III P-IS 07077 / 0 EMBLEMS OF JESUS. ILLUSTRATIONS OF EMMANUEL’S CHARACTER AND WORK. “ There ’s not a strain to memory dear, Nor flower in classic grove. There ’s not a sweet note warbled here. But minds us of Thy love. 0 Lord, our Lord, and spoiler of our foes, There is no light but Thine ; with Thee all beauty glows.* K-f.ble. SIXTH THOUSAND. EDINBURGH: WILLIAM P. NIMMO, 1866. \ I PREFACE. HE object of the present volume is to illustrate a few of the many striking and beautiful Emblems by which the Scriptures shadow forth the matchless excellences of our Emmanuel, and the blessedness of possessing a per¬ sonal interest in His great salvation. Although the subject of sacred meta¬ phors in general has doubtless often been handled by others, yet the Author is not aware of any existing work that is specially devoted to the elucidation of emblems descriptive of the character and work of VI PREFACE . Jesus Christ. He has, therefore, gathered together and illustrated a few of this latter class ’ and if, by the blessing of God, his humble labours shall be instrumental in endearing the Saviour to the souls of his readers, it will be to him more than re¬ compense. P. G. November 1863. I CONTENTS, FAG/5 THE HIDING-PLACE FROM THE STORM, . . 9 THE MORNING STAR, . 23 THE PLANT OF RENOWN, . 39 THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, . 55 THE TRUE MANNA, . 69 « THE SMITTEN ROCK, . 85 THE BRAZEN SERPENT, . 109 THE PASCHAL LAMB, . 1 23 THE GOEL ; OR, KINSMAN REDEEMER, . . 1 39 THE CITY OF REFUGE, . 1 55 THE GOOD SHEPHERD, . 1 75 THE PHYSICIAN, . 193 CONCLUSION, . -209 'Slje ^iQtng-.place from tlje &torm. * 2 Sam. xxii. 2, 3. “And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer ; the God of my rock ; in him will I trust : he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour ; thou savest me from violence.” Ps. Ivii. 1. “ Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me ; for my soul trusteth in thee : yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” Ps. xxxii. 7. “Thou art my hiding-place ; thou shalt preserve me from trouble ; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” Isa. xxv. 4. “For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isa. xxxii. 2. “ And a man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place ; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Gal. iii. 13. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for it is written. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” v* Heb. ix. 28. u So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” A 2 “Jesus, lover of my soul. Let me to Thy mercy fly. While the raging billows roll, While the tempest still is high ; Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide ; Oh, receive my soul at last ! “ Other refuge have I none. Hangs my helpless soul on Theej Leave, ah ! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me ; All my trust on Thee is stay’d, All my help from Thee I bring ; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of Thy wing. “Thou, O Lord, art all I want; All in all in Thee I find ; Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind. Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness ; Vile and full of sin I am. Thou art full of truth and grace. 4* Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to pardon all my sin ; Let the healing streams abound, Make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the fountain art ; Freely let me take of Thee ; Spring Thou up within my heart. Rise to all eternity ! ” Wesley THE HIDING-PLACE FROM .THE STORM. ANY Scripture emblems are bor¬ rowed from the dreary region of the Arabian desert, to which the sacred writers so frequently refer as the scene of Israel’s wanderings. Among these, that placed at the head of this chapter is by no means the least appropriate or in¬ structive. It is not possible, perhaps, for us to appreciate its full force, living, as we do, under a temperate climate, and in a country almost universally cultivated. But this metaphor must have been felt with great power by the inhabitants of Judea who lived in the vicinity of the desert, and who had probably often witnessed the ravages of those overwhelming winds and tempests which ever and anon swept across it. Hence the language of Isaiah, when he spake of “ a man who should be as an hiding-place from 12 THE HIDING-PLACE the wind, and a covert from the tempest,” must have conveyed to them the liveliest idea of the protection that was to be derived from the promised Messiah, even “ the man Christ Jesus.” The prophet seems to have had in view the condition of a traveller pass¬ ing through the desert when swept by a fierce wind, which threatens to overwhelm him by its fury, but, in his extremity, dis* covering a hiding-place and covert within his reach, to which, with eager gladness, he flees, and where he dwells in safety till the storm is overpast. Such is the emblem by which the prophet represents the shelter and security which believers find in Christ, amid the fierce and frequent storms, to which they are exposed when passing through the “waste howling wilderness” of this world, and which threaten to overwhelm them with their sweeping and resistless tide. This emblem suggests that “the man Christ Jesus” is the believer’s security amidst the storms of earthly trouble and affliction. Ere sin entered our world, the firmament of man’s existence was cloudless and serene ; but, by reason of his apostasy, the earth has been converted into a wilderness, full of FROM THE STORM. 13 storms and tempests ; and no sooner is one source of agitation and disquietude dried up, than another is forthwith let loose upon us. From one quarter issue forth the chilling winds of adversity, which frustrate all our designs, and blast all our expectations ; from another descend the storms of affliction, which fill our hearts with the most poignant grief, and beneath whose pressure we are weighed to the dust. From all points are incessantly blowing the pestilential winds of Satan’s temptations, by which at first Eden itself was laid waste, and which are still directed against us with the utmost subtlety and violence, in order that the house of our hope may be shaken and fall, and that of our faith we may be driven to make shipwreck. And did we not know, amidst all these storms with which we are assailed, where to find shelter and security, our case would be in¬ finitely worse than that of the desert-pilgrim, who pursues his solitary way all unprotected, and exposed to the pitiless pelting of the storm, without any rock or covert within his view over all the illimitable waste. But, blessed be God, “ the man Christ Jesus ” is a stronghold and hiding-place, in which we 14 THE HIDING-PLACE may safely repose, until the blasts and con¬ vulsions of calamity be overpast. There we .ire secure alike from the arrow that flieth in darkness, and from the destruction that rageth at noonday. That Refuge has defied all blasts, and stood in the face of all storms. Generation after generation has sat under its shadow ; and the fathers to the children have told, as the fathers to the children con¬ tinue to tell, that, from the assaults and fury of the world, “from the pride of man, and from the strife of tongues,” from the desolat¬ ing tempests which the Wicked One is per¬ mitted to raise in the believer’s soul, it is an * * almighty and seasonable defence. Such has been the happy experience of thousands, who have gone before us in this vale of tears. Amidst the wildest and most appalling storms of earthly trouble, they were “ kept in perfect peace, because their minds were stayed on Him.” They knew that it was His Spirit that guided the whirlwind and rode upon the storm, and that His hand of mercy was in all the afflictions which befell them, making them instrumental in promoting their truest and most permanent good. To Him, therefore, did they flee, as unto a sanctuary ; FROM THE STORM. 15 and, believing His truths, and relying on His infinite power to protect, and His infinite beneficence to bless them, they possessed their souls in patience and in peace. The emblem under consideration suggests, also, that “ the man Christ Jesus” is the be¬ liever’s security against the storm of Jeho¬ vah s wrath. All the temporal storms to which we have adverted are but as drops be¬ fore the shower when compared with the terrible storm of wrath which is in store foi the ungodly and unbelieving. Of that future storm we can form but a very faint and in¬ adequate conception. “ Who knoweth the power of thine anger ? According to thy fear, so is thy wrath.” The Word of God shadows it forth by images the most terrific. “ On the wicked,” it is declared, God “shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an hor¬ rible tempest ; this shall be the portion of their cup.” “ A fire is kindled in mine anger, and it shall burn unto the lowest hell.” Need we marvel, then, that when an indivi¬ dual seriously considers how fearful a thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God, he should cry out, as in an agony of alarm, “What must I do to be saved?” For i6 THE HIDING-PLACE “ who can dwell with the devouring fire ? Who can dwell with the everlasting burn¬ ings?” Aroused to a sense of his guilt and danger, he looks around for a place of refuge from the whirlwind of that Divine wrath which “ is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men.” But, alas ! every earthly refuge is unavailing, and would inevitably be swept away by the overflowing deluge. He is ready to rush into the arms of despair ; when, behold, God, whose wrath and condemnation he had incurred, comes down to him, and reveals a system of mercy and salvation, which, while it abates nothing of wrath to the finally impenitent, secures pardon and peace to those who “repent, and believe His gospel.” A Refuge is provided, whose foundation is the Rock of Ages, and beneath whose sha¬ dow no wind or tempest can assail us. Jesus, the Son of the Highest, is our hiding-place from the wind, and our covert from the tem¬ pest of Divine indignation. The Word of God clearly reveals to us, both the manner in which He has effected our deliverance and the mode in which we become interested in His mediatorial I FROM THE STORM. 17 work. 11 God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation, to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” “ He was wounded for our transgres¬ sions, bruised for our iniquities ; the chas¬ tisement of our peace was upon him, that by his stripes we might be healed.” It thus appears, that the means by which sinners are .delivered from the wrath to come, was by Jesus bearing that wrath Himself in our room and stead. He “ suffered, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” Not less plainly revealed is the manner in which we become interested in His great de¬ liverance. It is by believing on His name. “ Behold, I lay in Zion a foundation, he that believeth shall not make haste.” “ Believing, we shall have life through His name.” “ He that believeth in Him is not condemned, but hath everlasting life.” If we do but possess this faith, we need fear no evil. “ There is, there¬ fore, now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” “Being justified by faith, they have peace with God, through our Lord i8 THE HIDING-PLACE Jesus Christ.” The very name of Jesus is unto them as a strong tower ; they run into it, ?.nd are safe. The sanctuary of His medi¬ ation is a defence, “ stronger than the muni¬ tion of rocks ; ” “ they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of His hand.” They “ dwell in a peaceable habita¬ tion, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet rest¬ ing-places.” “ Because they have made the Lord who is their refuge, even the Most High their habitation, there shall no evil befall them, neither shall any plague come nigh their dwelling.” “ The Lord shall preserve them from all evil.” How thankful ought we to be to Almighty God, for His infinite goodness and mercy in raising up for us a Refuge and Hiding- place that thus effectually screens and pro¬ tects us from every storm by which we can be overtaken or threatened. Let us, then, “ give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good ; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Let it be remembered, however, that shel¬ ter and security are to be found only in Christ. How unspeakable, then, must be the misery and the danger of those who are none of His ! Not only are they tossed FROM THE STORM 19 upon a sea of earthly trouble, but they stand unsheltered from the terrific storm gathering against them — even the wrath to come — wrath still coming, but never all come ; a storm that shall beat upon them throughout the ages of eternity. Reader, what will become of you, should death overtake you in this defenceless state — while out of Christ, the only effectual hiding-place ? Whither will you flee for help or shelter ? Will you call on the rocks and mountains to fall on you, and hide you from the face of Him who sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb ? The mountains shall fly away, and the hills melt like wax, before the God of the whole earth. If Christ be not your hiding-place, destruc¬ tion must inevitably overtake you. Flee, then, to Him. “Be of good comfort;” O sinner, “rise, He calleth thee.” Into this refuge, all, without exception, are invited to enter ; here even the chief of sinners may obtain a welcome. Think not of betaking yourself to any other shelter, in the vain hope that the storm of Divine indignation will leave it undisturbed. This were but to increase your danger ; for, in place of pro- 20 THE HIDING-PLACE tection, it would prove a snare. No refuge but that sought for in the arms of Christ will be found strong enough against the storm and tempest. ¥ Give all diligence, then, to be found in Him, that so “ in the time of trouble He may hide you in His pavilion ; that in the secret of His tabernacle He may hide you, and set you upon a rock.” Blessed, blessed beyond compare, are all those who have taken sanctuary in Him ! Nothing from without can harm or affright them any more. The eternal God is their refuge ; underneath and around them are the Saviour’s everlasting arms. Their peace can never be removed. External circumstances — the loss of fortune, of fame, of health — do not impair it ; they rather confirm its exercise, and render its value more sensibly evident, like “the storm howling o’er the well-stayed battlements,” which only enhances the sense of comfort to those who are lodged within. The rains may descend, the floods beat, and the winds blow, but it abides unshaken, for it is founded upon the “ Rock of Ages.” “ Betake thee to thy Christ, then, and repose Thyself, in all extremities, on those His everlasting arms. FROM THE STORM. 21 Wherewith He girds the heavens, and upholds The pillars of the earth, and safely folds His faithful flock from harms, Cleave close to Him by faith, and let the bands Of love tie thee in thy Redeemer’s hands.” Quarles. ** Jesus, to Thee, my sure defence. My help for ever nigh. From the rough blast and rushing storm For shelter I apply. “ Thou art my only hiding-place, Thou my secure abode, When vengeance like a whirlwind flies. And rages all abroad. “ As rocks to guard from burning skies Their ample shades extend. Do Thou from flames of wrath divine My guilty soul defend.” 4< God in Christ, Jehovah-Jesus, God with us in human form, This shall be my ark of refuge. This my rock in every storm ; Here I shelter from the wrath-cloud, Here repose like trustful child, For ’tis here I view my Maker As my Father reconciled.” Ruth Wills. 22 the HIDING-PLACE, &*c. “ Awake, sweet harp of Judah, wake. Re tune thy strings for Jesus’ sake ; We sing the Saviour of our race, The Lamb, our shield and hiding-place. ’Tis He, the Lamb, to whom we fly. While the dread tempest passes by ; God sees His well-beloved’s face. And spares us in our hiding-place. “Yet courage, days and years will glide ; And guilt and frailty laid aside, We shall be borne o’er Jordan’s flood. Our robes made white in Jesus’ blood. » ** Then, pure, immortal, sinless, freed. We through the Lamb shall be decreed j Shall meet our Father face to face, And need no more a hiding-place.” £L K. Whitk. / 'Efje s>tac. Num. xxiv. 17. “I shall see him, but not now ; I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.” Isa. lx. 1-3. “ Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people : but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy ris¬ ing.” Isa. lx. 19. ‘ The sun shall be no more thy light by day ; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee : but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” Luke i. 78, 79. “Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ 2 Pet. i. 19. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy ; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shin- eth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” Rev. xxii. 16. “ I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” ‘‘When, marshall’d on the nightly plain. The glittering host bestud the sky, One star alone, of all the train. Can fix the sinner’s wandering eye. “ Hark ! hark ! to God the chorus breaks. From every host, from every gem; But one alone the Saviour speaks. It is the Star of Bethlehem. “ Once on the raging seas I rode ; The storm was loud — the night was dark— > The ocean yawn’d — and rudely blow’d The wind that toss’d my foundering bark. “ Deep horror then my vitals froze ; Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem ; When suddenly a star arose, — It was the Star of Bethlehem. ** It was my guide, my light, my all. It bade my dark forebodings cease ; And through the storm, and dangers’ thrall. It led me to the port of peace. “ Now safely moor’d, my perils o’er, I ’ll sing, first in night’s diadem. For ever and for evermore, The Star, the Star of Bethlehem ! ” H. K. White. THE MORNING STAR all the planets which bestud the fir¬ mament, the morning star is, and ever has been, the most admired, on account of her singular brightness and beauty. Though her radiance is not to be compared with that which the sun, or even the moon, casts abroad, yet, in the gorgeous jew¬ ellery of the heavens, does she form one of the loveliest gems, while, at particular periods, she shines with a lustre that renders her distinctly visible to the naked eye, several hours after the ruler of the day has arisen upon the earth. But that which chiefly deserves our present atten¬ tion is, that she is designed not only to beautify the vault of heaven, and to emit light, as do the other “ watchers of the sky,” but to be, as it were, the sun’s harbinger, declaring his speedy approach. When night has encircled the world with its sable mantle, she arises in the heavens^ sheds her first light, and ushers 2 6 THE MORNING STAR. in the day. In this respect, she constitutes a strikingly appropriate emblem of our Lord. Accordingly, at the close of His revelation to the Church, we find Him declaring, “ I am the bright and morning star.” Nor is it diffi¬ cult to discover the grounds on which He deserves this peculiarly beautiful appella¬ tion. Jesus is the bright and morning star, be¬ cause, by His first rising upon the earth , He introduced to its benighted inhabitants the gospel day. Prior to His appearing on the eastern horizon, the world was enveloped in the gloom of midnight. Mankind had be¬ come “vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the nations ; and though a beam from the Divine glory had shone on the heights of Zion, and gilded for a season the mountains of Israel, yet the clouds and shadows of the ancient dispensation veiled it from the view of the faithful, while upon the great bulk of the Jewish people therp had settled down a deep and impenetrable gloom of vice and superstition. But this state of things was not to continue THE MORNING STAR. 27 for ever. The Morning Star at length arose, and the shadows of night began gradually to disperse before His ascending glory. Then “ the people that sat in darkness saw great light ; and upon them that dwelt in the lani. of the shadow of death the light shined.'" Christ’s appearing was the fulfilment of God’s gracious promise unto the fathers, and the blessed manifestation of His rich favour and goodness to the children of men. Accord¬ ingly, the devout Simeon, who waited for “the consolation of Israel,” no sooner beheld the child Jesus brought into the temple to be presented after the law, than he exclaimed, “ Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word ; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” At the appearing of this Star, which, according to the ancient oracle, came out of Jacob, the believing ex¬ pectations of the pious Israelites were fully realised, and the mystery, which had been hid for ages, was made manifest. Before the beams of His glorious gospel, the mists of ignorance and idolatry were dispelled, and 28 THE MORNING STAR. the clouds and shadows of the law entirely and for ever disappeared. Enlightened by His rays, the apostles went forth, proclaim¬ ing peace through the blood of the cross, ex¬ horting all men everywhere to repent, and offering eternal life to as many as believed on the name of the Lord Jesus. And how great were the multitudes who, through their instrumentality, were brought out of darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan to God ! As the light-bearers of Heaven, they not only held forth the Word of life to the inhabitants of Judea, but went forth into all parts of the habitable world. And how many myriads have since been privileged to rejoice in the glorious light of that Dayspring from on high, which, through the tender mercy of our God, hath visited us ! But Jesus further resembles the morning star, as, by His arising upon our hearts , He ushers in the day of salvation. Although the true light now shineth in the world, yet the natural mind is in a state of complete dark¬ ness and blindness as to the things of God. “ The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” Though ready to imbibe the knowledge of things THE MORNING STAR. 29 visible and vain, mankind, in their unregene¬ rate state, are averse to listen to, or to know, things invisible and divine. Nor can the light of unassisted reason ever enable them to discover those truths which it is most needful for them to know and believe ; and until “ He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in their hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” their way is as darkness ; they see not whither they are going, and must inevitably stumble and fall. Till then, even the light that is in them is darkness. But when the bright and morning stai arises upon the benighted soul, the mists of ignorance, error, and unbelief, are rolled away, and spiritual and eternal objects are beheld in all their transcendent magnitude and importance. By this blessed light are discovered the evil of sin, and the manner of becoming interested in the great salvation, — the nature of faith in Christ, and repentance towards God, — the duties of holy living, and the means of dying in peace and hope, — the glories and felicities of heaven, and the hor¬ rors and agonies of hell. Nor does Jesus 30 THE MORNING STAR. merely reveal these things ; He also opens men’s eyes to behold them. While removing their natural ignorance, He at the same time, by the enlightening and purifying influ¬ ences of His Holy Spirit, enables them clearly to understand, firmly to believe, and ardently to love, His glorious gospel. Thus, in His light do they see light ; and encompassed with His cheering beams, they rejoice with exceeding joy. Oh, how blessed a thing it is to be thus turned from darkness into marvellous light ; and with what intense emotions of gratitude should we look back to the period when the day dawned, and the day-star arose in our hearts ! You may speak of the gratitude of the tempest-tossed mariner, when, after buffeting the raging of the billows, during the darkness and horrors of a winter’s night, his eyes are first blessed with the sight of the morning star, shining forth like a beaute¬ ous beacon in the sky, — you may talk of the gratitude of the slave, when the last link of his fetters is thrown away, and he stands forth in the dignity and with the glory of freedom, — you may tell of the gratitude of the condemned criminal, when, at the very THE MORNING STAR. 3i scaffold, he hears the announcement of a free and unexpected pardon ; — but all the com¬ parisons which you can heap together, and all the similitudes that you can bring from the ample storehouses of experience, are but faint and feeble illustrations of the gratitude and joy which should spring up in the hearts of those who, from the darkness and desola¬ tion of the night of ignorance and sin, have been brought into the marvellous light of the gospel, and made to rejoice in its saving beams. Again, Jesus resembles the morning star, as He is the precursor of a day of millennial brightness. It is doubtless matter of deepest thankfulness to God, that the light of the glorious gospel has already been diffused over so large a portion of our once benighted world ; but we have, at the same time, rea¬ son to mourn, that even now, its illumination is very far from being universal. Full many a dark place still exists, which has never yet been visited by the Dayspring from on high, while others, which were once enlightened, are left in midnight darkness. Not seldom, too, even in Christian lands, have we reason to lament with the prophet, “ Woe unto us, 32 THE MORNING STAR. for the day goeth away ; for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.” By supersti¬ tion in some places, by most pernicious errors in others, and by vice in all, the Morn¬ ing Star is shorn of its brightest rays. But were the signs of the times even more dark and ominous than they are, we are pri¬ vileged to exult in the anticipation of another and more glorious day — a day of which the prophets have so sweetly sung, when every region on which the natural sun shines shall be illuminated by the beams of evan¬ gelical truth ; when the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth His glory ; when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be come in, and all Israel shall be saved ; when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together ; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Then shall the bright and morning Star again arise upon the benighted nations, and shed His unclouded radiance over every land. His appearing shall be “ as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds ; ” the welcome har¬ binger of a serene, and bright, and joyous day. THE MORNING STAR. 33 What Christian heart does not bound with holy joy, at the contemplation of such a pros¬ pect ? In a day like this, when the eye is pained by scenes of misery and desolation, and the heart agonised by the errors, the crimes, and the enormities, with which the earth’s surface is darkened, is it not delight¬ ful to think, that the bright and morning Star shall yet usher in a day, when our world, cursed by sin, and so long the theatre of human misery, will become like unto the paradise of God, the abode of happiness and jo/? Oh ! let us unite in fervent prayer, and zealous endeavours, for the arrival of this blessed and glorious era. Be it ours to press forward to “ the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” The cause is great, but the promise is sure. “ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing ; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon ; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.” The Lord hath said it, and shall He not do it ? Is He not doing B 2 34 THE MORNING STAR. it before our eyes ? Is He not, even now, magnifying His name in the sight of the heathen? “For Zion’s sake,” then, “ let us not hold our peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake let us not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” But Jesus still further resembles the morn¬ ing star, as He is the harbinger of eternal day. Even as the morning star gives pro¬ mise of the dawn of day, and, rising in bright¬ ness, at length blends her lustre with the glories of the heavens, so the light, which the day-spring from on high will shed over every part of the earth’s surface at the mil¬ lennium, is as but the faint glimmering of the twilight, in comparison of the full blaze of glory, into which it will at length melt away, when Jesus shall shine forth, in the centre of the heavenly world, “ as the sun in his strength.” Then shall a day of perfect know¬ ledge, purity, and happiness commence, up¬ on which the shades of evening shall, never close. “And I saw the holy city, new Jeru¬ salem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and the city had no need of the light of the THE MORNING STAR. 35 sun, neither of the moon to shine in it ; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it ; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it ; and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day : for there shall be no night there.” Whatever may here occasion darkness, shall be for ever removed from that glorious world of joy. Neither ignorance, nor unbelief, nor sin can ever find an entrance there. There, “ light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” Nor shall the Lord ever again withdraw from His children the experi¬ ence of His presence and love. “Their sun shall no more go down, neither shall their moon withdraw itself ; for the Lord shall be their everlasting light, and the days of their mourning shall be ended.” If this bright and morning Star has not yet arisen upon our hearts, to guide our feet into the way of peace, let us “ give glory to God, ere our feet stumble on the dark moun¬ tains ” of eternal ruin, “ lest, while we look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.” Let us follow 36 THE MORNING STAR. the light of truth, now shining around us, which will guide our souls to Jesus, for pardon and peace. “ I am the light of the world,” He says ; “ He that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” If, on the other hand, we have been en¬ lightened by this blessed luminary, it be¬ hoves us to walk, as “children of light.” Whilst, therefore, we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, be it ours to shine as lights in the world, and shew forth to men around us the glories of Him who hath enlightened us. In our several spheres, and according to the opportunities given us, and the talents bestowed upon us, let us help forward the God-like work of en¬ lightening this dark world — of drawing all men to Christ, the true Light — in the unity of the Spirit, and in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. “Ye worlds of light, that roll so near The Saviour’s throne of shining bliss. Oh, tell how mean your glories are, How faint, and few, compared with His. THE MORNING STAR. 37 “We sing the bright and morning Star, (Jesus, the spring of light and love :) See how its rays diffused from far. Conduct us to the realms above. Its cheering beams, spread wide abroad. Point out the troubled Christian’s way ; Still, as he goes, he finds the road Enlighten’d with a constant day. “Thus when the Eastern magi brought Their royal gifts, a star appears, Directs them to the Babe they sought, And guides their steps, and calms their fear3. “When shall we reach the heavenly place, Where this bright Star will brightest shine ; Leave far behind these scenes of night, And view a lustre so divine ?” Beddomk. Sceptre and Star divine. Who in Thine inmost shrine Hast made us worshippers, oh, claim Thine own ; More than Thy seers we know. Oh, teach our love to grow [sown.1* Up to Thy heavenly light, and reap what Thou hast Keble. “Thou art the life, O Lord 1 Sole light of life Thou art ! Let not Thy glorious rays be pour’d In vain on my dark heart. 33 THE MORNING STAR. v “ Star of the East, arise ! Drive all my clouds away, Guide me till earth’s dim twilight dies Into the perfect day ! ” Laurenti, 3700. “ The light of reason cannot give Life to my soul ; Jesus alone can make me truly live, One glance of His can make my spirit whole. Arise and shine, O Jesus, on this longing heart of mine. “ Single and clear, not weak or blind, The eye must be, To which Thy glory shall an entrance find ; For if Thy chosen ones would gaze on Thee, No earthly screen Between their souls and Thee must intervene. “Jesus, do thou mine eyes unseal, And let them grow Quick to discern whate’er Thou dost reveal. So shall I be deliver’d from that woe, Blindly to stray Through hopeless night, while all around is day.” Richter, 1704. 'Clje plant of Iftcnotott, Isa. xi. i. \ “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse aud a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Cant. ii. i, 2, 3. “ I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daugh¬ ters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet ty' my taste.” Jer. xxiii. 5. “ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper.” Ezek. xvi. 14. “ And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty : for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.” Ezek. xxxiv. 29. “And I will raise up for them a Plant of renown, and they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.” Ezek. xlvii. 12. “And by the river, upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be con¬ sumed : it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary ; and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” •ISweeter is Jesus’ love to me Than Sharon’s fragrant rose* He lovelier than the lily is That in the valley grows. “ Fair as amid the forest wide The citron tree is seen. So, fairer than the sons of men He in my sight has been. 4‘ I sat in His refreshing shade. My weary soul to rest ; His fruit revived my soul again, And sweet was to my taste. “He brought me to His banquet houso^ A costly feast He made ; And lo ! the banner of His love He over me did spread. Cheer me with wine, with odours sweet. My fainting soul restore ; For I am vanquish’d by His love, The love to me He bore.” M'Conechv. THE PLANT OF RENOWN. HIS emblem, under the veil of which our blessed Redeemer is introduced by the prophet Eze¬ kiel, is widely different from that which Isaiah applies to Him, when he speaks of the promised Messiah “growing up as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.” Yet, a very little consideration is sufficient to satisfy us, that, between these two views of Christ, there is really nothing in the slightest degree incongruous, much less contradictory. They refer to different parts of His wondrous history. In the one, Isaiah describes the obscurity of His origin and His life of unparalleled humiliation, while, in the other, the allusion is to His subsequent exaltation, when He, who, as a rejected root, had been bruised and trampled under the feet of men, should become greatly 42 -THE PLANT OF RENOWN. renowned on earth, by the spread of His glo¬ rious gospel throughout all nations. In our present contemplation of this celes¬ tial Plant, we shall restrict ourselves to an illustration of a few of those excellences, on which its renown is founded. This Plant, then, we begin by remarking, is justly renowned on account of its surpass¬ ing beauty. Plants and flowers are univer¬ sally acknowledged, as the most graceful and lovely objects, among the productions of nature. How charming is the variety, by which they are characterised ! Some delight the eye with their rich tints, some with the delicate paleness of their hue, some with the grace and symmetry of their form, while all, without exception, testify, that the God of nature designed them to minister to man’s de¬ light, and to beautify the earth. Yet, what¬ ever loveliness may appear in the productions of nature, but faintly shadows forth the beauty and glory of Him, by whom, and for whom, all things were created, and through whom all things consist. Jesus “is the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely,” “fairer than the children of men,” unspeakably eminent above every created being, in all that THE PLANT OF RENOWN. 43 can command our esteem or excite our affec¬ tion. When, for us men, and for our salvation, He condescended to be planted in the un¬ kindly soil, and under the unfavourable cli¬ mate of this earth, the great mass of the Jews saw in Him “ no form nor comeliness, nor any beauty, for which He was to be desired ; ” but those, from whose eyes the veil of preju¬ dice and unbelief had been removed, “beheld His glory — the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” And so is it with men, at the present hour. To multitudes, His beauty is invisible ; their carnal eyes cannot discern it. Destitute of true faith in Him, they have no realising, affecting views of His infinite excellency. The god of this world hath blinded their minds, lest the light of His glorious gospel should shine into them. True believers, on the other hand, “ behold the beauty of the Lord ; ” for the eyes of their understanding have been opened, God having shined into their hearts, to give them the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Thus divinely illumined, even now they regard Him as unrivalled in brightness 4,4 THE PLANT OF RENOWN. and beauty ; and hereafter, they shall find their eternal happiness, in enjoying the ful¬ filment of the promise, “ Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty.” This celestial Plant is renowned for its fragrance. Some plants and flowers, which are justly celebrated on account of their pre¬ eminent beauty, are least distinguished for fragrance. There are others, however, which possess both these properties in a superior de¬ gree ; for, while attracting our admiring gaze, they at the same time delight us with their sweet perfume. Even in our own climate, we can well appreciate the delicious fragrance, with which the sweet-smelling plants and flowers fill the atmosphere, throughout the summer months — “When, ’stead of one unchanging breeze. There blow a thousand gentle airs. And each a different perfume bears ; As if the loveliest plants and trees Had vassal breezes of their own, To watch and wait on them alone. And waft no other breath than theirs.’* But, in the sunnier climes of the East, such is the profusion of odoriferous plants, in some places, that we, in these northern climes, can form scarcely anything like an THE PLANT OF RENO WN 45 accurate idea of the delightful fragrance ex¬ haled from them. Thus, the cedar trees and aromatic herbs, with which Lebanon abounds, send forth such a rich and powerful scent, that, even at a considerable distance, the atmosphere is redolent with the most grate¬ ful perfume. Accordingly, mention is made in Scripture of “ the smell of Lebanon.” But the sweetest fragrance of the choicest plants and flowers falls infinitely short of that, with which the Plant of Renown refreshes and delights the believer’s soul. The very name of Jesus is “ as ointment poured forth.” “ God hath anointed him with the oil of gladness above his fellows.” a All his gar¬ ments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces.” It is thus, too, that the Church describes His spiritual fra¬ grance : — “ Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all pow¬ ders of the merchant ? ” “A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me ; ” “ He is like a clus¬ ter of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.” This celestial Plant has a delightful fragrance, even in the estimation of the eternal Father ; for Christ’s sacrifice is spoken of, as having 46 THE PLANT OF RENOWN. “a sweet-smelling savour.” His fragrance delights the hosts of heaven, among whom He now dwells ; for His glorious name sounds from all their harps, and His love is the theme of their everlasting song. And to His people here on earth, incomparably more delightful is the contemplation of His work and character, than is the fragrance of the most favoured spot on earth to those who are faint and weary. Jesus is the Plant, “Whose holy fragrance fills the sky With balm of peace eternally.” This celestial Plant is renowned for its healing 'virtues . Some plants are in high repute, on account of their medicinal quali¬ ties. As an instance of this, the Balm of Gilead will at once occur to the mind of the reader. This was a sort of gum that exuded from the balsam-tree when pierced, and which was deemed of sovereign virtue, in healing the bites of serpents, and other dangerous wounds. But no plant possesses such a healing effi¬ cacy, as that which flows from the pierced and bleeding victim of a world’s transgres¬ sions. The blood, which Jesus shed on Cal¬ vary, is better than medicine. It “ministers to minds diseased,” and is a sovereign THE PLANT OF RENOWN. 47 » remedy for every wound and malady of the soul. When applied by the Holy Spirit to the conscience, and received by faith, it is able to restore soundness to those, who are sick even unto death. It mollifies and binds up the wounds of the broken-hearted, strengthens the weak, confirms the strong, opens the eyes of the blind, melts and sub¬ dues the stubborn and the obstinate, makes the dumb to sing, and causes the spiritually lame to run in the paths of God's command¬ ments. Nor is it only to the souls of true Chris¬ tians, that this celestial Plant extends its sanative virtue. Its leaves are “for the healing of the nations,” and its health-re¬ storing efficacy is distinctly visible, even in the unregenerate world. It has produced a marvellous renovation, in the aspect and institutions of society. It has swept away the horrid abominations of heathenism, miti¬ gated the ferocity of war, purified the tone of public morals, and refined the domestic affections. It has broken the fetters of the slave, and prompted to the formation of every institution, that is calculated to alle¬ viate or remove human wretchedness. De- 48 THE PLANT OF RENOWN. spised and rejected of men, this heavenly Plant has done more to ameliorate even the temporal condition of our race, than all politi¬ cal or scientific institutions. This celestial Plant is renowned for its shade. Even in our own comparatively tem¬ perate clime, it is often most refreshing to the traveller, wearied with his journey in the heat of an autumnal day, to retire to the cool shade of a large and widely-spreading tree. And how much more must this be the case, in the tropical climate of the East, where the beams of a vertical sun fall with such intense ardour ! But oh ! how faint an image is this of the shelter and refreshment afforded by the shadow of the Plant of Renown. Jesus is to His people as the “ shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” He is “ a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Beneath this shadow, Christ “makes His flock to rest at noon.” Here they are effectually screened from the scorching heat of Jehovah’s wrath, and from the curse of “a fiery law.” “ There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” Not less THE PLANT OF RENOWN. 49 secure are they, who sit down under His sha¬ dow, from the heat of outward trials and afflic¬ tions. Accordingly, we find the sweet singer of Israel exclaiming, “ Thou art my hiding- place ; thou shalt preserve me from trouble ; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.,, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress.” In sitting beneath the shadow of Jesus, there is not merely security, but also “ great delight.” “ Believing,” the Christian “rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Then, too, are the virtues and graces of the spiritual life revived and strengthened. “They that dwell under his shadow shall return ; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine : the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” Reader, “abide in Jesus.” Beyond His shadow, you can never obtain either safety, or true repose. All other refuges are refuges of lies. Like the gourd of Jonah, they may afford you a short-lived comfort ; but soon, alas ! shall the fire of God’s anger burn them up, “ that it shall leave them neither root nor C 50 THE PLANT OF RENOWN. branch.” How blessed, on the other hand, is the condition of those, who have made the Lord their refuge, even the Most High their habitation ! “ The Lord is their keeper : the Lord is their shade upon their right hand. The sun shall not smite them by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve them from all evil : he shall preserve their soul. The Lord shall preserve their going out and their coming in, from this time forth, and even for evermore.” This celestial Plant is renowned for its wholesome and pleasant fruit. If it is a pleasant thing for the weary, sun-beaten traveller, to retire from the noonday heat, to the cool and refreshing shade of a verdant tree, diffusing fragrance around the spot where it is reared, how does it enhance his delight, when the tree is richly laden with wholesome and pleasant fruit, upon which he may freely make his repast ! And even thus is it with the Plant of Renown. “Mv beloved,” says the Church, “ is as the apple- tree. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.” Christ’s fruits, or, in other words, the blessings of His great salvation, are alike THE PLANT OF RENOWN. 51 ‘pleasant to the eyes,” and “good for food,” and “ able also to make wise unto salvation.” Time would fail us, were we to attempt to enumerate these precious blessings. What¬ ever men need, or desire, may be obtained freely from Jesus. In Him, there is pardon for the guilty, life for the dead, bread for the hungry, water for the thirsty, clothing for the naked, strength for the weak, liberty for the captive, illumination for the ignorant, peace for the miserable, and, from the beginning to the end, supplies of grace, more than ade¬ quate to every form of want, and peculiarity of condition. Such are the golden fruits, which hang in rich clusters on the Plant of Renown. Sweet, however, as these are to the taste of those who partake of them, they are but as the grapes of Eshcol, compared with the infinitely richer and more delicious clusters, that grow so luxuriantly in the vine¬ yards of the Canaan above. There, it will be granted unto all believers “ to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” “ And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either 52 THE PLANT OF RENOWN. side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, ana yielded her fruit every month : and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Reader, would you partake of the fruits of salvation, with which the Plant of Renown is so richly laden ? You have but to put forth the hand of faith, and pluck them from its clustered boughs. Although now trans¬ planted to the midst of the Upper Paradise, its branches extend downwards to the very hand and mouth of sinners here on earth. Nor let the number of your wants deter you from plucking its golden fruit. The supply is inexhaustible. Countless myriads, who have gone before you, have taken of it freely, to their souls’ satisfaction ; but still there is no diminution — still there is enough, and to spare. Come, then, sit down under the sha¬ dow of this Plant, eat of its fruit, and live for ever. But, have you already, in blessed experi¬ ence, found, that Christ’s fruit is indeed sweet unto your taste ? Let your bosom swell with emotions of liveliest gratitude and praise to the “ Giver of every blessing,” for His infinite THE PLANT OF RENOWN. 53 goodness, in raising up for you this Plant of Renown. Be it yours, however, to abide under its shadow, and to commend it to such as are now despising and rejecting it, and going through all the trees of the wood seek¬ ing, but seeking, alas ! in vain, for rest and satisfaction. Anticipate, also, the full enjoy¬ ment of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God, where, by eating of its delicious fruit, and inhaling the sweet fra¬ grance of its leaves, you shall live for ever, in the uninterrupted and eternal enjoyment of a blessedness, such as “ eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.” “As odours, press’d in summer hours From summer’s bloom, remain ; To soothe and comfort, till the flowers Of spring revive again : “ So, till * the Rose of Sharon* bloom Once more the desert’s pride, We feed upon the rich perfume It yielded when it died. ** * In earthen vessels,’ weak and frail. The heav’nly treasure lies ; Enriching every passing gale With fragrance of the skies,— 54 THE PLANT OF RENOWN. “ Faint breathings of the blessed mom, That Advent shall restore, When Christ shall to His own return, Nor ever leave them more.” • Monsell. r \ 'HHje &utt of Iftigljteougitctfsj. Hosea vi. 3. “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning ; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Ps. Ixxxiv. ir. “ For the Lord God is a sun and shield ; the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” . Malachi iv. 2. “ But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of right¬ eousness arise with healing in his wings.” John viii. 12. “ I am the light of the world : he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John xii. 46. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever be- lieveth on me should not abide in darkness.” 2 Cor. iv. 6. ‘ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of dark¬ ness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Isa. Iviii. 8. “ Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily ; and thy righteousness shall go before thee : the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.” Dayspring of eternity ! Dawn on us this morning-tide. Light from Light’s exhaustless sea. Now no more Thy radiance hide. But dispel with glorious might All our night. “ Let the morning dew of love On our sleeping conscience rain ; Gentle comfort from above Flow through life’s long parched plain ; Water daily us Thy flock From the rock. ** Let the glow of love destroy Cold obedience faintly given ; Wake our hearts to strength and joy With the flushing eastern heaven ; Let us truly rise ere yet Life hath set. “ Brightest Star of eastern skies, Let that final morn appear, When our bodies, too, shall rise Free from all that pain’d them here, Strong their joyful course to run As the sun. “ To yon world be Thou our light, O Thou glorious Sun of grace ; Lead us, through the tearful night, To yon fair and blessed place, Where to joy that never dies We shall rise.” Von Rosenroth. 1684. THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. OW peculiarly appropriate, how strikingly beautiful is this appella¬ tion of our Lord ! The sun is the grandest and most glorious object in the visible creation, and is, therefore, the fittest emblem of Him, who is “the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person,” and in whom, in all its tran¬ scendent grandeur, “ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” But this figure is expressive, not merely of the Saviour’s essen¬ tial and uncreated glory, but also of the powerful and benign influences, which are derived from Him, as our Redeemer. Viewed in this aspect, it is the purpose of the present chapter to shew, that He is to the spiritual world, what the sun is to the natural world — the source of light, fertility, comfort, and health. We remark, then, that Jesus is styled the C 2 58 THE SUN OF Sun of Righteousness, because He communi¬ cates light to mankind. As the material sun dispels the gloomy horrors of the night, and enlightens universal nature with his beams, so Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, removes the thick veil of ignorance and superstition, and illumines the moral world with His heavenly instructions. Previously to His arising on the soul, all is darkness and disorder. Hence the apostle describes the unconverted, as “ walking in the vanity of their minds, having the understanding dark¬ ened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, be¬ cause of the blindness of their heart.” Such is the mournful condition of man by nature ; he is shut out from everything which it is of the deepest importance for him to know and understand ; he discerns not spiritual things ; he is moving onwards to that eternal world, upon which he must sooner or later enter, without that guidance and comfort, which would be to him, as lights flung across his path ; and is like one, who knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. Nor can this spiritual gloom ever be dispelled, until the Sun of RIGHTEO USNESS. 59 Righteousness arises upon the soul, and im¬ parts to it His almighty and enlightening in¬ fluences. Then those, who “ were sometime darkness,” are made “ light in the Lord ; ” a celestial radiance is poured into the cham¬ bers of the soul, the eyes of the understanding are opened, the attention is fixed upon the sublime statements and revelations of the word of truth, and the soul, which erewhile presented the aspect of moral chaos and gloom, is converted into the radiance and beauty of noonday. Most justly, therefore, may that blessed Saviour be styled the Sun of Righteousness, who thus “gives light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guides their feet into the way of peace.” This metaphor intimates, also, that the Messiah conveys life and fertility to the moral world. The great luminary of the natural world is not only the fountain of light ; it is also the instrumental cause of vitality. Without its quickening and fructi¬ fying influence, vain would be the labour and skill of the husbandman. In winter, when we enjoy its presence least, how dead and desolate is the aspect of nature ! Sullen 6o THE SUN OF vapours obscure the sky ; the fields are stripped of their verdure, and the woods of their foliage ; and the God of nature “ send- eth forth his commandment upon earth, and giveth snow like wool ; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes ; he casteth forth his ice like morsels.” But, at the approach of the vernal sun, all nature begins to flourish again. “For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone ; the flowers appear on the earth ; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land ; the fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.” Similar to this, though infi¬ nitely surpassing it in beneficial influence, is the rising of the Sun of Righteousness upon the moral world. Naturally, the soul is in a state of desolation and death. Utterly in¬ sensible to the value of heavenly and eternal things, it has no desire whatever after the ennobling employments, and the exalted pleasures of religion. But, when the Sun of Righteousness arises upon the soul, it is quickened from this state of spiritual death ; and the incorruptible seed of the Word hav¬ ing been implanted within it, and watered RIGHTEO USNESS . 61 by the dews of Divine grace, the virtues and graces of the Holy Spirit spring up and abound, the wilderness becomes as a fruitful field, and the desert soul is made like unto the garden of the Lord. Then does Jehovah fulfil His own gracious promise, “ I will be as the dew unto Israel ; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return ; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine ; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.” How wonder¬ ful is the transformation, which is thus effected by the light of the Sun of Righteous¬ ness shining in the soul ! Formerly, it was in a state of spiritual torpor and death ; now, it is alive unto God. Formerly, it was barren as the flinty rock ; now, it is a tree abounding in the fruits of righteousness, to the praise and glory of God. This metaphor further intimates, that Jesus Christ imparts comfort and joy to the souls of men. The natural sun is the source of comfort, as well as of light and fertility. How cold and cheerless would be our lives, 62 THE SUN OF without its genial warmth and enlivening beams ! And how delightful is it, after the darkness of midnight, to welcome the first rays of the morning sun, and to inhale the refreshing influences thereby dispensed ! “Truly, the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” All nature exults under the exhilarating beams of the ruler of the day, “ coming forth like a bridegroom from his chamber;” the feathered songsters of the groves raise their tuneful notes ; the fields smile in beauty and plenty ; and, re-invigorated and cheered by its influence, men go forth from their dwell¬ ings to renew their daily toil. Thus cheer¬ ing and reviving are the effects of the Sun of Righteousness, when He arises upon the downcast and sorrowful soul. By the in¬ strumentality of His Word, and through the operations of His Holy Spirit, He pours His rich and overflowing consolations into the wounded souls of His people, re-invigo¬ rating them, as by some sovereign and reviv¬ ing balm, and filling them with new strength and fresh alacrity, for what yet remains of the course set before them. He causes light to arise unto them in darkness, nay, even RIGHTEO US NESS. 63 when they sit in darkness, He is Himself a light unto them, comforting them under the burden of spiritual distress, supporting them amid all the griefs and sorrows of their earthly pilgrimage, cheering them on in the path ot duty, and animating them to every coming labour. And when His light is thus shed upon their spirits, there is far greater glad¬ ness put into their hearts, than the men of the world experience, even when their corn and wine do most abound. This spiritual gladness may not, indeed, be imparted to them in equal measure ; but such is its in¬ estimable nature, that even the least degree of it, that may be vouchsafed, will prevent the soul from ever again seeking its chief happi¬ ness from the gratifications of sense and time. It for ever palls the taste to every sinful plea¬ sure. “ Whoso drinketh of this living water shall never thirst again.” It is a joy, which the world can neither give, nor take away ; a stranger doth not intermeddle with it ; and it constitutes the pledge and the foretaste of those rivers of pleasure, and of that fulness of joy which are at God’s right hand for evermore. This metaphor suggests, also, that the 64 THE SUN OF Messiah is the source of health to the moral world. As the beams and influences of the natural sun diffuse health and vigour through¬ out the vegetable kingdom, so the Sun of Righteousness arises on the soul, “with heal¬ ing in his wings.” By nature, it is pervaded by the disease of sin, which prostrates its strength, covers it with moral pollution, and threatens it with eternal death. But, when the healing influences of the Sun of Right¬ eousness are imparted, that fearful disease is removed from it, slowly, indeed, but surely ; its energy is gradually restored ; it is adorned with the beauties of holiness, and prepared for being translated into a region, the inhabit¬ ants of which “ shall not say, I am sick,” be¬ cause they are “forgiven their iniquity,” — a region whence sin and temptation are for ever excluded, and where the saints of the Most High exist in undecaying youth, in un¬ fading beauty, and in everlasting felicity. How great soever may be the defilement of the soul, to which His influences are conveyed, He is both able and willing to wash it all away. There is no case so desperate, that He cannot bring it to a favourable issue. “ Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall RIGHTEOUSNESS. 65 be white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Reader, are you still sitting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death ? Bethink you, how inexcusable and danger¬ ous is your condition. Through the tender mercy of God, the Dayspring from on high hath visited you, and its light shines around you in meridian splendour. But this is your condemnation, that you love the dark¬ ness rather than the light, your deeds being evil. And if you continue thus to shut out the light of the Sun of Righteousness from your soul, your present darkness will inevi¬ tably become more dense and impenetrable, and prove but the forerunner of “ the black¬ ness of darkness for ever.” Pray, then, ear¬ nestly and importunately, that “God, who at first commanded the light to shine out of darkness, may shine into your soul, to give you the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” Break up your fallow ground, sow to yourself in righteous¬ ness, and open your heart to the benign in¬ fluences of the Sun of Righteousness, while He is willing to communicate them. Follow Him, who declared Himself to be “ the light 66 THE SUN OF of the world,” and you “ shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life ; ” you shall enjoy all the blessings of His sal¬ vation, — the knowledge, the peace, the holi¬ ness, the felicity, which He, and He alone, can bestow. But have the renovating influences of this blessed Luminary been imparted to your soul ? “ Blessed art thou of the Most High ! ” “ You are the child of light, and of the day ; you are not of the night, nor of darkness : therefore, sleep not, as do others, but watch and be sober ; for they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that be drunken, are drknken in the night. But you who are of the day, be sober ; putting on the breast¬ plate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation ; for God hath not ap¬ pointed you to wrath, but- to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let your path in faith, and purity, and love, be’ “ as the morning light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” The firmament of your existence may frequently be overspread with clouds, and “for a season, if need be,” you may be “ in heaviness, through manifold temptations.” Butdet not these things move RIGHTEO US NESS. 67 you. Upon the darkest clouds of sorrow, the Sun of Righteousness shall shed a soft¬ ening and a cheering light ; and soon the day shall break, and the shades be dispelled. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Then, having come forth from the gloomy prison-house of death, you shall be ushered into a bright and glorious world, where no cloud ever darkens the sky, no chilling blast ever deso¬ lates the soil, but bright and serene day shines on perpetually, where “one unbounded spring encircles all,” and the “ storms of wintry Time” shall be felt no more. Raise, then, your thoughts to that celestial world, “ Where Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, displays His beauteous form, with holy, matchless rays ; There His full presence, clear to ev’ry sight, Fills every breast with exquisite delight.” “ Though sunless, moonless, starless, seem Each sufferer’s lonely state, There is a light whose cheering beam Its gloom can dissipate ; It comes with healing in its wings, And heav’nly radiance round it flings “It rises on the darken’d mind With lustre brighter far 68 THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Than that to outward orb assign’d. Of sun, or moon, or star ; And matchless in its mild control Over the desolate in soul.” Barton ** Sun of my soul ! Thou Saviour dear, It is not night if Thou be near ; Oh ! may no earth-born cloud arise To hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes.” Keblk “ Suns may rise and suns may set, Summers come and summers go, Earth its wintry grave forget, When the vernal breezes blow. “ But the day would be as night, And the summer winter prove. If the rising of Thy light Did not wake our souls to love. ** Oh the blessedness of those Who Thine inner sunshine feel, With its calm and soft repose, Gently o’er their spirits steal : Who, as earth doth own the power Of her sun her life to wake, Burst, as doth an opening flower. Into life for Jesus’ sake Monsell. %i) e 'Urut Slpattna, Ps. xxxiv. 8. " O taste and see that the Lord is good : blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Ps. xxxvi. 8. “ They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house ; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.” Ps. cxix. 103. “ How sweet are thy words unto my taste ! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth ! ” Isa. Iv. 1, 2, 3. “ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money : come ye, buy, and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” John vi. 51. * I am the living bread which came down from heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever : and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Rev. ii. 17. “ To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” <# Jesus, Thou art the living bread By which our needy souls are fed ; In Thee alone Thy children find Enough to fill the empty mind. “ Without this bread, I starve and die ; No other can my need supply ; But this will suit my wretched case. Abroad, at home, in ev’ry place. “’Tis this relieves the hungry poor, Who ask for bread at mercy’s door ; This living food descends from heav’n As manna to the Jews was giv’n. “ This precious food my heart revives ; What strength, what nourishment it gives ! Oh, let me evermore be fed With this divine, celestial bread.” Fawcett. THE TRUE MANNA. ANY of those events, which hap¬ pened under the Old Testament dispensation, undoubtedly bore a typical character. Of this de¬ scription was the incident from which the title of the present chapter is borrowed. It appears that, about a month after the depar¬ ture of the Israelites from Egypt, the provi¬ sions which they had brought with them having been exhausted, the whole congregation mur¬ mured against Moses and Aaron. In their sinful want of confidence in God, they had forgotten the galling and degrading servitude, from which they had been delivered, and un¬ gratefully overlooked the miraculous inter¬ positions, which they had experienced. . But He, who had chosen them for His people, and placed them under His own special guardianship, had compassion on them though rebellious; and in order to silence 7 2 THE TRUE MANNA. their complaints, He “commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and rained down manna upon them to eat, and gave them of the com of heaven. Man did eat angels’ food ; he sent them meat to the full.” That this miraculous provision was de¬ signed to be an emblem of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of those precious blessings of which He is the Author, is evident from His own declaration, “ I am the living bread which came down from heaven ; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever ; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world ” To the same effect is the testimony of St Paul, who, in writing to the Corinthians, declares, con¬ cerning the fathers under the Mosaic dispen¬ sation, that “they did all eat the sam ^spiritual meat? Authorised, then, by Christ Himself and by His apostle, let us follow out the em¬ blem, and see the light which it sheds upon the character and work of Him who is the v True Manna. The manna in the wilderness fell fro7n heaven when the Israelites were ready to per¬ ish with hunger. Even so Jesus descended THE TRUE MANNA. 73 from the heaven of heavens, where He had dwelt with the Father from the ages of eter¬ nity, in order to save “our souls alive” — to preserve them from that eternal decay, which, through sin, would otherwise have been their portion, and to nourish them to life eternal The manna could, indeed, but faintly and imperfectly prefigure the “ unspeakable gift ” of God. For, instead of “ angels’ food,” God hath given us the Lord and King of angels, and that, too, when our condition was far more desperate, than that of the Israelites in the desert. In consequence of his grievous and unprovoked rebellion, man had been cast out from the house of his heavenly Father, as unworthy even to eat of the crumbs which fell from His table ; he had become “wretch¬ ed, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked and, had he not obtained deliver¬ ance from this state of penury and destitu¬ tion, he would inevitably have sunk at last into all the horrors of “ the second death.” But, while he was thus “without hope in the world,” God looked upon him in mercy ; and, to meet the distressing wants of his spiritual nature, He was pleased to send him the true bread from heaven, to whom whosoever D 74 THE TRUE MANNA. cometh shall never hunger, and in whom whosoever believeth shall never thirst. The manna descended freely around the tents of the murmuring Israelites ; and, in like manner, the blessings of salvation through Christ are offered freely in the gospel. “ By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God ; not of works, lest any man should boast.” The gospel salvation is no less freely offered, than it is provided. It is a gift, for which no price is demanded, and which looks for nothing in its recipient, but want and misery. Though unspeakably pre¬ cious, it is placed within the reach of all ; and, if we only ask in faith, it will be made ours. Sometimes men imagine, that their sins are too numerous, too aggravated, too enormous, to come to the Saviour ; but not one is excluded. The vilest and most guilty criminals are as welcome to participate in the blessings of His salvation, as the most eminent saints. It is a feast, which He hath prepared for all men of every country, age, and condition ; and the invitations to partake of it are no less unlimited. “ Go ye,” he said, “ into all the world, and preach the gospel to THE TRUE MANNA . 