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SERMON

XIV.

THE SUBJECT CONCLUDED.

PHILIPPIANS ii. 5, 6, 7, 8.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jefus who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himfelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

FROM a perfuafion that the Circum

ftances which relate to our bleffed Re

deemer's Humiliation and Death, cannot be examined with too much attention, I have been induced to state them in the fullest and clearest manner I am able. Three discourses have already been addreffed to you on the Subject, and yet, like the Manna that defcended from heaven, it still feems inex

hauftible.

hauftible. It is, indeed, a Subject that cannot be exhausted; that cannot be confidered in all its circumftances, of Goodnefs, Love, and Mercy. Truly may each of us fay, with the Pfalmift, to our Redeemer,

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My mouth fhall daily fpeak of thy Salvation; for I know no end thereof."SALVATION! What a theme! what a Source of Wonder, Meditation and Comfort, to fallen, offending Man!-After all the tongue can utter, much will remain for the mind to conceive; and after all the striking circumstances which we may particularize, many will still remain for our confideration.

It would now be occupying your time unneceffarily to recapitulate what I have faid. The different verfes of the text, in the order in which they ftand, will lead your recollection to the feveral arguments and reflections which I have introduced in difcuffing the important fubject. We have noticed the unspeakable Dignity with which Christ was invested, as equal with God," the humiliating circumftances he fubmitted to, for us men and for our Salvation,-and the Objections which fome philofophic reafoners

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foners have urged to that state of abasement in which he chofe to appear.

We have alfo noticed fome Prophecies which had a full and perfect accomplishment in that propitiatory Sacrifice which he offered on the Crofs, the Benefits which we derive from it, and a dangerous Error (i.e. a barren Faith) which fome have fallen into by confidering that Sacrifice improperly.

How effectually I have done this, and what edification you have derived from thofe Reflections which I have occafionally introduced into the fubject, your own hearts can best inform you.-I pray that God may influence them by his bleffed Spirit to fupply my inability, and make you understand the wondrous things of his Law!

In pursuing the Subject, I wish to imprefs your minds with a conviction that those Prophecies which were accomplished by the Humiliation and Death of Christ, prove him to be the very Meffiah which fhould come into the world, to make an Atonement for Sin, and to reconcile us to God. Some Reflections upon what kind of

Conduct

Conduct fo wonderful an instance of Divine Mercy requires from us will naturally rise from, and conclude, the Subject.

St. Paul tells us, that "He was made in the likeness of men; and that being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Crofs."

The manner of his death is here plainly and expreffly related. Equally plain and express did the Pfalmift predict it: They pierced my hands and my feet.- -An -An Evangelist tells us in a pathetic and circumftantial account of his Crucifixion, "that when they were come to a place called Golgotha, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall." In the 69th Pfalm we read, They gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink. The Evangelift before-mentioned tells us " They parted his garments, cafting lots." The prophetic Pfalmift-They parted my garments among them, and caft lots upon my vesture.-The Evangelift, "And they that paffed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and faying, Thou that destroyeft the temple and buildest it in three days, fave thyself: He trusted in Gad

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God; let him deliver him now if he will have him."-The Pfalmift, All they that fee me laugh me to fcorn: they fhoot out their lips and Shake their heads, faying, He trusted in God, that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, if he will have him.The Evangelift, And about the ninth hour Jefus cried with a loud voice, faying, Eli, Eli, lama fabachthani?—that is to fay, My God! my God! why haft thou forfaken me?" The Pfalmift, My God! my God! look upon me; why hast thou forfaken me ?— The Evangelift," And with him they crucified two thieves, the one on his right-hand, and the other on his left." The Prophet Ifaiah, And he was numbered with the Tranfgreffors. -The Evangelift," Then came the foldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jefus, and faw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs but one of the foldiers with a fpear pierced his fide."-Thefe two circumFances, unimportant as they may feem, had, nevertheless, their Type and Prediction. The Almighty, fpeaking to Mofes and Aaron concerning the Pafchal Lamb (the expref

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