SERMON LX.

FOR

THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER

TRINITY.

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah xxiii. 5, 6.

BEHOLD THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT I WILL RAISE UNTO DAVID A RIGHTEOUS BRANCH, AND A KING SHALL REIGN AND PROSPER, AND SHALL EXECUTE JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE IN THE EARTH. IN HIS DAYS JUDAH SHALL BE SAVED, AND ISRAEL SHALL DWELL SAFELY; AND THIS IS HIS NAME WHEREBY HE SHALL BE CALLED, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

INSTEAD of the usual portion of scripture taken from the apostolical epistles, our church has appointed a passage to be read on this Sunday, selected from the prophecies of Jeremiah, in which the coming of Christ, the great Deliverer of His people, is foretold. In directing this to

be read always on the Sunday before Advent,, she closes the ecclesiastical year with the same subject as she commences it, exulting in the theme towards which the patriarchs and prophets of the old testament directed their expectations, and of which the Evangelists relate the fulfilment.

The prophet Jeremiah having described in the text the character which the Messiah would sustain, afterwards intimates that the blessings which should be bestowed by Him would be so great, that even the deliverance from Egypt, which was the most important benefit that the Israelites had ever received, would be overlooked and almost forgotten in comparison with it. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. This was an event so big with blessings to the nation, such a wonderful interference of God on behalf of His people, that it was never to be forgotten. It was referred to again and again by Moses, as a motive for national obedience, and an undoubted evidence that the Lord was their God. He said, Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in

Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence; therefore I command thee to do this thing,46 that is, to be compassionate and kind to the poor and needy, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

46 Deuteronomy xxiv. 18.

It is recorded that at the time of the delivery of the law of the ten commandments, as a reason why they should love and fear God, and not walk contrary to Him: God spake all these words and said, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: Thou shalt have no other gods before Me; and so on. This memorable deliverance the prophet here foretells should be forgotten, or little thought of in comparison, because of an event which was so much greater and more remarkable. They would leave off commemorating the deliverance from Egypt, an act which demonstrated the power and goodness of the God of Israel, and would say, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. This has been usually interpreted as relating to the return of the Jews from Babylon. But it is remarkable that their return from that captivity has never yet been celebrated by them in the manner here foretold; however it might have been commemorated for a season. The prophecy has therefore been considered by Christian commentators to relate to the benefits received through the coming of the Messiah subsequently to the Babylonish captivity, of which the Jews are as yet insensible.

From the manner however in which the de

liverance is here spoken of, the prophet seems rather to look forward in a rapid transition to the glory of the latter day; when the Israelites shall hail the coming of Christ, and be collected from the various countries in which they are now dispersed all over the world; and shall again dwell in their own land; when, as the prophet Hosea says, The children of Israel shall return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days. This will be so wonderful an event, that the deliverance from Egypt will be forgotten in the joy that it will occasion. But this is an event, which even now, eighteen centuries after the appearing of Christ in the world, seems to be so hopeless, that it is acknowledged nothing short of Divine power can accomplish it; and nothing but the multiplied declarations of scripture afford any reason for believing that it will take place in the fulness of time. But the sure word of God cannot fail of its accomplishment. It shall be fulfilled in its season. It was therefore said by an excellent prelate, who was well versed in the scriptures, 48Undoubtedly that people of the Jews shall once more be commanded to arise and shine, and their return shall be the riches of the Gentiles; and that shall be a more glorious time than ever the church of God did yet behold." And

47 Hosea iii. 5. 48 Archbishop Leighton on Isaiah lx. 1.

he adds, "They forget a main point of the church's glory, that pray not daily for the conversion of the Jews." This is a subject then which should not be lost sight of by the children of God. The text is to be considered as having a peculiar reference to it; and should call forth our prayers for its fulfilment.

The characters which our Lord Jesus Christ was to sustain, are here set before us also for our encouragement. Let us direct our attention to them with prayer that we may partake of the blessing which the description given was designed to convey to the church and people of God. May we receive Him into our hearts as our Saviour, and put our trust in His righteousness as that which can alone render us acceptable to God, that we may live under His government as our King; and then we shall know that our Judge is our Friend, and we shall not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

The text commences with a note of admiration: Behold! which is as much as to say, the subject to be introduced is one of the utmost importance. Such the coming of the Messiah was esteemed by the people of God under the old testament dispensation. The subject to which their attention was directed, is, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch. Under the same character Isaiah foretold the coming of Christ. There shall