pel', to have been, directly and lineally, a descendant of David. It is on this account that he is called, "the Branch," which is a very usual figure to denote descent from a common stock, and, in conjunction with the word "righteous," very aptly designates “him, in whom was no sin," and whose growth out the roots of the stem of Jesse was more than once prefigured by the prophets Isaiah and Zechariah2.

He is also described, as "a King that shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and justice in the earth." So was it, so is it, so shall it be for ever. In the days of his flesh, "the King who came unto his people, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass, and who came in the name of the Lord," "spake as one having authority,"―erected a spiritual kingdom,-and enacted his own laws. And in all after times did this kingdom or dominion in the hearts of men most "mightily grow and prevail." And so now does it mightily grow and prevail, but not by earthly might, not by worldly power, but by the omnipotence of the Spirit of God. And so shall there ever be a kingdom, far above every name that is named, belonging unto Christ, first here on earth, and finally and eternally, in heaven. In the great day of his power he shall summon all men without distinction, to do him service; and when at length “he shall appear once for all on the throne of his glory, and all his holy angels with him," he shall with like impartiality summon them all before his judgment-seat, and adjudge them their portion for ever.

Again, it is said, that, in the days of him who is the subject of this prophecy, "Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely." The Saviour, when he came, went first "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"," and those that "did abide in his word, and were his disciples indeed," dwelt, in every sense, safely under the shadow of his wing. And so is it still found, and so will it be found ever, by all true Israelites who will seek unto the Lord in spirit and in truth, "take his easy yoke upon them," and learn of him "that Jesus is a complete Saviour." They will be safe from every worldly temptation-safe from every spiritual enemy-safe from earthly danger-safe from the danger of hell-safe now-safe ever.

1 Matt. i., 1 to 17.

2 Isai. xi., 1; and Zech. iii., 8;
3 Matt. xxi., 5. Isai. Lxii., 2.
4 Matt. xxv., 31.

and vi., 12; Liii., 2.
Zech. ix., 9.
5 Matt. xv., 24. • John viii., 31.

"And this is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." And such must be his name, because such he is. He has established his rightful and exclusive title to the name of Jehovah or Lord, by miracles, prophecies, and every high testimony that establishes divinity'; and the name thus of right belonging to him, "is the name whereby he has been called," in every age of his Church, by every denomination of his disciples. And righteousness, yea, righteousness itself, is Christ Jesus the Lord. None ever born into the world was without sin but One, and that was, "God manifest in the flesh." And Jesus Christ is 66 our righteousness," ," "God with us"." If he had been righteousness in the abstract only, and not "our righteousness," he might have been an object of worship-of imitation-of veneration— but not of love. As however, beyond all controversy, he is "the Lord our righteousness," he is of right the sole, supreme, and comprehensive object of all these. He is "the High and Holy One," to whom every faculty of the soul should be raised, every energy of the life devoted. He should engross all our faith, love, gratitude, and whatsoever other emotion or holy energy belongeth

to us.

When this prophecy was first delivered, the reign and advent of the Messiah was as yet distant. In these our days, the event has fulfilled the prophecy, and the occurrence has justified the prediction. We verily believe that he of whom the prophet spake has appeared, and appeared as was predicted of him, born "of the house and lineage of David," and yet, in effect, the Lord of David, born our anointed king, born our sure salvation, born our infallible law-giver, born our everlasting righteousness. And surely the ascertained correspondence between the event and the prediction, in all these particulars, must quicken our faith greatly, and so strengthen its foundations that it cannot be moved.

And especially at this time should an edifying use be made of these interesting records of him, who although made man, is eternally God. He came, indeed, in the form of man, and as such suffered, died, and rose again for us, setting us a perfect example-incurring punishment in our stead-and making an atonement for us. And how encouraging a thing is it to know, that our sins are washed away if we are truly penitent; and that our help in temptation cometh of One, who,

1 John iii., 2; xi., 47; vii., 40. Matt. xxi., 46. Matt. iii., 16, 17; xvii., 5.

Luke xxiv., 19.

