The epithet, I AM, Christ peculiarly applies to himself. He said to Moses, "I AM THAT 'I AM; and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto 'the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto 'you." This epithet implies absolute independent existence; all duration present with him, ever the same. Thus he says, (John vIII.) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham 'was, I am." Not, I was; but, I am. The succession of ages is always the same before him. Of a similar import is his last memorable promise, "Lo, I am with you alway."

2. Another of the attributes of Christ is self-existence. This necessarily belongs to his eternity. If he exists without a beginning, it must, of course, be without a cause; and he must be self-existent. It is said of him by the apostle Paul, "He is before all things, and by him all 'things consist.". All things exist by him, but he exists, uncaused, from the necessity of his

nature.

The terms Jehovah, and I am, which are freqnently applied to Christ, meaning simple, independent being, clearly show him to be self

existent.

The self-existence of the Saviour is forcibly declared in our text. "In him was life; and 'the life was the light of men." To him be longs life, inherently, necessarily, an essential part of his nature. This cannot be affirmed,

truly, of any created beings. All life possessed by them is derived and dependent. Depend

ing for its continuance on the power from which it is received. If the supporting power of the Creator were to be taken from created beings, any moment, they would sink, at once, into non-existence.-Not such is the Saviour of men. "In him was life." Essential to-his character, and always in him. "And the life 'was the light of men." Light always flows from the sun, as a fountain, enlightening the system with which it is surrounded. The life of Christ is the light of the world, constantly shedding forth beams of blessedness.

The scriptures ascribe to Christ the work of creation, in the fullest manner. The text says, "All things were made by him." He that made all things that are made, must himself be unmade; that is, self-existent.

3. The Lord Jesus is declared to be immutable. This seems to follow, necessarily, from his self-existence. A being that is self-existent, that has existed from eternity, must be independent of all other existence, and no cause can be conceived that he should ever be subject to any change. The being by whom all others exist, cannot be disappointed in any of his purposes, and no reason appears that there should ever be any change of his purposes or character. In conformity with such a view of the divine being, immutability is expressly ascribed to Christ. Heb. 1. 8. "Jesus Christ the 'same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." He is here contemplated as past, present, and

future, comprehendiug all duration, and, in the whole he changes not.

Ps. CII. “ Of old hast thou laid the founda'tion of the earth; and the heavens are the 'work of thy hands. They shall perish, but 'thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shalt wax 'old like a garment; as a vesture shall thou 'change them, and they shall be changed. But 'thou art the same, and thy years shall have no 'end." This passage is quoted in the first chapter of the Hebrews, and declared by the apostle to be spoken of Christ. The comparison made use of by the inspired writer is very strong. If there be any thing in creation that is unchanging, it is the earth and the heavens. While all the tribes of men are constantly subject to revolution and change, the earth on which we tread, and the visible heavens that are above us, remain unchanged. Noah, and Abraham, and Paul, and the people of our times, have seen the sun revolve in the heavens in the same regular course, they have witnessed the same changes of the seasons, they have beheld the earth bringing forth the same productions for the supply of man and beast, and they have witnessed the same general character in all created objects within their view. Yet, all these shall perish, they all shall grow old as a garment, they shall be folded up like a vesture and laid aside, while Jesus their maker shall endure forever. The Saviour says by the prophet Malachi, "For I

"am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons 'of Jacob are not consumed."

The immutability of Christ is forcibly exhibited in his great work of atonement for sinners. If any thing could have induced him to change his purpose, it would seem the obstacles, the difficulties, the discouragements, which he encountered would have done it. "He came to his own, and his own received him 'not." By the people of his own kindred, according to the flesh, long enlightened by the prophets of God, he was rejected and abused; by sinners, whom he suffered to redeem, he was hated and put to death; by his own visible friends, his intimates and companions, with whom he took sweet counsel, he was forsaken, denied, and betrayed. But none of these things moved him; he ceased not to labour and suffer, bearing the reproach, despising the shame, till his work was finished. When Judas and his band came to apprehend the Saviour, Peter drew his sword, for the defence of his Lord, "and struck a servant of the high 'priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Je

'sus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his 'place. Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to 'my Father, and he shall presently send me 'more than twelve legions of angels? But how 'then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus 'it must be ?" With infinite ease, he could have escaped from the hands of his enemies; but neither their rage and cruelty, nor the

overwhelming terrors of Gethsemane, nor the agonies of the cross, could change his purpose, or change his mind, till a door of mercy was opened in heaven, pardoning grace proclaimed to a guilty world. Whenever you behold the Saviour, whether calling the heavens and the earth into being, or giving the law from the hill of Sinai, or stilling the tempest with his word, or bearing his cross up the hill of Calvary, or blessing the affectionate disciples of Galilee and rising out of their sight in the clouds of heaven, or summoning the universe to his bar of judgment, he is the same perfect, humble, exalted Emmanuel.

4. The scriptures ascribe to Christ the attribute of omnipotence. To refer to à passage already noticed, Christ says, (Rev. 1.) “ I am 'Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end'ing, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, 'and which is to come, the Almighty."--Ps. XLV. 3. "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O 'most Mighty." These words are addressed, immediately, to Christ. Most mighty must be of the same import as almighty.-Gen. XVII. "And when Abraham was ninety years old and 'nine, the Lord appeared to Abraham, and said 'unto him, I am the almighty God; walk be'fore me, and be thou perfect, and I will make 'my covenant between me and thee; and will 'multiply thee exceedingly." He that enters into covenant with his people, is Christ. And we have before seen that it was Christ that

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