 death ?" 
 
 " Because I hope to go to heaven, to be where God 
 is." 
 
 " But are you not a sinner, and is not heaven a holy 
 place ? How can you hope to go there ?" 
 
 " Ah sir, but I have read in the scriptures, and you 
 have often told me, that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of 
 sinners."
 
 2G8 CORXEK STOXE. 
 
 Wishing to try her a little farther, he said, " But how 
 do you know that He will save you '<"' 
 
 She hesitated a moment, and looked at her friend, as 
 if she wondered much at the question, but soon an- 
 swered with great firmness, " Because it is written, ' Him 
 that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' " 
 
 Thus did this dear child take hold of the CoA r ENA.NT, 
 and rest on Christ's promise. This was all her sal- 
 vation, and all her desire in the hour of death. Oh may 
 the same faith, arid the same peace be ours, when we 
 are called to die ! 
 
 But a few more words concerning the Covenant of 
 grace. To this Covenant Jesus Christ is the Witness ; 
 it is signed with His name, and sealed with His blood. 
 He is the Surety ; undertaking to pay all debts, and 
 fulfil all obedience. He is the Mediator ; He reconciles 
 the two parties to the Covenant, who were at variance, 
 God and man. He is the Messenger; He came 
 through a thousand dangers to bring it to us. Finally, 
 He is the Testator. A. deed is of unchangeable force 
 after men are dead. It cannot then be altered. Christ 
 died, and thus made the Covenant of the nature of a last 
 will and testament. 
 
 May He not well be called the COVENANT, seeing 
 that He is the Pledge of all its promises, the All in all 
 in its execution, and Himself is the grand blessing con- 
 veyed in it ? 
 
 Again, God has given Christ for a 
 
 (19.) CORNER STONE. Eph. ii. 20. The Corner 
 Stone of a building is the first and principal Stone, and 
 unites the parts of the building together. And Christ
 
 CORXER STONE. 269 
 
 is called the CHIEF CORXER STOXE of the church, 
 which is God's spiritual house. You know that usually 
 when any very remarkable building is to be set up, 
 there is a great deal of ceremony at the laying of 
 the Corner stone. Whe men build a temple for the 
 worship of God, the people of a whole neighbourhood 
 are summoned together, hymns are sung suitable to the 
 occasion, and prayers are offered up to God that He 
 would bless the work. And this is a beautiful ob- 
 servance, for " except the Lord build the house, they 
 labour in vain who build it." In ancient times, as well 
 as in the present day, these solemnities used to be 
 observed. 
 
 You may read in Ezra iii., an account of a service of 
 this kind. " When the builders laid the foundation of 
 the temple of the Lord they set the priests in their ap- 
 parel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph 
 with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance 
 of David king of Israel. And they sang together by 
 course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord ; 
 because He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever 
 toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great 
 shout, when they praised the Lord, because the founda- 
 tion of the house of the I/ord was laid, and the noise 
 wa^ heard afar off" 
 
 The temple whose foundationwas celebrated with such 
 rejoicing is now level with the ground; there is not one 
 stone upon another. All have been overturned. And 
 all the temples on earth shall fall in like manner. 
 
 But here we read of a temple to be reared by the 
 hands of the Almighty ; a great and glorious temple 
 which shall last for ever, even a living temple made up
 
 270 CORNER STONE. 
 
 of lively stones. And God makes choice of a precious 
 Stone, a CHIEF CORNER STONE for a foundation on 
 which the building may rest and be firmly built. And 
 having made this choice, He calls all the world to come 
 and see it. " Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a 
 precious CORNER STONE." 
 
 This Foundation is called a Stone because a Stone is 
 very strong and durable. And this divine CORNER 
 STONE will stand any assault, and last for ever. It is 
 called a precious Stone for the sparkling glory and daz- 
 zling brightness of its nature, outshining the sun in its 
 strength ; also in that it is so rare. There is not such 
 another Being in all the world as Christ. This is the 
 " Man more precious than the gold of Ophir." It is 
 also elect. God chose it for the purpose because He 
 knew it would bear all the weight which was to be laid 
 on it ; for He is God. Also that it would be suitable to 
 the other stones of the building, that all might be com- 
 pacted together ; for He is Man. 
 
 It is also a tried Stone. It has been tried by God 
 himself, and answered His expectations. It has been 
 tried by Satan, and the gates of hell cannot prevail 
 against it. It has been tried by men, for thousands 
 have laid their souls upon it, and have been unmoved 
 amidst storms and tempests. God may well call all the 
 world to behold it. 
 
 When the Jews laid the foundation stone of the temple, 
 God directed their minds to a more illustrious STONE, 
 Zech. iii. 9. As if He had said, " You see that stone, and 
 you glory hi it ; come, see another of which that is but 
 the type. Behold the STONE which I Jehovah have laid. 
 Upon this STONE shall be seven eyes ;" It is of such
 
 COBNER STONE. 271 
 
 dazzling lustre and beauty that it shall draw the atten- 
 tion of all. " And I will grave the graving thereof saith 
 the Lord of Hosts." 
 
 Well, and did all those whose attention was called to 
 this STONE hasten to build their hopes upon it? Surely 
 we might have supposed that those who saw it laid by 
 the hands of God would immediately build on it, that 
 they might be united with so precious a STONE. At least 
 the builders, the scribes and rulers if not the common 
 people, would perceive its worth and esteem it. Alas ! 
 far from it. " This is the STONE which the builders 
 rejected ;" they were too blind to see its glory. And 
 so instead of building on it they stumbled at it, and fell 
 upon it, and were broken in pieces. It became a STONE 
 of stumbling and a rock of offence. 
 
