Rev. xxi. 23.)

They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Is. xxxv. 10.)

O that we may be found, now, among them that fear his name, and so be an acceptable people, in his sight, when he shall arise with healing in his wings! It is a glorious promise that is given to such by himself,-They shall be like him,-like that Sun of righteousness, -in glory.

Then shall THE RIGHTEOUS shine forth, As THE SUN, in the kingdom of their Father."

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SERMON XX.

AN UNCHANGING SAVIOUR.

HEBREWS xiii. 8.

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

THE apostle, in the preceding verse, is exhorting the Hebrew Christians to a godly remembrance of their rulers, or pastors, (Twv yovμévwv uv,) who had spoken unto them the word of God, but were now (it appears) removed from them,-probably, by death. The exhortation, to remember them, clearly marks that they were not then present with them, when the apostle wrote. They are described, also, not as then speaking, but as having spoken to them the word of God; and, further, the apostle points to "the end,” or issue, (έκβασιν,) of their conversation," and exhorts these believers, in the contemplation of it, to follow the faith for which they had been emi

nent. Bear in mind, saith he, how those holy men lived and died, finishing their course with joy. See how they set their seal, in death, to the truths which they had witnessed to, in life. Contemplate, frequently, their bright and encouraging example, that you may learn to walk in their footsteps; to be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Ch. vi. 12.) Then follow the words of my text, which are not to be connected with the foregoing, (according to the common punctuation,) as if the apostle would say, that Jesus Christ was the end of their conversation,—but they form a separate, and independent sentence, conveying a general truth, admirably calculated to support the faith, and encourage the efforts of God's people, in their course heavenward. "Jesus Christ, yesterday, to day, and for ever, is the same." " Still, though the words be not immediately, and grammatically, connected with the preceding, it is clear, the previous exhortation suggested, and gave occasion to them. Perhaps, some painful changes which had occurred, by the removal of earthly pastors, led him to console and cheer their minds, with the recollection of One who can never change, never be removed. Or, it may be, having pointed them to the example of those who had been eminent, among them, for faith and a holy conver

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sation, and had now closed their career, he reminds them, herein, of the source of all grace,of one, equally ready now, as he ever was, to help his faithful followers, and bring them, safely, through all their conflicts. You have seen what Jesus has been, to those who are now gone from you, into their rest. Well, he is, yesterday, to day, and for ever, the same. What he was to them, he is, and will be, to you. He is" the same" in his own nature, and, therefore," the same," in his love to sinners, in his covenant purposes of grace, in his readiness to meet every desire, and satisfy every necessity, of those who wait on him, " yesterday, to day, and for ever.'

Glorious and blessed truth! O that we may be led, by the Spirit, into some saving, comforting apprehension and belief of it! that we may triumph in the sweet encouragement which is here given us, to walk in the footsteps of the flock, because the same Jesus is our Shepherd; just as gracious, as faithful, as all-sufficient, as they found him who are already entered, before us, into the heavenly fold.

We are to contemplate, then, for our encouragement and joy of faith, an unchanged, unchangeable Saviour," Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." He

is so,

I. In his own nature and hence it follows, that he is so,

II. In all his dispositions, purposes, and dealings, toward his believing people.

I. In his own nature.

Herein he is "THE SAME, yesterday, and to day, and for ever." The term is one expressly selected by God, in the Old Testament, to set forth his own proper Deity. It occurs in the 102nd Psalm, which is applied, by our apostle, in the first chapter of this epistle, to Christ. "As a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art THE SAME, (literally, thou art HE, AN LXX. ó avròs,) NON and thy years shall not fail." (Ch. i. 12.) By this identical name does Jehovah describe himself to Israel, (Is. xlviii. 12.) "Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel, my called. I am He, (or, I am the same, for the word is one, in both passages, ) I am the first, I also am the last." Thus this term, "the same," is, evidently, a name of Jehovah, expressing the essential, incommunicable glory of the Divine nature : of him who was, and is, and is to come; " with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning;" but who has been, is, and shall be, ever one and the same Jehovah, complete, and therefore unalterable, in all perfection, duration, and