THE Incarnation of the Essential Word, the only begotten Son of God, was set before the Old Testament Church, in the first revelation of grace, wherein it is fully expressed and declared, " the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head." As also in the promise made to the patriarch Abraham, that in "his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed." And this was the declared and immediate end of the spirit of prophecy, under the influence of which all the prophets gave witness, that ONE in the Essential Essence would become incarnate, to save his people from their sins, and to deliver them out of the hands of all their spiritual enemies. All the saints who lived under what we stile the Patriarchal, Levitical and Prophetical Dispensation, had their faith particularly exercised on this most wonderful and astonishing display of grace, which was received in the tabernacle, erected at God’s command by Moses in the wilderness, and realized by the temple built by Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. As this wonderful event drew near, it pleased the Lord to inspire His servants the prophets with such clear views of this transcendent grace, that there is not one circumstance which concerns the conception and birth of the holy child Jesus, but is foretold by them. His birth of a virgin was predicted by Isaiah. The place of His birth, Bethlehem, by Micah;—the time of his Incarnation, by the prophet Daniel; —the massacre of the infants, which followed his birth, by Jeremiah;—and the blessings of his birth, by this our prophet Zechariah. To Him all the prophets give witness.

The prophecy contained in my text was delivered out by Zechariah, who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, and began to prophesy in the second year of Darius Hystaspes, A.M. 3484, about two months after Haggai.

In the chapter before us, the Lord, in vision to His servant the prophet, sets before him His care of Jerusalem, the place and seat of temple worship. His eye is upon it for good. One of Jehovah’s ministering angels is commissioned to inform Zechariah, that Jerusalem should be inhabited, and that the Lord Himself would be the protection and glory of it. " I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." Verse 5. A command is then given to such of the Jews who still remained in Babylon, to return to Judea.

The fact was, though Cyrus had granted liberty, many of the Jews were so comfortably settled in Babylon and its provinces, that they preferred their own ease and profit in a strange land, and were unwilling to quit it to return to their native soil. Hence in verses 7 and 8, the Lord saith, " Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the Lord of Hosts; After the glory hath He sent me unto the nation which spoiled you ; for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye."

Babylon lay north of Judea. Christ is the speaker in these words: and He, as Messiah, says, "After my glorious Incarnation, I shall be manifested to the Elect among the gentiles, and through the influence of my Word and Spirit, shall cause them to unite into one gospel, Church and State, with the called of mine elect among the Jews."

He adds, verse 9, " For, behold, I will shake mine hand, upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants; and ye shall know that the LORD of Hosts hath sent me."

This is a prediction of sore judgments on Chaldea, and all other enemies of the Church and people of God. Upon this follows the words read as the foundation of the subject which I shall at this time set before you, verses 10, 11.

The subject before me, which I shall endeavour to speak on at this time, and these words, as particularly suited to the present season, is the Incarnation of the Son of God; which is altogether mysterious and divine. I apprehend, when speaking on this sublime doctrine, it is truly and absolutely needful to confine our thoughts altogether to what is revealed concerning it in the written word. Whatever others may conceive, I view the Incarnation of Christ among the deepest mysteries of revelation, and that it is more difficult to treat rightly of it, than of our Lord’s righteousness and most precious blood-shedding.

Some, as I conceive, do not consider the mystery of the Incarnation, as more hidden and glorious; therefore, are apt to speak too much on the humanity, and overlook the deity of our most adorable Lord, and by unwarrantable words deify the human nature of Christ. Whilst others speak altogether of His Godhead, not taking into view the complex person of Christ, God-Man, and that he is the divine and human nature. God, and perfect Man in Christ.

May the Lord the Spirit be with and bless me, whilst I am setting out and laying before you this mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.

I will cast my text into the following heads :—

May the Lord enable me to speak properly and fully to each of these particulars, and to Him shall be the praise.

I. According to the forementioned plan, respecting the division of my text ; I first take up the words of my text, which contain an address to the Church of God. " SING AND REJOICE O DAUGHTER OF ZION."

By the Daughter of Zion, the Church of God is understood. The temple and worship being on mount Zion, and the city of Zion being joined to Jerusalem, as the mother to the daughter, hence the appellation is given to the Church. Of it, it is said, The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." Psalm 137:2. And again; The Lord hath chosen Zion, He hath desired it for His habitation." He says concerning it, "This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." And speaking of His word, ordinances, and ministers given, ordained, and placed by Him in it, He says, "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation and her saints shall shout aloud for joy." Psalm 132:13—16.