 And how do you treat this STONE ? Do you admire 
 it? That is well. But you must come nearer. You 
 must be joined to it. You must become one with it. 
 There may be many stones lying around a temple 
 which are never built into the walls. These will be 
 all taken away. Ah ! take care that you are not swept 
 away among them. 
 
 May God grant, in His great mercy and for His 
 name's sake, that all of us may be laid upon this STONE, 
 and, being polished after the similitude of a palace, be 
 built into the everlasting temple, so as to remain here- 
 after as pillars in the temple of God, to go no more out 
 for ever ! 
 
 You are not familiar with temples and palaces, but 
 you have heard of them. You have heard of Solomon's 
 porch with its lofty columns. Now the Christian is like 
 a tall Corinthian pillar in a temple, beautifully polished
 
 272 CROWN OF GLORY. 
 
 and richly carved and adorned ; standing firmly on its 
 foundation, and crowned with an elegant capital, which 
 surmounts it like a diadem. Thus does the Christian 
 rest all his weight steadily on Christ as the CORNER 
 STONE, and then Christ also becomes to him an honour 
 and an ornament, his 
 
 (20.) CROWN OF GLORY AND DIADEM OF 
 BEAUTY. Isa. xxviii. 5. There is a foundation spoken 
 of, which a tempest of hail, the flood of God's wrath 
 shall sweep away, and the column that is built on it shall 
 be overturned ; like the pillars which Samson pulled 
 down on himself and the assembled Philistine lords. 
 The hopes which rest on any other foundation than 
 Christ, shall be miserably disappointed. 
 
 There is also a " Crown of pride and glorious 
 beauty," which the prophet says shall be " trodden 
 under foot, and fade away." Isa. xxviii. 1. When the 
 pillar falls, its capital is broken, and all its beauty lies 
 buried in the dust. Not so those who are joined to 
 Christ, and built on the tried CORNER STONE. 
 
 To be built on this STONE is, you know, simply to 
 believe on Christ. Do this, and not only shall you never 
 be confounded, but you shall be highly honoured and 
 esteemed. A Crown denotes honour and exaltation ; 
 and God will lift up your head. And whereas many 
 wear Crowns who are loathsome and wicked, your 
 CROWN shall be a DIADEM OF BEAUTY. For Christ 
 will see to it, that you shall be made meet for the 
 Master's use, and worthy to stand before His throne, 
 and grace His temple. 
 
 Let us then count all things but loss that we may be
 
 CBOWX OF GLOKY. 273 
 
 found In Him, resting all our weight on Him, and 
 deriving all our righteousness and beauty from Him. 
 Then when He shall come to be admired in them that 
 believe, He will not be ashamed to own us before His 
 Father, and before His holy angels. " In that day shall 
 the Lord of Hosts be for a CIIOWN OF GJLOBY AND A 
 DIADEM OF BEAUTY." 
 
 Now let me tell you what you must learn from this. 
 
 First. Learn to entertain right thoughts of God. 
 Do not think that the Father is full of anger and wrath, 
 and that Christ alone is kind and gracious, and that He 
 persuades God to be merciful to us. This is not right. 
 Our deliverance begun with God. No one asked Him 
 to shew mercy ; but of His own good pleasure He 
 chose to redeem us. God contrived the plan of sal- 
 vation, and sent His Son to work out His plan. 
 
 2. Learn to have right thoughts of Jesus Christ. He 
 brings good news to all people. It is not for old people 
 alone, but young people also. His business is with all 
 who will attend to Him. And you are not left at 
 liberty to attend or not, just as you please, but God 
 " commands" you to " hear Him," and to believe on 
 Him. 
 
 3. Learn what true faith is. It takes what God gives, 
 and takes it thankfully. Unbelief is an insult to God. 
 It is an intolerable thing that God should make us such 
 great offers, and that we, though so poor, should be too 
 proud or too idle to take them. Let us then comply 
 with God's invitation, and take what He gives. God 
 says, "I ffive Christ for a COVENANT to the people.' 1 
 Do you say, " Lord, I am one of the people, and I lake 
 
 I
 
 274 CROWN OF GLOBY. 
 
 Him for a COVENANT." God says, " Behold I lay Him 
 for a CORNER STONE." Do you fall in with God's plan, 
 and say, " Lord, I build on Him as my only Foundation." 
 God says, " I give Him for a CROWN OF GLORY and a 
 DIADEM OF BEAUTY." Do you say, " Lord, I will 
 glory in Him alone, as my righteousness and beauty. 
 And I will count all other crowns and ornaments as 
 nothing in comparison with this." They who thus treat 
 God's offers, truly honour Him, and shall be honoured 
 by Him. While they who despise or neglect them, 
 shall be themselves lightly esteemed. 
 
 " The COVENANT of the Father's love 
 
 Shall stand for ever good ; 
 For Jesus gave His soul to death, 
 And sealed the gift with blood. 
 
 " To this dear COVENANT of thy word, 
 
 I set my worthless name, 
 I seal th' engagement to my Lord, 
 And make my humble claim. 
 
 " I call that legacy my own, 
 
 Which Jesus did bequeath ; 
 'Twas purchased with a dying groan, 
 And ratified in death. 
 
