Perfon of infinite Dignity, the only begotten of the Father, in whom he is always well pleafed; On the other Hand, he is intimately united to us, and of great Tenderness towards us, as being Partaker of our Flesh and Blood. His being really Man fitted him for teaching and instructing us in a Way fuited to our Capacities, and for being a proper Example and Pattern for us to imitate. It qualified him for the Obedience he yielded, and for the Sufferings he endured on our Behalf, and rendered him both capable of dying for us, and of being raised from the Dead, and thereby exhibiting a vifible Proof and Pledge of our own Refurrection to immortal Blifs. It fitted him for being a proper High Priest for us, touched with a Feeling of our Infirmities; and for appearing as an Advocate and Interceffor on our Behalf in the heavenly Sunctuary. And, finally, this rendereth his Exaltation a Source of Confolation and Joy: For what a Comfort must it be to reflect, that he who affumed our Nature, and is therefore fo nearly related to us, is now exalted at the right Hand of the Majesty on high, and is made Head over all Things to his Church; that he hath an univerfal Kingdom and Sovereignty com

mittted

mitted to him, and fhall at length be our final Judge! Juftly therefore doth the Apoftle lay a fpecial Emphafis upon this, that, as there is one God, fo there is one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Chrift Jefus. i Tim. ii. 5. because, if he were not truly and properly Man, he could not be fuch a Mediator as our Cafe required. But, on the other Hand, his being not a mere dignified Man, but the eternal Son of God, the Brightness of the Father's Glory, and the exprefs Image of his Perfon, in whom dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily, gives us the highest Affurance of his being able to accomplish the great Work of our Redemption and Salvation. It is this that deriveth a mighty Weight and Authority to the Inftructions he hath given, and the Laws he hath prefcribed, and adds a wonderful Force and Beauty to the Example he hath fet before us. This gives an unparalleled Merit and Dignity to his Obedience, and the Sacrifice he has offered on our Behalf, and renders his Mediation and Interceffion of the higheft Efficacy and Prevalency. It is this that qualifies him for his univerfal Headship, and for exercifing a glorious. Sovereignty over Angels and Men, for raifing the Dead and judging the World.

In Sum, it is this which rendereth him a proper Object of our Confidence and Truft, a complete and all-fufficient Saviour, able to fulfil his own glorious Promises, and to be the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him. What a ftable Foundation for Rejoicing is this, that we have fuch a Mediator provided for us, who hath the Power and Sufficiency of God in Conjunction with the Tenderness and Compaffions of the human Nature!

From this general Confideration of the Incarnation of the Son of God, let us proceed more particularly to confider what he hath done in Confequence of it, for carrying on the glorious Work of our Redemption, and for discharging the Office of Mediator and Saviour.

And, First, One important Part of the Office committed to him was to be the great Interpreter of the Will of God to Mankind, and to bring a clear Revelation from Heaven in the Father's Name, for inftructing Men in thofe Things which it moft nearly concerneth them to know, and which are of the utmoft Moment to their Duty and Happiness. It may reafonably be fuppofed, that to this great Mediator were principally owing the Dif

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coveries which were made of the Divine Will to Mankind from the Beginning. St. Peter intimates, that it was by the Spirit of Chrift that the Prophets and holy Men of God of old were infpired. 1 Pet. i. 2. And it was a Notion which generally obtained in the ancient Chriftian Church, and which probably was derived from the Apoftolical Age, that, in the Divine Appearances under the Old Teftament, the Logos, who was in the Fulness of Time to affume human Flefh, had a fpecial Concernment. But it was after his actual Incarnation, that he most fully executed his Office as the great heavenly Teacher. He then brought the most perfect Revelation that was ever given to Mankind: And accordingly he declared concerning himself, I am the Light of the World; he that followeth me fhall not walk in Darkness, but fhall have the Light of Life. Joh. viii. 12. He went about, in the Days of his Flesh, teaching and preaching the Things of the Kingdom of God. He inftructed Men in the Nature of true Religion, and taught them to form the moft juft and worthy Notions of God, and of his incomparable Perfections, efpecially of his moral Attributes, his Righteoufnefs, and Goodness, and Purity; and to worship him who is an in

finite Spirit in Spirit and in Truth. He fet their Duty before them in it's just Extent, and in the fairest Light, and gave them the most holy and excellent Laws and Precepts, exhibiting the most perfect Scheme of pure and refined Morality, yet without running into Extremes, that was ever publifhed to the World. Life and Immortality was by him brought into the most clear and open Light; and, what efpecially calleth for our higheft Thankfulness, he opened the glorious Counfels of God for our Salvation, and, in the Name of his heavenly Father, the fovereign Lord of the Universe, made a Publication of his free Grace and pardoning Mercy towards perishing Sinners of the human Race, and of the gracious Terms upon which he is willing to receive them to his Favour, and bestow upon them the most ineftimable Benefits.

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great Defign of his perfonal Miniftry was, as he himself reprefented it, to call Sinners to Repentance, to engage them to forfake their evil ways, to be reconciled unto God, and to lay hold of his offered Mercy and Salvation. This was what he urged upon them in the tenderest and most affectionate Manner, and by Motives the most proper to work upon reasonable Beings. Thus did the incarnate Son of God admi