in their respective places and motions with unerring harmony. From the vast storehouse of his bounty he feeds and clothes the endless millions whom his hand has made, and from the riches of his own unchangeable mind, informs the innumerable host of intelligent creatures with ever improving virtue, dignity, and glory. To all these he allots the respective parts which they are qualified to act in the boundless system of good which his wisdom contrived, and his power has begun to execute; furnishes them with the means of being useful in his eternal kingdom; and thus prepares them to be amiable and excellent in his sight, and instruments of perpetually increasing good to each other.

At the head of this great kingdom he sits upon throne high and lifted up,' far exalted above all heavens; surveys, with an intuitive view, and with divine complacency, the amazing work which his voice has called into being, and beholds it increasing without intermission in happiness, wisdom, and virtue, and advancing, with a regular progress, towards consummate glory and perfection.

Although he is not worshipped, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth unto all life, and breath, and all things;' yet before him angels bow and veil their faces. The four living ones rest not day nor night, crying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Aimighty, who wast, and who art, and who art to come. And the whole multitude of the heavenly host, the number of whom is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,' unite in the everlasting song, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.'

From this stupendous height of greatness and enjoyment, this divine Person, passing all the bounds between God and man, between the infinite mind, and lifeless matter, united himself to man, who is but a worm;' assumed to himself a human soul and a kuman body, and in a manner incomprehensible by us, and not improbably by all other creatures, be

came thenceforth God-man, inseparably united in one most wonderful and mysterious Person.

Of this singular act the end was not less glorious, than the act itself was amazing. It was to save a race of rebellious creatures, whom he needed not, from misery and ruin; of creatures, whom with a word he could have returned to their original nothing, and whose places with another word he could have filled with equal or greater numbers, at his pleasure; all obedient, faithful, and happy. I shall not, however, dwell on this subject at the present time. Occasions still more appropriate will hereafter bring it up to view. The single point on which I would now insist, is the infinite condescension of Christ.

This glorious person humbles himself to behold the things which are done under the sun.' How much more when he came from his high and holy place' to dwell beneath that sun, and take up his residence on his footstool! All this, however, he was pleased to do. He emptied himself, took upon himself the form of a servant, and was born in the likeness of men.'

What were the views which angels formed of this new and astonishing event? Easily may we imagine, that all heaven was lost in wonder, and buried in silence, to behold this transition from infinite glory to supreme humiliation, from the throne of the universe to a tenement of clay. How instinctively ought we, uniting with angels in the same views and the same emotions, to behold, wonder, and adore!

2. What a pattern of condescension is here set before us for our imitation. St. Paul makes this practical use of the doctrine under consideration. Let the same mind be in you,' says he to the Philippians, which was also in Christ.'

Condescension is here enforced on the race of man with an authority and example literally infinite. The divine wisdom dictated the condescension of Christ, and the divine goodness carried it into exe"

cution. In it we see the manner in which the inf nite mind is pleased to act, and which boundless excellence approves and loves. This, then, is a character and conduct to which we are urged by the highest of all considerations, the approbation and example of God. Would we, then, be like God; would we be perfect as he is perfect;' would we obtain his approbation; would we inherit the blessings which he confers on those who are approved by bim; would we become really excellent and lovely; we shall give all diligence,' that the same mind may be in us which was also in Christ.' We shall condescend to men of low degree;' be 'meek and lowly of heart' be satisfied with humble stations, offices, and employments; and feel that no human interest is beneath our notice, and no human business unfit for us to perform, when we are called to perform it, and when others by the performance can be relieved, disposed to virtue, or made happy.

But how different is the usual conduct and the prevailing character of man! All men sigh to be rich, and none are contented with humble circumstances. All men pant to be great, and none are satisfied with a lowly condition. The rich despise the poor, the great trample on the small.

When

we become rich, we sigh for additional riches. When we become great, we toil, and watch, and weary ourselves through life, to become greater. All beneath us in these mere accidents, we overlook, contemn, insult, and style the dirt and scum of the earth.

Christ, on the contrary, became, voluntarily. not only a man, but a poor man, a lowly man, the son of a carpenter, humble in his station, without place, or power, or wealth, and perfectly satisfied to be without them all. His friends, his disciples, his apostles, were selected from the poor and lowly; and he alleged it as one unanswerable proof of his Messiahship, that by him the poor had the gospel preached unto them." This was the character of him whom angels worship, and whom the universe obeys.

Christ descended to these lowly men, and to these humble circumstances, from the throne of the heavens. Shall not we, then, be willing to let ourselves down from the side, or even the summit of our mole. hill, to visit our fellow-emmets at the bottom? How small the descent at the utmost! How silly, how base, how contradictory to common sense, the pride which refuses to make it!

Often, very often, the men whom we despise as greatly beneath us, are better, wiser, and more excellent in the sight of God than ourselves. Always we are odious to him, and contemptible in the eye of reason, for this very pride. Let every proud man then feel, that for this very character which he so fondly cherishes, he is hateful in the sight of God, and justly contemptible in that of men; that the haracter which he despises is the very character in which Christ chose to appear; and that the men whom he treats with abuse and insolence, are of that very class out of which Christ selected his friends and apostles.

VOL. II.

SERMON XLIII.

COVENANT OF REDEMPTION.

When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.— ISA. liii. 10-12.

If his soul shall make a propiliatory sacrifice, he shall see a seed, which shall prolong their days; and the gracious purpose of Jehovah shall prosper in his hands. Of the travail of his soul he shall see (the fruit) and be satisfied by the knowledge of him shall my servant justify many; for the punishment of their iniquities he shall bear. Therefore will I distribute to him the many for his portion; and the mighty people shall he share for his spoil; because he poured out kis soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many; and made intercession for the transgressors.-LowTH.

In the first chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul declares, that God hath chosen us in Christ, before the foundation of the world; having predestinated us to the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ, to himself; according to the good pleasure of his will; to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.'

The manner in which the transaction took place,