Luftre, and complete Beauty. The Grace and the Privileges, which dawned under other Dispensations, are brought even to meridian Light by the Gospel. -This I mention, juft to intimate, what You may expect from a following Letter. In the mean Time, let Us attend to the Prophet Daniel. He records a Meffage from Heaven, which is more clearly defcriptive of this great evangelical Bleffing, than all the foregoing Texts.-He had been under much Diftrefs, and in great Perplexity: afflicted for his own, and his Countrymens Sins; anxious for the Welfare of the chosen Nation, and the Profperity of true Religion. When an Angel was dispatched to the holy Mourner, with this moft chearing News; which, received by Faith, is the richest Balm to a wounded Confcience, and the only Remedy for a guilty World. Seventy Weeks are determined upon thy People, and upon thy holy City to finish the Tranfgreffion, and make an End of Sin; to make Reconciliation for Iniquity; and to bring in everlafting Righteousness *.-This Prophecy, without all Contradiction, relates to the MESSIAH. It foretels, that, in the Fulnefs of Time, He should finish the Tranfgreffion +; reftrain and suppress the Power of Corruption, by purifying to Himself a peculiar People. Should make an End of Sin ; by fealing up or fecreting its Guilt, and totally abolishing its condemning Power-Should make Reconciliation for Iniquity; by sustaining the Vengeance due to Sinners, and fully fatisfying the divine Juftice for all their Offences. ‡; But, as to fuffer Punishment, is one Thing; and to obey the Precept, is another: as Pardon of Sin, • Dan. ix. 24. Bb 2 כלא + התם ! does does by no Means complete the Privilege of Juftification it is added, that the MESSIAH fhould alfo bring in an everlasting Righteousness-A Righteoufness, or an adequate and perfect Conformity to all the Dictates of the Law. Which confifts, in an habitual Holinefs of Nature, and an actual Obedience of Life-This He fhould not barely publish, but accomplish and bring in *. That it may be prefented both to GOD and Man; to GOD, for the Reparation of his violated Law; to Man, for the Juftification of his obnoxious Perfon-That this Righteousness fhould be everlasting; not such as may be compared to the Morning Cloud, which foon paffeth away; or to the early Dew, which is foon dried up; but fuch as will out-laft the Hills, on which the latter fhines; and out-laft the Skies, through which the former fails. A Righteousness, whofe Merits extend to every Period and every Action of our Lives; and when once made ours by Imputation, remains and will remain our unalienable Property. To this all the Saints, who, in antient Generations, pleafed GOD, owe their Acceptance; on this, all the Children of Men, who, in future Ages, hope for his Favour, muft rely; by this the whole Affembly of the Bleffed, will be invariably and eternally precious in his Sight.-Exalted Character! Can it be applicable to any Thing lefs, I think, muft fignify more than to publish ar preach. Had this been all that the Angel was commif would probably have להגיד or לבשר,fioned to declare 2 been used.-The Word implies fuch a bringing in (the Original is the fame) as when Abel brought his Sacrifice to the Altar, for the divine Acceptance; and Efau brought his Venifon into the Chamber, for his Father's Ufe. Gen. iv. 4. xxvii. 31. lefs, than the Righteoufnefs of the incarnate GOD? Surely, None can imagine, that Daniel would speak in fuch a magnificent Strain of any human Righteoufnefs; fince, in this very Chapter, he profeffedly depreciates Himfelf, his Fellow-faints, and all human Performances whatever *. . I forgot, in the proper Place, to confult the Prophet Jeremiah. Let Us now refer Ourselves to his Determination. Celebrating the SAVIOUR of Judah and Ifrael, He fays; This is his Name, whereby He fhall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. A Determination, fo clear and fatisfactory, as not to leave, One would almoft conclude, any Room for Appeal.-Should the Senfe of the Paffage be questioned, I think, there cannot be a more authentic Explication, than the preceding Extracts from Isaiah and Daniel. Having the unanimous Atteftation of two inspired Penmen, We may venture to abide by fuch Authority, even in Oppofition to fome refpectable Names.