75 every creature.” “ Ho, every one that thirst- eth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price.” “ Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” Christ’s provision for the need of sinners, is thus as unrestrictedly free to us, as the manna in the wilderness was to Israel. Those, therefore, who refuse or neglect to partake of it, are entirely without excuse. The manna was suitable alike to all ; and so the blessings of Christ’s purchase are pre¬ cisely such as are suited to the circumstances of His people. In their natural condition, they are hungering and thirsting after true happiness ; but nothing in the wide range of the universe can ever satisfy the cravings of their immortal spirits. In regard to every object of earthly pursuit, it may be said, in the words of Solomon, that “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing,” and that “ the appetite is not filled.” But that satisfaction, which all created objects are unable to yield, is to be found in Jesus Christ. “ He that cometh to me,” He declares, “ shall never hunger ; and he 76 THE TRUE MANNA . that believeth on me shall never thirst.’1 To all who are enlightened to know their own situation, and are made acquainted with their own spiritual poverty, His salvation is “meat indeed, and drink indeed.” How diversified soever their circumstances, they find in Him that spiritual nutriment, which is fitted to satisfy the largest wishes of their souls. Are they guilty ? “ In him they have redemption through his blood, the forgive¬ ness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Are they estranged from God ? They are “ made accepted in the beloved.” Are they polluted ? “He gave himself for them, that he might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify them unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Do enemies environ them on every side? His name is to them as “ a strong tower, and rock of defence ; ” and He will enable them to retire from the field of conflict “ more than conquerors.” Do they need peace of heart ? His dying legacy runs thus : — “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” Are they doomed to die, and to moulder away into dust ? He is “the resurrection and the life/’ THE TRUE MANNA. 77 and hath promised to “ redeem them from death, and ransom them from the power of / the grave.” As guilty and rebellious, are they in danger of the “ second death ? ” He “ delivereth them from the wrath to come,” and “ gives unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of his hand.” It is evident, then, that He, who is thus able to make “all grace to abound towards us,” is precisely the kind of Saviour which our circumstances re¬ quire. He is the true Bread of life, by which all who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. It was necessary for the Israelites to gather the manna, though freely given of God ; and, in like manner, it is required of us, that we believe to the saving of our souls. The mere knowledge of the fact, that Christ gave His flesh for the life of the world, can never of itself obtain for us a personal interest in His salvation. In order to this, we must receive Him by faith, as the food of our souls. His own declaration is, “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” 73 THE TRUE MANNA. Nor is the faith, by which we obtain a personal interest in Christ and His salva¬ tion, a mere transient and solitary act. As the Israelites gathered the manna daily , even so must we be daily feeding upon the heav¬ enly bread offered to us in the gospel. Our whole life, in fact, must be a life of faith upon the Son of God. And how encourag¬ ing the thought, that we may always have the grace that we need. For “thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.” “ I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.” Upon Christ, then, let us feed daily and hourly ; upon His promised grace and strength be it ours to live all the day long ; while, in all time of our want and weakness? let our language be like his of old — “ In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.” As the manna sustained the Israelites from day to day, so are they supported and strengthened who live by faith upon the Son of God. They dwell in Him, and He dwells in them ; and in consequence of this THE TRUE MANNA. 79 mysterious union, that spiritual life which they receive from Him is maintained and strengthened, as He Himself tells us, saying, “As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, even so he that eateth me shall live by me.” Hence He declares, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the last day.” By union with Him, be¬ lievers obtain that spiritual nourishment and strength whereby they are enabled to make progress in their journey to the celestial Canaan. Eating of the living bread, oft- times do they find that, like Elijah the pro¬ phet, they are borne up under the fatigues and sufferings of the wilderness, and go in the strength of that meal many days. Nay, such is its transcendent efficacy, that it will crown them with life eternal beyond death and the grave. “He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” The appointed mode of distributing the manna among the Israelites is not without its significance. Some gathered more, and others less ; but all received a plentiful supply. So believers receive liberally out of the “exceeding abundant grace of Christ.” So THE TRUE MANNA . “ It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell ; ” and if we only come to Him, we shall receive, “out of his fulness, grace for grace,” abundance of every kind of heavenly and spiritual blessings. If we are hungering and thirsting, it is not because He is either unable or unwilling to satisfy our wants, but solely because we, being “ of little faith,” do not come to Him, “ that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly” The cause of our being straitened is in ourselves, and not in our Lord, who is “ the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth,” and who hath promised to every believer, “ Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” And as the Israelites were required freely to impart of their manna to those who had lack, so we are commanded to make known the gospel to all. Freely having received, it is incumbent upon us freely to give ; and if we selfishly hoard up -the bread of life, and thus disobey the heavenly injunction to dis¬ tribute it to those, who are perishing for lack of knowledge, we have but too much reason to fear that we ourselves have never yet come to Christ, and been made partakers of His flesh. THE TRUE MANNA. 5i As the manna was, at a subsequent stage in their journeyings, rejected by the Israelites, so was Christ despised and rejected by them as a nation, and is now lightly esteemed by thousands whom He invites to come unto Him. “ Our soul loatheth this light bread,” said the Israelites in the desert ; and in like manner it has been said by multitudes who are ignorant of their own spiritual wants, “ We will not have this man to reign over us.” A portion of the manna was laid up in the golden vessels of the tabernacle, where it re¬ mained for ages without suffering corruption. Even so, Jesus Christ liveth for ever in the heavenly sanctuary, as “ the hidden manna,” which He promises for the support and nour¬ ishment of His conflicting and overcoming people. And as He is represented in Holy Writ as dwelling in our hearts by faith, may not the purity of the golden vessels in which the manna was preserved as a memorial, teach us to cleanse our hearts from all sin and corruption, that they may be fit recep¬ tacles for Jesus Christ, the True Manna ? But, while the manna in the wilderness thus furnishes an apt illustration of Christ, 82 THE TRUE MANNA . and His salvation, it must be remembered, that, in some important respects, this illus¬ tration is defective. It has been truly re¬ marked, indeed, that “the brightest type is dim beside the glory of His person and work.” The manna was restricted to the Israelites themselves ; but Christ is free both to Jews and Gentiles. He gave His flesh for the life of the world, — for the salvation of mankind of every kindred, people, and nation. Wher¬ ever death and sin have extended, there the remedy is provided. “ As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall many be made alive.” The manna could only feed the bodies of the Israelites, and could not preserve them from death at last. “Your fathers did eatx manna in the wilderness, and are dead,” was the language of Christ to their descendants. “But this,” said He of Himself, “is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” This heavenly bread preserves all who partake of it from “ the second death,” and communi¬ cates and sustains a spiritual and eternal life. The manna fell only while the Israelites THE TRUE MANNA . 83 were in the wilderness, and ceased when they entered the land of Canaan ; but this mystical bread continueth for ever, and is most fully enjoyed in the Canaan above, where all wants are supplied, and all wishes gratified, — where the inhabitants “ hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither doth the sun light on them nor any heat, but the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne feeds them and leads them unto living fountains of waters, and God wipes away all tears from their eyes.” Reader, be this your earnest and daily prayer, “ Lord, evermore give me this Bread ! ” “ Bread of the world, in mercy broken ! Wine of the soul, in mercy shed ! By whom the words of life were spoken, And in whose death our sins are dead ! “ Look on the heart by sorrow broken, Look on the tears by sinners shed ; And be Thy feast to us the token, That by Thy grace our souls are fed.” , ' Heber. 84 THE TRUE MANNA “ And art Thou ready, Saviour dear, And is Thy table spread for me ? But the poor soul that should draw near Still all unreadiness for Thee ? “ Hast Thou come down, with tender care Thy weary people’s hearts to bless, And host, and feast, — dost Thou prepare A table in the wilderness ? “ And still, can dying souls refuse To take the bliss while yet they may ; With some poor plea their sin excuse, And, cold and heartless, turn away ? ‘ Teach me, O God, * the better part,’ When I some vain excuse would plead ; What stills not my own anxious heart, How could it e’er with Thee succeed ? “ Or if the joys bestow’d on earth Shine only to distract from heav’n, Not only are they little worth, But better they had ne’er been giv’n.” Monseli. ‘Hlj e Smitten EocL Deut. xxxii. 31. “ For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies them¬ selves being judges.” Ps. lxi. 2. * From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed : lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Isa. xli. 17, 18. “ When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, .J the ’Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys : I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Isa. xliii. 20. “ The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls : because I give waters in the wilderness* and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.” Ezek. xxxvi. 25. ** Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” John vii. 37, 38. “ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scrip¬ ture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” 1 Cor. x. 4. “ And did all drink the same spiritual drink ; for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them; and that rock was Christ.” Rev. xxi. 6. ‘ I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” ¥ \ u Rock of ages ! cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee I Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side that flow’d. Be of sin the double cure ; Cleanse me from its guilt and power. “ Not the labour of my hands Can fulfil Thy law’s demands ; Could my zeal no respite know— Could my tears for ever flow, — All for sin could not atone ; Thou must save, and. Thou alone. “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling ; Naked, come to Thee for dress ; Helpless, look to Thee for grace ; Vile, I to the fountain fly — Wash me, Saviour, or I die ! “ While I draw this fleeting breath ; When my eyelids close in death ; When I soar to worlds unknown — See Thee on Thy judgment thrones Rock of ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.” * THE SMITTEN ROCK. 00 N after the children of Israel experienced the miraculous inter¬ position referred to in the pre¬ ceding chapter, they encamped at a place called Rephidim, where, the sacred historian informs us, “ there was no water for the people to drink.” Notwithstanding the many signal deliverances which they had experienced on former occasions, no sooner were they exposed to this additional priva¬ tion, than they relapsed into unbelief, and renewed their complaints and murmurings. Agitated by impatience, they not only chid- ingly demanded water of Moses, but accused him of having brought them out of Egypt, to kill them, and their children, and their cattle with thirst. Nay, to such an outrage¬ ous extent did they vent their unhallowed feelings, that they actually threatened to stone him to death. 88 THE SMITTEN ROCK. In these most distressing circumstances, Moses cried unto the Lord, and in answer to his prayer, was informed as to the mode in which the wants of the people were to be re¬ lieved. Attended by some of the elders of Jsrael, and having in his hand the wonder¬ working rod, wherewith he had smitten the liver, Moses was to go on before the people to Horeb, where he was to smite a rock, from which copious streams of water should gush out. “ And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” “ He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out ; they ran ✓ in the dry places like a river.” That this memorable incident was designed to be emblematic of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessings of His salvation, appears from the language of St Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, where he says, “ they drank of that spiritual rock that fol¬ lowed them, and that rock was Christ.” In the present chapter, therefore, it is purposed to indicate a few of the leading correspond¬ ences between the rock, which on this occa¬ sion supplied the thirsty multitude with water, and that which it prefigured. The rock at Horeb suggests the ideas of THE SMITTEN ROCK . 89 / stability and unchangeableness. As it has withstood the storms of centuries, it serves to illustrate, in some faint degree, the ever¬ lasting existence and immutability of Him who is the “ Rock of ages.” Before the mountains were brought forth, He was in the bosom of the Father. He “was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, he was brought forth ; when there were no fountains abounding with water, he was by God, as one brought up with him, and he was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” And as He had no “ beginning of days,” so neither shall He have any “end of life.” Hence, He is described by an apostle, as “ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” How admirably fitted is this truth to support and comfort the believer, amid all the vicissi¬ tudes and trials of time ! The whole scenery of life is continually shifting around us. The fashion of the world passeth away. Genera¬ tion succeedeth generation, as wave succeed¬ ed wave. “ The memory of man passeth away, like the remembrance of a guest who hath tarried but one night.” Brief as is our sojourn here below, by how many changes is 9° THE SMITTEN ROCK. it distinguished ! It affords us nothing on which we can set up our rest, no possession or enjoyment which we can properly call our own. When our mountain seems to stand strong, and our hearts are fondly indulging the anticipation, that the fabric of bliss which we have reared shall always endure, not seldom does some unexpected and un- prepared-for shock descend, and, in one short hour, leave us to mourn, in sadness and dis¬ may, over the wrecks and fragments of what we once deemed precious. Our health de¬ clines, our friends are taken from us, the gourd of our prosperity is blasted, our hopes are blighted, some event or another is not long of occurring to convince us of the un¬ certainty and transitoriness of everything worldly — that “ time and chance happen alike to all,” and that 11 all is vanity and vex¬ ation of spirit.” Amidst all these sorrows and changes, how consoling and animating is the thought, that He, to whom the believer has intrusted his eternal safety, never changes, and can never die ! He can never cease to be what He is, and always has been. “ I am ” is His name, and His memo¬ rial to all generations. All created things THE SMITTEN ROCK. 9i may be shadowy, and fleeting, and vain ; but the Rock of ages is immovable, and therefore the sons of men may abide in safety and peace under His shadow. Oh ! let us “ trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” The rock which supplied the Israelites with water was chosen by God himself. It is evi¬ dent that He might easily have supplied their wants in various other ways, than by causing the water to flow out of a barren and flinty rock. He might have commanded the heavens to give forth their rain, or conducted His people to another Elim, “where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees.” Nay, He could have provided as plentiful a supply fpr His distressed people, by causing the waters to gush out of the hot and arid sands beneath their very feet. But, with the view of asserting His sovereignty, He pointed out to His servant Moses this particular rock, and commanded him, in the employment of certain appointed means, to seek for water there. “ The Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel : and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the 92 THE SMITTEN ROCK. river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall water come out of it, that the people may drink.” So, in like manner, did God appoint His own Son to be a High-Priest and Mediator. “ He laid help upon one that is mighty : he exalted one chosen out of the people.” “ The Lord hath laid on him , (that is, Christ,) the iniquity of us all.” This divine selection of Christ to be the Saviour of sinners may well inspire all who believe in Him with confidence and hope ; for He will in no wise cast out those who come to Him in the way of His own appoint¬ ment. On the other hand, it is equally clear, that all, who seek salvation in any other way, must inevitably come short of it ; for, as the water was to issue only from the particular rock which was chosen of God, so in vain do we expect salvation from any save Him who “ verily was fore-ordained before the founda¬ tion of the world.” He is “ God, and there is none else.” “ Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, even Jesus Christ.” “There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.’’ THE SMITTEN ROCK. 93 Ere the waters proceeded from the rock at Horeb, it ’tyas, by God’s appointment, sinit- ten by the rod of Moses. So Jesus Christ, as the source of all spiritual blessings to the world, was “ smitten, stricken of God, and afflicted,” according as Jehovah, by His ser¬ vant Zechariah, had predicted, — “ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts ; smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered : and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” How literally was this ancient oracle fulfilled in those unspeakable sufferings to which Jesus was exposed by the appointment of His Father ! When “He was taken from prison, and from judgment, and as a lamb was led to the slaughter,” His sacred body was smitten, and mangled, and pierced, till “ His visage became more marred than any man’s, and His form more than the sons of men !” Nor was it in His body alone, that He was smitten : “ the iron entered into His soul.” Accordingly, we find Him, in the extremity of His anguish, ex¬ claiming, “ My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” “ Now is my soul troubled ; and what shall I say ? Father, 94 THE SMITTEN ROCK. save me from this hour : but for this cause came I unto this hour.” It is impossible, indeed, to conceive the unparalleled intensity of His sufferings. Never was “ any sorrow like unto His sorrow, which was done unto Him, wherewith the Lord had afflicted Him, in the day of His fierce anger.” As to the cause of these suf¬ ferings, however, we are not left in ignorance or doubt. It is plainly revealed to us in the gospel of His grace, that they were vicarious and expiatory in their character. “He bore our sins on his own body on the tree.” “ He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was upon him : and with his stripes we are healed.” It was because we had violated God’s holy law, and trampled Under foot the authority of His moral govern¬ ment, that it became necessary for Him to interpose in our behalf ; and, in his infinite mercy and love, He endured the penalty that was due to our transgressions. He placed Himself in our room and stead. He interposed His sacred person between us and the vengeance of heaven ; and because that person was divine no less than human, THE SMITTEN ROCK. 95 He. was enabled to bear the stroke of that mighty vengeance, and to make honourable the holy law of God, which had declared, “ Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” And now, “ there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit ;” for He hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” The waters that flowed from the smitten rock saved the Israelites from -perishing by thirst. Had not this miraculous supply been obtained, the inevitable result must have been, that, overcome by thirst and fatigue, the whole multitude would have perished in the wilderness. And can we fail to perceive, in the painful privations to which they were now exposed, a striking emblem of the believer’s condition in the “ waste howling wilderness” of this world ? By nature, he is exposed to the most pressing spiritual want, being, in consequence of his guilt and de¬ pravity, destitute of the favour of God, and of all true happiness ; and, unless he obtain deliverance from this state, it will prove but 96 THE SMITTEN ROCK. the forerunner of everlasting sorrow. If he be pressed by a sense of his destitution, he can find nothing around him capable of satis¬ fying the wants of his soul, or of inspiring it with true, solid, lasting peace. The world in all its forms is found a vain and unsatis¬ fying portion. Disappointment meets him at every stage of his career. No sooner does he grasp those objects on which he had set his heart, than he finds that their dimensions are far too scanty to fill the soul — to satisfy the undying thirst within. The sense of want still remains, and he is compelled to acknowledge, that, in reference to the satis¬ faction and happiness of the soul, all that this earth can offer has been as yet to him but vanity and vexation of spirit. When, however, he repairs in faith to Jesus Christ, the Rock of ages, he immediately finds that happiness, for which he had so earnestly longed in vain. Resting on that firm foundation, his soul is made happy in the favour and enjoyment of God. The ach¬ ing void, which the world could never fill, is now replenished with a peace that passeth understanding, and with a joy that is unspeak¬ able and full of glory. Not more gladly did THE SMITTEN ROCK. 97 the thirsty pilgrims at Rephidim hear the sound of the waters gushing from the smitten rock, than the sinner, ready to perish, hears the voice “of Him that bringeth good tid¬ ings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salva¬ tion, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reign- eth.” God is now reconciled, and the as¬ surance of pardon and acceptance is to the trembling penitent even as a spring of water to him who is athirst. The waters that issued from the rock at Horeb served to purify the Israelites from the defilements of the sandy wilderness. Even so is it with the precious blood of Christ, which, as the apostle declares, “cleanseth us from all sin.” It frees us not only from its guilt , but also from its defilemetit. It purchased the regenerating