ed) is the mighty God, and the everlasting Father, as well as the Prince of Peace, Ifa. ix. 6. He is that God, whofe throne is for ever and ever, Pfal. xlv. 6. and though a man, yet such a man, as is alfo God's own fellow, Zech. xiii. 7. Now, if we confider his defcent, with refpect to his divine perfon, it must neceffarily be, that though he be God the Father's Son, and begotten by him, Pfal. ii. 7. yet his going forth must have been from of old, from everlasting. And it is accordingly true, that the Lord poffeffed him in the beginning of his away, before his works of old: He was fet up from ever. lafting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was, Prov. viii. 22, 23. Being thus neceffarily ftopt from looking any further than to eternity, and to him that inhabits eternity, in confidering the original of his divine perfon; I proceed to take notice, that in his human nature, he defcended from the loins of Abraham, Gen. xii. 3. of Ifaac, Gen. xxvi. 4. and of Jacob, Gen. xxviii. 14. from the tribe of Judah, Gen. xlix. 10. and from the royal family of David; Pfal. lxxxix. 35, 36. and that in a way furprisingly different from any ordinary human generation, a virgin conceived and brought forth this Son, whofe name is Immanuel, Ifa. vii. 14. and this new thing did God create in the earth, that a woman hath compafed a man, Jer. xxxi. 22.

The place where our bleffed Saviour was born, was Bethlehem Ephratah. This town, though but little a mong the thousands of Judah, was honoured with being the place out of which he came forth who is the fupreme ruler in Ifrael, Micah v. 2. Here he was born: but this was not the place of his chief and principal refidence; that was Galilee of the nations. This people who had walked in darkness, saw this great light among them: : even upon them who had dwelt in the land of the Thadow of death, hath this light shined, Isa. ix. 1, 2.

The circumftances of his appearing in the world, were low, mean and abased; very different from the expectations men had entertained of the Meffiah; and therefore he was defpifed and rejected of men, they hid their faces from him, he was defpifed, and they esteemed him not, Ifa. liii. 3. Nay, many were astonished at him,

his vifage was fo marred, more than any man; and his form more than the fons of men. Ifa. lii. 14. fo far was his appearance from that glory and majefty, that pomp and fplendor, which was expected in the Meffiah, that he was confidered as a worm and no man, a reproach of men; and defpifed of the people, Pfal. xxii. 6. Even the priests and rulers themselves, who should have been the builders of the Jewish church, refused this ftone, which is become the head of the corner, Pfal. cxviii. 22. And the reason of this was, that they faw no form nor comelinefs, no riches nor honour, no magnificence nor beau ty in him, that they fhould defire him, Ifa. liii. 2.

The characters, in which he appeared in the world, were those of a Prophet, Prieft, and King: to each of which, it is proper to speak fomething particularly.

The Lord our God did in the perfon of our bleffed Saviour raise up unto his people a Prophet, like unto Mo. fes, the greatest and most eminent prophet of the Jewifh church: he puts his words into his mouth, that he might fpeak unto them, whatsoever he commanded him: and held his people under the strongest injunction u pon their peril, to hearken to the words, which this prophet fhould speak in his name, Deut. xviii. 18, 19. And as our Lord Jefus Chrift, was defined by God the Father unto the prophetical office, he chearfully undertook it. Lo, I come, (fays he) in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart, Pfal. xl. 7, 8. And as he chearfully undertook, fo he diligently and faithfully dif charged this facred and important truft. He as a wonderful Counsellor, Ifa. ix. 6. preached conftantly to the people, and made known the whole mind and will of God to them; and could make this appeal to his heavenly Father, I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knoweft, I have not hid thy righteoufnefs within my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy falvation. I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation, Pfal. xl. 9. He confiantly preached among the people the bleffed and joyful news of a glorious falvation from their fin, guilt,.

соц

danger and mifery. The fpirit of the Lord God was upon him, because the Lord had anointed him to preach good tidings unto the meek, he fent him to bind up the broken hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prifon to them that were bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, and to give unto them beauty for afbes, the oyl of joy for mourning; and the garment of praife for the fpirit of heaviness, Ifa. lxi. 1, 2, 3. He exercised moft tender compassion to ́dark, doubting, and tempted fouls. The bruifed reed 'did he not break; and the fmoaking flax did he not quench, untill he brought forth judgment unto truth,' Ifa. xlii. 3. He ftrengthened the weak hands; and con'firmed the feeble knees; and faid unto them of a faint

heart, be ftrong, fear not.' Ifa. xxxv. 3. He warned the careless and fecure finners of their mifery and danger; and proclaimed unto them the day of vengeance of our God, Ifa. lxi. 2. He warned them to be wife, to ferve the Lord with fear; and to kiss the Son, left he Should be angry, and they perish by the way, when his ́ wrath is kindled but a little, Pfal. ii, 10, 11, 12. He made the path way of falvation plain, before the eyes of all thofe, who believe in him, like an high way where the wayfaring men, though fools, could not err, Ifa. xxxv. 8. He confidered his people as his flock; and took care of them, as a moft watchful and careful fhepherd. He fed his flock like afhepherd, he gathered his lambs with his arm, he carried them in his bofom, and gently led thofe that were with young, Ifa. xl. 11.

