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he has made; in fupplying the various wants of his creatures, and particularly in his moral government of mankind. Here, befides his wifdom, power, and general goodnefs, we difcover fome traces of his character as the righteous judge of the earth. But to our limited capacities and views, this glory is obfcured by many difficulties, Though righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne, yet clouds and darknefs are round about him*. By his holy word, his revealed will, we are favoured with a ftill brighter difplay of his glory, in the perfections of holiness, juftice, truth, and mercy, which fallen man is unable clearly to discover in his works of creation and providence. But chiefly his Son is the brightnefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his perfon. No one hath feen God at any time, but the only-begotten Son who is in the bofom of the Father ‡, intimately acquainted with his counfels, he hath declared him. This was the great defign of his advent, to make God known to man for as it is life eternal to know the only true God, fo he is only to be known in and by Jefus Chrift, whom he *Pf. xcvii. 2. + Heb. i, 3. ‡ John i. 18.

hath

hath fent*, and who is the

way

and the door,

and there is no entrance to the knowledge of God but by him. In the perfon and work of MESSIAH, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, the brightness and harmony of all his attributes, is tranfcendently revealed. In this fenfe, he is the Lord, the King of glory. When we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, to conceive of him according to the teftimony given of him in the fcripture, we fee the glory of God. Other difcoveries of it are but scattered rays and emanations of light; but, in Jefus, the glory of God refides in its fource and fulness, as light in the fun. He is therefore the King of glory.

IV. As the acknowledged King of glory, in the nature of man, he ascended; the everlafting gates unfolded wide, and he entered into the holy place, not made with hands, there to appear in the prefence of God for his people.

1. As their reprefentative. The glory is properly his own, the benefit redounds to his people. Sin had excluded them from the kingdom, but he claimed and took pof* John xvii. 3feffion,

feffion, in their name *. Hence he is ftyled their forerunner, becaufe by virtue of their relation to him, and their intereft in him, they fhall furely follow him. This is the encouragement of believers. He is the head of his body the church; and though the church, while in this world, is in a fuffering perilous ftate, yet as the body of a man is not in danger of drowning, while his head is out of the water, fo our forerunner and head being in heaven on their behalf, he will affuredly draw all his living members to himself. He has faid, Becaufe I live ye shall Hive alfo . And he has ftipulated for them, that they fhall, each in his appointed time, be with him, where he is to behold his glory +.

2. As their high priest and interceffor. He presents their perfons and their prayers acceptable to God. He bears the iniquity of their holy things. With this encouragement, weak and unworthy as they are in themselves, and though their best services are polluted, they find a liberty of access; and because he ever liveth, thus to make interceffion for all who come unto God by

Heb. vi. 20. + John xiv. 19.

‡ Ibid xvii. 24.

him*, they know that he is able to fave them to the uttermoft.

3. Though the heavens must receive and contain the holy human nature, till the reftitution of all things, he is not unmindful of them in their prefent circumstances. He is feated upon the throne of univerfal dominion, and he exercises his authority and rule, with an especial view to their welfare. While he pleads for them on high, by the power of his Spirit, he is prefent with them below. He comforts their hearts, enlivens their affemblies, and manages their concerns. He is their fhepherd, who gives them food, com trouls their enemies, revives their fainting fpirits, and restores their wanderings +. His ear is open to their prayers, his eye is upon them in every fituation, and his arm ftretched forth for their relief. Therefore, though perfecuted, they are not forfaken; though caft down, they are not deftroyed. And he has promised that he will not leave them, until he has done all that for them, which his word has taught them to hope for; until he has made them victorious over all their enemies, and put the conqueror's fong in *Heb. vii. 25.

+ Pf. xxiii.

their mouths, and a crown of life upon their heads.

But

This High and Holy One, this King of glory, who is feated on the throne of heaven, dwelleth alfo in the humble and lowly spirit. He thus folemnly claims the throne of the heart, of each of his people, which in a ftate of nature is ufurped by felf and fatan; and he is thus willingly acknowledged and admitted, in the day of his power. Behold! He ftands at the door and knocks * ; and because he is as yet unknown, he is for a while rejected. The bolts and bars of prejudice and unbelief withstand his entrance. when he comes on a purpose of grace, he will take no denial. For a feafon he waits to be gracious. But he has an appointed hour, when he reveals his great name, and makes the foul fenfible who he is! Then the gates of brafs and bars of iron are broken before him. His greatnefs and his goodnefs, what he is in himself, and what he has done and fuffered for finners, are motives which cannot be refifted when they are truly understood. Satan, who as the strong one armed, long laboured to hinder him from his

7

* Rev, iii. 20.

rightful

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