tions" in this life, and after this life in a future state: what a history, what an astonishing history is this! "What think ye of Christ?" What think you of a mind that could plan, a power that could execute, and a heart that could bestow such a present as this? "Who hath ascended up into heaven? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his Son's name; canst thou tell?"

It was prophesied of Christ, that "a seed should serve him," which should "be accounted to the Lord for a generation;" that "his kingdom should be exalted higher than that of Agag;" that he should be "higher than the kings of the earth;" that "all kings should serve him, and all nations call him blessed, as long as the sun and the moon endure." As a proper foundation for all this power and honour, an absolute perfection is ascribed to him, and the homage paid to him is both for his own personal excellence, and for the benefits which we derive from it. Do all nations call him blessed? It is because in his days the righteous flourish in abundance of peace;" because "he redeems the souls of the poor and needy from deceit and violence ;" and esteems their "blood precious in his sight."

The perfection, which we ascribe to Jesus Christ, is not like that which is attributed to men or angels; but is to be understood both absolutely and relatively. I will explain myself. Jesus was absolutely perfect and complete in all the senses of his body and in all the faculties of his mind, so that without any relation to us he would have been the most complete person in the universe: this I call absolute perfection. This perfect person, by undertaking a public trust, and by executing the office of a Mediator between God and men, became related to mankind, and to all the events that happen in this world; and by relative perfection, I mean all the powers, privileges, and qualities necessary to the regulation of all affairs in discharge of the high trust committed to him by the Father. "What think ye of Christ?" Is any other person possessed of such a perfect "spirit of wisdom and understanding," such a "spirit of counsel and might," such a "spirit of knowledge and of

the fear of the Lord?" Can any compare with him for "judging with righteousness, arguing with equity, and slaying the wicked with the breath of his lips ?" "Whose son is he," that tames the tempers of wolves, lions, and leopards, so that lambs and kids may lie down with them, and a little child lead them?" These are the perfections of "a branch out of the stem of Jesse," a son of the decayed family of David, a root out of that dry ground, Judea.

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And now, my brethren, what honour shall be conferred on this son of David? God, the just rewarder of merit, hath conferred the highest honours upon him. A long train of prophets came first in the procession of our King, and foretold his approach. The ceremonies of the Jewish religion were drafts and pattern of him. At his coming, a new star appeared to wise men, angels came down to join with shepherds in singing his praise ; his mother and his family, and even the hoary Simeon and Anna, were inspired to compose hymns in his praise. During his life, the whole world felt his presence, winds and waves, the stubborn ass, the wary fish, the diseases and vices of men obeyed his word, and Death yielded up his prey. When he quitted the world an eclipse, an earthquake, and a resurrection of the dead published the news. Him God raised from the dead, and him he shewed openly, having spoiled principalities and powers, and publicly triumphing over them. Now that he is ascended to heaven, and set down at the right hand of God, he receives all possible honour, and will come again to raise the dead, to judge the world in the glory of his Father and of his holy angels. "What think ye of Christ?" Doth he not deserve all these honours? Was ever power more nobly employed than in raising him to all this dignity, a dignity never abused by him, never perverted to an unjust or an unkind purpose, but always employed for the benefit of the wretched?" What think ye of Christ ?" Do you consent to his ascending the throne, and being "crowned with glory and honour?" The day is fixed for his coronation, and then on his head will be many crowns. Even the most glorious creatures, who have deserved best of their fellow

creatures, will "cast their crowns before his throne,' saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour!" There will be no apostle weeping, because no man of merit can be found, but all will exclaim, "Behold the man! Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him!"

For my part, when I consider the little projects of the proudest of mankind, and the tawdry pomp of the most elevated mortal, I see nothing but a tiny scheme of glossy wretchedness; and when I compare this with the wisdom and power of God manifested in Christ at the last day, I pity and weep over the folly of my little fellow-creatures. Poor Haman! Is this honour, to ride on the horse of a king in royal apparel through the streets of a little city. Simple Ahasuerus! What are "white, and green, and blue hangings," what are "silver rings, and pillars of marble;" what are "beds of gold and silver;" what are "pavements of red and black" polish; what are your "hundred and twenty-seven provinces," and your "feasts of a hundred and four-score days," compared with the everlasting happiness of the court of the Son of David! With what unspeakable pleasure will Christ survey the innumerable multitude, which he shall have plucked from the jaws of destruction! With what eyes will all his followers behold such a benefactor! How sincerely will many a soul exclaim, "I had not thought to see thy face; and lo, God hath shewed me thy family also." Then should any disciple of Christ summon the company to answer the questions in the text, "What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?" then you would hear an answer in "unspeakable words, which it is not possible for a man in this life to utter."