The Church had the promise of salvation given her, and is therefore called upon to rejoice. Isaiah says, " Behold the Lord hath proclaimed to the end of the world, say ye to the Daughter of Zion, behold thy salvation cometh ; behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him." Chap. 62:11.

And our Prophet in his ninth chapter says, " Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Zech. 9:9.

I will here insert a quotation, which may cast light on the minds of God’s people concerning the prophetic scriptures. "These men, inspired by God, at His command, by public speaking, or typical representation, revealed to the people his decrees. When they spake, the priests committed to writing the discourse, which was afterwards affixed to the walls of the temple, for universal perusal It was then taken down, and deposited among the sacred archives, and from these materials were compiled the prophetic volumes of the Bible."

In the words before us, the Lord Himself addressed His Church, saying, " Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion." Blessed be His Holy Name, it pleases Him that His people should be happy in him. His will is, that they should sing His praise and rejoice before Him. That they should be glad in His salvation, and triumph in His praise, and thus find the joy of the Lord to be their strength. And surely if the people of the Most High ever had cause or matter for singing and rejoicing, it was when these words were delivered. Because they were hereby informed that the coming of the Lord drew nigh: He was to be manifested in the temple which they were now rebuilding, and be the glory of it. From the first revelation of Christ as the serpent-bruiser, to His advent, was a period of four thousand years. During which, sacrificial worship was kept up as a memorial of what he was to be, and do, and suffer. In this interval of time he had uttered His glorious voice to the Church by the ministry of His prophets, declaring "His Delights were with the Sons of men." His voice having been heard, his Church was enraptured with it, and cried out, ‘‘It is the voice of my Beloved."

The inspired Psalmist records the words which the co-equal and co-essential Son of the Father had addressed to him., saving, "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; mine ears bath Thou opened: burnt-offering and sin-offering Thou didst not require. Then said I, lo I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart." Psalm 40:6-8. The Church heard it, and was ravished therewith, and cried out, "Behold, He cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills."

And at the time this prophesy in our text was spoken, the second temple was building, in which the DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS was to be manifested, and hereby the glory of this latter house was to be greater than that of the former house; the Church is called upon to "SING AND REJOICE."

II. This leads me secondly, to view the cause and matter for joy and rejoicing, as given by the Lord. It is this :— "FOR LO, I COME, AND I WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THEE, SAITH THE LORD."

As only God Himself knows His self-existence, godhead, personalities, and essential blessedness; so He only could reveal His nature and personal modes or manner of the existence of the essential Three in the One incomprehensible and self-existing JEHOVAH. This He has done. He sets it before us in His revealed will contained in the Scriptures. From them we are taught: — "There are Three who bare record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these Three are One," — and the same in the self-existing essence: that they are each God and Lord:—that they co-exist and have a mutual in-being in each other: — that they are not essentially, but personally distinct: — the ONE LIVING AND TRUE GOD. As such, the name which is incommunicable belongs to each of the Persons in the essential and undivided Trinity. We have a proof it in the text before us. The speaker is JEHOVAH. And He speaks of Himself as sent by JEHOVAH. "Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people, and I will be their God, and thou shalt know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you."

Here is JEHOVAH the MESSIAH, speaking concerning His mission, incarnation, and dwelling in our nature, in our world. And at the same time, He speaks of being SENT BY JEHOVAH. This shews that there are more than one who bare the name JEHOVAH, viz., the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these are the one JEHOVAH.

The economy of the eternal Three in the One JEHOVAH, as set before us in the Word, convey an idea of their mutual acts and offices they engaged in, and sustained before the world was, on the behalf, and for the benefit of the elect. According to the economy of the everlasting covenant, the Essential Word was the acting Person in it. He undertook, at the Father’s call, and in obedience to the Father’s will, to carry all the purposes and designs of the Eternal Three into execution. All the love of Father, Son, and Spirit, was to shine forth, and be reflected on the elect Church of human race, in the person and mediation of Jesus Christ. The Son of God was to be incarnate, that He might manifest all the love of Godhead, and open to view the springs of divine clemency. It was all. to flow forth through this wonderful medium, the assumption of our nature into with the person of the SON of the LIVING GOD. A mystery altogether wonderful and divine! worthy of God a display of His manifold wisdom, such as will for ever afford saints a mirror, in which to behold God in all His manifestative glory, and so live for ever in perpetual communion with Him.

