9, 10. "As in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works. Forty years long was I grieved with that generation." But it is evident, that he whom they tempted, provoked, and grieved, was that God whose great works they saw, and, therefore, was that God who wrought those wonderful works in Egypt, and the wilderness: As is evident by the same Psalm, ver. 3, where he is called "Jehovah, a great God, and a great King above all gods." And it is equally clear by that passage in Isa. Ixiii. just quoted, that it was the Angel of God's presence, and by I Cor. x. 9. "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted."

And, as it is said, Isa. Ixiii. that the Angel of God's presence saved them, &c., so it is plain, by Exod. xxiii. 20-33. that God's Angel, a dfferent person from him who acts as first in the affairs of the Deity, brought them into Canaan, &c. And it is plain, that the person that appeared in the bush, who said his name was Jehovah, and I am that I am, was the Angel of Jehovah Exod. iii. 2, 14. vi. 3. and Acts vii. 30. And nothing is more evident, by the whole history, than that the same person brought them out of Egypt; and, also, that it was the same Angel which appeared and delivered the ten commandments at Mount Sinai, conversed there with Moses, and manifested himself from time to time to the congregation in the wilderness. Acts vii. 38. "This is he that was in the Church in the wilderness, with the Angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the lively oracles to give unto us." That angel, doubtless, was the same that is called the Angel of the Covenant; Mal. iii. 1. “Behold, I will send my Messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come into his temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in. Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts:" And this messenger, without doubt, was Christ.—It is plain, by Heb. xii. 25, 26, 27, that he who spake at Mount Sinai, was Christ" See that ye refuse not him that speaketh," &c. § 39. Thus we see, that however the work of salvation be so often spoken of as peculiar to God; yet this salvation out of Egypt, so much celebrated in scripture, is not peculiar to God the Father; but the Son wrought this work as well as the Father. And it is true, that the scriptures abundantly speak of an infinitely greater and more glorious salvation than that out of Egypt; viz. the salvation of men from sin, Satan, eternal death, and ruin, and bringing them to the heavenly Canaan, to eternal life and happiness there. This is spoken of as a far greater work than the other. So that, in comparison of it, it is not worthy to be remembered or mentioned. Jer. xvi. 14, 15. "It shall no more be said, the Lord liveth," &c. See,

also, chap. xxiii. 6-8. Isaiah xliii. 18-21. "Remember ye not the former things," &c. But I need not stop to show the reader how this great salvation is, in scripture, ascribed in a peculiar manner to Christ as the author.

§ 40. We read in scripture of two creations: The first, that which Moses gives an account of in the first chapter of Genesis ; the other, a spiritual creation, consisted in restoring the moral world, bringing it to its highest perfection, and establishing it in its eternal felicity and glory; and the latter is spoken of as most incomparably the greatest work; Isaiah lxv. 17, 18. and lxvi. 22. Now, as creation is so much spoken of as a most peculiar work of the Supreme God, one may well determine, that if the first creation be not so, yet the second is, which is so much greater, and evidently the greatest of all God's works.

But this new creation, which is the same with the work of redemption, is, in the most especial manner, spoken of as the work of Jesus: for he is ever mentioned as the great Redeemer and Restorer. This work is committed to him: for this, he has a full commission. It is left in his hands; all things are committed to him; all power, in heaven and in earth, is given him, that he may accomplish this work, and bring it to its most absolute perfection. To this end are subjected to him, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, and he is made Head over all things; and, to this end, the world to come, that is, all the affairs of that new creation, are put in subjection unto him: And he, with regard to all the transactions belonging to this new creation, that are written in the book of God, is the Christ built the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. house; he built all things, especially in this new creation; and, therefore, is God. These things are plainly asserted in Heb. iii. 3, 4. "For this man, (rather, this person,) was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house, hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man: but he that built all things, is God." Thus, the work of redemption, which is both the greatest work of salvation, and the greatest work of creation, (the two kinds of works chiefly spoken of in scripture as divine,) is accomplished by the Son of God.

§ 41. The giving of spiritual and saving light, is one chief part of the new creation, as creating the light was a chief part of the old creation. The causing of this spiritual light, is 2 Cor. iv. 6. "For spoken of as the peculiar work of God. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," &c. But the giving of this light is especially ascribed to Christ, as the Author and Fountain of it. He is called the Light of the world; the Light of life; the true Light, that lighteth every man that VOL. VII.

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cometh into the world. He is the Sun of Righteousness. No man knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him, &c.

§ 42. So calling men into Christ's fellowship and kingdom, Whom he did preis also ascribed to God. Rom. viii. 30. "As many as destinate, them He also called." Acts ii. 39. 1 Cor. i. 9. "God is faithful, the Lord our God shall call." by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Thess. ii. 12. "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory." 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. "God hath, from the beginning, chosen you to salvation; whereunto He called you by our gospel." 2 Tim. i. 9. "According to the power of God, who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.” 1 Pet. v. 10. "The God of all grace, who hath called us unto

his eternal glory."

"Among

1 Cor. vii. 17. "And he "" Verse

But this is ascribed to Jesus Christ. Rom. i. 6. whom, also, ye are called of Jesus Christ." "As the Lord hath called every one." John x. 3. calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.' 16. "Other sheep have I, which are not of this fold; them, Eph. also, I must bring in; and they shall hear my voice." i. 18. "That ye may know what is the hope of His calling." § 43. Regeneration, or the changing and renewing of the heart, is spoken of as the peculiar work of God. John i. 13. "Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, "Of his nor of the will of man, but of God." James i. 18. own will, begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures."

