to be the Son of God with power; and tho' flain and crucified by enemies (who would not that he should reign over them) yet hath God made him both Lord and Chrift *. From these confiderations, from the intrinfick greatness of Meffiah's perfon, gifts, and graces, we are called upon by every tye of reafon and of duty, of gratitude and of affection, to rejoice and blefs God for the miraculous incarnation of his Son. If holy men of old, if patriarchs and prophets faw this day at a distance and were glad'; if they who had only an obfcure vision, a faint representation of the glory which was to follow, could rejoice with joy unspeakable, how much exceeding theirs must our transports be for the full manifestation and accomplishment of thofe promised mercies. Bleffed are our eyes for they fee, and our ears for they hear the things which Kings, and Prophets, and wife Men defired to fee and hear", without the happiness of having their wishes compleated; God having provided better things b Rom. i. 4. • John viii. 56. Luke x. 24. © Lake xix. 27. 1 Pet. i. 11. I 4 Acts ii. 36. for for us, under the Gospel covenant; and hence having determined, that they without us should not be made perfect; but that he would finally bring all his fons unto glory*, even unto the full confummation of their hopes through Chrift, their Saviour and their Lord. By this Revelation of divine Philanthropy did God make known all the mysterious fecrets of his Providence, all the momentous articles of grace and truth, of light and life, and fo make them known, that all the ends of the earth have feen, and may become partakers of the falvation of God'. If therefore deliverance from all evil, fpiritual and temporal; if the announcing of peace, pardon, and reconciliation between God and man be tidings of joy and comfort; if the promises of good and happinefs infinite and eternal be defireable and delightful, then should his name who fecured all these inestimable bleffings be for ever dear and precious to us. With the utmoft rapture and thankfulness should we i Heb. xi. 40. * Heb. ii, 10. praise praise and magnify him as the fource and fountain of all good here, and of all hope hereafter. For in him mercy and truth have met together; heaven and earth, God and man were united to bless and to fave us. This is the true foundation of devotion, praise, and love. This will teach us with equal extafy to repeat the Hofannahs of the Angels, and to fing glory to God in the higheft, and on earth peace, good will towards men". With the heavenly Hoft we shall chant our grateful Hallelujahs, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. We shall with exulting hearts give our tribute of joy, honour, and adoration, because the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever: having redeemed unto God by his blood the fons of men out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nationa. These are the wonders which Jefus hath done for us, who was a Saviour, even Chrift the Lord. m Pfal. lxxxv. 10. P Rev. xi. 15. n Luke ii. 10. • Rev. v. 9. D Rev. xix. 6, SERMON VI JOHN V. 23. latter part. He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. I T is obvious to remark that the Gospel of St. John is distinguished by a pecu liar fimplicity of ftyle, by a concife. and definite form of expreffion, and by a familiar diction of the utmost plainness in its grammatical conftruction: Nevertheless it must be acknowledged, that many of the doctrines and propofitions therein delivered. are difficult to be comprehended by the. human |