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change taken place in you? Think again: It is a change that depends not on your descent from Christian parents; a change which no endeavours of friends can ever accomplish, and which no efforts of your own can ever merit or effect it is a new creation; and a work of God alone, as much as the creation of the universe itself. Perhaps you will say, 'Tell me more distinctly wherein this change consists.' I will do so. It is "a receiving of the Lord Jesus Christ" as the gift of God to your souls; and "a believing in him" as your "all in all." To these is "the privilege of becoming the sons of God" assigned; and to these alone. If, then, you are "born of God," these marks must, of necessity, be found in you. You have felt your need of a Saviour; you have cried to God for mercy with your whole hearts: and you have embraced the Lord Jesus Christ as "all your salvation and all your desire." Examine into this matter, my beloved brethren. Here is the precise point of difference between the children of God and the children of the wicked one. Those who are born of the flesh only, may be moral and externally religious but the child of God lives altogether by faith on the Son of God, receiving all blessings out of his fulness, and improving them all for his glory. This is a new birth: and were you as moral as Nicodemus himself, you must experience it, at the peril of your souls; and, except ye be thus born from above, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God. I pray you, brethren, settle this well in your minds: for to those only who stand in this relation to their God is there "any inheritance among the saints in light."]

2. Let us endeavour to manifest it, by a suitable life and conversation

[God had one only dear Son, whom he sent down from heaven to sojourn upon earth. And the Scripture fully informs us what dispositions he exercised, and what conduct he pursued. And every one who is born of God will follow his steps, and "walk as he walked." He will "no longer walk 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." He will be no longer of the world, any more than Jesus Christ was of the world. He will rise above it. He will be crucified unto it; and regard it as a crucified object, that has no longer any charms for him, or any power over him. His tempers, too, will be mortified and subdued. He will have the meekness and gentleness of Christ in his whole deportment: and, if he be not able perfectly to attain the measure that was in Christ Jesus, he will aspire after it, and be satisfied with nothing less. In a word, he will not live unto himself, but unto God, making it "his meat and his drink to

do the will of his Saviour and Redeemer." Now, then, brethren, this is the way in which you will live, if you are sons of God. "You will shine as lights in a dark world ;" and "your light will shine brighter and brighter to the perfect day." Once attain this conformity to your Saviour's image, and you will need no one to tell you whence it came, or by whose power it has been wrought. You will readily give all the glory to your God; and ascribe on earth, as you will to all eternity ascribe in heaven, salvation to Him who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.]

MDXCVIII.

INCARNATION AND CHARACTER OF CHRIST.

John i. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

IN treating on divine subjects, the mind should be impressed with holy awe: whenever we approach them, we should apply to ourselves the injunction given to Moses, and "pull off our shoes as standing upon holy ground." But of all subjects, that of the incarnation of our blessed Lord should be contemplated with the profoundest reverence. It has heights and depths, which even the heavenly intelligences themselves are unable to explore. "They are ever looking into it;" and to all eternity will behold in it fresh wonders to admire. But " great as is this mystery of Godliness, God manifest in the flesh," it cannot for one moment be questioned by any one who believes the Scriptures. The Evangelists, as inspired by the Holy Ghost, declare it; whilst, as "eye-witnesses of his Majesty," they attest it. Let us then with all humility of mind proceed to the consideration of the Apostle's testimony in our text; wherein we notice both the incarnation and the character of Christ.

I. The incarnation of Christ

[The person here said to be made flesh, is "the Word:" and it is manifest, that the Apostle speaks, as knowing that the persons to whom he spoke were familiar with the terms he used.

It does not appear probable that the Jews should borrow the term Logos (here translated "the Word," and elsewhere translated "Wisdom,") from the Platonists; or that the Apostle would adopt it from them. We rather suppose that the Jews, and consequently the Apostle also, received the term from the Scriptures themselves: for the Psalmist says, "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made:" and Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs, speaks of "Wisdom" in almost the same terms as the Apostle uses in reference to "the Word"." At all events, we know from the whole preceding context, as also from the text itself, that the Logos or "the Word" is no other than "the only-begotten Son of God." We know that he subsisted from all eternity; that he was personally distinct from God the Father; that, nevertheless, he was truly and properly God; and, finally that, so far from being himself a creature, he was the Creator of all things, without any limitation or exception".

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This divine Person (the Second Person in the ever-adorable Trinity,) was made flesh;" that is, he assumed our nature with all its sinless infirmities; and "was made in all things like unto us, sin only excepted" In that state of humiliation he sojourned upon earth, as once he dwelt with his people in the wilderness; his Deity being veiled by human flesh, as formerly it had been by the Shechinah, the bright cloud, which, as the symbol of his presence, dwelt in the tabernacle first, and afterwards in the temple.

