SERMON I.

ON OUR SAVIOUR'S ADVENT IN THE FLESH.

LUKE ii. verse 32.

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

THESE interesting words primarily allude to the Advent of the Messiah in the Flesh. They also, in a full and explicit manner, foretel another august event, namely, the universal establishment of his spiritual kingdom upon earth. Hence, then, are mankind taught to look forward to that blissful period, when every nation which the Lord hath made, shall turn unto him, and walk in his holy word. Animated with hopes, which cannot disappoint us, let the exhilarating words of the holy prophet lead us to consider the Advent of the Messiah in the

B

Flesh, as the prelude to those days of gladness, when this "King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”* This blessed discovery of the state of Christ's future kingdom upon earth, the New Testament abundantly confirms. Alluding to the establishment of this,-his spiritual dominion, our blessed Lord directed his disciples to utter (in the prayer he taught them) these awful words, "Thy kingdom come!" In the Acts of the Apostles, also, we read that the disciples asked their Master, "whether he would, at that time, restore the kingdom to Israel;"† and though by his answer he restrained inquisitive curiosity, he gave encouragement to an ultimate expectation of that blessing.

"there

In the book of Revelation,-given by an angel to St. John, we read that " were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.”+

* Jer. xxiii. 5.

† Acts i. 6.

↑ Rev. xi. 15.

This rejoicing (which was seen afar off by the beloved disciple under a flourishing state of the christian church) is unquestionably an exultation for an event, which he fondly anticipated; and it was the conversion to christianity of the whole human race, which had been predicted by the voice of prophecy. It assuredly looked forward to that blessed era, when there shall be "a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people!"* By degress, then, is the joyful day approaching, when the faith and the knowledge of mankind shall be enlarged, and their views immeasurably extended. When order and consistency shall be seen to spring from irregularity and confusion. When the exhilarating light, which partially lightens the Gentiles, shall be the glory of the whole people of Israel, who shall turn unto him, and walk in his holy word. When the will of God shall be done by all on earth, as it is obeyed universally in heaven: when the piety of men shall assimilate with the holy zeal of angels.

* Isa. xi. 10.

But this pleasing state of things is not by every christian expected to take place. "Whilst the Church of Christ (as some affirm) raises up faithful servants unto God,so long it shall be permitted to continue. But (as they add) the human heart is naturally depraved, and the kingdom of grace gradually declines; the empire of Satan is erected, and shall extend on every side on its decayed foundations."

It must be owned that the gloomy appearance, in a moral sense, of things around us, gives but too much weight to this opinion; yet it will not ultimately prove correct! Sinful as the world may be at present, and (as we must with shame and trembling own it is) it does not follow that it shall always thus abound with iniquity. From the counteracting and salutary influence of useful learning, the thoughts of men may be turned from impure and unlawful objects, to the consideration of subjects at once agreeable and edifying. Knowledge enlarges the views, whilst it softens the obdurate heart of man. The sciences, and the

disquisitions of the naturalist and of the philosopher, teach him to reflect with increasing interest on all the objects, which surround him. Not an insect moves, not a flower blows, not a leaf expands, which does not evince the operation of the Great Contriver. The whole book of nature discloses to him the power of an Agent, who' is Omnipotent! And if, from this terrestrial scene, he lifts his eyes towards the celestial region, there he is taught to consider each fixed star (however apparently diminutive) as a luminary, around which various worlds revolve. When he directs a more limited attention to the earth, and the planetary system, with which it is connected;-when he recollects that to all the inhabitants of these planets, and even to things inanimate, -which are there placed, the sun gives colour, warmth, and life,-he naturally exclaims with the Psalmist, "How wonderful are thy works, O God! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy goodMyriads of worlds, also, attest thy power, and proclaim thy praise! Yet, how does the whole visible creation dwindle into

ness.