felves in favour of their deftitute kindred, to repurchase the inheritances of thofe, who by reafon of poverty had mortgaged them; and to pay the ranfom for them, if fold into flavery ;-were ftriking emblems of that true Goel, that great Redeemer Jefus Christ, who was to deliver his people from the power of Satan, free them from the dominion of fin, and reftore them to the image of God which they had loft. The HIGH-PRIEST, under the Old Teftament, arrayed in his magnificent attire, entering into the facred place, and by offerings making atonement for the fins of the people, was an illuftrious type of Jefus, the High-Prieft over the houfe of God, who by his one offering hath for ever perfected them that are fanctified, and who, after he was made perfect by fufferings, fat down at the right hand of God. Heb.

x. 13.

F. The great Mediator of the covenant is exhibited in the word under the emblem of a SHEPHERD, the great Chief, and only Shepherd, who feeds his flock with knowledge and understanding, carries the lambs in his bofom, and gently leads thofe that are with young, Ifai. xl. 11,-who, like Jacob, will lead them on foftly, according as they are able to endure, Gen. xxxiii. 14. He is the true PHYSICIAN who relieves his people from all their fpiritual maladies by the application of his precious blood.

G. Chrift, as Mediator, is likened to the most GENEROUS and NOBLE amongst birds and animals;

to the generous and towering eagle, who firreth up her neft, fluttereth over her young. fpreadeth abroad her wings, and taketh and beareth them on her wings. For the Redeemer is reprefented as promifing that his people fhall mount up on the wings of an eagle, to fecure them in all dangers, to provide for them in Vol. II.

need, and to keep the eye of his love conftantly

upon them. To the LION; for as the lion of the tribe of Judah, he hath, by his power, overcome Sa tan and bruifed his head.-To the LAMB; for when he was led to the flaughter, like the patient and meek lamb, he opened not his mouth.

H. He is frequently alfo compared to things without life. To a tree; hence called The tree of life in the midst of the paradife of God, Rev. ii. 7.To the CEDAR of Lebanon-To the APPLE-TREE, Songs ii. 3; As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, fo is my beloved among the fons: I fat down un der his fhadow with great delight.-To the VINE: I am the vine, John xv. 1.-To the ROSE and LILY: I am the rofe of Sharon and the lily of the valley, Songs ii. 1. And why are all these metaphors ufed, but that they may ferve as a ladder, by which we may be elevated to fee the worthinefs, amiablenefs, and comelinefs, which there is in Jefus.

I. Once more: Chrift is compared to WEAPONS of defence. He is a SHIELD, behind which his people are fecure against all the fiery darts of Satan, Pfalm lxxxiv. 12. He is a BUCKLER, and the enemies of their falvation fight in vain against them. -An ENSIGN, to which the Gentiles fhall feek, Ifai. xi. 10.-A STRONG TOWER, Prov. xviii. 10; The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is fafe.-A hiding-place, when the ftorms of Divine vengeance are ready to fall impetuous on the finner's guilty head: A man fhall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeft, Ifai. xxxii. 2.

K. Again, Chrift is likened in the word to every thing in nature which is deemed necellary for our exiftence,-To WATER, Songs iv, 15.-To FIRE,

Mal. iv. 2.-TO BREAD and the MANNA which defcended from heaven, John vi. 33.-To RAIN and DEW, Pfalm 1xxii. 6. And why is he compared to thefe, but to convince us, that if water be neceffary to fatisfy our thirft, fire to enlighten and warm us, bread to nourish us, manna to preferve life, rain to make the earth fruitful, and dew to keep alive the herbs and plants, parched by the fultry heat of a fummer's fun,-infinitely more neceffary is Jefus, in all these respects, to his people.

L. As the all-fufficient Mediator, there are afcribed to him THREE great and glorious OFFICES: for, how would it have been poffible for us ever to have formed juft and adequate conceptions of the way of falvation and of the covenant of God, unlefs he, as the great PROPHET and teacher fent from God, had taught us the fame? We were blind, yes, darknefs itself: no light fhone in the understanding: the things of the Spirit of God were efteemed foolishness. But Jefus, who hath received the tongue of the learned, has clearly unfolded to us the whole coun-. fel of God. He did it previous to his manifeftation in the flesh, and he does it ftill, by his word and fpirit. Again, was it poffible for us, guilty and polluted creatures, to approach unto God, and enter into covenant with him, if he, as the great HIGHPRIEST, had not opened the way by his blood, and brought in an everlasting righteoufnefs? Certainly not for, if he had not entered into the holieft with his blood;-and if he did not ftill live to intercede, the way of life would be now fhut, and we could never go with boldnefs to the throne of grace, Heb. x. 20. In a word, How would it ever have been poffible for us to have embraced the covenant, and complied with its terms when revealed, feeing

52

our inability to help ourselves is fo great, and feeing we are fo unwilling by nature to be helped, if the Almighty KING, by the fceptre of his ftrength, had not brought down our towering imaginations, and made our hearts fubmiffive to his grace? Yes, would it have been poffible to have continued in a gracious ftate, unless he ftill lived as King of Zion, to protect his fubjects from the affaults of the enemies of their falvation?

Are

to

M. Lafly, permit us to remark, that it pleafed the Father that fuch a fulness fhould dwell in the Mediator as is calculated to anfwer all the wants of his people? For, are they FOOLISH?-in him there is a fulness of wISDOM. Are they GUILTY?in him there is a fulness of RIGHTEOUSNESS. they POLLUTED by their remaining corruptions?in him there is a fulnefs for their SANCTIFICATION. Are their ENEMIES numerous, or have they STRUGGLE with many difficulties ?-in him there is PERFECT REDEMPTION, 1 Cor. i. 30. Are they POOR and NEEDY?-in him are hid all the treafures of grace to enrich them. Are they naked?— he clothes and adorns them with the garments of falvation, and the robe of his righteousness. So that in Chrift there is for his redeemed, all falvation, all grace, all light, all life, and all ftrength, which is needful for them.

3. But it would not be fufficient that there was fuch a fulness in Chrift as we have delineated above, if his people were not permitted to partake of it. We therefore remark, that the redeemed of the Lord may receive of his fulness, and grace for grace. Our Jefus hath the POWER and the right of difpenfing grace, in that manner and degree which

best pleases him, and contributes most to their happiness.

He hath the power; for he is God, and as fuch may difpofe of his people, who are his property, without any to controul him. Is he the Mediator of the covenant ?-he has a perfect right to deal with them as he fees fit; for in the eternal council of peace the Father promised him, that when he shall have made his foul an offering of fin, he fhould fee his feed, Ifai. liii. 10. Now, it being confidered, that this would be done, God's faithfulness made it neceffary for him to fulfil the promise; and therefore he faid, Afk of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy poffeffion, Pf. ii. 8. And is this feed given to him?-it is neceffary that he fhould enrich it by imparting of his fulness, and by bestowing upon it all needful bleffings. And for this reason, says Chrift, the Father hath given all things into his hands, John iii. 35. Is he exalted and feated as a king on his throne ?-he not only enjoys completely himself all the bleffings promised to him; but his people also muft neceffarily have communications of grace made to them here, and receive too a crown of glory hereafter.

Surely fuch a view of the all-fufficiency of Chrift cannot but be a mean to animate and encourage the fearful children of God to fly unto Jefus with all their wants, burdens, and complaints, to obtain from him a rich supply, fupport, and relief. Say not, "We have no doubt but the defcription which has "been given of the Saviour's fulness is accurately given but our diftrefs arifes not from a belief that there is a want of ability and fulness in Chrift "to fave, to uphold, and comfort us. It is this that