It is, likewise, ascribed to Christ. Saints are born of Him in their spiritual generation, and, therefore, are called his seed; Gal. iii. 29. It is Christ that baptizes men with the Holy Ghost, which is called the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and a being born of water and of the Spirit. Christ sanctifies and cleanses the souls of men, by the washing of water, by the word; Eph. v. 26.

§ 44. Justification, washing from sin, delivering from guilt, forgiving sin, admitting to favour, and to the glorious benefits of righteousness in the sight of God, are often spoken of as belonging peculiarly to God. Rom. iii. 26. "That he might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.' Verse 30. "Seeing it is one God that justifieth," &c. Chap. viii. 30. "Whom he called, he also justified." Verse 33. "It is God that justifieth." Isaiah xliii. 25. "I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake." Psalm li. 2-4. "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin: against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.”

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Therefore the Jews said, Luke v. 21. "Who can forgive sins but God only?"

But Christ hath power to forgive sins, as it follows in the last mentioned place; verse 24. "But that ye may know, that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins," &c. He washes us from our sins in his own blood; Rev. i. 5. And he justifies those that know and believe in him, Isaiah liii. 11. $45. Overcoming Satan, and delivering men from him, and giving his people victory over him, are spoken of as the pecu"In that liar works of God's glorious power. Isaiah xxvii. 1. day, Jehovah, with his great and strong sword, shall punish Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan, that crooked serpent; he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.' viii. 1, 2. "O Jehovah, our God, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, who hast set thy glory above the heavens ! Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."

Psalm

But it is the special work of Christ to bruise the serpent's head; to destroy the works of the devil; and that by his own strength. For he is represented as conquering him, becausc he is stronger than the strong man armed, and so overcoming him and taking from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and spoiling his goods. It is He that has spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them. He is the spiritual Samson, that has rent the roaring lion as he would have rent a kid; and the spiritual David, that has delivered the lamb out of his mouth, and has slain that great Goliath. He is that Michael who fights with the dragon and casts him out; and, at last, will judge Satan, and will utterly destroy him; and will inflict those everlasting torments In the apprehension of on him spoken of in Rev. xx, 10. which, he now trembles, and trembled for fear that Christ would inflict those torments on him, when he cried out and "Art thou come to torment me fell down before him, saying, before the time?" And I beseech thee, torment me not." § 46. Should any imagine, that those parts of the work of redemption, which are initial, and wrought in this world, being more imperfect, may be wrought by the Son of God; but that the more glorious perfection of it, which is brought to pass in heaven, is peculiar to God the Father: In opposition to this, it may be observed, it belongs to Christ to take care of the souls of his saints after death; to receive them to the heavenly state; and to give them possession of heaven. Therefore, the scriptures represent, that he redeems his saints to God, and makes them kings and priests. He has the key of David, the key of the palace, and the keys of Hades, or the separate state, and of death; and opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no

man opens. He is gone to heaven, as the forerunner of the saints. He has, in their name, taken possession of that inheritance which he has purchased for them, that he may put them in possession of it in due time. He is gone to prepare a place for them, that he may come and take them to himself, that where he is, there they may be also; and make them sit with him in his throne. And, therefore, Stephen, when dying, commended his spirit into Christ's hands.

Or, if any shall say, that the far more glorious salvation which shall be effected at the end of the world, when all things shall be brought to their highest consummation, shall be the peculiar work of God the Father: I answer, it is abundantly manifest from scripture, that the consummation of all things shall be by Christ. He shall raise the dead by his voice, as one that has power and life in himself. He shall raise up the bodies of his saints in their glorious resurrection, making their bodies like to his glorious body; John v. 25, 29, and vi. 39, 40. He, as the universal and final Judge, shall fully put all things to rights; and bring every thing to its last and most perfect state. He shall bestow that great gift of eternal life, in both soul and body, on the whole church, and every individual member, in a state of most consummate glory, which is the thing aimed at in all the preceding steps of the great affair of redemption. He shall present his church to Himself, and to his Father, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; all in perfect purity, beauty, and glory and the glory which God hath given him, he will give them in the most perfect manner, that they may reign with him for ever and And thus, he will cause the new Jerusalem to appear in its brightest glory, as a bride adorned for her husband; and will perfect the new creation, and cause the new heavens and new earth to shine forth in their consummate and eternal beauty and brightness; when God shall proclaim, It is done; I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last.* Christ is represented as being himself the light and glory that enlightens the New Jerusalem, that fills with brightness and glory the church of God, in its last, consummate, and eternal glory: Rev. xxi. 23.

ever.

§ 47. Concerning the name JEHOVAH, See Neh. ix. 6. “Thou art Jehovah alone: Thou hast made heaven and earth; the heaven of heavens with all their host; the earth," &c. Deut. vi. 4. "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." 2 Sam. xxii. 32. "Who is God save Jehovah? who is a rock, save our God?" So Psalm xviii, 31. 1 Kings xviii. 39. "Jehovah, he is

*John xi. 25, and v. 22, 23. 27; Eph. v. 20. 1 Cor. xv. 20—28. Matt. XXV. 34. 2 Tim. iv. 8. Luke xxii. 29, 33. Matt. xxiv. 47. Rev. ii. 7, 10. and iii. 21. Rev. xxii. 11, 17.