The faith of Old Testament saints was particularly exercised upon this wonderful subject : — that "God in the person of His Son, would be manifest in the flesh." In believing this, consisted their chiefest and highest exercise of faith. You and I find no difficulty in believing Jesus to be IMMANUEL. — God in our nature. But Old Testament saints have made it easy for us. Their spiritual life and faculties were exercised in believing, that One in the infinite essence, would assume an individual humanity, and give it subsistence by personal union; so that He would dwell in it, and fill it with all the essential fullness of Godhead, and hereby become capable to live for us, as JEHOVAH our righteousness; to offer Himself as our everlastingly efficacious sacrifice, and thus become the author of our eternal redemption.

This is of all mysteries, that only excepted of the existence of the Three divine distinctive personalities in the One JEHOVAH, the greatest. And the one is the pattern and foundation of the other.

The ever-blessed Three, out of the blessedness they enjoyed from their own personal communion and love, which flowed from their partaking of one and the same infinite nature, were pleased to fix this union of God the Son to our nature, that in Him their glory and blessedness might be manifested; and that elect men might in their measure and degree, be admitted into union and communion with the eternal Three: an union was fixed on in the divine mind, between the God-Man and them. He was decreed to be their eternal head, and they were decreed to be His mystic body, His bride, His Church, His social companion and partner, in all His communicable grace and glory. He was set up by the essential Three from everlasting. He was revealed to the patriarchs, prophets, and saints, as the Beloved, and sent of God. He was incarnate in the fulness of time, which was the most wonderful event which ever took place. The promise concerning it is contained in our text. And the carrying it into execution is spoken of as the cause and matter for joy and rejoicing to his church. The Saviour addresses her, saying, "Sing, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion : for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord."

These words, ‘‘For lo, I come," express the willingness of Christ to become incarnate, and thus to become One with his people, by His assuming their nature. They also prove His existence before His manifestation in the flesh, and that He existed as JEHoVAH THE ESSENTIAL WORD. Agreeably to which, the apostle John saith, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." O the love of Christ! How ineffable and incomprehensible He loved His church, and gave himself for it. He took hold, not of the nature of angels, but of the seed of Abraham. He stooped down so low, as to take human nature, a true body and a rational soul united, into union with himself, and gave it personal subsistence in himself. Thus "God was manifest in the flesh." An unspotted virgin was chosen and singled out to conceive the holy child Jesus. The Holy Ghost framed and articulated the human nature which was conceived in her, and born of her. It was immediately, upon the first instant of its conception and formation, taken into union and subsistence with the only-begotten Son of God. Christ did not take a human person but a human nature into union. Therefore it is called "that holy thing." The angel said unto the mother of our Lord’s human nature, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35. The greatness of this grace is thus expressed by the apostle, Forasmuch then as the children are par-takers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil." Heb. 2:14. The prophet Isaiah, speaking on this same subject, says, " For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called ‘Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." And the apostle John says, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." According to our most learned chronologers, Christ was born in the Jewish month Ethanim, which was their seventh month from Abib. The first day of it was a remarkable festival of "blowing of trumpets." The tenth was the day of "annual expiation." The fifteenth was the "feast of tabernacles," kept in commemoration of the Israelites dwelling under the cloud, or clouds of glory, at Horeb. This festival lasted eight days; the first pointing to the birth, the last to the circumcision of our Immanuel. As Christ was crucified at the festival on which the passover was kept, and gave the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, on which a commemoration of giving the law was held; so it is by many learned men concluded He was born in the month in which the festival of tabernacles was celebrated — in which month, the temple of Solomon was dedicated, and a cloud of glory filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not enter into it, because the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. 2 Chron. 7:1- 2. And as all this was a symbol and pledge of Christ’s Incarnation, and that He would fill His humanity with all the fulness of deity, so it is supposed to be glanced at in these words, "the word was made flesh and dwelt," (in the margin it is, tabernacled,) "among us;" pointing out our Lord’s incarnation as prefigured by the feast of tabernacles.

In the Incarnation, all the persons in the Trinity were concerned. The Father provided a body; the Son assumed it; and the Holy Ghost anointed it, and filled it with his immeasurable gifts and graces. The Essential Word and only begotten of the Father, saith to Him, "a body hast thou prepared me." Heb 10:5. The Son took it into union with His person, and was made of a woman, born of a virgin, made under the law. "When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." Gal. 4:4. The Holy Ghost anointed, consecrated, and fitted the God-Man, the head and mediator of His church, Christ Jesus, for the execution of His office, and performance of His work of salvation. Hence He says, "the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath sent me to preach good tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening the prison to them that are bound." Isaiah 61:1. And Peter says, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power." Acts 10:38.

