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Son of God was about to become incarnate, the angel who announced these good tidings of great joy to the blessed virgin, the highly favoured Mary, thus addressed her: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

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Again, it was required of Christ, as the covenant head of his people, that he should perfectly obey, and thus fulfil the righteous law of God. Perfect righteousness after the fall could not be wrought out by man. Still it was necessary that, in some way, man should be a partaker of perfect righteousness. The surety therefore undertook to fulfil the obligation of perfect obedience, in order that a righteousness might be obtained to be imputed to his people, who might become united to him by faith. Hence it is said that God "laid help upon one that is mighty:" who was in all respects qualified for the work he was to undertake; and who would be "able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by him." In every respect therefore he fulfilled the will of God: he was perfect, even as his Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Once more, it was another condition of the covenant of redemption, that Christ should ratify it with his blood. The Redeemer was not only perfectly to obey the law, but likewise to suffer the penalty due to its sanction by human trangression. He was to be made sin for us, and to die," the just for the unjust, that he might bring us unto God." This was an

especial article in the everlasting covenant, as it appears by our blessed Lord's declaration on the subject: "I lay down my life for the sheep. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Such were the conditions of the covenant in relation to Christ-conditions which his infinite compassion led him to accept and fulfil. An affecting account of Christ's undertaking his work, is given us in the fortieth Psalm, according to the exposition of the passage as given us by the apostle St. Paul. "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come 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." The law of God could not be satisfied without obedience, nor his justice without death. And therefore Christ undertook to do the will of God, and entered a state of incarnation to fulfil the purposes of the grace of God. He suffered death to magnify the law and make it honourable, to make an atonement for sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness for the redeemed.

(2.) I proceed to notice the promises of the covenant made to Christ, in consequence of the conditions to be fulfilled by him. These were the following: First, it was engaged to the Messiah, that in his

human nature he should be supported and carried through his work. As the Mediator and as man, the scripture represents Christ as receiving assistance and support from his Father, to fit him for his mediatorial office, and to enable him to fulfil its conditions. Hence it is said that God " gave not the Spirit by measure unto him;" and that he anointed him with "the oil of gladness above his fellows." None ever had his work to do, and none ever had such supplies to fit him for it. He was supported and carried through all his engagements, from his birth in the stable, to his temptation by the devil in the wilderness; and from his temptation in the wilderness, till his death upon the cross, when "having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

Another promise of the covenant made with Christ was, that, after his humiliation and sufferings, he should be exalted to the right hand of God, till all his enemies should be made his footstool. This and some other promises of the covenant of redemption, are recorded in the cxth Psalm. We are there informed of Jehovah's eternal and unchangeable decree concerning the exaltation and honour of the Messiah. “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." This decree has been accomplished. The ascended Saviour is King of kings and Lord of lords. As the Mediator, he reigns in human nature over all worlds; and will thus continue to reign till death the last enemy be destroyed. "Being in the form

of God, he thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Another of the stipulations made to Christ in the everlasting covenant, was that he should have a kingdom set up and preserved in the world to the end of time. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." The gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, is the rod or sceptre of the Redeemer's strength and authority; and the gospel was sent forth from Zion by the apostles and evangelists, who were the instruments employed by Christ for erecting and establishing his kingdom in the world. In this kingdom he has hitherto continued to reign in the midst of his most inveterate enemies, evil spirits, and wicked men, who in vain have attempted to subvert his throne. But the gates of hell shall never prevail against it. His cause must prosper, or prophecy must fail of its accomplishment. The latter hypothesis implies an impossibility, and therefore every prediction with reference

majesty, greatness, and glory. He is "the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity." In describing the greatness of any created being, we may form some ideas by comparison; but in speaking of the "For who Deity there is no room for comparison. in the heavens can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? There are indeed, in the scripture, some representations of the majesty and greatness of God, whereby we may obtain such a degree of knowledge of those attributes, as our limited capacities can receive. "O Lord, my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot who walketh upon the wings of the wind who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire. Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed for ever:" "who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity. It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grashoppers."

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These and other similar passages in the word of God, afford us some representations of Him whose

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