and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, who “worketh effectually in them that believe.” Had Christ, indeed, merely removed our guilt, only a part of His gracious object in coming into the world would have been attained. Enthralled by the fetters of sin, His people could never have advanced one single step, along the pil¬ grim path, that leads to heaven. E g3 s THE SMITTEN ROCK. But, blessed Be God ! the salvation, which He hath wrought out for them, is, in every respect, suitable and complete. The Holy Spirit is promised to believers day by day ; nay, He is described as an indwelling Spirit, carrying on the process of renovation in their hearts, subduing, purifying, and ennobling them, till at last they are made “ meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.” Hence, on account of its cleansing property, water is frequently used in Scripture to signify the sanctifying influences of the Spirit of Christ. Thus the prophet Zechariah, in foretelling the effects of His advent, says, “ In that day there shall be a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness.” This celestial Fountain, like the pool at Bethesda, is able to make all, who wash in it, “ whole of whatsoever disease they have.” Being justified, they shall be also sanctified, “in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” So long as they remain in this world, sin may indeed exist, but it does not reign in them ; it may not be destroyed but it is subdued; and they earnestly long for the period, when “the only wise God, their Saviour, shall present them faultless before THE SMITTEN ROCK. 99 the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” The waters from the smitten rock re¬ freshed the Israelites, when, “ hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.” And is it not thus with the weary and heavy- laden traveller to Zion, when supplies from the Redeemer’s grace are afforded to his soul ? This world is to him but a cheer¬ less and barren desert, amid the mani¬ fold fatigues and cares of which “ his spirit often faileth ; his spirit is overwhelmed within him ; his heart within him is desolate.” But when the graces and consolations of the Holy Spirit abound, then to him is “the wilderness and solitary place made glad, and the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose.” Having drunk of “ the brook in the way,” he againlifts up his head, and with renewed vigour and alacrity resumes his heavenward course. And where, save in Jesus Christ, can we ever obtain that spiritual refreshment, which we need ? It is not to be found in the world. All its pleasures, riches, and honours can never restore tranquillity to the troubled soul, and peace to the wounded spirit. They are un¬ satisfying, delusive, and vain — broken cis- IOO THE SMITTEN ROCK. terns which can hold no water, no living water such as the soul desireth. Like the deceitful mirage , they disappoint all our ex¬ pectations, and leave us as far as ever from the happiness which our souls long for. But it is not thus with the promises and consola¬ tions of the gospel. There, all is real, no¬ thing is imaginary. There, the spirit obtains genuine consolation, and draws water with joy out of the well of life ; there, its peace be¬ comes as a river, and its righteousness as a flowing stream. And the felicity, which it en¬ joys on earth, is but the prelude and earnest of those overflowing pleasures, of which it is destined to partake in the paradise of God. “ Whosoever drinketh,” said Jesus, “ of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water SDring-incr up into everlasting life.” The waters from the opened rock were so abundant , as to supply the whole camp of Israel^ and yet were not exhausted. So is it with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is, as St Paul declares, “exceeding abun¬ dant.” Its efficacy to save, purify, and re¬ fresh our souls is inexhaustible. It is amply THE SMITTEN ROCK. IOI sufficient to meet the most pressing necessi¬ ties of all who are partakers of it, whether Jew or Greek, barbarian or Scythian, bond or free. u In Christ all fulness dwells,” so that, whatever men need or desire, He is “able to do unto them exceeding abundantly above all that they ask or think.” The believer may be in want, but it will be because he does not ask. H e can never be straitened in Christ ; the fountain of His grace is inex¬ haustible, and the more widely its streams are diffused, the deeper do they become. The waters from the rock were accessible to all. So is it with Christ’s rich provision for the need of sinners. It is offered unto all, without respect of persons. As the rain de¬ scending alike on the evil and the good, as sunshine mantling in its glory the humble vale as well as the lofty mountain, the wilder¬ ness as well as the fertile field, the peasant’s cottage as well as the noble’s mansion, — so is the salvation of the gospel a common bless¬ ing. It is designed for the young, for the middle-aged, and for the old ; for the rich, and for the poor, and for those to whom neither poverty nor riches have been given ; for the prosperous and for the afflicted ; for 102 THE SMITTEN ROCK. the happy and for the miserable ; for the great and for the mean ; for the savage and for the civilized ; for the monarch and for the slave. In complete accordance with this view of the gospel salvation, the invitations to partake of it addressed to sinners in the Scriptures are impartial and free. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” “ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come ; and let him that heareth say, Come ; and let him that is athirst come ; and who¬ soever will , let him take the water of life freely .” The waters from the smitten rock flowed co?istantly. Neither the winter’s frost nor the summer’s drought could arrest their progress ; but, like a river of many streams, coming from fountains that never fail, they continued to hold on their undiminished and majestic course, following the Israelites in all their desert wanderings, and daily sup¬ plying their wants, until they entered the Promised Land. Hence, in the passage al¬ ready quoted from the First Epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle informs us, “ They drank of that spiritual rock that followed them.” So the mercy and grace of the Re- THE SMI 2 TEN ROCK. 103 deemer are never suspended in their exercise, but continue to flow for the refreshment and salvation of His people as they prosecute their heavenward course. The rills of crea¬ ture comfort may be likened unto “ the streams of brooks, which pass away. What time they wax warm, they vanish ; when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.” But the fountain that was opened for sin and for uncleanness is one that never fails — one whose streams are ever flowing, ever full. In ages that are gone, countless myriads have repaired to it, and been satisfied with its divine consolations, and yet there is no dimi¬ nution. Goodness and mercy still follow the true Israel of God, during all their earthly pilgrimage. Nothing can arrest the progress of that “ river, whose streams make glad the city of our God, the holy place of the taber¬ nacle of the Most High.” Like a torrent swollen by the rain of heaven, it rushes on¬ ward, breaking down every opposing mound, sweeping before it every bulwark raised in order to prevent its progress, and for¬ cing a way for itself into all the nations of the earth. “ Living waters,” saith the Lord, “ shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them 104 THE SMITTEN ROCK. toward the former sea, and half of them toward the latter sea ; in summer and in winter shall it be.” Already has this gra¬ cious promise been largely fulfilled ; and though Zion may occasionally be parched with drought, yet “ times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” For “ the Lord will comfort Zion, he will comfort her waste places, and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.” Reader, how deep should be your gratitude to the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, in that He hath so liberally pro¬ vided for your wants in this dry and thirsty land. “Give thanks,” then, “unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.” The waters of the river, which gladdens our Zion, are, through the Spirit, made more than adequate to every form of want, and pecu¬ liarity of condition. Under all your wander¬ ings, they will never leave, nor forsake you ; and while you drink of them, you have a foretaste of those “ rivers of pleasures,” which are at God’s right hand for evermore. 41 Abide,” therefore, “ in Jesus.” Day by day renew your application to Him, in whom THE SMITTEN ROCK. 105 u are all your springs.” Beware of wander¬ ing from the “ fountain1 of living waters,” for, nowhere else, can you obtain true consolation and peace. All earthly pleasures are but “ broken cisterns,” and will leave the weary traveller, without comfort, and without hope, in the hour of his greatest need. ' Never, therefore, forsake the waters of the sanctuary for such pernicious and deadly streams ; but habitually remember, and use your lofty privilege of access to Him, who alone is able to quench the thirst of your soul, and to re¬ fresh and invigorate you, at every stage of your wilderness journey. But, if you are still at a distance from Christ, let me exhort you, as you value your immortal soul, to betake yourself to the fountain He hath opened, while access yet remains. Soon shall all those streams of false comfort, from which you now vainly seek to obtain satisfaction, be completely dried up, and it will be with every impenitent and unbelieving sinner, “as when a thirsty man dreameth, and behold, he drinketh, but he awaketh, and behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite.” You will stand before the dread tribunal of Christ, and cry and pray 106 THE SMITTEN ROCK. for mercy there, but then it will be too late You shall be driven away from His presence, and consigned to that awful abode where “ the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched,” and where not a drop of water can be obtained to cool your tongue. Blessed be God ! a door of hope is still open unto you. The gospel is now preached, and its blessings are freely offered, even to the chief of sinners. There is no depth of guilt and misery from which divine grace cannot deliver you ; and there is no height of holiness and perfection to which it cannot elevate you. Thou hast fallen, O sinner, by thine iniquities, but God thine helper is great ! But while there is salvation in Christ for all, remember that there is salvation in none other. If you do not believe in Christ, you must perish eter¬ nally. There is no expiation for sin but the atonement He has made ; there is no saving interest in that atonement but through believing. If you do not drink of the water of life that is offered, your thirst remains. Comply, then, with Christ’s merciful invita¬ tion, come unto Him, and drink. Then will He not only comfort and refresh you amid all your pilgrim toils and sufferings, but, in due THE SMITTEN ROCK. 107 time, conduct you, in safety and peace, to a city of eternal habitation in the Canaan above. “ Ho, ye that pant for living streams, And pine away and die. Here you may quench your raging thirst With springs that never dry. “Rivers of love and mercy here In a rich ocean join ; Salvation in abundance flows, Like floods of milk and wine. “ Dear Lord, the treasures of Thy love Are everlasting mines, Deep as our helpless mis’ries are. And boundless as our sins. “ The happy gates of gospel grace Stand open night and day. Lord, we are come to seek supplies, And drive our wants away.” Watts. “ This land through which His pilgrims go Is desolate and dry ; But streams of grace from Him o’erflow Their thirst to satisfy. “When troubles, like a burning sun. Beat heavy on their head, For shelter to this Rock they run. And find a pleasant shade. THE SMITTEN ROCK. 108 i “How glorious he! how happy they In such a glorious Friend ! Whose love secures them all the way, And crowns them at the end 1” Newton. “ Bless’d Jesus, source of grace divine, What soul-refreshing streams are Thine Oh bring these healing waters nigh, Or we must droop, and fall, and die. “No traveller through desert lands, ’Midst scorching suns and burning sands, More needs the current to obtain. Or to enjoy refreshing rain. “ Our longing souls aloud would sing ; Spring up, celestial Fountain, spring! To a redundant river flow, And cheer this thirsty land below. ** May this bless’d torrent near my side Through all the desert gently glide : Then, in Emmanuel’s land above, Spread to a sea of joy and love ! ” Doddridge. \ HI je Brajeit Serpent. John iii. 14, 15. “ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up : that who¬ soever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life/' John xii. 32, 33. “ And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw al^ men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” Isa. xlv. 22. “ Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and there is none else.” Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. ** Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemp¬ tion that is in Christ Jesus ; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to de¬ clare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God ; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness ; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Eph. ii. 8. “ For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God.” John iii. 36. ** He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life : and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” “ So did the Hebrew prophet raise The brazen serpent high, The wounded felt immediate ease, The camp forbore to die. “ Look upwards in the dying hour, ‘And live,’ the prophet cries: But Christ performs a nobler cure When faith lifts up her eyes. “ High on the cross the Saviour hung, High in the heavens He reigns : Here sinners by th’ old Stypent stung Look, and forget their pains. “ When God’s own Son is lifted up, A dying world revives, The Jew beholds the glorious hope, Th’ expiring Gentile lives.” THE BRAZEN SERPENT. N the above title, there is an allu¬ sion to another miraculous de¬ liverance, which was wrought for Israel in the wilderness. They were now journeying from Mount Hor, by the way of the Red Sea, and had arrived at the desolate region lying to the east of the mountains of Edom, where, we are told, “ the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way,” and they renewed their murmurings against God, and against Moses, saying, “ Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness ? for there is no bread, neither is there any water : and our soul loatheth this light bread.” This conduct, so criminal in itself, and so incon¬ sistent with the goodness they had experi¬ enced, and the privileges they enjoyed, pro¬ voked the displeasure of the Almighty, which was manifested by His sending fiery serpents 1 1 2 THE BRAZEN SERPENT. among them, “ which bit the people, and much people of Israel died.” Agitated by alarm, they came to Moses, confessed their guilt, and besought him to intercede for them with their offended God. With this request Moses at once complied, and, in answer to his intercession, the Lord said unto him, “ Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole : and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” It has sometimes been questioned whether this memorable incident was intended to be typical of the nature and effects of our Savi¬ our’s death. But it is, beyond all controversy, a fair illustration of them, and is applied as such by Himself, when He says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up : that whosoever believeth in Him should not per¬ ish, but have everlasting life.” Again He de¬ clares, “ I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” And the evan- THE BRAZEN SERPENT. 113 gelist explains, that “this He said, signifying what death He should die.” In the sequel of this chapter, therefore, it is purposed to point out some of the more prominent points of resemblance between the incident under consideration, and the atoning death of the Son of God. The lifting zip of the brazen serpent pre¬ sents an evident illustration of Christ’s cru¬ cifixion. The brazen serpent was set on a pole, and lifted up in a conspicuous part of the camp, that it might be seen by the whole congregation of Israel. Even so the Son of God was crucified in the most public manner at Jerusalem, on an eminence, amidst many thousands of tumultuous spectators. Moses lifted up the serpent, at the commandment of the Lord. In like manner Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross, according to the divine appointment. The Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all ; and when, with wicked hands, the Jews crucified the Lord of glory, they fulfilled, though they knew it not, the divine purpose ; they did nothing more than what the hand and coun¬ sel of Heaven had “ determined before to be done.” I 1 14 THE BRAZEN SERPENT. The brazen serpent was lifted up, that who¬ soever beheld it might be healed of their ieadly wounds , and live. So Christ was cru¬ cified, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life. In con¬ sequence of our natural guilt and depravity, our condition is infinitely worse than that of the serpent-stung Israelites. For, while they were threatened only with the death of the body , our immortal souls are endangered by the bite of that old serpent, the devil ; and although the wound may appear but slight at the first, yet the venom of sin has entered our system, and unless an antidote be applied, we must inevitably perish eternally. But while such is our deplorable condition by nature, God, in His infinite mercy and love, hath in¬ terposed for our salvation. He so loved us, that He appointed His only-begotten Son to be the surety and substitute of His people ; and when “ the fulness of time” was come, the Son of God came down from heaven, no( to condemn the world, but that by His obedience, sufferings, and death, He might satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God. And now, like the brazen effigy ex¬ hibited in the sight of all Israel, He is re- THE BRAZEN SERPENT 115 vealed in the gospel as lifted up on the cross that all men may believe in Him, and be saved. Not less significant was the mode in which the remedy provided for the Israelites was used and applied. They were commanded to look on the brazen serpent ; and as many as looked were made whole. In like manner, in order to obtain the spiritual healing which we require, we must look unto Jesus Christ, as uplifted on the cross, for the salvation of our perishing souls. The commandment of the gospel to the sinner is, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” It was not the mere lifting up of the serpent which cured the wounded Israelites ; they were convinced that they must quickly perish, if they did not turn their eyes upon it. Neither is the mere fact, that Christ, while on earth, gave Himself as a sacrifice to atone for our guilt, sufficient to secure the salvation of the sinner. For this purpose, it is essen¬ tially necessary that he cordially believe that fact, and appropriate to himself the blessings of the Saviour’s purchase. Even as the dying Israelites were required to gaze on the brazen serpent, so he must look to, and rest 1 1 6 THE BRAZEN SERPENT. upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ, as all- perfect and all-sufficient. Thus depending upon Him, the blood of atonement actually avails to the securing of his pardon and ac¬ ceptance, and he obtains a title to, and a meetness for the heavenly inheritance. Not that his faith is the meritorious condition of his salvation. No. It is but the means of obtaining it, the hand or instrument with which he receives and holds the imputed righteousness of Christ, for the sake of which alone he is justified in the sight of God. Looking 071 the uplifted serpent of brass was the 07ily 7?iethod appointed by God for the cure of the serpent-stung Israelites. So the 07ily way by which sinners can be saved, is by coming to Jesus Christ, and looking to Him as crucified. The disease of sin is in¬ curable by any human or created agency. “ Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” “ Neither is there salvation in any other ; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” This method of cure was free a?id open to all the host of Israel. Moses was directed to tell them, that every 07ie who looked on the THE BRAZEN SERPENT. 1 1 7 brazen serpent should live. It mattered not how far the disease had gained on him, or howfrequently be had been bitten. No sooner did he raise his eyes to the divinely-ap¬ pointed standard of salvation, than straight¬ way he was healed. Even so is it with re¬ spect to the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. It is offered freely unto all , without any distinction of character. None are ex¬ cluded from obtaining an interest in it, save those who by wilful unbelief exclude them¬ selves. The language of the gospel is, “ Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.” “ Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.” This method of cure, though unlikely to human reason to be successful , was rendered effectual by the power of God. A serpent of brass could of itself no more heal, than it could wound the Israelites ; yet God made their looking on it the means of their escap¬ ing death. In like manner, though the con¬ nexion between the death of Christ and the pardon of the sinner is not discernible by the eye of reason, yet unto them that are called, is Christ crucified the power of God, and the 1 1 8 THE BRAZEN SERPENT. wisdom of God. The history of Christi¬ anity is the history of the achievements of the Cross. And the simple reason is, that the lifted-up sign of redemption is the divinely-appointed, and, therefore, the only efficient instrument of conversion and salva¬ tion. Every Israelite who looked to the uplifted serpent in the wilderness obtained a cure. Even so, whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish , but have ever¬ lasting life. He shall be delivered from all the fatal consequences of his natural guilt and pollution ; and though once, like others, “ dead in trespasses and sins,” yet shall he be quickened by the Holy Spirit, communi¬ cated to him from Christ, the living head. Nor over him shall “ the second death” have any power. The spiritual life, begun on earth, shall be continued and perfected for ever in heaven. But in vain do we attempt to describe the joy, the glorious effulgence, the magnificence, and bliss of the “ salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Here, all language, all conception fails. For “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things THE BRAZEN SERPENT. 