and faith, for he said, "I know whom I have believed;" and this love will be the same in the bosom of every believer, of all who know God.

But I now lead your attention to the humanity of Jesus Christ. A human sacrifice was absolutely necessary. Justice required

that the nature which had transgressed should suffer; "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." All transgressors must be punished with everlasting punishment, who do not trust to the merit of Christ. May we experience faith to enable us each moment to bid adieu to self, and to seek refuge in the perfections of Deity, as they shine in Jesus Christ. It was necessary Christ should be man, to learn the weakness of finite being. It has been asked, 'Why did the Saviour fast forty days?' that he might learn the weakness of created being, to discover the necessity of its absolute dependence every moment upon God; and to give the devil every possible advantage over him: contrast the conduct of the first with that of the second Adam; the first, falling in the midst of all the luxuries of creation, and the second, triumphant when he was famishing. Again, it was necessary that he

should be man, that he might sympathize with his people in all possible sufferings. Some believers have said, 'I have none to sympathize with me.' Do not be discouraged, my brethren, if you are inclined to say this; I would urge you to seek your God, and pour all your complaints into his bosom; it is the purpose of God in afflicting you, to wean you from everything earthly. Christ took our humanity upon him also, that he might give us the brightest example that could be left; and it must afford the transgressor, who believes in the atonement of Jesus, great comfort, to consider that he has left him an example illustrating all the perfections of God in the character of man. If we had not such a sad degree of lethargy about us, the very name of Jesus would delight our hearts; I say not this to discourage, but to humble you.

But now I would direct your attention to the Deity of our Saviour. Mere humanity could not atone for sin; the strength of uncreated being to atone, the weakness of finite being to suffer. "No man can save his brother." This text is a besom to sweep away all the errors of Socinianism. We should consider the Saviour in all the omniscience of his Deity, as well as in his omnipresence. He must see the evil of transgression wholly; and no one, but

he who possessed the perfections of God, could see the evil of sin, as comprehensively as God. It is no credit in human affairs to choose an umpire who is incapable of judging of the interests of both parties. In the fulness of time the word was made flesh: God assumed our nature in the most intimate union and communion with himself. Some unbelievers have objected they did not make themselves; they were not consulted whether they would come into existence or not. Our Saviour's humanity was not consulted; his Deity was consulted and fixed upon his humanity. If, then, moral evil can alone proceed from the creature, it is man's highest wisdom to humble himself. Connected with this is the rich communication of his Deity to his manhood. The omniscience of Deity appearing in all its glory to give him a view of the evil of sin and its desert. We shall find his omniscience as necessary as his omnipresence. What must be the perfections of his humanity now? See him triumphing over all his enemies in behalf of his people; and I here observe, that all who hear the gospel and refuse to believe, perish wilfully. Our ambition should be, so to know God as to be weaned from every thing else. Scripture dwells on the necessity of his deity and humanity. "Therefore by the deeds of the law, there

sight; for by

But now the

shall no flesh be justified in his the law is the knowledge of sin. righteousness of God without the law, is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. iii. 20-24. Remember, God is just only in justifying the believer. These truths are needful to teach us not to trifle with religion; and to awaken and preserve in our hearts commiseration for unbelievers: this love to our fellow creatures is much wanting: let us endeavour to convince them of sin in all the meekness of a Christian spirit.

SERMON IV.

ON THE PURPOSE AND PLAN OF REDEMPTION.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.-EPH. II. 10.

THE Apostle not only dwells in the text on the greatest works that the world ever witnessed, but traces them to their true source-to God. The greatest good which God confers upon man is, when he is endued with the Holy Spirit, and quickened to a life of righteousness. Eph. ii. 1-6. "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature