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provoked God to wrath. Incensed justice, as it were, seizes him, binds him, as was Isaac, and lifts the knife, to strike the blow. In this situation, no prayers, no tears, nor any thing the sinner can do, will avail. "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not.' Christ, being made a priest, now, by virtue of his office, pleads for the sinner, and offers, in his stead, to suffer what divine justice was about to inflict upon him. Justice accepts of the Lamb of the Lord's providing-the Lord Jesus Christ-and sets the sinner free, but slays the sacrifice. Between God and the

sinner there is now reconciliation. The victim has suffered, and the charge against the sinner is removed. This sacrifice, being of infinitely more value than the sinner, purchases for him many favours, which his HighPriest takes care to have bestowed upon him; that is, he intercedes for him, taking care, if we may so speak, that he may receive all the blessings purchased by the sacrifice.

Third. The Lord Jesus Christ is also a king. He was foretold as such in prophecy. "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." The angel that appeared to Mary thus spoke of him: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord

God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." He calls himself a king. "My kingdom," says he, "is not of this world." And for his adherence to

this, the Jews crucified him.

In regard to his kingly office, I have room only for a few hints, such as suit our present purpose.-First. In virtue of this office he has power to enact all the laws which are necessary for the good of his subjects.-Second. He has power to reduce to obedience all who belong to his kingdom. "The Lord said unto my Lord thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." If they rebel, he can bring them into subjection.-Third. He can protect them against all their enemies. "The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us."Fourth. He has power to conquer all his enemies. "He must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet." He can subdue all things unto himself. "According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." He is "head over all things to the church.”

And whatever is needful for the church he will

supply.

III. In Christ the convinced sinner

may find relief against a threefold evil. First. He finds himself extremely ignorant, as to the mind and will of God. He knows not what to do. To sit still is ruinous; and if he move, it may be in the wrong direction. In this difficulty he may find relief in Christ's prophetical office; for in virtue of this office, the sinner is translated out of darkness into marvellous light. Whether there were purposes of mercy and grace or not, in the divine mind, it could not have been known, had not Christ revealed it. "No man hath seen God at any time: the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Second. The awakened sinner is burdened with guilt, against which nothing but Christ's priestly office can afford relief. For there is no way of purging the conscience from dead works, but by the application of the blood of Christ, who, "through the eternal Spirit," offered himself for this very purpose. Third. In Christ there is a relief from the power of sin. Sin insults and enslaves the sinner; and he cannot break away from its merciless dominion, but in the strength of Christ.

IV. The Lord Jesus Christ is one in whom the doubting sinner finds a threefold tormenting scruple removed. First. When the sinner begins to feel the burden of his sins, he asks where he can find one able to undertake for him. He sees mountains in his way, which he cannot remove. He knows no one in heaven or earth, to whom he may apply for relief. If man were willing, his strength is wholly incompetent. In Christ he finds the needed strength. "I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people." He is the Lord in whom is everlasting strength. Second. When the sinner hears of one able to relieve him, he still may doubt whether that ability will be employed in his behalf. Many, when Christ was on earth, came to him to be healed of diseases, without doubting his ability to heal them, but fearing that he would not be willing. The leper cried, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Now, in the scriptural view of Christ our King, this difficulty is removed. As he is the Lord, mighty to save, having all power in heaven and in earth; so he is Jesus, willing to save, designing to employ his power for this end. Third. There may still be another doubt in the mind of a

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sinner; he may fear the Father's unwillingness to grant the Son a suitable commission for his work. But his fears on this ground may soon be removed; for Christ is one whom the Father has sealed, anointed, and set apart for that very work. He is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased, and who has power to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him.

V. Christ removes a threefold obstruction to the sinner's salvation, arising from the character and attributes of God. First. Justice declared that the sinner was worthy of death. But he is now able to answer, "In Christ I have suffered the penalty." Second. Holiness declares that nothing impure shall have admittance. But Christ answers, I have power to purge them by the Spirit. Third. But it still remains to show this to the sinner. Christ, therefore, becomes the messenger to impart the welcome news, that all these obstacles are removed.

VI. Christ furnishes the sinner with a threefold defence against his adversaries. First. Satan charges him with things which he cannot deny; but Christ furnishes an answer to them all. Second. Satan lays deep plots against him, which he cannot discover; but

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