reason why Ministers of the Gospel preach to sinners who are dead in sin, is the command of the Lord; and that their success, as instruments, wholly depends upon the pleasure and the power of the Almighty.-To young Ministers especially, I beg leave to recommend an attentive perusal of this very striking parable, as giving them, in my opinion, the best model for preaching to sinners. First describe the exposed, wretched, helpless, lost state of sinners; then tell them not what they may or can do, but what the Lord is able to perform in their favour for their restoration and salvation, as did Ezekiel to the dry bones. Like him, begin this work in communion with God: go forth with boldness in his name; address sinners as rational, though lost creatures; and then wait, as did the prophet, for the Lord to crown your labour with success, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Thus, you will glorify God in your ministry, and be happy in yourselves. Those who were raised to life under the ministry of Ezekiel, must have honoured the instrument for the greatness of the work; and if you have derived advantage from the Ministers of Christ, you also will esteem them for their work sake.-Let me finally exhort you to trust to the Lord for the completion of his work with you. He who raised you from sin, will preserve you through life, deliver you from the grave in the morning of the resurrection, when this parable shall receive its final comple tion, and then conduct you to glory, where you will sing the praise of his grace for ever and ever.

LECTURE XLIII.

CHRIST THE BEARER OF HIS PEOPLE.

ISAIAH xlvi. 4.

To your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you.

IT is an indisputable fact, that mankind are so absorbed

in sin and in affliction, that unless some one competent to the task bear them up, in this life, and deliver them from the wrath to come, they must inevitably perish. Such an interposing, all-sufficient friend, nature nor reason could possibly produce. But the Bible points us to Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, as the BEARER of the PERSONS, the NAMES, the GUILT, and the INFIRMITIES of his people. By so doing, he takes them up, carries them through life, and lands them safe in everlasting bliss. So far as the Spirit shall assist, I will in this lec ture lead you to contemplate Jesus as the BEARER of our souls, with all their important concerns. I sincerely wish it may be a mean to establish your faith, and raise your hope of immortality.

1. Jesus is the BEARER of the PERSONS of his PEOPLE. The first man Adam bear his wife Eve in his own body, before she had a visible existence; and, God's

charge to Adam, to be fruitful and multiply, was given to him when as yet his wife was not actually formed. From the history of creation it may, therefore, be truly said, Adam bear his wife in his own body. Now, the Gospel informs us, that Adam was a figure of him that was to come, and that Christ is the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. Adam was first in the world of nature: Christ is first in the world of grace. The spouse of this second Adam is his Church, chosen in him before the foundation of the world. And as certainly as Adam bore the elect rib in his natural body, so surely doth Christ bear his elect spouse in his own person; who is, therefore, said to be flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone. This subject is not named to you as a matter of indifference. It is of the highest importance. This very union between Christ and his Church is the foundation of redemption and grace: for, as Adam suffered justly for the sin of his wife, so Christ became responsible, and suffered for the sins of his bride. That Christ bears the persons of his people, is also taught us under two of the most expressive emblems.-Christ is the foundation laid in Zion, on which rests the whole superstructure of the Church, with all its vast and various concerns for time and eternity; and when the building is complete, the top-stone shall be brought forth with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it!—The vine bears the branches, and is the cause of their existence, preservation, and fruitfulness. And, who that ever read the 15th chapter of John, but must clearly see, that Christ, the true Vine, bears his people, who are his branches, that they may bear fruit unto eternal life! Both these emblems teach the precious truth, of Christ bearing his people. What is the building without a foundation? or what is the

branch, if separated from the vine? May that adorable Spirit, who is the bond of union with Christ, make you enjoy the comfort of being built upon Christ, the lifegiving rock; and, as branches of the true vine, make you abundantly fruitful!

2. Jesus bears the NAMES of his people. They are written in the Lamb's book of life. By this we may assuredly conclude, their persons, birth, course of life, death, and e eternal happiness, are made more certain than engraven upon mountains of brass. Ihave called thee by thy name, thou art mine, saith the Lord. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. The Lord Jesus, therefore, can never mistake the objects of his love, nor regenerate one man ins stead of another. No blessing, nor even a cross of afflic tion intended for one can possibly fall upon another. While this affords a consoling argument for those who have found grace in the sight of God, that their names are written in heaven, it should equally reconcile them to all the paths of life, however afflictive; for, the Lord is too wise to be mistaken, and too good to be unkind. How charmingly was the Hebrew nation taught this truth, when they beheld Aaron, their high Priest, bearing their names upon his breast-plate, and upon his shoulders, for a memorial before the Lord! And with what greater joy may every real Christian look to Jesus, the GREAT HIGH PRIEST of our profession, who has engraven the names of his people upon the palms of his hands, and who appears in the presence of God for us!

3. What is still more important for us to know is, that Jesus is the SIN-BEARER of his people. It is an indisputable fact, arising from the justice of God, as well as from reason, that man, as a sinner, must bear the demerit of his Ee

own crimes, or a substitute must advance in his favour. There is no possibility of a middle state. The office of Jesus as a sin-bearer, is therefore as necessary as it is beneficial, and certainly makes a material part of the Gospel. The council of Jehovah decreed, My righteous servant shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. He shall bear the sin of many.-Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. If it be asked, How Christ became chargeable with our guilt? We reply, Not only as Christ is the Head, and justly smitten for the trespass of the members of his body; and as he is the Bridegroom, and so responsible for the debts of his bride: but, we are informed, the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. This transfer, making over, or imputing the sins of many to Jesus, is an act of God's sovereign grace; and as Jesus, God-man, had an infinity of merit, the transaction was equally righteous. Christ bore the guilt, the sense, and the punishment of all the sins of those for whom he died. The natural consequence of which is, the certainty of their justification, pardon, and eternal freedom. Thus, he hath born our griefs, ànd carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, and was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. He was delivered for our offences, and arose again for our justification. This is the rock of salvation, the only foundation on which we can possibly stand before God, and raise the superstructure of our hope for immortality. Christ bore our guilt, and we bear the robe of his immaculate righteousness. He carried our sorrows, and therefore our guilty breasts bear the blessings of full pardon and divine peace! Since this:

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