of Christ, who preached His gospel in the world; they could find no terms adequate to describe the greatness and glory of their divine Master such were the feelings of the psalmist, when he beheld the Saviour, who was yet to come, ascending like a conqueror from the earth, and entering with glory into His kingdom. May such also be our spirit and such our feelings! and let the whole church unite in the declaration, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.*

II. How great and how lasting are His triumphs!

In leading captivity captive, it was not merely in the first ages of the church that He manifested His power: from that period to the present He has been giving liberty to the captive, and breaking in pieces the oppressor. Wherever His gospel has been cordially received, this has always been the effect of it, to bring men from the power of Satan unto God: to rescue them from the tyranny of their spiritual enemies, and to bless them with liberty and peace. Thus, in the progress of divine light and truth is He now leading captivity captive and giving gifts to men and thus He will proceed in His

* Phil. ii. 11.

glorious course, till time shall be no more. And what a view shall we then have of the magnitude of His achievements! What an innumerable company will, in the day of His appearing, bear witness to His triumphs, and henceforth unite to celebrate them to all eternity. For it is one of the distinctive excellencies of the victory which He has gained, that it can be followed by no reverses: captivity will for ever have been led captive, and all the subjects of His kingdom shall possess, in the fullest meaning of the expression, the glorious liberty of the children of God.*

III. What an example has our blessed Lord set here before us of benevolence and mercy!

He received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also! but how can they become partakers of these spiritual blessings, while they remain destitute of the knowledge of Christ? Is it by the knowledge of the gospel that we partake of these benefits, and anticipate blessings yet more abundant; and shall we not be desirous that the light, in which we rejoice, may be shed forth upon all mankind? That those who are living in rebellion against God may be made the willing subjects of His grace

* Rom. viii. 21.

and power? Is it not an effect of those gifts of the Spirit to impart to us in some measure the mind which was in Christ Jesus? And can we possess that mind in any degree without finding our affections enlarged towards the whole family of man? Have we so little faith in the power of our exalted Redeemer, or so little trust in His promises, or so low an opinion of the benefits of His exaltation, that we look upon the general condition of the world, led captive by the devil, without solicitude for its state, and without hope of its deliverance? Would these be our impressions if, like the psalmist, we had contemplated the Messiah in the midst of those thousands of angels as He entered into His kingdom? Will these be our feelings when we shall behold Him in His glory at the last day? May each of us, my brethren, see the obligation which is laid upon him, and each in his proper station zealously fulfil it! And may the time speedily arrive when these gifts, which the Messiah received for the benefit of His church, shall be poured upon all nations, and all the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.*

* Rev. xi. 15.

SERMON XVIII.

THE LORD SANCTIFIED IN THEM THAT COME NIGH HIM.

LEVIT. X. 3.

"Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified Aaron held his peace."

and

THIS passage refers to an awful occurrence in the family of Aaron. His two elder sons, Nadab and Abihu, had just been consecrated with their father to the priestly office; an office in which the priest, when carrying the censer of incense, was probably required to minister alone while he was expressly enjoined to use that fire only which God had sent down from heaven, and had commanded to be kept for this special purpose, always burning before the altar. To the rules which had been laid down for the service of the tabernacle, the sons of Aaron, it

appears, paid no attention. Elevated it may be by the distinction just conferred upon them, and eager to exercise their new authority, they proceeded at once to take either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not.* For this wanton and flagrant act of disobedience, they were visited with an awful and summary punishment: There went out fire from the Lord and devoured them; and they died before the Lord! What a blow must this have been to their afflicted father! He had doubtless rejoiced in the appointment of his sons to so high and sacred an office, and anticipated from them in future much comfort to himself, and much benefit to the people. He sees them now consumed in the anger of the Lord! He beholds all his fond hopes and expectations blasted in a moment, and that too with a manifest sign of the indignation of Heaven! But we do not hear that he murmured at the judgment. It was immediately suggested by Moses, that this was the infliction of that great Being, who has declared, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified: and Aaron held + Verse 2.

* Verse 1.