119 which God hath prepared for them that love him.” From what has been advanced, the reader cannot fail to perceive the extreme folly and danger of such as have never looked unto Christ for the salvation that they need. Oh ! “ how can we escape if we neglect- so great salvation ?” It is the solemn declaration of / „ our Lord Jesus Christ himself. “ He that believeth on him is not condemned ; but he that believeth not is condemned already, be¬ cause he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.” How fearful, then, is the doom that hangs over all who seek salvation in ways of their own devising ! Infinitely better would it be for such never to have heard of the Mediator, than to stand at last before His dread tribunal, there to be disowned, rejected, and lost. Reader, for¬ get not that a despised salvation will draw down upon you a “far sorer punishment.” “ Kiss, then, the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.” Comply with His mer¬ ciful invitations, ere His compassions are shut up against you, and His “ mercy is clean gone for ever.” “ Believe on the Lord Jesus i20 THE BRAZEN SERPENT, Christ, that you may never perish, but have everlasting life.” Let not another sun go down upon your impenitence and unbelief ; but resolve now, that henceforth you wall be the Lord’s, and that you will cleave to Him, as your Saviour, your guide, your portion, your all. While this subject shews the folly and danger of unbelief, it teaches us also that it is the duty of all true Christians habitually to “ look unto Jesus? So long as they continue in this wilderness world, they are daily re¬ ceiving fresh wounds from their great Adver¬ sary, which, as fiery darts, inflame their inmost souls. But, at all times, an effectual antidote may be obtained, on renewing theii application to their heavenly Physician, “ whose blood cleanseth from all sin.” “ Let us,” then, “ run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” “ Stretch’d on the cross the Saviour dies. Hark ! His expiring groans arise ! See, from His hands, His feet, His side, Runs down the sacred crimson tide ! THE BRAZEN SERPENT. 121 ** But life attends the deathful sound, And flows from every bleeding wound ! The vital stream, how free it flows, To save and cleanse His rebel foes ( “ To suffer in the traitor’s place. To die for man, surprising grace ! Yet pass rebellious angels by — Oh, why for man, dear Saviour, why ? “ And didst Thou bleed, for sinners bleed ? And could the sun behold the deed ? No, he withdrew his sick’ning ray, And darkness veil’d the mourning day. “ Can I survey this scene of woe, Where mingling grief and wonder flow : And yet my heart unmoved remain, Insensible to love or pain 1 ** Come, dearest Lord, thy grace impart. To warm this cold, this stupid heart : Till all its powers and passions move In melting grief and ardent love.” Steels. “ Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross I spend ; Life, and health, and peace possessing From the sinner’s dying Friend : Here I ’ll sit for ever viewing Mercy’s streams in streams of blood ; Precious drops, my soul bedewing, Plead and claim my peace with God. F 122 THE BRAZEN SERPENT. “Truly blessed is this station, Low before His cross to lie ; While I see divine compassion Floating in His languid eye ; Here it is I find my heaven, While upon the Lamb I gaze ; Love I much ? I ’ve much forgiven, I ’m a miracle of grace ! “ Love and grief my heart dividing, With my tears His feet I ’ll bathe : Constant still in faith abiding, Life deriving from His death. May I still enjoy this feeling; In all need to Jesus go ; Prove His wounds each day more healing, And Himself more deeply know ! ” Batty. \ 9 Hlje ^asscljal I-amb. i Cor. v. 7, 8. '‘Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us : therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” John i. 29. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world ! ” Isa. liii. 7. “ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted ; yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb to the slaugh¬ ter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” i Pet. i. 2. T* Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Rev. v. 6. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” Eph. vi. 14, 15. “ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” “Paschal Lamb, by God appointed. All our sins were on Thee laid ! For the glorious work anointed. Thou hast full atonement made I “ All Thy people are forgiv’n Through the virtue of Thy blood ; Open’d is the gate of heaven ; Peace is made ’twixt man and God. “ Jesus, hail, enthroned in glory. There for ever to abide I All the heav’nly host adore Thee, Seated at Thy Father’s side. “There for sinners Thou art pleading, There Thou dost our place prepare Ever for us interceding, Till in glory we appear,” Anox. I / THE PASCHAL LAMB. F the three great annual festivals observed by the Jews, that of the Passover was the most ancient and important. It was instituted on their departure from Egypt, in commem¬ oration of their deliverance from the galling servitude in which they had there laboured and groaned for successive centuries, and of the protection granted to their first-born on that night when all the first-born of the Egyptians were destroyed. The origin, nature, and design of this re¬ markable ceremony are particularly described in the twelfth chapter of the book of Exodus. The deliverance, which it commemorated was the greatest, and most wonderful, that had ever been vouchsafed to any nation. The Israelites had been reduced to utter sub¬ jection ; “ the Egyptians made them to serve with rigour, and made their lives bitter with 126 THE PASCHAL LAMB. hard bondage nor, in all human appear¬ ance, was there any possibility of escape from “ the iron furnace, wherein they were made to serve.” The God of Israel, however, resolved to bring them forth with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, with signs and wonders, and with mighty works. With this view, He visited their remorseless taskmasters with a series of plagues, following up each suc¬ cessive judgment with a renewed summons to let His people depart out of the land of Egypt. Nine of these plagues had been succes¬ sively visited upon them ; and yet the heart of Pharaoh was only hardened more and more, and his determination not to let Israel go became more resolute and unbending. But a more fearful infliction was yet to come, which should effectually loosen the iron grasp of the oppressor. For, “at midnight, the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon ; so that Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians ; and there was a great cry in Egypt ; for there was not THE PASCHAL LAMB. 12 7 a house where there was not one dead.” The Israelites were forewarned, through Moses, that such a visitation was impending ; and, in order that they might escape the terrible doom of their oppressors, they were directed to observe a certain protective religious service. It was required that they should take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, and after slaying it, to sprinkle its blood upon the lintels and door-posts of their houses : and they were told that the blood would be for a token upon the houses where they were, and the plague would not be upon them to destroy them. Accordingly, wherever the destroying angel recognised this consecrated token, he passed over the house thus marked, without smiting any member of the family it con¬ tained. Hence the festival commemorative of this deliverance was called the Passover. But this festival, like the Sabbath and other institutions, had a typical, as well as an historical reference. While reminding the Jews of their great national deliverance, it served, at the same time, to direct their ex¬ pectations to the great sacrifice for sin by the promised Redeemer. In no previous institu- 128 THE PASCHAL LAMB. tion, were the death and atonement of the Son of God so fully developed by typical representation ; and never before were those dispositions of mind, with which the sacri¬ fice of the cross must ever be viewed, more clearly pointed out. This is placed beyond all question, by the application which an in¬ spired apostle makes of it, when he says, “ Even Christ , our Passover , is sacrificed for us.” It may be interesting and instructive, therefore, to trace some of the more promi¬ nent points of analogy between the paschal sacrifice, and that which it prefigured. The victim itself was to be a lamb chosen out of the flock. What could better typify Him, who was raised up from among His brethren, and in whose character the amiable qualities of a lamb shone with such mild and attractive lustre ? As a lamb is gentle and without guile, so Jesus “did no violence, neither was there any deceit in His mouth.’1 As a lamb is patient under sufferings, so “when He was reviled, He reviled not again, and when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” Under His severest sufferings, He bowed, without a murmur, beneath the THE PASCHAL LAMB. 129 mighty hand of God, while, even in the very crisis of His affliction, nothing was visible but compassion for the guilty ; for when He was yet suspended on the cross, instead of accusing His murderers to His Father, He prayed for them, and even pleaded their ignorance in extenuation of their guilt. “Father,” He cried, “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The paschal lamb was required to be “ without blemish .” In like manner, Christ, who, “through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself unto God,” was “without blemish and without spot.” He who was “ made sin for us,” Himself “knew no sin.” He who “ bare the sins of many,” was “ holy, harm¬ less, undefiled, and separate from sinners.” Though descended from an impure race of ancestors, yet, in consequence of His mira¬ culous conception, He was freed from every taint of original sin. As He advanced in years, the purity of His nature and His life remained unstained, and He died as Helived, a stranger to guilt and to depravity. And it was necessary that “ the Lamb of God ” should be thus perfect in holiness ; otherwise He could never have been a substitute for man, 130 THE PASCHAL LAMB. for He would have required an expiation for Himself. But such was the transcendent excellence of His character, that even His bitterest enemies were constrained to confess that there was no fault found in Him, and thereby unwittingly to declare that He wTas able to perfect for ever all them that are sanctified. The paschal lamb was appointed to b & slain on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the evening, in the presence of the whole congregation of Israel. Even so was Christ crucified and slain on the same day as that in which the Jewish passover was celebrated, in the midst, and at the request of “ the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.” The blood of the paschal lamb was to b£ sprinkled on the two side-posts, and upper door-posts of the houses, in which it was killed. This was the most essential part of the whole ritual. If the blood was not thus sprinkled, the Israelites were equally exposed to destruction, as though no part of the insti¬ tution had been complied with. They might have even slain the paschal lamb and feasted on its flesh, but after all, their first-born must have been cut off with those of the Egyptians. THE PASCHAL LAMB. 131 And thus it is, with respect to Jesus Christ our true passover. In order that we may derive any benefit from His atoning sacri¬ fice, it is indispensably necessary to have His blood applied to our souls. Even as the blood of the paschal lamb did not save the Israelites by being merely shed in the midst of them, but by being sprinkled by the per¬ sons within upon the threshold without, so the shedding of Christ’s blood will be of no avail to us unless it be sprinkled on our hearts. Without this, Christ is to us dead in vain; His blood can have no salutary effect with regard to us ; and in the judgment of the great day, when “the overflowing scourge shall pass through ; ” it will be the same to u.f as though Jesus had never died. If, however, we be sprinkled with that precious blood, no destruction will ever come near to hurt us. While the angel of God was executing his dread commission in the houses of the Egyptians, and the pride, the hope, the joy of every family was being smitten to death, under the resistless and withering power of an invisible arm, the blood of the paschal lamb, sprinkled on the door¬ posts, was the pledge of safety to the Israel- 132 THE PASCHAL LAMB. ites, and the wrath of God, the pestilence that walketh in darkness, came not nigh them. So shall it be when God shall rise to judgment, when He shall whet His glittering sword, and His hand take hold on vengeance. Then, shall all those be saved from destmc- tion , who are foimd sprinkled with that blood, which speaketh better things than that oi Abel. When God seeth this blood upon them, He will pass over all their sins, and will spare them as a man spareth his own son. Though “ a thousand shall fall at their side, and ten thousand at their right hand,” yet the stroke of offended justice and the bitter pains of eternal death “ shall not come nigh unto them. Only with their eyes shall they behold and see the reward of the wicked.” After the paschal lamb had been slain, and its blood sprinkled on the lintels and door¬ posts of the houses of the Israelites, its flesh was to be used as food. So by faith does the believer feed upon Jesus Christ, and obtain an interest in all the blessed effects of His atoning sacrifice. “ Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and THE PASCHAL LAMB. 133 drinketh my blood hath eternal life : and I will raise him up at the last day.” The paschal lamb was to be prepared as food by roasting it with fire. What could bet¬ ter prefigure the flames of the Divine wrath , which raged so hotly against the immacu¬ late Lamb of God, when, as the victim of a world’s transgressions, He endured those agonising sufferings, which wrung out from Him that most mournful and piteous cry that ever ascended to heaven from earth, “ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?” It was required that “ not a bone of the paschal lamb should be broken .” So, in the account of our Lord’s crucifixion, the evan¬ gelist informs us, that, “when the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was dead al¬ ready, they brake not his legs and thus, it is added, was fulfilled that which had been written, “ A bone of him shall 7iot be broken .” This circumstance, though minute in itself, serves to demonstrate, that in the death of Christ there was an exact fulfilment of the passover institution. The paschal lamb was to be eaten with unleavened bread \ a?id bitter herbs. The’ im- 134 THE PASCHAL LAMB . mediate design of this part of the ritual was, doubtless, to remind the Israelites of their grievous bondage in Egypt, and their haste in leaving it, which allowed them no time to prepare their bread by a process of fermenta¬ tion. But, besides this, it was fitted to con¬ vey a perpetual intimation of those disposi¬ tions with which the spiritual Israel ought ever to feast upon the True Passover, even with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth , with contrition and godly so? row for sin , and with a sacred resolve to mortify their corrupt desires, to deny themselves, to take up the cross, and to bear it with patience and cheerfulness amid all the trials and hard¬ ships of their desert pilgrimage. The paschal lamb was to be eaten by the Israelites in a standi?ig posture — with their loi?is gi?'ded , their shoes o?i their feet , and their staff in their hand — in token of their readiness to depart from Egypt, and begin their pilgrimage through the desert to the Land of Promise. Even thus is it with all who have obtained deliverance from an in¬ finitely worse than Egyptian bondage — from the tyranny of Satan, the slavery of sin, and the dread of eternal death. They are separ- THE PASCHAL LAMB. 135 ated from the world, that they may com¬ mence their heavenly pilgrimage, under the guidance of the Captain of their salvation, who, in the hour of His grace, summons them to arise and depart. Girding tip the loins of their minds, and having their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace , they are to take up the pilgrini s staff, and go forth, as men travelling through strange and hostile regions, to a distant home. Nor will their course terminate till the hour of death, when the scenes of time shall fade away from their view, and immortality shall unfold to them its visions of splendour and of joy. Numerous other points of similitude might be indicated between the typical and the true Passover ; but those we have condescended upon clearly shew that this religious obser¬ vance was a true mirror of the mystery of re¬ demption, exhibiting the Son of God as the great sacrificial victim of a world’s transgres¬ sions. “ It was, in fact,” as it has been justly said, an “ annual prophecy, addressed not to the ear but to the eye, of His life, passion, and death.” And now that that prophecy has passed into the clear light of an actual history, it 136 THE PASCHAL LAMB. becomes us seriously to inquire, whether our souls have been sprinkled with the peace¬ speaking and life-giving blood of Him, in whom it has been so strikingly fulfilled. For, “if he who despised Moses’ law died without mercy, under two or three witnesses ; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and done despite to the Spirit of grace?” For those who neglect so great salvation, “ there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, to devour the adversaries of God.” Without a moment’s delay, therefore, let us lay hold on “ the blood of sprinkling ; ” for when the midnight cry of Egypt is heard, it will then be too late. “ Now is the accepted time : now is the day of salvation.” “Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain, Could give the guilty conscience peace, Or wash away the stain. THE PASCHAL LAMB . 137 “ But Christ the heav’nly Lamb, Takes all our sins away : A sacrifice of nobler name. And richer blood than they. “ Believing, we rejoice To see the curse remove : We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice. And sing His dying love.” Watts. '* Now our paschal Lamb is He, And by Him alone we live. Who to death upon the tree. For our sake Himself did give. Faith His blood strikes on our door, Death dares never harm us more. " To the supper of the Lord, Gladly will we come to-day, The word of peace is now restored. The old leaven is put away : Christ will be our food alone, Faith no life but His doth own.” Luther, 1524. “ Lo, the destroying angel flies To Pharaoh’s stubborn land : The pride and flow’r of Egypt die3 By his avenging hand. “He pass’d the tents of Jacob o’er, Nor pour’d the wrath divine : He saw the blood on every door. And bless’d the peaceful sign. I 138 THE PASCHAL LAMB. Thus the appointed Lamb must bleed To break the Egyptian yoke : Thus Israel is from bondage freed And ’scapes the angel’s stroke. “ Lord, since my heart is sprinkled too, With blood so rich as Thine, Justice no longer will pursue This guilty soul of mine. “Jesus our passover was slain, And has at once procured Freedom from Satan’s heavy chains, And God’s avenging sword.” Watts. 'cPje <0ocl, or ISu'ngmatt IReUcemec. Heb. ii. 14, 15. “ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same ; that through death he might destroy h'm that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all theit lifetime subject to bondage.” Job xix. 25. “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Luke i. 68-71. “ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David ; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.” 1 Pet. i. 3-5. “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.” Rev. v. 9, 10. “And they sung a new song, saying. Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof ; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation ; and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests : and we sh->’I reign on the earth.” ** Enslaved by sin and bound in chains. Beneath its dreadful tyrant sway, And doom’d to everlasting pains We wretched guilty captives lay. “ Nor gold nor gems could buy our peace ; Nor the whole world’s collected store Suffice to purchase our release ; A thousand worlds were all too poor. “Jesus, the Lord, the mighty God, An all-sufficient ransom paid : Invalu’d price ! His precious blood For vile rebellious traitors shed. “Jesus the sacrifice became. To rescue guilty souls from hell ; The spotless, bleeding, dying Lamb, Beneath avenging justice fell. “ Amazing goodness ! Love divine ! O may our grateful hearts adore The matchless grace, nor yield to sin. Nor wear its cruel fetters more ! ** Dear Saviour, let Thy love pursue The glorious work it has begun, Each secret lurking foe subdue, And let our hearts be Thine alone.” Steels. THE GOEL, OR KINSMAN REDEEMER. NDERthe Jewish polity it was pro¬ vided, that when an Israelite was, from poverty, or any other circum¬ stance, unable to act for himself, or to assert his own rights, his nearest kinsman should bear the responsibilities of his re¬ demption. The person who did so was de¬ nominated his goelj or kinsman redeemer ; and in this legal relationship, a variety of very peculiar rights and responsibilities devolved upon him. For example, he was enjoined to ransom the inheritance of his impoverished relative when it happened to be forfeited or mortgaged, to redeem his person when in a state of servitude, to marry his widow and raise up seed to him when he died without children, and to avenge his blood when slain by an enemy. In all these things, the goel stood in the place of his relative, and acted as his legal representative. 142 THE GOEL, But this provision of the Mosaic law was designed to be a very clear and beautiful type of the office of our glorious Mediator. Nor is it without reason that this very name goel is so frequently applied to Him in those passages of the Hebrew scriptures, which speak of Him as our Redeemer. By assum¬ ing the nature of man, He became “ flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone.” “As the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.” Having, in the fulness of time, thus taken our nature into a personal and indissoluble union with that which belonged to Him as God, He became our blood-relation, our Kinsman after the flesh, and as such, the rights and duties connected with our redemp¬ tion devolved upon Him. Hence it became Him to fulfil all righteousness, as our Surety and Representative ; and now, in virtue of the infinitely valuable ransom which He paid to Divine justice on our behalf, “with him is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” But let us inquire more particularly how Christ, as our goel, has accomplished our redemption, and still fulfils to us the duties of a kinsman. OR KINSMAN REDEEMER. 