We stop not to enlarge upon this stupendous mystery; wishing rather to shorten our discussion, that we may have the more room for a practical improvement of it.]

The Apostle, as we might well expect, after mentioning the incarnation of Christ, proceeds to notice, II. His character

[In the primary sense of the passage, the terms " full of grace and truth" refer to the official character of Christ. He came to introduce a dispensation very different from that which had hitherto existed. The law which Moses had given to the Israelites " was a ministration of death and condemnation :" and though the ceremonial law had held forth hopes of pardon and acceptance, yet it consisted merely in ritual observances, which in themselves were of no value, and which could never take away sin. But Jesus Christ came to proclaim pardon and peace to all; and was himself the substance, of which all the rites of Moses were only types and shadows. View the

a Prov. viii. 22-30.

b ver. 1-3. This is confirmed by Phil. ii. 6, 7. Col. i. 16, 17.

types of every description; and there was not one which had not its accomplishment in him: view the prophecies; all of which were fulfilled in him: and at the same time all the curses denounced by the moral law are turned into blessings, to all them who embrace his Gospel. Hence he is justly said to be "full of grace and truth."

But we may not improperly include under these words the personal character of Christ. Whilst all his instructions exactly accorded with the mind and will of God, his life was wholly without spot or blemish: he was " full of truth;" and "in him was no sin," "no guile" whatever.

As to the "grace" that was in him, listen only to any of his discourses; hear his gracious invitations even to the chief of sinners; see him conversing with publicans and harlots, and allowing them to have the freest access to him; behold him "going about doing good," healing all who came to him, even hundreds and thousands in a day, and proclaiming to all of them the glad tidings of a free and full salvation: and then say whether he was not also full of grace, even like an overflowing fountain, "out of whose fulness all that believed on him might receive?"

If we needed any express testimony respecting his character, we have it from those "whose ears heard, whose eyes saw, and whose hands handled this Word of life:" "they beheld his glory, as the glory of the only-begotten of the Father:" they beheld it in his miracles (" by which he manifested forth his glory"); they beheld it in his transfiguration; in the audible attestations which he repeatedly received from heaven; in the perfections of wisdom, power, holiness, &c. which he displayed; and finally in his resurrection, and glorious ascension to the right hand of God: they beheld him in all these things, shining as "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person:" veiled as his Godhead was from common eyes, they beheld in him a radiance, altogether suited to his august character.]

That we may not entertain these thoughts in a merely speculative manner, we would entreat you to "suffer a word of EXHORTATION"

1. Inquire wherefore Christ became incarnate

[When we hear of such an astonishing event, methinks we should naturally inquire into the reasons of it. Surely there was some occasion for it; nay, we cannot conceive that it should take place without some urgent necessity. What then was that necessity? It was this. The whole human race were become guilty before God, and were no more able to restore themselves to the Divine favour than the fallen angels were.

Is any one disposed to doubt this truth? let him tell us then, why God's co-equal, co-eternal Son became incarnate. In vain will he seek for a reason, except (where St. Paul found it) in the lost state of man: "If one died for all, then were all dead" Know ye then, beloved, every one of you, that you are, in yourselves, lost and hell-deserving sinners; and that, if ever you be saved at all, it must be by the blood and righteousness of your incarnate God - -

2. Endeavour to obtain clearer views of his character

[Though there are days expressly set apart for the consideration of the most important things relating to Christ, his formation in the womb, his nativity, his circumcision, his death, his resurrection, and ascension, yet few, very few, are in the habit of directing their attention to him. Instead of "counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of him," they scarcely think of him at all, or desire to receive any instruction respecting him. Hence that supineness which we behold on every side

But how different would be the state of men, if they once saw his glory, and had just views of his ،، grace and truth!" What " What "a gathering of the people to him" would there then be! How would they "flock to him as the doves to their windows!". O that God would take the veil from our hearts — And that we might so "behold his glory, as to be changed by it into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of our God!"]

3. Seek after a closer union with him

[We may all be said to be united with him in some respect, because "we are partakers of flesh and blood, and he likewise has taken part of the same. But it is not his union with our nature that will save us, but our union with him; not his being one flesh with us, but our being "one spirit with him." We must exercise faith on him; and by means of that faith be united to him as branches to the vine, or as members to the head - Without this, we can never hope to receive out of his fulness those blessings which we stand in need of— Let none of you then imagine that you have any interest in his salvation, till you are brought daily to live a life of faith upon him, and, through the influences of his Spirit, to devote yourselves unreservedly to his service.]

4. Aspire after that which was the great end of his coming

[We are constantly reminded that he came into the world, that they who believe in him might become sons of God, and

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