thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Such is the worship which is given to the Son of God in heaven. We owe Him the same worship as they pay; for it is in the character of the Lamb slain that He receives this worship. Those who can add, Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred, and the apostolical doxology, Unto him that loved us, tongue, and people, and nation, will readily join in 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. Amen.9

8

When our adorable Redeemer was brought into the world, the angelic hosts were not uninterested spectators of the wonderful event. A multitude of the heavenly host appeared to the astonished shepherds of Bethlehem, while the glory of the Lord shone round about them, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.10 Thus they sang of the blessings which were to flow from

7 Rev. v. 11, 12. 8 Rev. iv. 11. 9 Rev. v. 9. 10 Luke ii. 13, 14.

His incarnation. And it is still said of the mysteries of redemption, These things the angels desire to look into, in order that they may know the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Angels ministered to Christ after His temptation in the wilderness, and during His agony in the garden. They were joyful attendants on His resurrection. They announced to His mourning disciples, The Lord is risen indeed. And now that He is exalted on the throne of His majesty, they give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; they worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, in His holy temple in heaven. They see His face, and chaunt His praises. Let us imitate their example. Let us worship at His footstool. Let us bow down and kneel before the Lord our Maker. Let us praise Him for His incarnation, His sufferings and death; and seek to enjoy the benefits which flow from His great humiliation, in our own souls, to our consolation and joy here on earth; and let us look forward in hope to the full fruition of them in His eternal kingdom and glory; let us rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This is the privilege of His believing people, while they walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, in the footsteps of His flock, and feeding beside their Shepherd's tent; who will guide them with His counsel, and afterward receive them to glory.

SERMON VI.

FOR THE

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

THE MANHOOD OF CHRIST.

Galatians iv. 4, 5.

BUT WHEN THE FULNESS OF TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, MADE OF A WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE LAW, TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS.

THE Divinity or proper Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ as the King of glory, the Creator of the universe, the unchangeable and eternal God, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever, was the subject to which our attention was specially directed by the Epistle for Christmas day. On this day we are called upon more particularly to consider Him as a partaker of human nature, appearing as a man among men, to undergo all that was requisite for the redemption of mankind from the miserable state to which they had been

reduced by sin; in order that they might be restored to the Divine favour and all the blessings connected with it. The apostle takes an opportunity afforded him for the introduction of this subject, while he was speaking of the superiority of the privileges to which believers in Christ are admitted, in comparison with those which were conferred by the law of Moses. He shows the inferiority of the Mosaical to the Christian dispensation; comparing those who were under the former to the heir of an estate during his minority, who is held under various restrictions; and those who were under the latter to the proprietor, who has entered into possession, and is in the enjoyment of the advantages which are to be derived from it. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. The children of God, under the Mosaical dispensation, were in bondage under the elements or rudiments of the world," called carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.12 These were a shadow of good things to come, 12 and were ordained to be as a schoolmaster to bring them unto Christ,13 to show

11 Col. ii. 20. 12 Heb. ix. 10, x. 1.

13 Gal. iii. 24.

them their need of Him, and His suitableness to them as a Saviour, that they might be justified by faith.

In the text the apostle states when it was that the Mosaical dispensation came to an end, and its yoke of bondage was no longer to be imposed; calling this period the fulness of time, of which he speaks more at large to the Ephesians, That in the dispensation of the fulness of time, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him. He records in the text the wonderful occurrence of that period, the incarnation of the Son of God, and the blessings conferred by means of it; on which he enlarges further in the two following verses. Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Let us consider, First, The personal dignity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Secondly, The circumstances under which He made His appearance in our world.

Thirdly, The object proposed by His incarnation; and

Fourthly, The benefit thereby conferred upon all who believe in His name.

And while we meditate upon these things, let it be our prayer that the promised blessing of the