 " Sweet is the memory of His name, 
 
 Who blessed us in His will, 
 
 And to His COVENANT of grace, 
 
 Made His own life the seal."
 
 LECTURE XVI. 
 
 COUNSELLOR. COMFORTER. CONSOLATION OF ISBAEL. 
 
 Direction in difficulties. Switzerland All men travellers. Voltaire's way 
 and end. The Christian's way safe, and his end peace. Christ a Counsellor. 
 John the Baptist applied to. Children need counsel, and why. Urged to 
 ask it of Christ. Three classes supi>osed to ask What shall we do? 1. The 
 unconverted. Their instant duty. 2. The awakened. What they ought 
 to do. 3. The converted. Directions for them. The swearer reproved. The 
 boy and his mother. Naaman's servant. Christ a Comforter. The disciples. 
 Job's comforters. Frienils often fail in the hour of need. Christ never fails 
 those who trust Him. 1. Season of Conviction. 2. Bereavements. 3 Hour 
 of death. Prayer to Christ. Congelation of Israel. Simeon. The Jew 
 without hope. The gardener's happiness in death. Other instances. Mr. 
 Janeway. His last words. Rutherford. Whether men can enjoy consolation 
 in the midst of tortures. John Lambert. The triumphant martyr. Whether 
 children are thus consoled. Instances. Peter Cox a trophy of grace. 
 Death of a little girl. Improvement. Conclusion of the whole. 
 
 WHEN a man undertakes an intricate journey, he will 
 either ask his way, or get a guide to go with him. And 
 the seaman, if he mean to get safe to port, will carefully 
 observe his compass, that he may steer his bark aright 
 through the pathless ocean. Or if he sail in strange 
 seas, he will hire a pilot, that under his guidance he 
 may escape hidden dangers. 
 
 The roads in Switzerland are many of them very 
 dangerous. They lead across mountains, over steep 
 precipices, and through rugged ravines. Sometimes 
 they are blocked up with ice, or buried beneath the 
 snow. Without a guide the traveller must lose the 
 
 x2
 
 276 COUNSELLOR. 
 
 track, and either perish in the snow, or be greatly hin- 
 dered in his progress. But this delay may be his ruin ; 
 for if night overtake him, either he may be torn in pieces 
 by ravenous wolves, or be frozen to death, or be attacked 
 by robbers. Therefore the traveller who really means 
 to get to his journey's end, safe and sound, will furnish 
 himself with a guide. 
 
 My dear young friends, you are all travellers. The 
 moment you were born you began your journey, and 
 when you die, you arrive at your long last home. If you 
 wish for a safe journey, and a joyful arrival, and a com- 
 fortable lodging at night, you must have a guide. And 
 you must abide by his directions, for though there are 
 many wrony roads, there is only one riyht way. 
 
 I dare say you have heard of Voltaire. He was a 
 very wicked man. He thought he could shift for him- 
 self on this dangerous journey. He refused to have a 
 guide, and threw away his compass, the bible, as a 
 useless thing. And therefore, as you might suppose, he 
 wandererd far and wide from the right way, and made 
 a very unhappy end to his journey. When he was siezed 
 with sickness, he sent in great alarm for the physician, 
 l)r Tronchin, who, on attending the summons, found 
 him in the greatest agonies, exclaiming in the utmost 
 horror, " I am abandoned by God and man ! Doctor, I 
 will give you the half of what I am worth, if you will 
 give me six months of life !" The doctor answered, 
 " Sir, you cannot live six weeks." Voltaire replied 
 with a dismal groan, "Then I shall go to hell!" and 
 soon after died. His journey ended in the blackness of 
 darkness for ever. 
 
 But the Christian's path shineth more and more unto
 
 COUNSELLOR. 277 
 
 the perfect day. " Mark the perfect man, and behold 
 the upright ; for the end of that man is peace." And 
 why ? Because he commits his way to God. 
 
 Let me then recommend to you for your guide, Him 
 whom God has given for a Leader, and whose name is 
 "called Wonderful, COUNSELLOR." Follow His counsel-, 
 so shall your journey through life be safe, and your end 
 peaceful ; and your home through all eternity shall be 
 in God's palace, with saints and angels on high. 
 
 I said your journey should be safe. It shall be 
 pleasant too. For Christ is the COMFORTER also of 
 those who follow Him. They lean on His arm, as well 
 as walk in His steps. When the road is rough, " their 
 shoes are iron and brass, and as their day is their 
 strength." Not so the wicked. Their journey is very, 
 very comfortless at times. Hear the complaint of one 
 who rejected Christ as his Guide. 
 
 " Oppressed with grief, oppressed with care, 
 A burden more than I can bear, 
 
 I sit me down and sigh ; 
 O life ! thou art a galling load, 
 Along a rough, a weary road, 
 
 To wretches such as I. 
 Dim backward as I cast my view, 
 
 What sickening scenes appear ! 
 What sorrows yet may pierce me through, 
 
 Too justly may I fear !" 
 
 Behold ! thus shall the man be, who undertakes to 
 be his own guide, and turns away from the counsels of 
 God. 
 
 But with Christ for a Guide, as your journey shall be 
 safe and happy, so shall your end be calm and peaceful.
 
 278 COUNSELLOR. 
 
 And when you stand on the threshold of your home, you 
 shall be like Simeon, who, holding in his arms the CON- 
 LATION OF ISRAEL, said, " Lord, now lettest thou thy 
 servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen 
 thy salvation." 
 