-In the Verse immediately foregoing, the effential Holiness of the REDEEMER is difplayed, under the Character of the RIGHTEOUS BRANCH.-The Sanctity, which He will impart to his Subjects, is intimated by his executing Judgment and Fuftice in the Earth. In the Claufe, We have quoted, his imputed Righteousness is foretold and promised.Thus, the feveral Sentences are diftinét; the Defcription of the SAVIOUR is complete; and He appears perfectly fuited to the Exigencies of a wretched World. A World, in its worft Eftate, enflaved to Satan; and in its beft, falling fhort of the Bb3 O LORD, Righteoufnefs belongeth unto Thee, but una to Us Confufion of Faces. Ver. 7. the Glory of GOD.-This, therefore, I take to be the grand and extenfive Meaning of the Prophet; not barely, The righteous LORD; not barely, The LORD who infuses Righteousness into finful Souls; but the incarnate JEHOVAH*, whofe mediatorial Righteoufnefs is, by an Act of gracious Imputation, ours-to all the Intents of Juftification and Salvation, ours-as much ours for thefe bleffed Purposes, as if We had wrought it out, each in his own Person +. Foreseeing and contemplating these Bleffings, the enraptured Zechariah cries out; Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Sion; shout, O Daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto Thee: He is juft, and having Salvation, lowly and riding upon an Ass, and upon a Colt the Foal of an Afst. He addreffes himself to Sion and Jerufalem, to the ecclefiaftical and civil Community. People of all Ranks and of every Character, are exhorted to rejoice; to rejoice Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. In thefe golden, infinitely better than golden Verfes, are characterized the divine and the human Natures of CHRIST, together with his mediatorial Office. The divine Nature; in that He enjoys the Honours of the GODHEAD, and poffeffes the incommunicable Name JEHOVAH.-The buman Nature; in that He was to be raised up unto David, and fpring as a Branch from his Root.-The mediatorial Office; in that He is the Righteousness of his People, and the Salvation of Sinners. + WITSIUS, fpeaking of the mediatorial Righteoufnefs, has written in Latin, what Afpafe expreffes in Englife; Per illam Obedientiam tota Multitudo illorum, qui að Ipfum pertinent, jufti conftituuntur; id eft, cenfentur Jus babere ad æternam Vitam, non minus quam fi quilibet eorum in propria Perfona illam Obedientiam præftitiffet. Lib. II. cap. v. ↑ Zech. ix. 9. rejoice greatly; nay, to exprefs the Joy of their Heart, by loud Hallelujahs, and triumphant Exclamations. What is the Caufe of this general Delight? What can fill both Church and State with such high Satisfaction? Thy King cometh unto Thee; even that glorious KING, who rules in Heaven, and rules in the Heart; whose Service is Freedom, and whofe Laws are Love. He comes, to be made Flesh, and to dwell in thy Nature.-He is juft; divinely righteous in his Perfon; confummately righteous in his Life; and fulfils all Righteousness in thy Stead.Having Salvation; not setting Thee to procure it, but procuring it for Thee. Bringing with Him a great, a complete, an eternal Salvation; fully prepared, in all Points finished, and free for thy Acceptance. That none may be difcouraged, and none deterred, from applying to this PRINCE of Peace, He is, amidst all the Honours of his Sovereignty, lowly: does not abhor the Bafeft, will not despise the Meaneft: to the Poor and Worthlefs his Gospel is preached, for the Guilty and Abominable his Benefits are intended.-As an Emblem, as a Proof, of this moft amiable and condefcending Goodness, He will ride; not like the Conquerors of the Nations, in a fplendid triumphal Chariot, or on a richly caparisoned Steed; but upon the most mean and defpicable of all Animals, an Afs: nay, what is ftill more despicable, on a rude undifciplined Colt, the wayward Foal of an Ass*. And Because fome profane Scoffers have prefumed to ridicule this very remarkable Incident of our LORD's Life, fome Interpreters of Note have endeavoured to refcue it from their abufive Attempts, by obferving-" That Bb 4 ..the |