criticised, (and if they seem to deserve it) condemned without hesitation-but let the Word of God, uninjured in estimation by the unskilfulness of its advocate, and unweakened in authority by the feebleness of his arguments, claim and command that unquestioning submission of the understanding and the heart, to which, as the Word of the living God, it is entitled from every reader of the sacred page.

The prominent exhibition given to the second coming of the Son of God, in the Gospel scheme, may, I think, be in part accounted for by the consideration, that the habitual anticipation of this event is calculated, with peculiar power, to develope and cherish some of the most distinguishing, most exalted, and loveliest features of the Christian character-those, in which the essence of its divine beauty and glory pre-eminently consists and this, in a three-fold point of view— 1st, As regards the Redeemer: 2nd, As regards His redeemed people: and 3rd, as regards the believer himself.

I. As regards the Redeemer.

When once a sinner is convinced, by the divine teaching of the Holy Spirit, of the immensity of his obligations to the Saviour-that, but for that Saviour's love, immortality had been to him only an immortal curse, because throughout eternity, had it not been for all that Jesus suffered on his behalf, only one wild wish would have wrung his tortured soul-the wish that he had never been born-while, through the love displayed towards him, and the sufferings endured for him, by the Son of God, he hopes to be as happy, throughout eternity, as any created being can be, or can desire to be there springs from this conviction in that sinner's heart, a sentiment of such gratitude to the Saviour, as colours the whole current of his future life --and turns it into a channel, in which the feelings and

affections of the most amiable of the children of the world never flow.

He becomes, emphatically, a new creature-a new spirit is breathed into him-a new bias is given to every passion of his soul-a new bent is imparted to every affection of his heart-he lives for a new object -is stimulated by a new hope-and pants after a new happiness. In a word-" with him to live is Christ!" All his thoughts, desires, affections, are centered on Christ-all his aims, purposes, pursuits, are identified with Christ-all his hopes, joys, consolations, are derived from Christ. He is interested in nothing so deeply as his Redeemer's interest-rejoices in nothing so intensely, as meditating on and sharing his Redeemer's joy-glories in nothing so triumphantly, as contemplating and partaking his Redeemer's glory!

If he derives pleasure from the possession of any talent, which the bounty of his God has bestowed upon him, it is because he hopes he may be enabled, through the instrumentality of that talent, to glorify his beloved Redeemer's dear and precious name.

Now, whenever this supreme love to the Saviour is enthroned in the heart there flows from it a feeling, of the very conception of which the children of the world, as such, are utterly incapable, and yet a feeling the most elevating in its influence, and exalted in its enjoyment, of which the human mind is susceptible-I mean, what I might call, a disinterested delight in the contemplation of the Redeemer's own happiness and glory-not so much independently of, as distinct from, and over and above, the consideration of our being ourselves, if believers, (in right of our union and jointheirship with Christ,) partakers of that happiness, and that glory.

This feeling, the most elevating and gladdening which a believer's heart can cherish, derives its sweet

est and holiest influences, from the contemplation of the second coming of the Son of Man!

Now, alas! wherever we look, whether around or within, we see much to sadden our spirits, in the consideration of all that our adorable Redeemer has to witness in our world, that must be, (as far as we may speak of Him, in terms suited rather to our weakness, than His glory,) displeasing to His eyes, and wounding to His heart! For though it be most true, (and it is to those who love Him a most comforting and gladdening truth,) that he is the "Man of Sorrows" no more, nor will ever be so again-(for on the morning of His resurrection, He bade farewell to sorrow for ever,)—still when He bends His eye on earth from His mediatorial throne, He must behold much, both in the world, and His own church, to excite His displeasure, and (as far as we may apply the expression to Him now,) to grieve His heart.

By the vast majority of those who have heard the glad tidings of His birth, He is still rejected and despisedHis love treated with contempt-His invitations spurned with scorn-the story of His sufferings read without a tear!—the offer of His salvation rejected without a sigh! The infidel scoffs at Him-the formalist makes light of Him-the votary of popish superstition, by the unscriptural doctrines of penance, purgatory, the intercession of angels, or saints in heaven, and the superabundant merit of saints on earth, virtually denies the sufficiency of His alone meritorious sacrifice and righteousness, and seeks to deprive Him of the honour exclusively due to Him, as the alone Mediator between God and man-the reason-worshipping Socinian endeavours to undeify, and the selfrighteous Pharisee to dethrone Him-the proud legalist would rob Him of His glory, and the profane Antinomian fix a stigma on His name.

And when we turn to His own people, oh! it is

then indeed we might well wish that our head were a fountain of tears, that we might weep, day and night, for the dishonour done Him by His own professing and peculiar people. Alas, how does the Redeemer receive the deepest wounds, to pierce His tender heart, in the house of His own friends! One wounding Him by secret distrust and discontent-another by open inconsistencies and transgressions; one forgetful of Him in solitude-another ashamed of Him before the world; here he is displeased by the concealed idolatry of the heart-and there dishonoured by the palpable irregularity of the life.

Who-who that loves the Saviour in any measure as he ought, can think of these things, and forbear to weep? Nor can these painful feelings find relief in the prospect of the day of our death; because, though that day may relieve us from witnessing these things, yet will they still remain, to dishonour and offend the Redeemer that we love!

But oh when we look to the day of His second coming, what a glorious contrast is presented to our view! Brighter glory than our beloved Redeemer will be encircled with-fuller blessedness than he' shall enjoy, in that day, our hearts in the very warmest glow of their affection, the very highest transports of their gratitude, cannot desire for Him whose happiness ought to be-if we could separate them-immeasurably dearer to us than our own.

In that day He shall come in His own glory, and His Father's glory, and all the holy angels with Him; and then shall He sit upon the Throne of His glory! and before Him shall be gathered all nations, and all people shall do Him homage! Unto him every knee, either in crouching agony, or grateful adoration, shall bow; and every tongue, either trembling with terror, or triumphant with joy, shall confess that He is

Lord-even Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, to the glory of God the Father!

It is then that the Divine Husbandman, who went through our world weeping, as He sowed the good seed of eternal life, shall come again, rejoicing with joy indeed unspeakable, bringing all His gathered sheaves to be laid up in His heavenly garner, in that harvest-day of glory!

It is then that the heavenly Bridegroom shall be solemnly united, before a mighty congregation of assembled angels, to his beloved bride, who shall be presented to Him on that morning of His espousals, "a glorious church, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing," arrayed in the wedding garment, which He himself wrought for her, while He tabernacled upon earth even the seamless robe of His own righteousness! Then shall the marriage-feast be celebrated with all the magnificence and rejoicing, which may be anticipated on such an august occasion, when the Bridegroom is the Son of God-the Bride, the Lamb's wife, the church, which He has bought with His own blood-and the marriage-feast is prepared by the everlasting Father, to show how he delighteth to honour His well-beloved Son.

This this was the joy set before Him in heaven, for which he was well content to resign, for a time, the glories of His Eternal Throne, and to appear on earth, as One "despised and rejected of men;" yea, to be treated as a worm, and no man-the very scorn and outcast of the people. This this the joy, for which He was even content to endure the cross, despising alike its sufferings and its shame.

Gleamings of this joy brightened, we doubt not, at passing intervals, the clouded path of humiliation and suffering, which the Divine Man of sorrows trod upon earth, as He toiled along in His mysterious pilgrimage of redeeming love.