when the Lord by his grace distinguisheth them from others. They are men wondered at, (Zech. iii. 8.) In this sense, the Lord Jesus admired and praised, it may be said, by the notice he took of it, the faith of the centurion, and the faith of the woman of Canaan. (Matt. xv. 28.)

ADONAI.

This is one of the names peculiarly applied to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. By way of distinguishing it from JEHOVAH, it is rendered Lord in our English Bibles, in smaller letters, while JEHOVAH, which is also translated Lord, is in capitals. The reader will find a striking proof of it, (Psalm cx. 1.) The Lord said unto my Lord. The words in the original are, JEHOVAH said unto my Adonai. It is a sweet and interesting name of the Lord Jesus. It carries with it the idea of a stay, or helper, security, confidence.

ADONI-BEZEK.

i. 4, 5.) ADONI-JAH.

The lord of Bezek. (Judges

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The fourth son of David. His name forms a wonderful compound of two glorious names of the Lord. So very earnest were the children of Israel to preserve the constant remembrance of the Lord God of their fathers in their families. (1 Kings i. 5.) ADONI-ZEDEK. The lord of Zedek: supposed to have been one of the ancient names of Jerusalem; and which is said to have had four: Salem, Jebus, Zedek, (or Justice) and Jerusalem. (See Joshua x. 1.) ADOPTION. This forms a most interesting word in Scripture, in the use that is made of it, in allusion to the state of adoption and grace, into which true believers are received by their union with Christ. They are said to be predestinated to the adoption of children. (Eph. i. 5.) And the purpose for which Christ is said to be made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the

law was, that they might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal, iv. 4, 5.)

The word adoption is borrowed from a custom well known among the Romans, under whose government Judea became a province, who adopted the children of strangers and acknowledged them for their own, when they themselves were childless. But though the term is applied to believers, from being openly adopted and acknowledged in the family of Christ, yet strictly and properly speaking, this is not done, because they were not of the family of Christ before; for in fact they always were; but it is done in a way of publickly confessing and acknowledging it. The Holy Ghost by the apostle is express to this purpose, when he saith, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, whereby ye cry Abba! Father!" (Gal, iv. 6.) And all the Scriptures are express to confirm this most unquestionable truth. (Isa. xliv. 3; lix. 21. Ezek. xxxvii. 5-14. Zech. xiv.) It is most blessed, when we consider the privileges of adoption, and know in ourselves that we are made, though grace, the happy partakers of it. By adoption, the children of God in Christ are brought out of the spirit of bondage into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. They are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Hence they are regenerated, illuminated, justified, sanctified, and made partakers of grace here, to be made partakers of glory hereafter. Sweetly the Spirit witnesseth to their spirits, that they are the children of God. "And if children, saith the apostle, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ : if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Rom. viii. 16, 17.)

ADORE, ADORATION. By the act of adoration is implied the full and most absolute acknowledgment of worship; and of consequence, such can only be suitable or proper to offer exclusively to Almighty God. JEHOVAH, in his threefold character of person, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, can be the only object of adoration; and this, through the glorious mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; (saith Jesus) no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John xiv. 6.) This, in the strictest sense of the word, is adoration. But in the Eastern world, the customs and methods observed in acts of reverence among men, from the humbler to the higher ranks, too nearly approach that homage, which is due only to the Lord. The prostration of the whole body, kissing the earth, and the like, savour much of idolatry. See Kiss.

ADVERSARY. This is a general name applied to all persons, in common, who have a controversy, or are at variance with each other. Thus the Lord saith to Israel, "I will be an adversary to thine adversaries." (Exod. xxiii. 22.) And the prophet describes the Lord as an adversary to his people, in the day of his displeasure. "He hath bent his bow (saith he) as an enemy; he stood with his right hand as an adversary." (Lam. ii. 4.) And the Lord Jesus describes God the Father, as a law adversary, when he saith, (Matt. v. 25.) Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him." The Scriptures represent also Satan, as an adversary to Christ and his church. Thus Jesus, by the spirit of prophecy, saith, "Who is mine adversary? let him come near to me." (Isa. 1. 8.) And Zechariah (chap. iii. 1.) represents Satan as "an adversary standing at Joshua's right hand, to resist him." And the apostle

Peter calls the devil an adversary going about to devour; and chargeth the church to resist him stedfast in faith. (1 Pet. v. 8.) From these different views of the word, it will be very easy to learn, that the name of adversary is indiscriminately given to all persons who are in a state of controversy with each other, whether good or evil. ADVOCATE—is one that pleads the cause of another. In a very particular manner, the Scripture applies this to the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is so peculiarly and personally his, that it expressly forms one of his divine offices. Hence, the apostle saith, "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins." (1 John ii. 1, 2.)

It is very blessed to see the personal and peculiar fitness and suitability of the Lord Jesus Christ to this office, and in how endeared and affectionate a manner he is thereby recommended, and comes home with all the warmth of tenderness to our hearts.

persuade myself that I shall have the reader's pardon and indulgence, if I trespass for a moment, on dwelling a little more particularly, than the merely noticing it, on this sweet feature in the portrait of our Lord.

That our poor nature, universally speaking, stands in need of an advocate, is unnecessary to insist upon, for "we have all sinned and come short of God's glory." And therefore, he who undertakes to plead the cause of the sinner, must himself be sinless. And he must not only possess sufficient abilities to the office of a special pleader, but he must know every person, and every case, with all the disadvantages of all the causes for which he undertakes. Neither is it sufficient, that he hath all these qualifications, and more than

poor guilty He that advo

these, unless that he be lawfully constituted to the office. It is not enough, in our common courts of justice, between man and man, that many an able and a feeling heart could stand up for criminals, and plead their cause. cates for them, must have a legal call to the office, and be sworn into it, according to the laws of the court. It is most blessed, therefore, to see that in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ all these different qualifications meet and centre, and shine forth in one full constellation.

An attention to a few leading particulars, will make this appear abundantly plain and obvious to every beholder. The Redeemer's claim to this office of an advocate, and the only advocate of our poor nature, is founded on the call of JEHOVAH. We are told by God the Holy Ghost, (Heb. v. 5, 6.) that Christ "glorified not himself to be made an High Priest, but was called of God, as was Aaron." And he was not only called to the office, but sworn into it, by the solemnity of an oath.— "The Lord sware, and will not repent; thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." So then, it appears beyond all question and dispute, that JEHOVAH, who said unto him, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee;" said also, "Thou art a priest for ever ;" and confirmed it by his oath. I beg the reader to keep the remembrance of this everlastingly in view. Your Jesus, your advocate with the Father, is your sworn advocate, and by JEHOVAH himself. reason of the sin of our nature, God our Father is the law adversary of every poor sinner; (see Matt. v. 25.) so Christ is our law advocate, and fully and legally appointed to this office, by JEHOVAH himself. Sweet thought!

And as by

But we must not stop here, in examining into the