is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant."*

The ecclesiastical as well as the civil polity of the Jews was not human, but divine. The law, with its rites and sacrifices, was not the institution of Moses, but the economy of God, attested both by miracles and prophecy. The history of the Old Testament is a history of miracles and prophecies, admirably calculated to sustain the faith and hope of the believers of those times; and we can only specify a few out of that rich and extensive variety which might be adduced. The ten plagues of Egypt; the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea, and the overthrow of their enemies; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night; the falling of the manna in the wilderness, six days out of seven; and the supply of water produced by the smiting of the flinty rock, may be regarded as specimens of the miracles of the Mosaic economy. The prophecies relating to the Jewish nation, and the other nations. incidentally mentioned in Scripture; and the prophecies relating to the character and offices of the Messiah, his birth and life, his works and miracles, his death and resurrection, his ascension and the outpouring of his Spirit, may be regarded as specimens of the predictions of the Mosaic economy.

The law was not only attested by a numerous and

* Isaiah v. 7.

splendid series of miracles and prophecies, clearly showing it to be of God; but it was connected with the most imposing and impressive ceremonial, indicating, by signs too plain to be misunderstood, the presence and power of God. There were sacred things, sacred places and persons, sacred times and seasons, sacred obligations and duties, under the law, of divine sanction, and of the most remarkable kind. There was the tabernacle, with all its rich and splendid furniture. There was the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate of the high priest, by which the will of God was known in all doubtful and difficult cases. There was the ark of the covenant, containing the two tables of the law, written by the finger of God. There was the golden pot of manna. There was Aaron's rod that budded. There were sculptured representations of the cherubim, overshadowing the mercy-seat with their wings. There was, between the wings of the cherubim, the bright cloud of the divine presence, the visible glory of the Lord. There was the voice of God, giving answers to the people in an audible manner, when consulted by the high priest. There were the brasen altar and the costly sacrifices. There was the stupendous and magnificent temple of Solomon. There was the fire consuming the sacrifices, kindled not by human hand, but coming immediately down from heaven. There was the Spirit of prophecy. The rites and

ordinances, the worship and ceremonies, the priests and sacrifices of the law, were all of the most extraordinary character, bearing the impress of infinite intelligence, -the mind of God.

"But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."* In the eternal counsels of the Father, it was determined that Jesus Christ should come to introduce an economy for the removal of every spiritual evil, and the communication of every spiritual good. Numerous types prefigured his coming; the language of prophecy proclaimed his approach; the hand of Omnipotence prepared his way; and, at the appointed time, the great Redeemer appeared upon the earth, lived in humiliation and sorrow, and died in agony and disgrace. During the period of his personal ministry, the reality of his Messiahship and the divinity of his claims were confirmed both by the attestation of miracles and the fulfilment of prophecies. In the hour when he was crucified, the price of redemption was paid; the justice of God was satisfied; a full and complete atonement was made. "It is finished," was the language of the meek, the resigned, but fainting sufferer; "and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost." +

* Gal. iv. 4, 5.

John xix. 30.

The resurrection of Christ, however, was the hope of the church. "During his abode in the grave his enemies exulted, the world rejoiced, and his followers were dejected and dispersed. The desponding language of his disciples on their way to Emmaus was, "We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done.'* The hope of the church was sunk to the lowest point of depression; and it seemed as if the name and the cause of Jesus were for ever entombed in his grave. But how gloriously was the scene reversed on the morning of the resurrection!" He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead!" + "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God." If Jesus Christ had continued in the state of death, his Godhead could not have been proved; the redemption of a lost and ruined world could not have been accomplished; the small party of his followers must have been scattered, and his name and his honour extinguished for ever. But if he broke asunder the rocky sepulchre, burst the barriers of the tomb, and triumphantly rose from the dead, his true and proper divinity cannot be disputed; his sacrifice and atone+ 2 Cor. xiii. 4.

* Luke xxiv. 21.

+ Rom. i. 4.

1 See page 33.

ment must have been efficacious and satisfactory; and the kingdom of heaven must have been opened to all believers. This capital article of the Christian faith may be disputed by sceptical and worldly men ; but it rests upon evidence which all the wit and malice and learning of infidelity have never been able to invalidate. The condition and number of the witnesses; their incredulity and slowness in believing the resurrection of Christ; the utter impossibility of their succeeding in imposing upon others; the facts which they themselves avow; the agreement of their evidence; the tribunals before which they stood; the time when this evidence was given; the place where they bore this testimony, and their motives for doing so; and the striking contrast in the conduct of the apostles before and after the event, are a brief summary of the argument for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Such are the solid and immovable.foundations on which the hope of the church is built.

When the work of human redemption was completed; when the claims of divine justice were satisfied; and when the blessings of the great salvation were procured for the whole human family, our Lord said to his apostles, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature:" or, as this is elsewhere more forcibly and fully expressed, "Go ye

* Mark xvi. 15.