143 It belonged to the goel under the law to redeem the mortgaged inheritance of his impoverished relative ; and, in like maner, it behoved Christ to restore oiir forfeited inheri¬ tance of eternal life. Man, as he came forth from the hand of his Creator, was rich in the birthright which gave him an eternity of blessedness for his possession. But “ the gold has become dim, the most fine gold is changed.” Having sold away his birthright for one morsel of forbidden fruit, his fair in¬ heritance is alienated, and not one farthing can he advance towards buying it back again. Not even angels could deliver us from that spiritual destitution and wretchedness, into which we had so recklessly plunged ourselves. But, what neither angels nor men could accomplish, the Son of God, as our goel, has completely effected. “ He restored that which he took not away.” All that our impoverished nature had lost by reason of Adam’s fall, He has redeemed with His own inestimably precious blood. ** The ransom was paid down : the fund of heaven. Heaven’s inexhaustible, exhausted fund, Amazing, and amazed, pour’d forth the price ; All price beyond ! “ 144 THE GOEL, Nay, such is the grace of our Divine Re¬ deemer, that He has not simply restored our lost inheritance, but vastly improved it. He hath raised us to a happiness, more exquisite and exalted, than Adam enjoyed in his original state of innocence ; for, instead of paradise, He has purchased for us heaven. He has brought life and immortality to light by His gospel, and secured to us an inheritance lovelier and more glorious far than even Eden in all its primeval beauty — “ an inheri¬ tance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for them, who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation ” While Christ has thus redeemed for us our forfeited inheritance, so has He, like the goel under the law, redeemed us from the slavery of sin. Men are by nature in a state of spiritual bondage ; sin reigns in their mortal bodies, and they yield their members ser¬ vants to uncleanness and to iniquity. Having been led captive by their great spiritual Adversary, they are, as it were, shut up in prison, and bound by the fetters of sin, which no created power can break, no created in¬ genuity unlock. OR KINSMAN REDEEMER. 145 “ Chains are the portion of revolted man — Stripes and a dungeon.” But from this inglorious servitude, our Kinsman in His love, and in His pity, re¬ deemed us, when He became a bond-ser¬ vant in our room, and “ gave Himself a ransom for all.” Had He merely secured our title to the heavenly inheritance, His work would manifestly have been imperfect ; for He could not put us in possession of it, and restore us to happiness, without first striking off our fetters, and opening our prison doors. It behoved Him, therefore, not only to re¬ deem the inheritance to us, but us to the inheritance. Accordingly, we are assured, that it is His office to set us free, and that “ if the Son make us free, we shall be free indeed.” “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon him, because the Lord hath anointed him, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” While His atoning sacrifice opened up a new and living way into the kingdom of heaven, it also purchased the gift of the Holy Ghost, whose sanctifying influence on our hearts can alone make us “ meet to be par¬ takers of the inheritance of the saints in i46 THE GOEL, , light.” “We are sanctified through the offering up of the body of Christ.” “ He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto him¬ self a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” By the almighty influence of His grace in them that believe on His name, He breaks off the fetters of sin, throws open the prison doors, and bids them come forth, and walk to and fro, in the “ glorious liberty of the chil¬ dren of God.” But it behoved Christ, as our Goel, not only to redeem our forfeited inheritance to us, and us to the inheritance, but also to ?'ender us fruitful in every good work. If an Israelite died without children, the law ex¬ pressly enjoined the Goel to marry his widow, and raise up seed unto him, that his name might not perish. In allusion to this, Jehovah is represented as saying unto His ancient people, — “ Now, when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love ; and I spread my skirt over thee : yea, I sware unto thee, and entered in¬ to a covenant with thee, and thou becamest mine.” Previously to the violation of the first covenant, our nature was fruitful unto OR KINSMAN REDEEMER. 147 God ; but now, alas ! the heart of man is barren as the flinty rock. The Most High looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. It may be truly said of all men in their unregenerate state, “ They con¬ ceive mischief, and bring forth vanity.” So long as they are “ in the flesh, the motions of sins, which are by the law, work in their mem¬ bers to bring forth fruit unto death.” But, from this alarming state of sterility and bar¬ renness, our kinsman Redeemer voluntarily and cheerfully consented to deliver us by uniting us to Himself. This indeed was a most unequal alliance, and numerous and most formidable difficulties had to be encoun¬ tered ere it could be consolidated ; but, since it was requisite for the purposes of redemp¬ tion, He manifested His unparalleled love to us, by completely removing every obstacle out of the way. And now, in consequence of their union to Him, all who believe are “ become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that they should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that they should bring forth fruit unto God.” “ He that abideth in me,” He says, 148 THE GO EL> “ and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for, without me, ye can do nothing.” Now, “our Maker is our husband ; the Lord of hosts is his name : and our Redeemer the Holy One of Israel : the God of the whole earth shall he be called.” He hath betrothed us unto Himself for ever ; and, therefore, she that was “ barren hath born seven,” and many “ are the children of the desolate.” But Christ has still further fulfilled the du¬ ties of a kinsman Redeemer to us, by aveng¬ ing our blood on our murderer Satan. Ac¬ cording to the Mosaic law, the nearest kins¬ man of any one who happened to be slain was required to pursue the manslayer, and if he overtook him, to avenge the wrong by putting him to death. Need we here remind the reader that in this, as well as in the other duties that devolved on the near kinsman, we discover a striking representation of the office of Christ ? Although created immortal, the whole human race was slain by Satan, when, through his subtlety, he beguiled our first parents into that first act of disobedience against the great Creator, which “ brought death into the world and all our woe.” It seems to be with reference to this slaughter OR KINSMAN REDEEMER. 149 of mankind, that Christ said of the devil, I)epI)ertl. Ps. xxiii. r. * The Lord is my shepherd : I shall not want’ Isa. xl. ii. < “ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Ezek. xxxiv. 22. “ Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall be no more a prey.’ Zech. xiii. 7. “Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts : smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” John x. 11-16. “ I am the good Shepherd : the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and fleeth ; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold : them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” 1 Pet. v. 4. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” * My Shepherd is the Lamb, The living Lord who died ! With all that’s truly good, I am Most plenteously supplied ! He richly feeds my soul With manna from above, And leads me where the rivers roll. Of everlasting love. “ He seeks me when I stray ; Directs my every path ; And when I walk through death’s dark way, Draws near with rod and staff. My table He doth spread In presence of my foes ; With oil He doth anoint my head ; My cup with wine o’erflows. “ Goodness and mercy wait On all my steps through life ; They ’ll bear me to the heavenly gate, And set me free from strife. Then I my Shepherd’s care Shall praise ; my Host adore ; And in His Father’s house shall share True bliss for evermore 1” Alton. THE GOOD SHEPHERD. HE preceding emblems of Jesus are taken partly from objects of the external and inanimate creation, and partly from incidents in the history and institutes of the economy of the Jews. In addition to these, however, a very beautiful and instructive class of emblems is borrowed from the ordinary occupations of human life. Of this latter class, there is none more frequently employed in Scripture, or more expressive of condescension and grace on the part of Jesus towards His people, than that of a shepherd. The scenes and occupations of pastoral life have been almost universally endeared to the hearts of men, by many sweet and pic¬ turesque associations. Accordingly, in every age, the poet has selected them as his darling theme, and lavished on their illustration and their eulogy, all his tenderness of sentiment H 2 178 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. and melody of verse. To the Jews, however, the similitude of a shepherd must have been peculiarly interesting, not only from the cir¬ cumstance, that theirs was a country, where the flocks were numerous, and the pastoral life was held in great repute, but also from its association with all that was most vener¬ able and sacred in their ancestral history, — the patriarch founders of their race, their illustrious lawgiver, and many of the greatest and most glorious of their judges and their kings having followed this ancient and hon¬ ourable calling. To us, indeed, who inhabit a commercial country, and dwell in cities, the force and beauty of this similitude may not be so clearly apparent, or so deeply felt. Guided, however, by the light of Scripture, it is not difficult to discover various particulars of resemblance, which illustrate the suitable¬ ness of its application to our Lord. We begin, then, by observing, that He has purchased His flock by the shedding of His own blood. “ I am the good Shepherd,” He says Himself; ‘“the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” In common with the rest of mankind, His flock had wandered THE GOOD SHEPHERD. T79 from the fold, and exposed themselves to the deadly assaults of their crafty and cruel foes. Night, too, had overtaken them, and obscured every way of return. The thunders of heaven rolled over their heads, and the torrent of Jehovah’s wrath threatened to overwhelm them in its waves. But, in this situation of im¬ minent danger, and utter helplessness, “when there was no eye to pity, and no arm to help,” did the Good Shepherd fly on the wings of love to seek and to save them. “ Though he was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God, he made him¬ self of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the like¬ ness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” “ All we, like sheep, had gone astray ; we had turned every one to his own way ; but the Lord laid on him the miquity of us all” Thus hath He opened up a new way of access and admission to the fold, and removed every obstacle that opposed their return. He has “ saved His flock, and they shall no more be a prey.” Here, then, we have a proof of incalculable 180 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. force and magnitude, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. For, “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” But the conduct of Jesus in dying for His sheep, evinces a condescension and love, which cast into darkness all the noblest instances, in which human friends and earthly relatives have counted it “ a sweet and sacred thing to die,” in ransom for souls dearer to them than their own. For, not only was His life infinitely more valuable than all the lives of men or of angels, but there was not even the shadow of a claim on the part of those, for whom He so cheerfully laid it down. With the single exception of the misery in which they lay involved, and which was fitted to awaken in His bosom the sentiment of compassion, every thing in their original character and circumstances was fitted to repel , rather than to attract His regard. For, though bound by the strongest and most sa¬ cred ties to love and serve Him, they had, b) rebelling against His righteous authority, rendered themselves the just and proper ob¬ jects of His abhorrence and His vengeance. But such was His infinite mercy and grace, that He descended from the throne of heaven, THE GOOD SHEPHERD . 181 not as the executioner of Divine vengeance, but as a messenger of peace, to publish, nay, to purchase and bestow salvation. “For God sent not his Son into the world, to con¬ demn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” But Jesus not only saves His flock from destruction, -but becomes their leader and guide. As in oriental countries, the shepherd “goes before” his flock, to point out to them the way, so does the Good Shepherd lead His ransomed flock “ in the paths of right, eousness.” The grand and merciful design of His mission into this waste howling wil¬ derness, was “ to seek and to save that which was lost.” And, in prosecution of this design, He is still endeavouring, by His Word, His providence, and His Spirit, to turn us from the paths of ruin, and to restore us to the fold from which we have wandered. This exercise of His pastoral care is no less ne¬ cessary than it is gracious ; for, notwith¬ standing that those obstacles, which opposed the hope of return, have been completely re¬ moved, and we are freely invited to enter His fold, yet such is our natural aversion to spiritual things, that, if left to ourselves, we could never retrace our steps, but must con- 1 82 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. tinue, during the whole course of our earthly pilgrimage, to wander on, amongst those dark mountains on which our feet had stumbled, as sheep having no shepherd. “ The carnal mind is enmity against God : for it is not subject to the law of God,' neither indeed can be.” Even when we have been numbered ampng the ransomed flock of the Good Shepherd, and obtained admission into His fold, His guidance is as necessary as before. “ The way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” During their pilgrimage towards the pastures of eternity, the flock of Jesus are not beyond the reach of temptation, or the assaults of spiritual danger. For there is not one of them, whom painful experience teaches not, that there lurks within him by nature, a con¬ stant proneness to err, and that ofttimes, through his own weakness, and negligence, and still remaining depravity, the pleasures of the world, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life, have enticed him beyond the pale of safety, and betrayed him into the snares and pitfalls by which his path is everywhere beset. Such, however, is the un- THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 183 wearied beneficence of our Celestial Shepherd, that, even when His flock have erred and strayed most widely from the straight and narrow path, instead of leaving them as a prey to the destroyer, He seeks them out in the wilderness, extricates them from every difficulty and danger, and graciously restores their souls, saying unto them, “ I will heal your backslidings. I will love you freely.” It is thus that He not only leads them at first from the world into His fold, but, from their returnings to the world, conducts them back into His fold again, and causes them to walk habitually in the paths of purity and peace. Jesus also feeds His flock with food con¬ venient for them. In His Word and ordi¬ nances, there is a copious and never-failing supply provided for their support and refresh¬ ment.' These are, indeed, to them, as “ pas¬ tures of tender grass,” and “ waters of quiet¬ ness.” How rich and ample a pasturage is the field of Scripture truth / Whatever may be our condition and circumstances in the world, never can we fail to find in it a most suitable and seasonable portion. What food is to 1 84 THE GOOD SHEPHERD . the body, that is this truth to the believer’s spirit. It is the divine aliment of his renewed nature, being abundantly stored with all that is fitted to preserve and strengthen the spiri¬ tual life — with “doctrine, and reproof, and correction, and instruction in righteousness.” Nor are the oracles of His truth the only pastures, in which the Good Shepherd feeds His flock. As a provident shepherd leads about his flock from one verdant spot of pasturage to another, and gives them a pleasant diversity of food, so the Shepherd of souls has wisely appointed various means of grace for our sanctification and improvement. Accordingly, in the exercises of social and secret fir ay er, often do believers, in blessed ex¬ perience, find that spiritual sustenance and consolation, after which their souls are hun¬ gering and thirsting, even as the hart panteth after the water-brooks. They are satisfied with the fatness of God’s house, and feel that it is good for them to draw near unto Him. “ A day in His courts” they esteem “better than a thousand spent in the tents of wickedness.” But a still richer and more satisfying nourishment is supplied to their souls, in THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 185 the sacred ordinance of the Lord's supper. Here, while they behold all the blessings of the New Covenant — the pardon of sin, peace, and reconciliation with God, adoption into His family,- the gift of the Holy Ghost, the consequent sanctification of their nature, persevering grace, victory over death, re¬ demption from the power of the grave, and everlasting life — flowing to them through the death of Christ, and sealed and secured to them by His blood, their souls are comforted and refreshed, and they “are fed as with marrow and fatness.” Here, they, by faith, receive the body of Christ, which is “ meat indeed,” and His blood, which is “drink in¬ deed ;” the largest wishes of their souls are amply gratified, and every virtue and grace of the divine life is enlivened and in¬ vigorated. Their faith is increased, their re¬ pentance deepened, their love inflamed, their hope animated and brightened, their heavenly mindedness promoted, and their benevolence extends its kindest regards to the whole family of man. The elements of spiritual nourishment diffuse themselves throughout all their frame, and their hearts are pervaded with sensations of a “peace” which “passeth 1 86 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. understanding,” and “ a joy that is unspeak¬ able and full of glory.” Such, in a greater or less degree, is the experience of every worthy communicant. The spiritual nourishment, which thus flows from the Word of God, and the ordinances of His grace, is permanent in its nature, and perpetual in its efficacy. It renders the spirit, to which it has been im¬ parted, a stranger to decay ; and so abun¬ dant is the supply provided, that it cannot be diminished, neither can it be exhausted for ever. This is that living Bread, which came down from heaven, of which if any man eat he shall not die, but live for ever. But Christ further exercises the pastoral office, in respect of His constantly watching over and defending His flock. As a faithful shepherd carefully guards his flock from harm, and rescues them from peril while passing through the rugged vales, where death lurks among the precipitous cliffs, and deep and dark ravines, or in the dens of the beasts of prey, so does the Redeemer give protection and security to the sheep of His pasture, while passing through the dan¬ gerous vales of life, or the dark valley of the THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 187 shadow of death — the dim defile which leads from time and opens on eternity. Although they be under the guidance of the Good Shepherd, it must not be forgotten, that they are still passing through the wilder¬ ness, where they are doomed to encounter the opposition of those numerous, powerful, and malignant enemies, with whom they are sur¬ rounded. Against these, however, the Good Shepherd has been pleased to provide the most ample protection. His eye is ever upon His ransomed flock ; His ear is ever open to their cry ; His everlasting arms are ever around and underneath them- In every season of conflict and peril, He stands by their side, and says, “ Fear not, for I am with thee : be not dismayed, for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” N othing can befall them, which He does not know, and which He does not render subservient to the good, of their souls. How great, then, is the security enjoyed by those, who have been brought under the ever- waking care of the Shepherd of Israel ! “ As the mountains are round about Jerdsalem, so 1 88 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth, even for ever.” According to His own blessed declaration, “He will never leave them nor forsake them.” He continues to be their guardian even until death, neither does He fail to stand by them at that solemn period, but enters with them into the deep and darksome vale, and uses every means to sustain, to defend, and to encourage them. They know and feel , that He is still by their side. By the eye of faith, they behold, as ifc were, the light of His countenance arise, like the day-star on the darkness ; and even when engaged amidst the awful solemnities of death, it seems as though they heard the tones of His friendly voice whispering unto them, “ Fear not, for I have redeemed thee : I have called thee by thy name. Thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee ; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Thus cheered by His presence, and sustained by His promises, many of the humblest and THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 189 feeblest of His flock, who, “ through, fear of death were ” perhaps “ all their life-time subject to bondage,” have in their last jnoments been enabled to triumph over the King of Terrors, and to make the darksome vale resound with their fearless song, “ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me : thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” The metaphor under consideration suggests still further, that Jesus will at last co?iduct His flock into the everlasting mansions oj rest and safety which He hath prepared for them. “I give,” says He, “unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” His re¬ deeming them with His blood, His guiding, feeding, and defending them, are all subser¬ vient to His bringing them to His home of joy and glory in the heavens. There, He is now preparing a place for them, while, by His Holy Spirit, He is preparing them for enter¬ ing into the promised rest. And He will come again, and receive them to Himself, that where He is there they may be also. In that blessed abode, He will perfect all that 190 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. concerneth them, and from every evil to which they were subjected on earth, they shall be completely, and for ever exempted. Then, shall faith have given place to sight, and hope to fruition, and they shall not only be, but feel themselves safe within their Shepherd’s fold. They shall go no more out for ever ; and, guided by their Celestial Shep¬ herd, they shall pass continually onwards to those greener pastures and more fruitful fields of the heavenly Canaan, where “ they shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them ; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them ; even by the springs of water he shall guide them.” <£ For the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads ; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” What tongue can describe, or mind conceive the ecstatic emotions of their souls, on entering those glorious and ever¬ lasting mansions of the Lord’s redeemed ? With what ineffable delight, will they con¬ gratulate themselves on their safe arrival there ! What boundless and unmingled bliss will they experience ! And with what THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 191 ever increasing joy and gratitude, will they unite in the