Brethren, send me away to-night with a blessing. Let me return with that high reward of my labour, the joy of hoping that I have not been speaking to the deaf and the dead. There is a set of men, who "are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear," and would "not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming ever so wisely." Such as they, are of no party; they hate the very forms of religion, and would not give even an

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apostle a hearing. You are not of this sort, you are willing to hear even me lisp on the subject of religion. I love you, it is all the qualification I have to preach to you but this love, like that of the mother for her child, wakes my grief, and rouses up ten thousand fears. I fear, you should not be found when "the Lord shall count, and write up his people." I can with pleasure "make mention of Rahab and Babylon;" I can say with a heart full of satisfaction, "Behold, this and that man was born in Zion;" but you, what can I say of you? Alas! "Joseph is not, and Simeon is not; all these things are against me."

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True, you are not of those serpents that refuse to hear; but yet "the poison of adders is under your lips," and "with your tongues you use deceit." True, your mouth is not "full of cursing and bitterness;" but yet "there is no fear of God before your eyes." Your feet are not swift to shed blood;" but yet "destruction and misery are in your idle ways." Your throat is not an open sepulchre ;" but yet you are gone out of the way, and become unprofitable." Let us put the matter to proof. "What think ye of Christ ?" What do you think of the doctrine he taught? Have you examined, and do you believe it? What do you think of the blood he shed? Have you examined sin, your own sin, which caused the shedding of that precious blood? What think you of the laws he gave his disciples to "love their enemies," to "shine as lights in the world," to "pluck out a right eye," to be "perfect as their Father which is in heaven is perfect?" Do you approve of these laws, and make them the standing rules of your actions? What think you of the Jews insulting Christ? Are you a Jew, do you justify them by imitating their example? What think you of the honour done to Christ by his Father, and by all good men? Are you an enemy to good men of every nation, and to a good God, who giveth you"life, and breath, and all things ?" Search and see. Recollect, there is a glory of Christ, which I have not yet mentioned, that is, the glory of his justice in punishing the wicked at the last day. For the present you may go on; you need not take thought, say

ing, What ought I to think of Christ: you may lay this aside, and spend all your life in putting and answering other questions, as, "What shall I eat? What shall I drink? or wherewithal shall I be clothed?" and you need not blush for being singular, for "after all these things did the Gentiles seek," who like you were "without Christ, having no hope, and being without God in the world :" but, recollect, after you have set all these things in your hearts instead of God, the slighted Saviour will 66 come with clouds, and every eye shall see him;" the Jews "who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth," who rejected him, shall "wail because of him." And in that sad day, when trouble and anguish shall come upon you, what will all the friends of Christ say of your case? They will say, "Even so, Amen!" Miserable man! See the "great white throne and him that sits on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven flee away." See "the dead, small and great, stand before God, the books opened, and the dead judged according to their works." Behold "the sea giving up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivering up the dead which were in them." See, "whosoever is not found written in the book of life, is cast into the lake of fire, cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." I do not ask what the condemned will think of Christ then, for love of self will triumph over love of justice; but I ask the "people in heaven," and they reply, "True and righteous are his judgments." Now I ask you, what think you of that Christ, who is both able and willing to deliver you from all this punishment, and from all fear of suffering it? O sweet and comfortable declaration! "This man, because he continueth ever, is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them!" How well doth "such an high priest become us!" How much doth he deserve the first and finest emotions of my soul! Not "think of Christ!" That would be wretchedness complete! What have I to think of beside? Pain in my body, guilt in my mind, the malice of my enemies, the treachery of my friends, disappointment of my hopes, vanity and vex