 These three titles of Christ, COUNSELLOR, COM- 
 FORTER, and CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL, are to be the 
 subject of this afternoon's meditation, and will finish 
 this series. First, 
 
 (21.) COUNSELLOR. Isa. ix. 6. A Counsellor is 
 one who gives advice and direction to such as are 
 perplexed, or in difficulty. Those held in repute for 
 holiness or wisdom are frequently applied to for then- 
 counsel. 
 
 John the Baptist was, you know, held in great 
 reverence among the Jews. Great multitudes were 
 attracted by his preaching. We read that men of all 
 ranks came to ask counsel of him. " The common 
 people came and said, What shall we do ? The publicans 
 said, Master, what shall we do ? And the soldiers 
 demanded of him, And what shall we do ?" And do 
 you not think it likely that young persons also came to 
 him with this question, What shall we do ? We do not 
 indeed read that such was the case. But however that 
 might be, we are certain that children did go to Christ, 
 and our Lord would not suffer them to be hindered. 
 
 And my young friends, the Saviour is still willing to 
 receive you and give you counsel. He is not the 
 COUNSELLOR of grown people alone, but of the young 
 also. "The bible was written for children. Deut. xi. 19. 
 The promises are for children. Acts ii. 39. Sabbaths
 
 COUNSELLOR. 279 
 
 and sermons are for children. And Christ is a Guide 
 for children. And why ? Because children are lost, 
 and therefore need a Saviour. They are exposed to 
 many dangers and beset with many difficulties, and 
 therefore need a Counsellor as well as men and women. 
 
 Perhaps you have hitherto thought that you have 
 nothing to do with Christ as a COUNSELLOR; and no 
 concern in putting this question to Him, What shall 
 ire do ? You say, " It may be all very well for men 
 and women to ask counsel of Christ, but as for us, we 
 will put it off to a more convenient season. There is 
 time enough yet. When we feel at a loss, then we will 
 ask Christ's advice, and seek direction of Him. Or 
 when we grow a little older we mean to enquire into 
 these things." 
 
 But stay ! I said just now that the bible was for 
 children, and the promises for children. But is that all ? 
 Are there not sicknesses and diseases for children ? 
 and coffins, and shrouds, and graves, are they not also 
 for children ? For alas ! do not children die as well 
 as men and women ? Go into yonder churchyard, and 
 measure the little grassy hillocks which cover the graves, 
 and tell me, are there not many much shorter than the 
 stature of some of you ? How do you know then, that 
 this more convenient season will ever arrive ? With 
 serious and attentive minds, I would have you to ask at 
 once of this wonderful COUNSELLOR, What shall we 
 do ? I will imagine then that three sorts of young per- 
 sons put this question. 
 
 1. Some of you may say, " We are unconverted 
 What shall ice do?'' Not converted! Then Christ's 
 counsel to you is, that you neither eat, nor drink, nor
 
 280 COUNSELLOE. 
 
 sleep, till you are. For all the while you remain un- 
 converted, the curse of God is upon you. You are in 
 the wrong road. Read Ezek. xviii. 30-32. " Repent 
 and turn yourselves from your transgressions, so iniquity 
 shall not be your ruin. Make you a new heart and a 
 right spirit, for why will ye die ?" 
 
 " Turn yourselves," that is, change your minds. For 
 instance : you have no mind to love God. This is a 
 very hateful thing. And therefore God requires that 
 you should change your minds in this respect. God 
 says, " My son, give me thine heart." In other words, 
 " My little boy, you must love the Lord your God." 
 And is not this reasonable ? Who made you ? Who 
 feeds and clothes you ? Whose earth do you walk on ? 
 It is God who gives you all things richly to enjoy. And 
 surely you should love Him. Therefore change your 
 minds ; and do it now, before you eat, drink, or sleep ; 
 for except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 
 
 2. Some may say, " We are aivakened, what shall 
 AVE do ? We feel sin to be a heavy load, and confess 
 we are poor, and miserable, and blind." To such the 
 COXJNSEI/LOB gives this advice : " Come unto me, all 
 ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
 rest." And " I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in 
 the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment 
 that thou mayest be clothed, and eye salve that thou 
 mayest see." And make haste about it. Believe now. 
 Fly to Christ now. Would a man, pursued by a wild 
 beast, stand still and gaze about him ? Would he not 
 run for his life ? Wherefore " agree with thine adversary 
 quickly, whilst thou art in the way, lest he hale thee to 
 the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the prison."
 
 COUNSELLOR. 281 
 
 I bless God we are not without hope that some of you 
 are in this state of mind, really awakened to see your 
 danger as sinners, and your need of Christ. But we are 
 fearful and solicitous lest you should rest in some state 
 short of true conversion. Oh beware that you trifle not 
 with these impressions. It is pleasing to your teachers 
 to see you, on sabbath days, attending this school with 
 eagerness, and that you would on no account be absent ; 
 it is encouraging to know that you feel an interest in 
 prayer meetings, and other means of grace. Go on in 
 these things. But oh ! rest not here. Remember 
 there is no solid peace in life, and no security in death, 
 for such as are only awakened ! The blessings of the 
 gospel belong only to such as hare already come, and are 
 daily coming to Christ. And the way is open ; Christ 
 is ready to save you, and waiting to embrace you. 
 However great your sins, however distressful and con- 
 fused your feelings, whatever discouragements you have 
 now pressing upon you, let them not keep you from 
 Christ, but rather drive you to Him. If you have 
 entered this place trembling and burdened on account 
 of your sins, if you are at this present moment ready 
 to exclaim, " Oh wretched being that I am, who shall 
 deliver me from all this guilt and disquietude ?" know 
 that there is but one answer to all your enquiries, 
 one remedy for all your complaints, YOU MUST COME 
 TO CHRIST. You need not carry your burdens away 
 with you, and cross yonder threshold again still un- 
 happy, you need not wait to hear more sermons, and 
 read more books, and shed more tears, nor stay till 
 you become more humble, more holy, more penitent,
 
 282 COUNSELLOR. 
 
 before you come to Christ ; but you may come now, and 
 come Just as you are. 
 
