We have the fame Lord and head; the fame Redeemer and Saviour; and applying by faith to him, may hope for the fame falvation which they found who tried and trufted him here, and are now, gone to be with him above.

To open this, and prepare it for ufe, I fhall confider,

I. What Chrift is in himself?

II. What his people have found him to be to them?

III. That with refpect to both thefe, it may be faid of him, Thou art the fame, and thy years fall not fail.

I. Let us confider, what Chrift is in himself; and this as to his perfon and office?

1. As to his perfon, He is the eternal Son of God---the fecond perfon in the glorious Trinity-who had a being, and a very glorious one, before he appeared in our world, even from everlasting. Johni. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2. As to his office, He is mediator between God and man---fitted for it, by affuming our nature into a perfonal union with the divine, that as God and man in one perfon he might tranfact with both. Tho' he was not incarnate till the fulness of time; the office of mediator was what he was early appointed to, and consented to undertake; and fo he fpeaks of himself as fet up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. Prov. viii. 23.

› When man had finned, and loft himself, and needed a Redeemer, he is promifed as the feed of the woman; and, in the feafon fixed, the word

is made flesh, and appeared amongst men, by his obedience and fuffering to accomplish our redemption which he had undertaken, and all aThis is be that should

long been carrying on, come, and no other is to be looked for: The mercy promifed to the fathers, and now exhibited: HE for whofe fake Old- teftament believers were received to heaven, (upon account of his facrifice defigned) and as he is now made perfect through fuffering, and entred with his own blood into the most holy place, he keeps open the way for all that are to follow.

This is HE that Jacob acknowledges as the angel that redeemed him from all evil; whom Job ftiles bis Redeemer, and trufted as fuch ;---whose day Abraham rejoiced to fee, and ke Jaw it ;--who at length came forth from the father, and came into the world; and having by dying finished our redemption, has again left the world, and is gone unto the father; and now ever lives to make interceffion, to fave to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.

Thus as to perfon and office, Jefus Chrift is the Son of God and Mediator.

II. Let us fee, what his people have found him to be unto them. And here,

(1.) 'Twas Chrift that, in the day of his power, awakened all that are faved to a deep fenfe of their loft and miferable ftate; let an uncommon light into the mind, difcovering both their guilt and danger, and making them cry out in earnest, as a man perishing, What shall I dɔ to be faved? Whither fhall 1 fly from the wrath to come? O my foul, which way can I kok, but guilt h 2

ftares

ftares me in the face? And, who can bear the thoughts of that death that is the wages of fin? How fearful a thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God? How liable am 1 to do fo? But, alas, who can dwell with devouring fire? Who can endure everlasting burnings? Ŏ the fin I have committed! the wrath I have deferved! How shall I get the pardon of the one, or escape the other? I cannot live in fuch a cafe as this: But how much more dreadful to die unpardoned, and fo to pass into a miferable eternity? To fuch a fense of their being loft, has Chrift brought those whom he came on purpose to feek and to fave. Nor has he ftopt here, but kindled in them a restless defire of being delivered, and put them upon endeavours after it, and made them willing to be faved by him in the gospel-way.

2. Upon their applying to him, as the refult of this; how unworthy or full of fears foever, they found him ready to receive: That he remember'd his word on which he caused them to hope, and was faithful to it, that him that cometh to him he would in no wife caft out.

When ready to fink under the burden of fin, and apprehenfions of the divine wrath, they caft themselves at his feet, refolving, if they perifhed, they would die there, and did not know but they might--- O how kindly were they received! How freely forgiven! With what wonder filled, at the hearty welcome vouchfafed; the treatment they met with! Inftead of upbraiding them with what they had been, or done, or were; he tenderly bound up their wounds ; eafed their pains; calm'd their confciences; gave

them reafon to believe that he was a merciful and faithful high priest, most worthy to be loved and trufted, and that none that did fo fhould ever be left ashamed.

to

gave

3. Thus paffing into the number of his members, from this time forward, he hath dealt most graciously with them during their stay upon earth ;---washing off their fins in his blood fubduing their corruptions by his fpirit ;---furnishing them with grace fufficient against the powers of darkness ;---teaching and enabling them and then pray, them anfwers of peace to what he taught them to afk ;---admitting them to intimate communion with him, and in a peculiar manner manifefting himself to them. He has affifted them in their work; fupported them under their burdens; accompanied them through all the turns of life, and safely guided them by his counsel even unto death. Thus having loved his own, he loveth them to the end !

4. At death he received their departing fpirits to be with him in glory; and has given them fecurity that he will watch over their bodies in the grave, and raise and bring all his people to be intirely with him at the great day,

As a pledge of this, Enoch and Elias are already with him, and perhaps the bodies of those faints that came forth out of their graves at his refurrection, and went into the holy city, appearing unto many.

However, the perfected spirits of the just make up a glorious company; every one of which were by Chrift prepared for heaven, and at their leaving their bodies conducted to the manfions he

h3

went

went before to make ready, bidding them welcome to all the bleffednefs of that world, and fixing them in it, as what they fhall enjoy for This is what believers have found Chrift has been to them, and done for them who are gone before.

ever.

III. As to all this, the text is applicable to him: Thou art the fame, and thy years shall not fail.

He is the fame in himself, as to his person and office, God in our nature, the great Immanuel, and fo the only mediator between God and

man,

The fame as to his intereft in his father, and acceptance with him: The beloved in whom he is always well pleased.

And with refpect to us, the fame as to his abi lity and willingness to fave: Neither is there falvation in any other ; nor need we look to any

him.

but

The fatisfaction he hath made by his death, is full and compleat, as it was not the death of a mere man, but of the fon of God, which he is now declared to be with power in his refurrection from the dead. His death and fufferings will never be forgotten; nor the virtue and efficacy of them ever fail. He appears in the midst of the throne, as the lamb that has been flain, and answers all the demands of juftice, by fhewing the print of his wounds. The dignity of his perfon put a value on his fufferings; the weight of which, with his willingness to fuffer, prove him perfected by it in order to fave.

He