By our Lord’s mysterious and ineffable Incarnation, He was God and man in the person of one Christ; and by a communication of properties, that is ascribed and predicated of one nature, which strictly and properly belongs to the other; — His life is stiled, "the Life of God." I John 3: 16. His righteousness, "the righteousness of God." Phil. 3: 9. His blood, "the blood of God." Acts 20:28. Because His Godhead stamped dignity, and had its influence in all the actions, in the life, sacrifice, and death, which He, as God-Man, lived, offered, and submitted to as the surety of His people. "Lo I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." He did so by His Incarnation, and in His Incarnate state. He was in our nature and world, "the seed of the woman" — "the seed of Abraham" — the true Shiloh — the angel who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as Jehovah their God — whom Moses calls, "the Lord God of Israel;" and He calls Himself, "the Captain of the Lord’s host," whom Isaiah saw, enthroned and surrounded with the seraphim, who worshipped Him with a thrice ‘‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts ; " whom Ezekiel beheld above the cherubim, even the appearance of the glory of Jehovah. He was in our nature, and lived in our world, as "Jehovah our righteousness." This is grace altogether divine, such as never can be fathomed! We can neither properly conceive it, nor speak the praise due to Jesus for it: no, not in eternal glory. — But to proceed.

As Jehovah the Son, with all the love of His heart, became true and very man, so He dwelt in our world with his people, and conversed with them, and spake to them as never man did. His words were spirit and life. They conveyed life to their minds, light to their understandings, and comfort to their hearts. Jesus was, in all His dealings with them, rich in mercy, full of grace and truth. Virtue went continually from Him. He was their health and purity What must saints apprehend, when these words were pronounced from the Lord by the prophet, "Lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith Jehovah." Surely they must have replied in the language of inspiration, "Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices." Doubtless the following words might well express the hearts of saints who were permitted to see the promise in our text accomplished ; "Lo this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9. This was exemplified in the case of Simeon, who lived to see the Lord’s Christ, to take the child Jesus into his arms, and confess Him to be God’s salvation ; "a light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel:" and also in Anna a prophetess, who spake of Jesus, as the very Messiah "to all them who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." See Luke 2:27-38.

III. I come to my third particular head of discourse : viz. "What would follow as the fruit and effect of the fulfillment of this promise, "Lo, I COME, AND I WTILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF THEE, SAITH THE LORD." Even this: "AND MANY NATIONS SHALL BE JOINED TO THE LORD IN THAT DAY, AND SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL DWELL IN THE MiDST OF THEE."

When our Lord was in His Incarnate state, and during His continuance in the open display of His mission and office, as the Christ of God; the life of holiness, purity, and righteousness He lived—the sayings He uttered—the miracles He wrought by His own power on the bodies and souls of men—the blessings He communicated—the benefits He bestowed on poor sinners, drew great multitudes to Him as the true Shiloh, to whom it was prophesied, "the gatherings of the people should be." Many came: the name and fame of Jesus being spread throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Syria,—to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases. None of His miracles but were evidences of His Messiahship. He proved Himself by them, that He was the Son of David, the Son of Man. Which titles belonged to Him as Messiah the Prince. He is as such stiled the Son of Man, in two, and but in two passages of the Old Testament, if my mernory is right. The first is in Psalm 130:17. The words read thus, "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the Son of Man whom thou madest strong for thyself." He is also stiled the Son of Man in the book of Daniel. "I saw," says the prophet, ‘‘in the night, visions, and beheld one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him." Daniel 7:13. Christ is called in the New Testament, and calls Himself the Son of Man, John 8:28. on account of His being the Messiah, and because this title was given Him in the Old Testament, and belonged to Him as such. For He was not strictly and properly, in any other sense, the Son of Man, according to the flesh.

