MESSIAH.

MY SAVIOUR is the MESSIAH, whom Daniel foretold, as "the Prince," who should "be cut off, but not for himself," "to finish the transgression, and make an end of sins, and make reconciliation for iniquity."*

To accomplish these great purposes, it was necessary that my Saviour should be at once a Priest and a sacrifice, and in his sacerdotal character be "anointed" with an unction, corresponding with his exalted nature and his unequalled undertaking. That unction was the Holy Ghost, and it qualified him in his priestly office to "offer himself without spot to God;"+ for it was

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through the Eternal Spirit" that he thus presented himself unto God, by his conscience-purging blood. As the anointed prophet and teacher of his people, whose work and whose word were to

be the source of instruction and comfort to them, under all the varied wants of their ignorance and their sorrows, he was the object of constant expectation. “I know,” – said the woman of Samaria to him, before he fully revealed himself to her penitent and opening mind, “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ : when he is come, he will tell us all things.”

In his regal office, also, my Saviour was anointed with the divine unction, which authorized and enabled him to assume the reins of universal empire. 66 Thus was Christ 6 anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows;' i. e. above those who possessed with him a fellowship, or similarity of office, as types of himself. Aaron was anointed high-priest ; Saul was anointed king ; Elisha was anointed prophet; Melchisedec, king and priest; Moses, priest and prophet; David, king and prophet; yet none was ever anointed to the union and comprehension of all these offices together, but the Christ of God.” All that my Saviour has and is, he has and is

That" oil of gladness," which so richly flows over him, that “all his garments,” and even the very skirts of them, “ smell of myrrh,

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aloes, and cassia,” descends upon me, and municates its healing and sanctifying virtue to my soul, when my timid faith only ventures to touch the hem of his vesture. Whatever was touched by the anointed priest, became consecrated to the service of the sanctuary; and one drop of the precious anointing oil would perfume all it fell upon. Has not my Saviour touched my soul ? Has he not secretly drawn me to touch him in humble faith? Have I not felt a sweetly-constraining energy emanate from him to my whole nature ? Am not I, and all I have, thereby consecrated to my Redeemer's service ? I observe it recorded of the members of the earliest New Testament church, when acting under that rich unction of the Holy One which taught them all things, that “ them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own.” Thus may I feel and act; so that men, perceiving the fragrance of holiness around me, while I am myself scarcely conscious of it, may “ take knowledge of me that I have been with Jesus,” and seek for themselves the same anointing of God. To him alone apostolical and sainted men were accustomed to ascribe the origin and glory of their devoted

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lives. Now, he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” *

As on the top of Hermon's snowy breast
The dewy clouds of heaven forever rest,
And thence, in showers, on every subject hill
Rich with fertility and life distil;
While fountains swell to streams, and streams expand
To rivers, that o'erflow the thirsty land;
Till pasture clothes the hills, and through the plains
Smile waving harvests of the golden grain ;-
So on my Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King,
The Holy Dove forever spreads his wing ;
Sheds, as he hovers there, celestial dew,
An unction all divine, and ever new ;
And down, in streams of rich anointing, pours
Life, holiness, and peace, on earth's remotest shores.

My Saviour is THE NAME OF THE LORD; for by this expressive title he is repeatedly spoken of in the page of truth. He is that glorious medium by which Jehovah makes himself and his purposes known to me, and by which I may approach him

I with my guilt for pardon, and my wants to be supplied. If I look for an appellation, which comprehends in it all the attributes of the Godhead, especially in relation to myself, I have but to look to Jesus, and his glorious person immediately reflects Jehovah's highest name.

On “ the name of the Lord,” † therefore, let me call with the pilgrim patriarchs of the olden time. When

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heart is sensible of my innumerable mercies, “ I will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.” | When sorrow would produce despondency, I will “ remember the

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