I next proceed to give you a view of our Lord Jefus Christ, as the great High Priest of our profeflion. As fuch, he undertook to make an atonement and expiation for our fins. He bore our griefs, and carried our forrows; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his ftripes we are healed. God laid upon him the iniquity of us all; and he made his foul an offering for our fins,' Ifa. liii. 4, 5, 6. 10. Thus he finished the tranfgreffion, made an end of fin; and ❝ made reconciliation for iniquity.' Dan. ix. 24. He Likewife wrought out a perfect righteousness for finners,

whereby they should be juftified before God; and accepted of him. God raised up this righteous branch unto David, in whofe day Judah is faved, and Ifrael dwells fafely; and this is the name whereby he is called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. He is one who speaks in righteousness, mighty to fave, Ifa. lxiii. 1. For he has brought in everlasting righteousness, Dan. ix. 24. As a Priest likewise, he brings us into a covenant-relation to God. He is the Messenger or Angel of the covenant, Mal. iii. 1. The Lord in ati accepted time heard him; and in a day of falvation ' has helped him, has preserved him, and given him for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth,' Ifa. xlix. 8. By the blood of his covenant, God has fent

forth his prifoners out of the pit, wherein is no water;" and God has promised that he will keep his mercy for him for evermore; and that his covenant fhall stand faft with him,' Pfal. Ixxxix. 28. Thus the counfel of peace was between God the Father and him. In a word, as our Prieft, he is our Advocate with the Father; and makes interceffion for tranfgressors, Ifa. liii, 2. Thus we fee, that according to God's oath concerning him, he remainetha Prieft for ever, after the order of Melchizedec, Pfal. cx. 4.

This bleffed Saviour fuftained likewife the office of a King. God hath fet this his King upon his holy hill of Zion, Pfal. ii. 6. The throne of God (our Saviour) is for ever and ever; and the fcepter of his kingdom is a right fcepter,' Pfal. xlv. 6. As a King, he reigns in the hearts of his people, brings them into fubjection to himfelf; and makes them willing in the day of his power, Pfal. cx. 3. As a King he fits at God's right hand; and rules in the midst of his enemies,' Pfal cx. 1, 2. In his majesty he rides forth profperoufly; and his arrows are fharp in the heart of the King's enemies. Pfal. xlv. 4, 5. His legal office was not limi ted to the time of his bodily refidence among us; for of the increase of his government and peace there is no • end. He fits upon the throne of David, and in his kingdom, to order it and to establish it, with judgment, and with juftice, from henceforth even for ever,' Ifa."

D

ix, 7. Such cause had Zion to rejoice greatly, and the daughter of Jerufalem to fhout; for behold, her King came to her, juft and having falvation,' Zech ix. 9. Having thus fhewn from the prophetick account of our blessed Saviour, the time of his manifeftation, his defcent, the place of his birth, and the place of his prin'cipal refidence, with the circumftances of his appearing in the world, and the characters in which he appeared; I proceed to obferve fome of his diftinguishing qualities, and the more remarkable incidents of his life and death.

As to his perfonal properties, he was perfectly innocent, and most exemplarily holy both in heart and life and in that refpect, fairer than the children of men. Grace was poured into his lips, therefore God hath bleffed him for ever, Pfal. xlv. 2. He was God's righteous fervant, and there was no deceit found in his mouth, Ifa. liii. 9, 11. He was the fun of righteousness, which arafe upon his people, with healing under his wings, or in his rays, Mal. iv. 2.

He was of a meek and lowly difpofition. This King of Zion came to her, not only just and having falvation; but fhewed himself lowly, by moft aftonishing condefcenfions, Zech. ix. 9. He gave his back to the fmitters; and his cheeks to them who plucked off the hair; he did not hide his face from fhame and fpitting,' Ifa. 1.6. Though he was oppreffed and afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth,' Ifa. liii. 7. He did not cry, $ nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the

ftreets.' Ifa. xlii. 2. He was endowed with aftonishing wisdom and capacity. The Spirit of the Lord refted upon him, the fpirit of wifdom and understanding, the fpirit of counfel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord,' Ifa. xi. 2, 3. Thus did the servant of the Lord deal prudently, he was exalted and extolled, and was very high,' Ifa. lii. 13, He, and only he, of all the human race, could fay, counsel is mine, and found wisdom, I am underftanding, I have ftrength.' Prov. viii. 14.

Previous to his entering upon his publick ministry, there was a Meffenger fent before him, to prepare the