2 Matt. i., 23.

when he took upon him our nature, was tempted like as we are. But let us also remember with fear and trembling, that the Messiah, of whose first coming we have such sure proofs and such comforting evidences, will, as has been predicted of him, come again, and come again to judgment. May we be daily preparing for judgment, often looking forward to it, serving, with all holy fidelity, that good and gentle Master, who, in the fulness of his faith and truth, will then erect his judgmentseat; and trusting, for our own individual interest in the kingdom that shall then appear, in him only, who, notwithstanding all the works that we have done, must still be " our righteousness," and whose "name, through faith in his name,' can alone enable us to do any works truly acceptable in his sight.

9 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not be lieved? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher ?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of

them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19 But I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hand unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

The results of every true conversion to the faith of Christ,

and the process by which it takes place, is here described. In the first stage of conversion, the convert, if he is right-minded, "confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus," and "believes in his heart that God has raised him from the dead." This faith which makes confession unto salvation he has obtained "by hearing," and "hearing" has come "by the word of God" preached, and the word of God preached has been preached by a specially appointed messenger of salvation, by a messenger who has succeeded the first messengers of the Gospel, and, in the Lord's name, “publishes peace," and "brings glad tidings of good things."

Such is the process by which every heathen convert has been brought to "know Jesus Christ and him crucified," the process indeed by which, in every case of conversion, since the Gospel began to be preached, the truth has reached its destination. Andrew, the first convert to Christianity, the first preacher of Christ, is the saint of this day. What can be more appropriate on such an occasion, than a description of the process by which faith cometh and hearing cometh? What can be more appropriate than a full account of that method of calling on the Lord Jesus Christ by which men may be saved? Andrew was once a Jew: he became a disciple of John. Andrew was a disciple of John-and he became a disciple of Christ. Andrew was a disciple of Christ-and he became an apostle of Christ'. And the instrumentality by which these several spiritual changes were brought about, was the instrumentality of preaching. John preached-and Andrew gave heed to his preaching. Christ preached-and Andrew, admonished by John, followed Jesus. Christ, again, gave the word,-and the disciple obeyed the call to the apostleship, the fisherman was made "a fisher of men"and the converted disciple of John at once became a preacher of Christ. "He first found his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus2."

Thus was Andrew the first convert to Christianity, the first preacher of Christ, the first convert and preacher that made a convert to the faith in Christ. In all these capacities and characters he most fitly illustrates the Apostle's argument, and gives evidence of its truth and correctness. There was, first, preaching, then hearing, then believing, then calling on the name of the Lord, and at last, doubtless, salvation. Andrew continued 2 John i., 41, 42.

1 John i., 35, 42. Matt. iv., 19.

the faithful servant of him of whom he was the first disciple, and during his abode on earth, held frequent personal communication with his Lord, and, without doubt, occasionally brought others into communication with him. And how many in all probability were the hearers, and believers, and worshippers of the Lord, whom this faithful Apostle of Christ, in his progresses from city to city, made living witnesses, in after times, of the efficacy of his preaching. And at length, after a faithful and zealous discharge of his high apostolical duties, did this dauntless preacher of Christ become also a sufferer for his sake, and die like his master on a cross', proving what it was to be a true believer, and that, "whether he lived or died, he was the Lord's2."

Let us give heed to this instruction, conveyed to us alike by example and precept, and consider, with reference to it, first, that we have heard the word; secondly, that the word gives us a clear view of duty; and thirdly, that all do not obey it. First, we have heard the word. Each from his earliest years has heard it. Each, as soon as he could comprehend any thing, has been taught to comprehend the truth. The word has heen heard in the house; the word has been heard abroad. The word has been heard in the lesson; the word has been heard in the sermon. The word has imparted its information-afforded its comfortheld up its example-pressed home its exhortation-proclaimed its glad tidings-published its fearful threateningsin the fullest and clearest manner. None can possibly misunderstand it. None can, with any show of reason, gainsay it. None can with truth plead ignorance of it. None can readily forget it. And who has preached this word, which we have heard— delivered it thus regularly-expounded it thus intelligibly? He, who has been sent by the Lord of hosts, and is his duly ordained minister, the messenger, "chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard3." And what should be the result of this constant preaching and regular hearing? Faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God;" "and whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord," (if he does it in faith,) "shall be saved"."

1 The cross on which St. Andrew suffered, is said to have been of the form of the letter X, and since known commonly by the name of St. Andrew's cross.

2 Rom. xiv., 8.