This is the figure by which we are taught to form our conceptions of Jesus Christ, and of the place he holds in that new creation, which is here distinguished by the names of his church and his body. And to those who are acquainted with what the Scriptures say concerning Christ, many circumstances will occur from the hints I have already suggested, in which the resemblance between the first and second Adam may easily be traced with the most critical exactness. But, blessed be God, there is one circumstance of the greatest importance in which the resemblance doth not hold, as will appear from the information the Apostle gives us concerning the third particular 1 took notice of, namely,

Thirdly. The qualifications of our Redeemer for performing what belongs to him as the head of his church.

It pleased the Father, saith he, verse 19, that in him should all fulness dwell.

The first Adam received the gift of life from God, which he held in trust for all his posterity, upon a condition the most gentle and easy that can possibly be imagined; but he failed in the performance of it; and thus" by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;" so that ever since that fatal trespass “ death hath passed by all men."

The Second AdaM received the grant of eternal life for his church, upon terms no less severe than bis obedience anto death, even the death of the cross; that sin being condemned in the flesh, mercy and truth might meet together upon the apostate race, righteousness and peace might embrace each other. But difficult as the terms were, he not only punctually, but cheerfully, fulfilled them, insomuch that upder all the pain and igno. miny of the cross, he would not bow his head, and yield up the ghost, till, with a shout of triumph, he could say,

IT IS FINISHED."

« The first Adam was made a living soul; but the second Adam was made a quickening spirit.” “ The first man was of the earth, earthy; the second man was the Lord from heaven."

In the head of the first creation there dwelt indeed a fulness, but it was only the fulness of a creature; where. as all fulness resides in the Head of the new creation; or, as it is elsewhere expressed, in this same epistle, “ in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

Here, my brethren, expression fails ; an ocean opens to our view that hath neither bottom nor shore, the God. head! the fulness of the Godhead! all the fulness of the Godhead! How flat, how unmeaning, is the language of men, when applied to a subject which angels themselves are unable to comprehend? O glorious constitution of grace! worthy of him whose name, whose essence is love; and infinitely becoming the wisdom of that Sovereign, “whose work is perfect, and whose ways are judgment.” With such an object in our eye, can we refrain from crying out, “ Let Israel rejoice in him that made him ; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King?" Well might Paul say, “ I know in whom I have

6 believed; and I am persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." This is the endearing peculiarity of the gospel-covenant, that all the blessings of it are secured against forfeiture, in the hands of bim who hath already fulfilled the terms of the grant, and finished the work which was given him to do: who, as he died to purchase those blessings, so he ever liveth to dispense them : One who by nature is God as well as man; and in whom, as the word incarDate and Mediator of the covenant, it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell, for enriching, to the utmost capacity of created beings, all the members of that body whereof he is the head.

But what are the blessings of this well-ordered covenant? Let your own necessities dictate the answer. Say, my brethren, what do you need?

Is it the pardon of sip? Look back to the 14th verse of this chapter: “In Cbrist we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”—“ He hath made peace by the blood of his cross,” as we read verse 20th; and “ the blood of Jesus cleauseth from all sin."

“ He was made sin for us who knew no sin, that we 'might be made the righteousness of God in him.” So that now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." And O how blessed is the man whose

. . iniquities are forgiven, whose transgressions are covered, and to whom the Lord imputeth not his sin!

This is a great, a necessary blessing; but great though it be, yet it is not commensurate to all the necessities of such creatures as we are. Man, by the apostacy, is not only liable to condemnation, nay, lying under sentence of death, but that sentence in part is already executed; his soul is dead, separated from God, the fountain of life. Thus it is written, “ The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Nay, “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nei. ther indeed can be." Can the death of a soul be expressed in stronger and more significant terms? Must not that spirit be dead, which is incapable of discerning the only objects that are suited to its nature, and of relishing the only enjoyments by which a spiritual being can subsist and be happy?

In this state every mere child of Adam cometh into the world; for “that which is born of the flesh is flesh,” and can rise no higher by any means that nature affords.

But as in the first Adam all die without exception, who, by the ordinary course of generation, are connected with him as their head; so in the second Adam, the quickening Spirit, and Lord from heaven, all who, by regeneration, are united to him, and become members of that body whereof he is the head, are in like manner made alivez for 5 that which is born of the spirit is," and must be, “ spirit.” Accordingly, Christ is styled the Prince of Life; not only the possessor of life, but the proprietor and dispenser of it. To him it belongs to raise the dead, and to quicken whom he will. Hear his own words, (John v. 25, 26.) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The

I hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in bimself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” And in this same epistle where my text lies, Christ is expressly styled our life; and the life of the believer is said to be hid, or treasured up, with Christ in God. Colossians jä. 3, 4. “ Yc are dead," saith the Apostle; dead to Adam, and the corrupted, perishing life you derived from him; dead to a present world, and the things on earth, which are no longer the objects of your affection. Thus are ye dead; but being raised with Christ to the things that are above, to a new life, and manner of living, “your life is hid with Christ in God; and when he who is our life shall appear, then shall ye

also

appear with him in glory."

Here we are again led into a subject to which no language is adequate, but such “unspeakable words” as Paul heard in paradise, “ which it is not lawful for man to utter."

Should I attempt to enlarge upon it, I am afraid that I should only “darken counsel by words without know.

ledge.” What hath already been said upon that fulness which dwelleth in Christ, may suffice to convince you that “ his riches are unsearchable," and that nothing is wanting which sinners can either need or wish to possess. In him, as you have heard, they have both righte. ousness and strength: Righteousness for the guilty, complete and everlasting righteousness; for “ by him all who believe are justified from all things:"-And strength for the weak, nay, life for the dead; with this peculiar advantage, that it is not left to their own keeping, but still resides in him who is the head of the body, and is imparted to them as his members, by that Spirit which is the indissoluble bond of their union; “for he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.”. Accordingly he says, “ Because I live, ye shall live also.” And this was the foundation of that parting promise to his disciples, “ ] go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." This would lead me to speak of that high perfection at which the life they at present receive from him shall arrive in the heavenly world, when the body itself, which, by an irreversible decree, is condemned to return to the dust as it was, shall be raised again by the power and spirit of the Redeemer, and fashioned like unto his own glorious body, in that day when he, who once suffered to bear their sins, “ shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

But I must not detain you any longer from the proper business of the day.

I have done what I could to render Christ precious to your souls: I have led you to view him in his essential dignity, as the Creator of all things; in his relation to believers, as the head of the body; and as possessing all fulness in that important character.