 " Come, and he'll cleanse your spotted souls, 
 
 And wash away your stains, 
 In the dear fountain which He poured 
 Forth from His dying veins. 
 
 " Your heart, that flinty stubborn thing, 
 
 That terrors cannot move, 
 That fears no threat'nings of His wrath, 
 Shall be dissolved by love. 
 
 " Then will He pour salvation down, 
 
 And you shall render praise, 
 
 You the dear children of His love, 
 
 And He your God of grace." 
 
 3. But perhaps there are some happy young people 
 present who are able to say " We hope we are converted, 
 What shall WE do ?" Oh there are a great many 
 delightful things for you to do. Your heavenly COUN- 
 CILLOR says, search the Scriptures. Pray to your 
 Father "who seeth in secret. Obey your parents. 
 Love one another. Do good unto all men. Now these 
 things are not grievous if you are converted. No ! they 
 are delightful. It is " meat and drink" to follow Christ's 
 counsels. I cannot stay to speak of them all now. You 
 must read them in your bibles for yourselves. But I 
 wish to impress it on your minds, that you need not 
 sit down on the seat of the slothful, and idly ask, What 
 shall we do ? There are many things which the youngest 
 may set about instantly. 
 
 I once knew a boy, (and he was a very little boy,) 
 who reproved a gentleman for swearing. The gentleman
 
 COrXSELLOR. 283 
 
 invited him to his house ; " No, indeed," said the boy, 
 " I'll not go with you." " Why not, my little fellow ?" 
 " Because you take God's name in vain." Now thus 
 you can do, you can refuse to associate with the wicked, 
 and in a simple manner you can tell those who sin 
 against God how great an evil it is. 
 
 I knew another child who was once walking with his 
 mother, when she was very sad and dejected. The 
 little fellow took notice of his mother's grief, and walked 
 by her side in silence for a time. But presently, looking 
 up into her face, he asked tenderly why she wept ? 
 And then he tried to comfort her. And he said, 
 " Mother, does not the bible say, ' I will never leave 
 thee nor forsake thee,' and ' as thy day thy strength shall 
 be ?' " " Yes, my child, God does say this in His word, 
 and may He bless you for your affectionate sympathy 
 with your mother in her sorrow." These promises were 
 suitable to her condition at that time ; and some years 
 afterwards she told me the story with a great deal of 
 feeling. Now this you can do. You can store your 
 memory with Christ's counsels and promises, and use 
 them for the benefit of others. 
 
 You remember the story of Naaman's little maid, who 
 informed her master where there was a prophet who 
 could heal him of his leprosy. You cannot do this, but 
 you can tell your fellow sinners that you know of a 
 Physician who can heal their souls. 
 
 If the time would permit I could tell you of a little 
 girl who taught her parents to read in the bible ; and 
 of another who persuaded her drunken father to go to a 
 place of worship, where he heard that which pierced his
 
 284 COMFORTER. 
 
 soul, and led to his conversion. But I must pass on to 
 the next Title. Those who obey Christ as their Coux- 
 SELLOR, shall find that He will also be their 
 
 (22.) COMFORTER. Isa. Ixi. 2 ; Jno. xiv. 16. Our 
 Lord in His first sermon to the Jews presented Himself 
 to them as " Anointed to COMFORT those that mourn." 
 When about to leave the world, He promised His 
 disciples that He would " pray the Father, and He 
 would send them another Comforter" implying that 
 He had been their COMFORTER hitherto. Great indeed 
 was the Comfort they had found in His society and 
 conversation. And when He talked of leaving them, it 
 almost broke their hearts. Lord, said one of them, 
 Why cannot we follow thee ? we will go with thee to 
 prison and to death. They spoke of a prison, as if it 
 would become a palace if He were there too. And of 
 death, as if life would not be life without Him, or as if 
 they would surely die if they lost Him. 
 
 So when Christ once asked them, Will ye also go 
 away ? they were grieved at the question. Lord, to 
 whom shall we go ? Thou only hast the words of 
 eternal life ; thou art our only COMFORTER. They were 
 ready to say to Him, as Ruth said to Naomi, " How can 
 we leave thee or return from following thee ? Whither 
 thou goest we will go, and where thou lodgest we will 
 lodge, where thou diest we will die, and there would 
 we be buried." 
 
 Thus highly did they esteem Christ as a COMFORTER. 
 And no wonder ! There is no Comforter like Him. Job 
 said of his friends, " Miserable Comforters are ye all;" 
 and often we may- say the same to our friends.
 
 COMFOBTER. 285 
 
 Sometimes they cannot understand our grief, and 
 only our " heart knoweth its own bitterness." You 
 who are cast down and low-spirited, is there some- 
 thing on your minds which you are ashamed to reveal 
 to your dearest acquaintance ? Christ is the secret 
 witness of your sorrow. And He puts your tears into 
 His bottle. Are they not in His book ? Be not afraid 
 that your complaints are too trifling for His ear. " They 
 shall hang upon Him all vessels of small quantity, from 
 the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flagons." 
 Isa. xxii. 24. 
 