Our Lord by His personal ministry, gathered a goodly harvest of elect souls to Himself. The last half year of His life was crowned with great success. This appears from the vast numbers which came from all parts of Judea and Galilee, at the last passover of our Lord’s life. Great multitudes of them went out from Jerusalem to Bethany, on hearing that He was coming from thence. These formed a grand procession, some going before and others after Him. " When they came at the descent of mount Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God for all the mighty works that they had seen." His cleansing the leper—curing the centurion’s servant of the palsy—healing all who stood in need of healing—raising Jairus’ daughter from death—the widow’s son at Nain, whose breathless corpse was being carried out of the city to be interred—raising up the dead body of Lazarus, after he had been dead four days; with numerous other acts and instances of His omnipotent power, coming in upon their minds, they joined in saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." Luke 19:37.

When our Lord had finished the work which the Father had given him to do, and was ascended up "far above all heavens, that he might fill all things," He sent down the Holy Ghost, under whose most gracious unction, the apostles of Christ were "led into all truth." All that Jesus had done and spoken, was brought to their remembrance. And thus qualified, "they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." "And multitudes were added to the Lord." From Judea the gospel was sent to the east among the gentiles. Many heard the. word of the gospel and believed. Thus many nations were joined to the Lord. The inhabitants of many throughout the Roman provinces were turned to Christ. They confessed His name, joined His Church, were baptized in His name. They knew Him to be their God and Saviour, and He acknowledged them to be His. Thus our text hath in part received its accomplishment. "And many nations shall be joined to the Lord," saith the prophet, "and shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee." Christ’s place is in the midst of His Church. He says, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am the midst of them." In my text He saith, "Lo I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord."

And He still says to His churches, ministers, and people, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:20. His gospel will be continued unto His church until day and night come to an end. In it His heart is opened; His bowels of mercy displayed; His infinite compassion expressed; His person revealed ; His words uttered; His promises declared; His righteousness and sacrifice proclaimed. A record given by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning the everlasting perfection and efficacy of the obedience and death of our most precious Immanuel: "This is the record, God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life." The whole is confirmed by the oath of God. "Where in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." Heb. 6:17- 18.

When Christ, who is revealed in the gospel, is revealed by the Holy Ghost to us, just as He hath revealed Him in the Word, and He is pleased to glorify Jesus, by "taking of his things and shewing them unto us," then He ‘‘dwells in our hearts by faith," and is "in us, our hope of glory." And we who know Christ, may well joy and rejoice, that " His name shall endure for ever: that His name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed." Psalm 72:17.

IV. I come fourthly, to shew, that the accomplishment of this prediction would be a most glorious proof of the Messiahship of Christ. "AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU."

The Incarnation of the Essential Word, the Life of Christ, with His miraculous acts, the sufferings He sustained, with all that great redemption obtained thereby, were undeniable evidences that He was no other than "the only begotten Son of God," who had been spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world began. Who came according to covenant engagements from the bosom of His Father, to reveal and make Him known to His church and people. The apostle John saith, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18. Our Lord saith, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world : again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." John 16:28. And again He saith, "I came down from heaven; not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." John 6:38. All things expressed in the prophecies of Him, were realized in Him, and fulfilled in Him and by Him. So that, though the bulk of the Jewish people rejected Jesus of Nazareth, and would not acknowledge Him for their Messiah, it was not for want of incontestable proof and evidence given by Himself that He was the Son of God. Yea, their rejection was a testimony of it; seeing it was written in the prophets that they would thus fatally stumble, and reject Him. "He came," saith the apostle, "to his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:11-13.

Believers, you and I, as taught of God, know Christ to be the gift of the Father’s love to us. " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." \When we spiritually apprehend that Christ became incarnate, that He might express all the love ,f Godhead to us, and became "bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh," that we might never want full proof of His love to us ; this renders Him precious to our minds, and endears Him to our hearts, We have hereby most glorious proofs and. evidences in our own souls of His Messiah-ship ; that Jehovah the Father sent Him for us, and hath sent Him to us, and revealed Him in us ; because we see and apprehend by faith, Jesus most exactly suited, as Mediator, to all the concerns of our bodies and souls, both temporal, spiritual and eternal. We cannot therefore but say, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for blessing us in him with all spiritual blessings." We are constrained to say, " God is love. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 3:9-10.

I conclude with calling upon you to give thanks to God for the unspeakable gift of His Son; saying in the words of the apostle Paul, "Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." May the Holy Spirit bless what hath been delivered, so far as seemeth good in His sight, and pardon all that is amiss, and supply all deficiencies, and make it up by His own divine teachings, and sacred inspiration. And to the Essential Three in the one incomprehensible Jehovah, shall the whole praise and glory be given, now and ever.

Amen.