right of Christ, for the exercise of this divine office, the advocate of his people. He is no less so, by virtue of his being the propitiation for our sins; and in a double sense in this particular, because, not only the infinite dignity of his person, and the infinite merit of his propitiation gives him this claim, but also he is the very propitiation which God "himself hath set forth, through faith in his blood." Let the reader consult those Scriptures for himself, which prove the certainty of these precious truths, and he will see how unanswerably conclusive they are. (Job xxxiii. 24. Isa. xlii. 21. Matt. xvii. 5. Rom. iii. 25.) Now, then, let me pause, and ask, Hath not this almighty advocate a right to plead for his own rights, and those of his people in him? Was it not an absolute promise, in the charter of grace, that "when he had made his soul an offering for sin, he should see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied?" (Isa. liii. 10, 11.) And shall not the blessed Jesus stand up and plead for the fulfilment of those promises? Hath he, indeed, given himself as the sinner's surety “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour?" and can he rest satisfied, till he hath brought all his ransomed people around him in glory?

Moreover, there is one point more to be considered in this subject of Christ's advocacy, which we have not yet even glanced at, though it forms a principal object, for which the Lord Jesus carries on his high priestly office, in the court of heaven, namely, the destruction of all his enemies, and the enemies of his dear people. When the Lord Jesus, by the Spirit of prophecy, spake of the purposes of his coming, it was for the overthrow of the empire of Satan, as well as the establishment of his own kingdom. "The day of

vengeance (said Jesus) is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." (Isa. lxiii. 4.) So, then, it must follow, that unless we can suppose what is impossible, that when Jesus returned to heaven he ceased to take concern in the exercises and sorrows and temptations of his redeemed upon earth, and that the triumphs of the powers of darkness engaged not the attention of the Lord to destroy: surely he is now, as much as ever, carrying on, by his everlasting intercession, all the grand purposes of his victory over hell, until he come, in the fulness of the times appointed, finally to crush the foe, and to root out of his kingdom "all things that offend."

I must not stay to describe what the Scriptures of God so very largely and blessedly set forth, the numberless qualities of the Lord Jesus, in his abilities, and readiness, and grace, and a thousand endearing things beside, which render him so peculiarly suited to the office. The prophet sums up all in one, his character, in this department of it, when calling him the Wonderful Counsellor; and the Apostle no less, when declaring that "in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Isa. ix. 6. Coloss. ii. 3.) And if it were not for swelling the pages of a work that I must rather study to abridge, I might easily shew, that such are the powerful recommendations the Lord Jesus brings with him, to induce any, and every poor sinner, that is conscious of the want of an advocate, to plead his cause before God, that not a soul, earnest for his everlasting welfare, would cease a moment from putting all his concerns in the hand of such a wise, tender, and successful High Priest as Jesus. Indeed, indeed, it is most blessed to behold the Lord Jesus in this endeared character. All he undertakes is altogether free," without money and without price." No case of his people, however

desperate, he refuseth; and none that he undertakes can fail. Other advocates may, and indeed must, ultimately bring forth disappointment, but no cause put into the hands of Jesus can. And the gracious manner in which the Lord carries it on, is most blessed; for he makes every case which he takes up his own. He enters into all their concerns, gives them to see how much he sympathizes with them, during their exercises, and supports their souls with an abiding assurance, that he is everlastingly attentive to them. Not all the hallelujahs of heaven can make him for a moment intermit his overlooking either the persons, or the causes, of all his redeemed upon earth. For it is not their deservings, but his love; not what they have done, or can do for themselves, but what he can do for them, that becomes the standard of his grace. What they are, and what they merit, comes not into the amount. That they are his, and that he hath purchased their redemption, and received them as the gift of his Father; these are the motives which operate in the heart of Christ. He saith himself, in his pleadings for them before the throne, (for the words are already given to us) "Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me." (John xvii. 24.)

Ye sinners in Zion! here bring all your causes. Come to Jesus and put every concern in his almighty hand. Jesus waits to be gracious. He can, and will save to the uttermost, all that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Heb. vii. 25.) Hail! thou glorious, gracious, lawful, and successful Advocate of my poor soul!

ADULTERY. The law of Moses made this crime capital, both to the man and woman; and upon

clear proof, they were both to be put to death. (Lev. xx. 10.) It is somewhat remarkable, however, that in the case of the adulteress brought to Christ, we hear nothing of the man. Was it the case then, as it is but too generally now, that both the sin and the shame are thrown, with fulness of every thing blameable, upon women, while the seducers and more worthless, pass off unrebuked? yea, to the disgrace of human nature, not unfrequently applauded! Not so in thine eye, blessed Lord Jesus! (See John viii. 1. 11.) It should be remarked under this article, that beside this natural adultery, noticed in the Scripture, there is a spiritual fornication of which the Lord complains, which is idolatry. (See Jer. iii. 9. Ezek. xxiii. 37. Hosea ii. 2.) Reader! if Jesus be the husband, that is, as the prophet calls him, the Johi of his people, who would forsake him for the idols of a dying world? (Hosea ii. 16. 17.) AGES OF THE WORLD. There have been generally reckoned six ages from the creation of the world to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first, from the creation to the flood,
containing a period of

YEARS

The third, from Abraham to the going

forth of Israel from Egypt

The fourth, from the departure from

1656

The second, from Noah to Abraham .

425

430

479

424

584

Egypt to Solomon's temple

The sixth, from the going into Babylon

to the coming of Christ

ALLEGORY. We meet with this word but once in the Bible, namely, (Gal. iv. 24.) where the apostle, speaking of the history of Sarah and Hagar, calls

it an allegory; that is, a figure, or parable. The Old Testament writers were very partial to this way of teaching, in conveying divine truths through the medium of human illustrations; and sometimes by other objects from the world of nature and art. Our almighty Saviour was pleased to adopt a similar manner; and so much so at one time, that we are told, “without a parable spake he not unto the people." (Matt. xiii. 34.) This allegory of Sarah and Hagar, is not only uncommonly beautiful, but most highly interesting. We never can be sufficiently thankful to God the Holy Ghost, for bringing the church acquainted with the blessed truths which were folded up in this patriarchal history. Never would it have entered into the breast of any man alive, untaught of the church's almighty Teacher, that such glorious things were intended by the Lord to be shadowed forth in the children of the bond woman and the children of the free. Let the reader learn from it this most blessed truth, that the Lord hath been preaching all along, and from the first dawn of revelation, the covenant of redemption by his dear Son. Think reader, if it be possible, how JEHOVAH'S mind hath been occupied from all eternity, in bringing in, and revealing the Lord Jesus to his church and people. Well might it be said, as it is said, when Jesus, who had been secretly set up from everlasting the glorious Head of his body the church, was openly to be brought into the world, "Let all the angels of God worship him!" (Heb. i. 6.) It will be a blessed view of this sweet allegory, now so graciously explained to us as it is, by the Holy Ghost himself, if both he that writes and he that reads, when summing up the wonderful account, can say with the apostle, "We are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free." (Gal. iv. 31.) ALLELUJAH OR HALLELUJAH. This word which