fallen nature of man is a more degraded desolate state of being than that of fallen angels; yet, barren as it is, he promises more fertility in this spot, than heaven ever witnessed in created being. Were an individual, having visited the most desolate wilderness in the world, to return to this country and declare, that the fertility of the wilderness exceeded that of his native country-if we credited the individual, we could only attribute it to one of two things-either to a change of soil, or to a miracle: read the history of man-it is the history of the barrenness of hell; it is true, there are some glorious exceptions, but they have left it upon record, that by the grace of God they were what they were: who then, I ask, could fertilize humanity? No one but God! There is neither holiness nor happiness to be found any where which does not emanate from the bosom of Deity to that of the creature : this is true of innocent beings; but contemplate the race of Adam, you will discover that the sun never viewed but one son of Adam who possessed spotless innocence: How is this? The Scriptures tell us-" the word was made flesh."

Again: He is spoken of in two senses-he is called the Offspring, the Root of David, and yet he is called the Lord of David—Why? Because he possessed deity and humanity. No

finite intelligence can take another finite intel ligence into personal union with itself-there could not be identity. The being that does this must be infinite, capable of filling and governing all the faculties of the finite being. Adam in possessing soul and body, was a remarkable type of Christ, typifying his humanity and his deity; behold then the truth in the person of Messiah. But he is the truth in all the types and shadows of revelation, and the great truth to which the promises and prophecies of God directed the church; they were all fulfilled by God in the human nature. But Christ is not only the truth of God, but the true God, in all the offices he bears for us. He is the only one capable of leading man into the innermost recesses of his own bosom. We need the light of God illumining his own footsteps to lead us into his own bosom. He was eminently the prophet of his church, and was capable of perusing the inmost recesses of the bosom of man and Devil. He was the true priest; there never was in reality, but one true priest; the priests under the Old Testament dispensation were merely typical of this great High-Priest. Viewing him then in this respect as fulfilling scripture, the most important truth presents itself to our notice; man had rebelled and fought against an infinite God, and his sin

necessarily required an infinite punishment. Who then is to deliver him? This High-priestand, considering him as God and Man, we view him in this office as possessing everything we want. We find in him one capable of receiving into his bosom that punishment, which, had it visited the creature, must have pursued the creature for ever-for ever demanding the satisfaction which the creature would ever be unable to render. We view in this our Highpriest, all the glories of the divine perfections ascending from Calvary to heaven, in all the graces of the Son of God.

Here we see what

the creature ought to be-what God is and what the truth is what its threatenings are-and the obligation of universal being to obey God. We are here taught the truth of the promises; the wealth of the promises, and how the truth of the threatenings was fulfilled in the punishment of the Son of God; and connect with this the infinite love of God. All truth is to be found in the Messiah, as all light emanates from the sun.

Again to view Christ as invested with infinite and eternal royalty. He is a King as well as a Priest, and he is a King, because he is a Priest. We may view this truth in a twofold aspect-a King to command obedience, and a King to dispose his family to obey; and

this by his Spirit; he will ensure the final perseverance of his saints. Here is one possessed of power to destroy all his enemies, and he will reign until all enemies shall be subdued. Here then we find the truth pervades the royal office of Jesus; but we also find what must endear him to every believer, that truth pervades every relationship he holds; as a brother, as a friend, as a guide-he is truth; he never forsakes. Indeed we find that all the titles and offices he bears are filled with infinite and eternal truth. We see in Jesus the perfections of Deity shining in the perfections of humanity; we see fertility springing from barrenness. The earth, when Christ was here, was a more interesting spot to angels than heaven itself; they followed his steps from place to place, to learn lessons of instruction, and to admire the perfections of Deity displayed in a creature like themselves.

II. Secondly, but this prophecy in the text applies also to the MESSIAH, AS THE MYSTICAL HEAD OF HIS CHURCH. By nature man is destitute of truth; he is falsehood itself; he views nothing with accuracy, unless taught by God. We cannot be correctly acquainted with any finite being unless we view it in its relation with infinite. Endow man with all you please,

with all intellect, with all acquirement, with all beauty, with all urbanity; still in a spiritual point of view he is falsehood, and yet God will impart truth to such a bosom, by uniting him to himself-teaching him by his Spiritconvincing him he is not partially, but wholly wrong, and leading him to believe in Christ. There is in this principle infused, though as yet but in embryo, a glory which will eventually unfold itself and prove itself to be a more glorious integrity than that of angels. Faith does justice to all the perfections of Jehovahand all obedience in scripture, is called the obedience of faith. There can be no love. where there is no faith.

III. Lastly. TO CONSIDER RIGHTEOUSNESS AS

LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN IN IMMUTABLE

AND ETERNAL COMPLACENCY ON JESUS. The acquittal of Jesus at His resurrection, and the acquittal of the believer when he believes are one. You may perhaps think me too bold, and that the truth is too valuable to be true; but no, he was acquitted, as the head and representative and surety of his church, and we, by believing in Him, obtain all the benefits of his sacrifice. Righteousness-that is, God, as a righteous judge, is here represented as looking down from heaven, and what does he say when he views