 Sometimes our friends will not even sympathize with 
 us, when we do unbosom ourselves. But Christ is touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities. None can feel for us 
 like those who have been in the same trials themselves. 
 He was a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 
 
 Sometimes our friends are at a distance, when we are 
 overtaken with misfortunes. The Comforter who should 
 -elieve us is far froin us. But our divine COMFORTER 
 is always near at hand. Thou hast only to knock at 
 His door, and it is straightway opened. " Thou shalt 
 call and He will answer." 
 
 And there are afflictions, in reference to which, when 
 earthly friends offer their services, we are constrained 
 more emphatically to repeat Job's complaint, " miser- 
 able comforters are ye all." But Christ can save to the 
 uttermost. There is no sorrow so deep but He can lift 
 us out of it. 
 
 For instance, when our eyes are opened to see the 
 danger we are in of eternal death, and the greatness of 
 our sins against the God of love, none but this divine 
 COM FOUTER can relieve us. Our friends may strive to
 
 286 COMFORTER. 
 
 amuse us, and when they see our grief, they may say, 
 " Come with us, join in our merriment, and let us 
 laugh away all melancholy feelings." Ah ! but this will 
 not do. Such joy is " like the crackling of thorns under 
 a pot ;" in the midst of this laughter the heart is sad. 
 The very tears of a convinced sinner mourning for sin, 
 are sweeter by far than such empty mirth. And indeed, 
 Christian friends may often in vain attempt to speak 
 to our peculiar case. But Christ can speak " peace to 
 to him that is near, and to him that is afar off." For 
 well He knows how to speak a word in season to them 
 that are weary with the burden of sin. He was anointed 
 to comfort those who thus mourn. " Come unto me," 
 He says, " and I will give you rest." 
 
 Again, sometimes we lose our friends by death. 
 Perhaps we follow a pious mother to the tomb. And 
 there, in the lonely church-yard, with many sighs and 
 tears, we lay her precious remains in the grave, 
 
 " "We see the coffin slow descend, 
 
 We think upon the past ; 
 We feel as though our hearts would rend, 
 As one last look we cast," 
 
 and we return to the dwelling which was once glad- 
 dened by her presence ; but all is changed. Her place is 
 vacant. Her soothing voice is heard no longer. We miss 
 the busy kindness which sought to anticipate our wants, 
 and strove to make us happy. Alas ! she is not. And our 
 tears flow apace, when we remember that we shall see 
 her loved form no more on earth. Ah! who can com- 
 fort the mourner now ? The voice of friendship cannot 
 reach the wound. It is within. There, in the hidden 
 depths of the heart, the pain is felt ; and at every fresh
 
 COMFORTER. 287 
 
 attempt on the part of our friends to divert us, we say- 
 truly, Miserable comforters are ye all. 
 
 But oh, blessed be our heavenly COMFORTER ! His 
 divine consolations can reach us. He says, " I will not 
 leave you comfortless (or orphans) I will come to you." 
 And when He comes, it is to dry our tears, and to remind 
 us that He holds the keys of death, that with Him is 
 the soul of this departed one, and that those who sleep 
 in Jesus, He will bring with Him. Thus does He pour 
 balm and oil into these painful wounds. 
 
 Perhaps there is a little girl here who has lost her 
 mother. And some may have lost both their parents. 
 Ah ! this is very sad. Every one feels for the poor little 
 orphan who is deprived of a mother's tender love, or a 
 father's watchful care. But there is a sweet promise 
 which I wish you to take notice of; I recommend you 
 to turn it into a prayer, "As one whom his mother 
 comforteth, so will I comfort you." Isa. Ixvi. 13. And 
 there is another text which seems to have been put into 
 the bible on purpose for such. " Like as a father 
 pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear 
 Him." Psa. ciii. 13. Oh trust in Christ, all ye who are 
 orphans and fatherless ; and He will comfort you under 
 your loss. " When your father and your mother forsake 
 you, then the Lord will take you up." 
 
 But we must die ourselves. And who shall comfort 
 us in that solemn hour ? Blessed Jesus ! so highly do 
 we prize thy consolations, that like thy disciples at 
 Emmaus, we do entreat thee not to leave us. With 
 holy violence we would constrain thee ! Abide with us, 
 for it may be towards evening, and our short day may 
 be far spent, and our journey almost ended. And oh !
 
 288 CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 
 
 what comfort will there be when we die, if thou be not 
 with us ? Where else can we lay our aching heads, but 
 in thy bosom ? Oh be thou near to speak comfortably 
 to us, when heart and flesh shall fail. When we must 
 leave all our friends behind us, and go down into the 
 dark valley, and walk through it alone, oh then let thy 
 smile cheer us, let thy rod and staff comfort us ! 
 
 " Death cannot make our souls afraid 
 
 If thou be with us there, 
 We may walk though its darkest shade, 
 And never yield to fear. 
 
 " For thou canst make a dying bed 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are, 
 While on thy breast we lean our head, 
 And breathe our life out sweetly there." 
 
 Yes, my dear children, when we come to die, all other 
 comforts will fail us, but that which good old Simeon 
 blessed God for, the 
 
 (23.) CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. Luke ii. 25. 
 He saw with His eyes, and held in His arms, that which 
 the prophets had looked and longed for ; and with joy 
 unspeakable and full of glory, He gave thanks to God. 
 This was the CONSOLATION of the true Israel of God, for 
 which, during many ages they had waited. In their dark- 
 est seasons, this it was which consoled them. And the 
 prophets, in the midst of their heaviest denunciations of 
 wrath, often suddenly turn aside to solace themselves 
 in Him. And still, living and dying, there is no relief 
 for any, but in this divine CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 
 
 I have heard it remarked by a Jew, that the people of 
 his nation always die very miserably. A gloom hangs
 
 CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 2B9 
 
 over their dying pillow, which nothing can dissipate. 
 Ah ! they reject the only CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL, and 
 there remaineth no other. So common a thing is this 
 dread of death among them, that if they witness any thing 
 different, they are surprised. 
 
 A Jew had a pious man in his employ as a gardener. 
 This man died. And his master in a letter to another 
 Jew, says, " I am no longer disposed to laugh at religion, 
 or to plead that Christianity offers no comforts in death, 
 I witnessed the last moments of my worthy gardener, 
 and I wish I may die his death : and if there is happiness 
 in another life, this disciple of Jesus is assuredly happy. 
 When the physician told him he was in extreme danger, 
 ' How can that be,' said he, ' when God is my Father, 
 Jesus my Redeemer, and heaven my country ?' His 
 last words were, ' I am to die ! but what needs that 
 trouble me ? My Jesus is the true God and eternal 
 life /' " Thus died this pious labourer. 
 
 I knew" an old disciple," who enjoyed great peace in 
 his last sickness, and before he fell asleep in Jesus, 
 spoke of Christ, as his only, but all-sufficient CONSO- 
 LATION. Among other things he repeated this verse, 
 
 " My soul most surely prizes 
 
 The sin atoning Lamb ; 
 Thence all my hope arises, 
 Unworthy though I am." 
 
 His chamber, as I sat by his bedside, seemed like the 
 porch of heaven. And the peacefulness of his end was 
 exceedingly refreshing to all who witnessed it. 
 
 I knew another devoted servant of Christ, who wrote 
 to me a little before his death, " I am a boundless sinner, 
 but Christ is a BOUNDLESS SAVIOVR. There my soul 
 
 u
 
 290 CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 
 
 finds her rock, her refuge. And thence I can look into 
 Paradise." He also died soon afterwards, still sweetly 
 reposing on Christ, as the CONSOLATION or ISRAEL. 
 
 Mr. Janeway (who wrote a beautiful book for children, 
 which many of you have read), when he came to die, 
 said, " I am, through mercy, quite above the fear of 
 death, and am going to Him whom I love above life ! 
 Oh that I could let you know what I now feel ! Oh 
 that I could shew you what I now see ! Oh that I 
 could express the thousandth part of the sweetness 
 which I now find in Christ ! You little think what a 
 Christ is worth upon a death bed ! Oh the glory, the 
 unspeakable glory which I now behold ! My heart is 
 full ! Christ smiles, would you keep me from my 
 crown ? The arms of my blessed Saviour are open to 
 embrace me ! the angels stand ready to carry my soul 
 into His bosom. You would not have the heart to 
 detain me, if you could but see what I see !" 
 
 Mr. Rutherford, also, died in holy triumph. These 
 are some of his last words. " I shall shine ! I shall see 
 Him as He is, and all the fair company with Him, and 
 shall have my large share ; I have gotten the victory ! 
 Christ is holding forth His arms to embrace me. Now 
 I feel ! I enjoy ! I rejoice ! I feed on manna. I have 
 angels' food. My eyes will see my Redeemer !'' He 
 expired with the words, " Glory, glory dwelleth in 
 Immanuel's land." 
 
 But many of God's people have been tortured to 
 death. Was their end peace ? And did the CONSO- 
 LATION OF ISRAEL lift them up above their sufferings r 
 
 Yes, my young friends, this is a sight which angels 
 have often witnessed. A man suffering, and yet joyful !
 
 COXSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 291 
 
 A bush burning, and yet not consumed ! Christ's peace 
 flowing in streams through the soul, while the body has 
 been writhing in anguish ! 
 
 " In chains a servant of the Lord 
 
 AVas hurried to the stake ; 
 (Confiding in his Saviour's word,) 
 To suffer for His sake. 
 
 " Though walking to a fiery doom, 
 
 His soul was free from care ; 
 The agonies of martyrdom 
 He viewed devoid of fear. 
 
 " The cords were passed around his frame, 
 
 And bound him to the pole ; 
 Fresh lustre o'er his visage came, 
 Fresh glory fill'd his souL 
 
 " The fire was lit, and fiercely blazed ; 
 
 The martyr longed to die, 
 Thrice clapped his withered hands, then raised 
 To heaven his joyous eye. 
 
 " ' For me my Lord was crucified, 
 
 I hail thee, cross of Christ, 
 
 Welcome eternal life,' he cried, 
 
 And flew to endless rest." 
 
 In the year 1538, one, John Lambert, was burnt to 
 death in so cruel a manner, that one cannot bear to 
 think or speak of it. And yet God was with him, and 
 filled him with triumph. Just before he died, he lifted 
 up such hands as he had, all flaming with fire, and cried 
 out with his dying voice, " None but Christ ! None but 
 Christ !" 
 
