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through a glass darkly: let me, however, say this one word in conclusion. Little as we can fathom the depth of mystery in His humiliation whose generation none can declare; yet one sweet and soul-refreshing thought ariseth from the both, which belongs alike to the whole of the Lord's people; namely, how completely suited such a Saviour and such a salvation is for the subjects and objects of his grace; and how completely suited they are for him! And could the poorest sinner, which Satan hath worried with his temptations, and hurried into sin, but be led by sovereign grace to know this, he would discover that his desperate circumstances are the very state for which this Almighty Lord is so divinely calculated; when from "the belly of hell, (as one expressed it,) deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of the water spouts and when all the waves and billows of sorrow are gone over him." (Jonah ii. 2. Psal. xlii. 7.) Great God! (1 would say for you and for myself,) give us, if it be thine heavenly will, a scriptural and spiritual apprehension, both of our utterly lost and helpless state by nature, and by practice; and of our complete and finished salvation by Christ. Lord! realize in our souls the knowledge of him, in whose "humiliation his judgment was taken away;" so shall we know also "the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" and attain by Him the resurrection of the dead: that" when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory!" Amen.

THE

PERSONAL SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST

FOR THE

SALVATION OF HIS PEOPLE.

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him-"-HEB. v. 7-9.

THE subject of the Sermon we are now about to enter upon is among the most interesting the church of Christ can be engaged in. It is no less than the beholding the Lord of life and glory "pouring out his soul unto death, and being numbered with the transgressors: and bearing the sin of many, and making intercession for the transgressors." Let us, before we pass the threshold of the subject, seek grace from the Lord to solemnize our minds and affections for the sublime meditation. We are here presented with the glorious person of our most glorious Lord, as the Head and Husband, and Surety of his church and people. It will be our mercy, if through an unction from the Holy Ghost, we are spiritually enabled to contemplate Him in those endearing characters: and never lose sight of Him that in all He did, and all He said, and in all He suffered, it was not as a private person, but as the public Head, Sponsor, and Representative of his people. Under these impressions, I would fall on my knees with you before the throne, and beg the Loft to give both you and me grace prayer, that we may substantiate and realize those divine truths in our souls, and each for himself feel our personal interest in them-and I would say:

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Gracious Lord God! in thy unity of essence and trinity of persons behold all of those that are now before thee, as we are in Christ!" Behold, O God! our shield! and look upon the face of thine Anointed!" Called of God to this Suretyship agreement, he became one with his church and people, in the eye of the law. And hath he not " magnified it, and made it honourable?" Did he not undertake, and hath he not fulfilled all righteousness for his people? Did he not die "the just for the unjust, to bring us to God?" Oh! then give us grace to behold ourselves complete in him. Give us to see him as "the Lord our righteousness; and that of "Him are we in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that all our glorying may be in the Lord!" Let the present season be a season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. We look up in Him for a divine blessing from the Father, in giving to us "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." We beg of that Almighty Spirit of wisdom and revelation that by his rich anointings we may know the glorious person of our most glorious Christ, and the infinite fulness and suitableness both of his person and salvation to our own personal wants and necessities. And we beseech our most precious Christ, that as He hath promised, so we may realize, his presence in our midst to his glory and our joy: Lord, hear us in those things which may be suitable to thy holy will, and our blessedness in thee; and give us grace to ascribe to Jehovah, in his trinity of persons, all praise and glory now and for ever. Amen.

SERMON VI.

THE PERSONAL SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST FOR THE SAL

VATION OF HIS PEOPLE.

PSALM LXXXViii. 15.

While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted!

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THERE is one word in the Bible which in itself forms a complete library; and that word is Christ, the uncreated Word. And when the redeemed and regenerated child of God, brought from the Adamdarkness of a state of nature into a state of grace, is savingly acquainted with this divine word, he is then made "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” And as the Lord the Spirit leads him on, in daily acts of faith, by living upon, walking with, and rejoicing in, the glorious person and the finished salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ; he is brought also to what the apostle calls "all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Coloss. ii. 2, 3.) And what tends to endear this science to the awakened soul yet more is, that in learning to know Christ, we learn at the same time to know ourselves. : For in exact proportion as He is exalted in our view, and his glory is more and more manifested to our spiritual apprehension, we sink in our own esteem, and get out of love with ourselves. In the contemplation of his holiness, acting as a mirror, we contrast with it our deformity. We feel as Job felt, and say as he

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