will of God, those who are mortally wounded by the stings of sinful concupiscence, are to be healed by looking with a strong and lively faith on Christ crucified; who, though he appeared in the likeness of sinful man, had no sin in him, being the immaculate victim of atonement for all sin, If the Israelites were conducted, under the authority and guidance of the Levitical priesthood, towards the land of promise flowing with milk and honey: it was to shew that it is under the authority and guidance of the Christian priesthood, that the faithful are to be conducted to heaven, the true land of promise, flowing with pure and eternal delights. All these things happened to them in figure, and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (I Cor. x. 11.) The old law had a shadow of good things to come, not· the very substantial image of the things. (Heb. x. 1.)

It is impossible to read a collection of the prophecies, which are recorded in the Old Testament, relating to the person and office of the promised Messiah, and not to acknowledge, that they are a declaration of premeditated and gracious designs of the wisdom and mercy of God, in favour of fallen man." It is impossible to look at the events and institutions, which occur in the history of the Mosaic dispensation, especially when viewed in the light which St. Paul casts on them, and not see in them figures of some greater events, which were to take place in future times; and models of some magnificent work, which the divine architect had in contemplation to execute. That work was the work of our redemption, and the establishment of the Christian religion.

At the appointed time, about the peroid when the sceptre was removed from Judah, in the seventieth week of years from the edict issued for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the Messiah appears, the Redeemer and Saviour comes, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He is born in Bethlehem, of a Virgin, of the house and family of David, as was foretold. After passing thirty years in obscurity, he enters on his public ministry as the great Prophet, sent to instruct mankind in the truths of God. He teaches, not by philosophical reasoning, but with authority; as one sent by God, as the Son of God,

He proves his divine title by public and incontestable miracles. By the command which he exercised over all

nature, he shewed that he possessed infinite wisdom and infinite power; and that he, who appeared as man among men, was, at the same time, the God of the universe. He instantaneously restores hearing to the deaf, active vigour to the paralytic, and sight to those who were born blind. By a single act of his omnipotent will, the most inveterate diseases are suddenly and lastingly cured. He changes water into wine. He multiplies the substance of five loaves, so as to feed abundantly five thousand persons. He makes the sea feel his power, by consolidating its waters under his feet. He makes the tempestuous winds and waves acknowledge his jurisdiction; they fall in calm submission at his word. Devils feel the irresistible force of his supreme dominion; and death obeys him, as the author of life. If, at the end of the three years of his divine ministry, he is himself put to death. by the Jews, he shews that it was an act of voluntary concession on his part, not of superior force on theirs. He declares: that he lays down his life, by his own will; and that he has it in his power to take it up again, by raising himself from the dead. He dies; and he returns to life, on the third day, precisely as he had predicted.

By all these facts, performed by his own power, he demonstrated his title to the character of Son of God; he shewed evidently that he is the Lord of nature, and the Author of life. His doctrines, therefore, were the truths of God; his precepts were the commands of God; his institutions were the ordinances of God.

Having, as mediator and high priest, made atonement for sin, by his sacrifice of obedience unto death, which, on account of the infinite dignity of his person, was infinitely acceptable and satisfactory to the Deity, and a source of infinite blessings to man; this divine Redeemer, in his quality of Legislator, delivered his precepts of faith and morality, instituted his sacrifice and sacraments, and established a ministry, to be the faithful guardian of his law, and dispenser of his mysteries, to all nations, to the end of time.

Who does not see, in the character and office of Jesus, the. accomplishment of the divine promises and predictions, relative to the Messiah, and to the great work of the re-. demption of the world, for which he was to be sent? Who does not see, in the circumstances attending this act of

redemption, and in the institutions of the new law, which he ordained and established, the execution of that merciful and gracious design, of which the Almighty had exhibited magnificent plans and models, in the inferior institutions of the old law? Never did an 'architect construct a temple more conformable to his plans and designs.

Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills. His work is praise and magnificence, and his justice continueth for ever and ever. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and graciou's Lord: he hath given food to them that fear him. He will be mindful for ever of his covenant: he will shew forth to his people the power of his works. That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of his hands are truth and judgment. All his commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, made in truth and equity. He hath sent redemption to his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever. (Psalm cx. 2—9.)

CHAPTER IV.

BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIANITY DIFFUSED OVER ALL NATIONS. -Fall of man from original justice to the state of Sin.—Consequences.-Ignorance and Concupiscence.-Philosophy could not afford a remedy to these evils.-The sacrifice of Atonement.Remission of sin offered to all Nations.-The light of faith, to dispel ignorance of religious truths.—Excellence and sublimity of the doctrines of the Christian faith.-Purity and sanctity of the Gospel precepts, given to correct the corruption of the human heart.-Motives to Duty.-Efficacious graces administered by the Sacraments.-Effect of sacramental grace in St. Cyprian. -Efficacy of the Gospel in the conversion of Nations.

By the diffusion of the light and graces of Christianity, the evils which were caused by sin were repaired; the degraded nature of man was restored to its lost dignity; and a happy change was wrought, in all nations that received the faith and law of Christ.

To what a state of guilt and misery had the whole human race been reduced by sin! Man was originally created in a state of innocence and happiness, and was destined to be made eternally happy, in a kingdom of glory and delights, if, by his fidelity and obedience to the command of his Creator, during the short time assigned for his trial, he should prove himself worthy of that great reward. His understanding was then enlightened with the knowledge of God and of truth; his will was inclined to good; his appetites and desires were all subject to reason, and to the will of God. All was order and happiness, in soul and body, so long as man remained attached to God by obedience and love. But by one. most criminal act of disobedience, all was disordered. By: forfeiting his innocence, man forfeited his happiness. The whole human race, involved in the guilt of its first parent and moral head, became involved in his condemnation, to

death, to the loss of heaven, and to eternal misery-the just punishments of sin. But what dreadful evils awaited guilty man, after the term of his existence on earth!

Nor was any real happiness reserved for him, during the short space of his mortal career. The whole nature of man, in body and soul, was infected and corrupted by the venom of sin. His body became subject to debility, disease, and death. His understanding became clouded with ignorance. His will became inclined to evil, and averse from good. His whole soul became a scene of disorder and tumult, from the violence of contending passions.

How lamentable was that spiritual darkness, which spread over the Gentile world, and deprived it of the light of heavenly truths! In Judea, indeed, God was known, and bis name was great in Israel; but the greatest part of the human race, as it departed from the tradition of primitive revelation, and began to follow the rule of private opinion and sentiment, on matters of religion and morality, found itself bewildered in a maze of the most absurd and impious errors, and fell into the grossest ignorance of all that is most important, and interesting, for man to know. What dark ignorance prevailed throughout the heathen nations, even in the civilized countries of ancient Greece and Rome, concerning the author of the universe; the nature and per fections of God; the immortality of the human soul; the end, for which man was created; the rules and motives of moral duty; and the means of obtaining happiness! Whatever was the character of some general notions which were entertained on these important objects, they were intermixed with so many inconsistent and contradictory particular opinions, that truth lay confounded in a mass of errors and prejudices. Such was the religious ignorance that prevailed in the pagan world, that St. Paul emphatically called the ages, that preceded the coming of the Messiah, the times of this ignorance (Acts xvii. 30.)

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The natural consequence of this general ignorance was, an general diffusion of impiety and immorality over the heathen nations. Almost every thing was made an object of adoration, except the one and only true God. So gross and come mon were the violations of the law of nature, that the moral sense of decency and honesty seemed to be effaced, and man