triumphant and eternal song of praise ! “ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” Reader, while thus contemplating the Son of God, in the character of the Good Shep¬ herd, have you the evidence within yourself, that you have been numbered among His chosen and blood-bought flock ? Be it yours to improve aright your exalted privi¬ lege. While deeply grateful for His good¬ ness, in taking you into His fold, and provid¬ ing for you whatever is really necessary to your true enjoyment and felicity ; rely with more implicit confidence upon His care; endeavour to feel more strongly the obliga¬ tion of living by the faith of Him ; and amidst all the toils and trials, the faintings and sorrowings of your desert-pilgrimage, take comfort from the thought, that He is ever with you, that He has the direction of all your paths, and that, ere long, He will bring you in safety to the promised land. 192 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. “ Loving Shepherd, kind and true, Wilt Thou not in pity come To Thy lamb ? As shepherds do, Bear me in Thy bosom home ; Take me hence from earth’s annoy To Thy home of endless joy. “ See how I have gone astray In this earthly wilderness : Come and take me soon away To Thy flock who dwell in bliss. And Thy glory, Lord, behold. Safe within Thy heavenly fold. For I fain would gaze on Thee, With the lambs to whom ’t is given. That they feed from danger free, In the happy fields of heaven ; Praising Thee, all terrors o’er. Never can they wander more. ** Here I live in sore distress, Fearing, watching, hour by hour ; For my foes around me press, And I know their craft and power ; Lord, Thy lamb can never be Safe one moment but with Thee. "* O Lord Jesus, let me not ’Mid the ravening wolves e’er fall, Help me as a shepherd ought, That I may escape them all ; Bear me homeward in Thy breast. To Thy fold of endless rest.” Angelus, 1657. Hfje pi)?5tttati. Jerem. viii. 22. “ Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no Physician there? why them is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ? ” Luke v. 31, 32. “And Jesus answering, said unto them, They that are whole need not a Physician ; but they tfyat are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repent¬ ance.” Luke iv. 18. “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Heb. ix. 13, 14. "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh ; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered him¬ self without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ? ” i Pet. ii. 24. “ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto right¬ eousness : by whose stripes ye were healed.” John vi. 27. “For him hath God the Father sealed.” I “Deep are the wounds which sin has made. Where shall the sinner find a cure? In vain, alas ! is nature’s aid, The work exceeds all nature’s pow’r. “Sin, like a raging fever, reigns, With fatal strength on ev’ry part ; The dire contagion fills the veins, And spreads its poison to the heart “ And can no sov’reign balm be found? And is no kind physician nigh. To ease the pain, and heal the wound. Ere life and hope for ever fly? “ There is a great Physician near; Look up, O fainting soul, and live ; See, in His heav’nly smile appear, Such aid as nature cannot give ! “ See, in the Saviours dying blood. Life, health, and bliss, abundant flow ’Tis only this dear sacred flood Can ease thy pain, and heal thy woe, “ Sin throws in vain its pointed dart ; For here a sov’reign cure is found ; A cordial for the fainting heart, -A.ba’mfor ev’ry painful wound.” Steels THE PHYSICIAN. 0 this designation, even in its literal signification, our blessed Saviour, while on earth, amply proved His title, “going about healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases among the people.” These works of bene¬ volence, however, only afforded an evidence and an emblem of His spiritual character. The grand and merciful design of His mission unto this world was, that He might heal the souls of men from sin, which like a loathsome, distressing, and fatal disease, had deranged and vitiated their whole spiritual frame, and restore them to spiritual health, life, and happiness. Accordingly, He is frequently represented in Scripture, as the great Physi¬ cian of souls — an appellation, the propriety of which will be clearly and fully perceived from the following considerations. He has been divinely appointed to this im- I 196 THE PHYSICIAN. portant office. An earthly physician must be first examined and proved by competent authority, ere he can obtain a diploma entitling him to practise the art of healing. Now, to the high office of recovering men from the disease of sin, Jesus Christ has been appointed by Him who is the sovereign Law¬ giver, and the infallible Judge. “ He took not this honour on himself, but was called of God, as was Aaron.” Accordingly, at the com¬ mencement of His public ministry, part of the passage, which He read in the synagogue, and applied to Himself, contained His divine appointment to the office which He sustained. “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ; because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” And when asked regarding His commission, or by what authority He cured the blind, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, and those possess¬ ed with devils, He asserted, that these miracles themselves proved, that He had come forth from God. “ The works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same THE PHYSICIAN, 197 works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me. And the Father him¬ self, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.” He has provided a remedy of transcendent efficacy . Long before His appearance on earth, it was predicted respecting the nature and effects of His atoning death — “ In that day, there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.” And when, in “the fulness of time,” He poured forth His precious blood on the cross of Cal¬ vary, the ancient oracle was completely ful¬ filled ; for the streams, which then flowed from His pierced side, are of boundless efficacy, in cleansing both from the guilt, and power of sin. This precious blood is the balm, which He hath provided to restore soundness to our sin-stricken nature. In order to its being effectual however, it is essential that it be applied to the soul, by the agency of the Holy Spirit. This was emblematically set forth under the Mosaic ritual, by the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifices, and particularly, in the cleansing of the leper. Hence, the blood of Jesus is TEE PHYSICIAN. 198 styled in Scripture, “ the blood of sprinkling and we are exhorted to draw near unto God, “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.” Such is the inherent virtue of this blood, that wherever it is thus applied to the sinner’s soul by the Spirit, it is able to cleanse it from the foulest transgressions, and to restore it to moral health and vigour. “ Purge me,” said the Psalmist, “ and I shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” And, in every age of the world, its resistless efficacy has been realised, in the experience of thousands of our race who have trusted in it. It has been had recourse to, in the most extreme cases — by persons, who were farthest gone iri the leprosy of sin, and had longest nourished its virulence — and they attested its efficacy. Nor shall its virtue ever be diminished. Even unto the end of the world, diseases of every degree of virulence, and at every stage, may be com¬ pletely, and for ever removed by it ; for Christ “ is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” It can hardly be necessary to remind the Christian reader, that the mode in which the THE PHYSICIAN. 199 Spirit applies this efficacious remedy to the soul, is by working faith in us. It can pro¬ fit us nothing, therefore, except we believe. As a medicine, in order to benefit a patient, must be taken by him, so the blood of Christ can have no salutary effect on those to whom it is proposed, unless there be a particulat application of the merit of it to their souls. It is by faith in Christ alone, that we can obtain the healing, the life, the salvation which we require. He is possessed of infinite skill. An earthly physician must not only be provided with proper remedies, but know also how to ren- der them effectual. For this end, it is ne¬ cessary that he should understand the ana¬ tomy of the human body, and the nature of the various diseases to which it is incident. He should be acquainted with the constitu¬ tion of the patient, and the peculiar habits which he has contracted. Moreover, he should possess an accurate knowledge of the powers and virtues of medicines, and be skil¬ ful in dispensing and applying them. All these qualifications, the great Physician of souls possesses in an indefinite degree. “ His understanding is infinite.” He per- 200 THE PHYSICIAN. fectly “knoweth our frame,” and “needeth not that any man should testify to Him ; for He knoweth what is in man.” He knows all the maladies and distresses of our souls, with all their diversified forms and symptoms. He is intimately acquainted with our mental and moral constitution, and clearly discerns what are the most proper remedies to be employed for our recovery, and at what precise time, and in what quantity, they should be admini¬ stered. The skill of our heavenly Physician being unquestionable, it follows, that we may, with perfect confidence, commit the cure of our souls into His hands, saying unto Him, as did the leper who came to Him while He was yet on earth, “ Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me clean.” He is possessed of infinite power and com¬ passion. He has resources adequate to every emergency, and is able to heal those in whom the spiritual malady has assumed its most malignant and inveterate form. He has but to say, “ I will, be thou clean,” and straight¬ way the leprosy of the soul will be thoroughly and effectually taken away. “All power is given unto Him in heaven, and on earth,” and, “with Him all things are possible.” THE PHYSICIAN. 201 And His compassion is equal to His power. “ He will have mercy on His afflicted.” “ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” “ Those that are broken in their heart, And grieved in their minds, He healeth ; and their painful wounds He tenderly uplands.” “In all our afflictions He is afflicted.” From His experience of human trials and temptations, He has collected an unbounded store of sympathy for those whom “ He is not ashamed to call His brethren.” For “we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin.” If, with one hand, He extends to us a bitter potion, with the other, He upholds, strengthens, and consoles us. “ He lifts up the weak hands, and supports the feeble knees.” “ He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, till He bring forth judgment unto victory.” He is very generous and disinterested. Many, in seeking a cure for their bodily dis¬ eases, ruin their worldly estate. Like the woman, who was healed by touching Christ’s 202 THE PHYSICIAN. garment, they “ spend all their living on phy¬ sicians,” and yet cannot “ be healed of any.” But, as she received His healing influence, without any payment or return, offered or ex¬ pected, even so the cure of the soul’s malady, by the merit and work of the Saviour, is em¬ phatically a free gift. No mercenary motive, or interested aim, ever influences Him, on any occasion. He seeks not ours, but us. His sole object is to do us good. Besides, His skill is far too precious, His medicines far too valuable, to be purchased. “ Come,” He says, “and buy them, without money and without price.” Nay, such is His con¬ descension and kindness, that ofttimes does He come to the sick without being sent for, and entreats them to accept of that healing balm, without which, He knows, they must perish eternally. “ He is found of them who sought not after Him.” He is accessible at all times, and in all places . An earthly physician, when we stand most deeply in need of his counsel and aid, may be at so great a distance, or have such a multiplicity of cases devolving on him, that before we can secure his services, it may be too late. Not so is it, however, with our THE PHYSICIAN. 203 celestial Physician. The throne of His grace is always accessible ; and, of the countless myriads of souls that are looking unto Him from all parts of the wide world, there is not one beyond the reach of His aid. To all, He is a Physician “ at hand, and not afar off’ — “ a very present help in trouble.” “ Lo ! ” saith He, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” “ I will never leave, I will never forsake you.” “ He, who hath known my name, shall call upon me, and I will answer him ! I will be with him in trouble ; I will deliver him and honour him.” From the utmost corner of the land, our prayer will find its way even to His seat. Swifter than an angel, it enters heaven ; and, whatever its request may be, like Jacob at Peniel, it has the power of a prince, and pre¬ vails. How deeply grateful should we be to that heavenly Physician, who hath saved us from the most loathsome and deadly disease with which our nature can be affected ! (e Bless the Lord, O my soul ! and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lofrd, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits ; who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who heal- 204 THE PHYSICIAN. eth all thy diseases ; who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies ; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things ; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” We may hence also infer, with what perfect confidence we should follow the prescriptions of our spiritual Physician, who, as we have seen, is not only divinely appointed, but, in every respect, qualified to effect our cure. It is true, that our restoration to spiritual health may not be immediate, nor, indeed, is this to be expected ; for the diseases of the soul are ever inveterate, and grow into habits, which can only be overcome by undergoing the discipline, which He has appointed, and which extends over the whole course of our mortal lives. Accordingly, the best of men, so long as they continue in the present world, are not free from occasional transgressions. But, in due time, our hea¬ venly Physician will “perfect that which concerneth us,” and introduce us into a world of which “the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick,” for “the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” But some of my readers may not yet have THE PHYSICIAN. 205 made application to this Physician. Consi¬ der, then, that you must perish, and that eternally, if you continue to despise Him and His prescriptions. This assuredly will be the end of that disease, which is now preying on your very vitals. You may not, indeed, be conscious that you are labouring under its malignant influence, but this very circum¬ stance is one of its most dangerous symptoms. Meanwhile, it retains its deadly hold of you? hearts, and is increasing in virulence ; and, if repentance and faith intervene not, it will hasten you on to the “ death which never dies.” There is only One in all the wide universe, who can save you, even Jesus Christ, whose blood is able to wash away your sin, and to heal your soul. Come, then, to Him, that you may not perish, but have everlasting life. Come, without hesitation, for His invitation is free ; and without delay, for the time is short, and every moment that you spend without applying to Him only increases your danger. May the Lord Himself enable you to welcome the glad tidings, that there is “ balm in Gilead, and that there is a Physician there.” 20 6 THE PHYSICIAN. \ . V “ Oh, tender mercy’s art divine ! Thy sorrow proves the cure of mine ! Thy drooping wounds, Thy woeful smart. Allay the bleedings of my heart ; Thy death, in death’s extreme of pain, Restores my soul to life again.” Parnell. “Behold the leprous Jew, Oppress’d with pain and grief. Pouring his tears at Jesus’ feet, F or pity and relief. 44 * O speak the word,’ he cries, ‘ And heal me of- my pain ; Lord, Thou art able, if Thou wilt, To make a leper clean.’ 44 Compassion moves His heart ; He speaks the gracious word ; The leper feels his strength return. And all his sickness cured. jf 44 To Thee, dear Lord, I look. Sick of a worse disease ; Sin is my painful malady, And none can give me ease. “ But Thy Almighty grace Can heal my leprous soul : O bathe me in Thy precious blood, And that will make me whole.” Stennett. 4 ‘When, by the busy crowd of life Too often press’d and throng’d. And in their rude and selfish strift Both overlook’d and wrong’d ; / THE PHYSICIAN. 207 “ How sweet to know, Faith’s lightest touch The watchful Saviour feels, And healing, in reply to such, Into the suff’rer steals. K Oft through the world we smoothly go Hiding some secret care, Our nearest, dearest, may not know Which God alone can share. “ We mingle with the busy throng, They pass unheeding by They bear us in their tide along We commune with the sky. “ Saviour, it is Thy people’s bliss To feel Thy care for them, And, while the crowd Thy mercy miss, To touch Thy garment’s hem, ** Friends may mistake, or foes may slight. Thyself not seem to see, « One touch of faith, however light, Will find its way to Thee. “And Thou wilt give, when sorrow pleads, ‘ Good comfort’ to the soul, The healing it so sorely needs, The Faith which makes it whole.” Monsell. . ■ ' » - . \ V I I A . Conclusion. Cant. v. io, i 6. K My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His mouth is most sweet ; yea, he is alto¬ gether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” Ps. xlv. 2. '* Thou art fairer than the children of men ; grace is poured into thy lips ; therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.” 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.” I Pet. i. 8. “ Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy un¬ speakable, and full of glory.” Jude 25. “To the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” \ / “Go, worship at Immanuel's feet ; See in His face what wonders meet ; Earth is too narrow to express His worth, His glory, or His grace. “Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars, Nor heaven, His full resemblance bears ; His beauties we can never trace, Till we behold Him face to face. 1 v “ Oh, let me climb those higher skies, Where storms and darkness never rise ; There He displays His power abroad, And shines and reigns, th’ incarnate God.” 1 A] V CONCLUSION, N addition to those we have illustra¬ ted, it were an easy, and it would be a pleasing occupation, to bring before the reader many other beau¬ tiful similitudes, by which the sacred writers set forth, in a not less interesting and attrac¬ tive point of view, the glory and grace of Him, who is the Son of the Highest, and the Saviour of men. The field of Scrip¬ ture truth, however, is adorned and beautified by such a rich profusion of this kind of imagery, that our limits could obviously ad¬ mit only of a selection . Let us hope, that what has been advanced may induce every reader to gather diligently for himself. The study of Scripture metaphors of any kind is, doubtless, interesting and attractive. Ad¬ dressing the mind, through the medium of the senses, such word-pictures are adapted to arrest the attention ; the imagination is 212 CONCLUSION. engaged in discovering their beauty, and ad¬ miring their aptitude ; while they rivet them¬ selves in the memory, by the impressive manner in which they convey their meaning to the heart. But, inasmuch as every part of Scripture is made subservient to the strik¬ ing exhibition of “Jesus Christ, and Him cruci¬ fied,” the metaphorical diction employed to set forth the beauties of the principal figure in the picture, ought unquestionably to hold a corresponding prominence in all our bibli¬ cal studies. And the more constantly we contemplate Him in His true character, as exhibited either in the plain or the figura¬ tive expressions employed by the sacred writers, the more closely shall we, by the divine blessing, be assimilated to His image, and the more meet shall we, in the end, be found for “ seeing Him as he is CONCLUSION. 233 “ How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear ! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds. And drives away his fear. “ It makes the wounded spirit whole. And calms the troubled breast : *Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest. “Dear Name ! the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding-place ; My never-failing treas’ry fill’d With boundless stores of grace. “ By Thee my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled ; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am own’d a child. “Jesus! my Shepherd, Kinsman, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King ; My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring. “ Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as Thou art, I ’ll praise Thee as I ought. “ Till then I would Thy love proclaim With ev’ry fleeting breath, And may the music of Thy name Refresh my soul in death.” Newton, 214 CONCLUSION. “Join all the glorious names Of wisdom, love, and power, That ever mortals knew, That angels ever bore ; All are too mean to speak His worth,— To set my Saviour’s glories forth. “ Great Prophet of my God ! My tongue would bless Thy name ; By Thee the joyful news Of our salvation came ; The joyful news of sin forgiven, Of hell subdued, and peace with heaven. “Jesus, my great High Priest ! Offer’d His blood and died ; My guilty conscience seeks No sacrifice beside : His precious blood did once atone, And now it pleads before the throne. “All hail, almighty Lord ! My Conqueror and King ! Thy sceptre and Thy sword — Thy reigning grace I sing ; Thine is the power ! Behold I sit In willing bonds beneath Thy feet. “ Should all the hosts of death, And powers of hell unknown, Put their most dreadful forms Of rage and mischief on, — • A feeble saint shall win the day, Though death and hell obstruct the way." Watts. CONCLUSION. 215 “To Christ, the Lord, let every tongue Its noblest tribute bring ; When He ’s the subject of the song. Who can refuse to sing ! “Majestic sweetness sits enthroned Upon His awful brow ; His head with radiant glories crown’d. His lips with grace o’erflow. “No mortal can with Him compare Among the sons of men ; Fairer He is than all the fair That fill the heavenly train. “He saw me plunged in deep distress. And came to my relief ; For me He bore the shameful cross, And carried all my grief. “ His hand a thousand blessings pours Upon my guilty head ; His presence cheers my darkest hours. And guards my sleeping bed. “To Him I owe my life and breath. And all the joys I have ; He makes me triumph over death, And saves me from the grave. “To heaven, the place of His abode, He brings my weary feet ; Shews me the glories of my God, And makes my joy complete. 1 i6 CONCLUSION. “Since from His bounty I receive Such proofs of love divine, Had I a thousand hearts to give, Lord, they should all be Thine ! ” Stennet. ** Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ; Praise Him, all creatures here below ; Praise Him above, angelic host ; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” THE END. 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