 But these were all grown up persons ; have children 
 any thing to do with these things in their dying hours ? 
 
 u3
 
 292 CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 
 
 Oh. yes, the youngest child may have an interest in 
 the CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. A little relative of mine, 
 Peter Cox, of Walworth, was seized with sickness at 
 the age of ten years, and drew near to death. He had 
 been a good boy, and had loved his bible in the time of 
 health, and when he came to die, Christ was with him 
 to comfort him. " I am not afraid to die," he said, " I 
 am a sinner, but Christ is precious ." " Near his de- 
 parture he spoke of death with the greatest composure. 
 He talked of leaving the world as some do when about 
 to step into a coach, to take a pleasant journey. The 
 sabbath before he died, he tried to sing the following 
 lines, but his breath failed him : 
 
 " Since all the chastisement I feel 
 
 Is from the Lord alone, 
 Let not one murm'ring thought arise, 
 But may thy will be done." 
 
 A few minutes before God took him to His home, 
 his mother asked him if he was happy; 'Yes,' said he, 
 ' quite happy.' Then he laid his head down and died, 
 aged ten years and seven months, a lovely trophy of 
 redeeming grace." 
 
 There was a child named Sarah Howky, who also 
 died at the age of ten years. A little before her death, 
 she gave her bible to one of her brothers, and said, " Oh 
 seek Christ for your soul while you are young ! Put not 
 off this great work till you come to a sick bed ! Re- 
 member the words of your dying sister. Oh if you 
 knew how good Christ is ! If you had but one taste of 
 His sweetness, you would rather go to Him a thousand 
 times, than stay in this wicked world 1 Oh 1 1 would
 
 CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 293 
 
 not for ten thousand worlds part with Christ! Will 
 you not strive to get an interest in Christ ?" The last 
 words she was heard to speak, were these ; " Lord 
 Jesus, help ! dear Jesus ! blessed Jesus !" And thus 
 she died, like Simeon, embracing the CONSOLATION OF 
 ISRAEL. 
 
 A little girl, between six and seven years of age, 
 when on her death bed, seeing her eldest sister with n 
 bible in her hand, requested her to read it. She read, 
 amongst other things, " Suffer little children to come 
 unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom 
 of heaven." The book was closed. The little girl 
 said, " How kind ! I shall soon go to Jesus ; He will 
 soon take me up into His arms, and bless me too ; no 
 disciple shall keep me away." Her sister kissed her 
 and said, " Do you love me ?" Yes, my dear," she re- 
 plied, " but do not be angry, / love Jesus better.'" All 
 these and thousands more died happily and peacefully 
 because Christ was with them, the CONSOLATION OF 
 ISRAEL. 
 
 And now let this be engraven on your memories, 
 that if you have not Christ for your COUNSELLOR and 
 Guide, your COMFORTER and Supporter through life, 
 both your way and your end will be bad ! Think not 
 to live a life of sinful pleasure and indifference to 
 religion, and then at the last to die a comfortable and 
 Christian death. This experiment has been tried, and 
 has failed. Thousands, under some sudden religious 
 impression, have prayed, " Let me die the death of the 
 righteous, and let my last end be like his !" But they 
 regarded iniquity in their hearts all the while they 
 prayed, and the Lord did not hear them. No! the
 
 294 CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL. 
 
 traveller in an an unknown path, if he decline to follow 
 the directions of his guide, must not be surprised if he 
 stumble and fall. " The man that wandereth out of 
 the way of understanding, shall remain in the congre- 
 gation of the dead." " Give glory to the Lord your God, 
 before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble 
 upon the dark mountains, and while ye look for light, 
 he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross 
 darkness." Jer. xiii. 16. "We must "give glory to 
 God," by following Christ's counsels. Then will He be 
 our unfailing CONSOLATION in life and in death. 
 
 " Our flesh is hastening to decay, 
 
 Soon shall the world have passed away, 
 And what can mortal friends avail, 
 
 When heart and life and flesh shall fail. 
 
 " But oh, be thou my Saviour nigh, 
 And I can triumph while I die ; 
 My CONSOLATION is divine, 
 And Jesus is for ever mine." 
 
 My dear young friends, I must now suspend these 
 Lectures. We have gone through the first three letters 
 of the Alphabet, and have contemplated Christ under 
 very many of His Names and Titles. We must se- 
 parate for an interval. Perhaps the greater part of us 
 may meet again at some future time, when we can 
 pursue the subject. But it is very likely we may 
 never, all of us, come together in this world. Some 
 of you may soon be placed in those very circumstances 
 of which I have been speaking to day. You may 
 be called to die. Oh that you were wise, that you 
 understood these things, that you would consider your 
 latter end ! Acquaint yourselves with Christ. Thereby
 
 COXSOLATIOX OF ISRAEL. 295 
 
 good shall come to you. Make Him your friend and 
 Hiding place before that day arrive. And then the day 
 of your death shall be better than the day of your birth ; 
 for you shall enter into yonder bright world, and see that 
 Just One face to face, whom here afar off we worship, 
 and of whom we speak so feebly, while we only see Him 
 through a glass darkly. 
 
 Cease not to cry to God, that He may send His Holy 
 Spirit, to " reveal His Son in you." Put up this prayer 
 night and day. Then when you leave the world, you 
 will exclaim with Dr John Owen on his death bed, 
 " The long looked for day is come at last ! the day in 
 which I shall see and understand the glory of Christ, 
 in a better manner than I could ever be capable of in 
 this world !'' May the Lord grant us all this happiness, 
 for Christ's sake, Amen. 
 
 Printed by J. Large, Sudbury.
 
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