UNIVERSAL SOVEREIGNTY OF CHRIST.

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JANUARY 9.

Unibersal Sobereignty of Christ.

"I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."-Is. xlv. 23.

HERE we are informed that Christ is a sovereign Lord— that his kingdom shall be universal-and that this is absolutely certain.

Christ is a sovereign Lord.—In Rom. xiv. 11, the apostle informs us that Christ is the speaker, and that it is before him every knee shall bow, and to him every tongue shall swear. He is "the mighty God," "the Prince of peace," "God over all, blessed for ever," and "King of kings and Lord of lords." O my soul, he is thy Lord, worship thou him. As Sovereign Lord he has founded his churchgiven laws for its government-administers that government himself and preserves it from being destroyed by death and all other enemies. "Unto the son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."

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His kingdom shall be universal.- -"Unto me every knee shall bow." "All nations shall call him blessed." was worshipped by the wise men of the east; he was worshipped by his disciples. The proto-martyr Stephen called upon God, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." The angels of God worship him, and the whole host of heaven pay him homage, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." The time is approaching when on earth "all men shall honour the Son, even as they honour the Father;" when reverence and adoration shall be paid to him throughout the world, and when idolatry shall be utterly abolished. All shall swear to him the oath of

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UNIVERSAL SOVEREIGNTY OF CHRIST.

allegiance. Monarchs require this from their servants and subjects, but it is often given with feigned lips. The time is approaching when the affection of the heart-the confession of the mouth-and the service of the life shall be universally rendered, and when every one that will not serve him shall perish. Have I sworn allegiance to Christ? Let me be faithful unto death, and I shall receive a crown of life.

The absolute certainty of this.-"I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return." He hath sworn by himself, because he could swear by no greater; and this oath, to which the expression "As I live," is equivalent, expresses his solemn and unchangeable purpose to reign over earth till all his enemies be put under his feet. How vain the opposition of wicked men to the universal sway of Jesus! We have his declaration, as well as his oath. "The word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness." It is a righteous word he hath uttered, and his cause on earth being a righteous cause, justice requires him to carry it forward. Thus by two immutable things, the universal dominion of Christ is secured, and there shall be no reversal. The word "shall not return." No change of circumstances, no power of man, no opposition of enemies, shall ever reverse the expressed purpose. "He must reign till he hath put

all enemies under his feet."

JANUARY 10.

Joy in Heaven.

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance."-Luke, xv. 7.

HERE we have a changed character-joy in heaven on his account and the greatness of that joy.

A changed character." One sinner that repenteth." A sinner that repenteth has discovered his sins. He has beheld them collected into one view on the cross of Christ. He has seen his guilt gathered into one vast mountain heap, and laid upon Jesus. Hence their bitterness and oppressiveness. Hence his overwhelming sorrow in looking on One whom his sins have pierced. The sight of the Saviour, suffering and dying for his sins, breaks his heart, and now he hates that which he formerly loved. Now he confesses, I am verily guilty. "My sin is ever before me." "I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord." Now he grieves and groans, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Now he prays, "God be merciful to me a sinner." "Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice." And his repentance is genuine. It is not like that of Cain, or Ahab, or Judas, but it is like that of David, or Manasseh, or Peter. It is followed by reformation of life, by strong endeavours to counteract the evil he had done, and by devotedness to the service of God.

There is joy in heaven when a sinner thus repents. Angels and saints in heaven rejoice, because his conversion illustrates the harmony of the divine attributes. In every conversion we see holiness and justice, mercy and truth, meeting together. "God is just, and the justifier of him. who believeth in Jesus." Such attributes seen clustering in harmony around a sinner that repenteth, swell the tide of heavenly bliss, and send a broad wave of delight through its countless ranks. Angels and saints rejoice, because by repentance Christ is highly honoured. Jesus wrestled, and agonised, and died for the ungodly; and when one abandons the army of Satan, and joins the army of Christ, it is an additional trophy of his victory-an additional jewel in his crown. Angels and saints rejoice because an immortal soul is saved from death. How vast is the worth

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of the soul, when rescued from sin and death! What a revenue of glory will it bring through eternity to the Great Captain of salvation! Time cannot tell, archangels cannot tell, but eternity will declare it.

This joy is unspeakably great.-By the ninety and nine just persons, we cannot understand angels, nor scribes and Pharisees, but actual penitents already safe, and over whom there has been joy in heaven already. Now, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, and when he repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons when brought home to glory. O, my reader, thou art a sinner, but art thou a sinner that repenteth? Has there been joy in heaven over thy repentance? Is not some angelic messenger waiting thy decision, and ready to convey the gladdening intelligence to his compeers in glory, and shalt thou hesitate to look on him whom thou hast pierced and mourn?

JANUARY 11.

Righteousness and Strength.

"Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.”— Isa. xlv. 24.

WHAT every Christian has how he gets possession-and his avowal of it, here demand our consideration.

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What every Christian has. Righteousness and strength." He has "righteousness." This righteousness consists of the active and passive obedience of Christ-his whole merit in obeying and suffering for sinners. It is the sole ground of a sinner's acceptance with God-the source of his peace and hope in time—and the never-failing fountain of his happiness through eternity. It is complete in itself, and cannot be mingled with, or added to, self

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH.

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righteousness. The sinner is indebted for it wholly and only to Christ. What a possession! How near to the sinner ready to perish, and how enriching to the Christian! He has "strength." Strength to resist and overcome temptation-strength to discharge all the duties of lifestrength to bear up under all afflictions-and strength to triumph over death.

How he gets possession." In the Lord." Jehovah Jesus, for he is the person spoken of, wrought out this righteousness by his obedience unto death. He hath revealed it in the gospel to the stout-hearted, and those that are far from righteousness. And he actually bestows it on every one that believeth. It is only in Christ that the believer has this righteousness. It cannot be inherent. It cannot be wrought out by himself, but, united to the Saviour by the bond of faith, he receives it as a gift. He pleads and he claims, "The Lord is my righteousness;" and he does not plead in vain. Believing in Jesus, the sinner is united to him, and the Saviour's righteousness is accounted his. O my soul, out of Christ thou art poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee, and in Christ thou art rich and complete, and thy faith receives a righteousness that makes thee just before God. How amazing that Jesus should take thy rags, and give thee his robe of unspotted righteousness!

His avowal of it.-" Surely shall one say." The justified believer feels that he is safe for eternity, and he does not hide his candle under a bushel, nor conceal his happiness, but certainly and openly declares it. He confesses Christ before men, and feels that this is a requirement as essential as to believe in Christ. He has no inward consciousness of shame-no secret that requires careful concealment no allurement from the world's smilesno fears from the world's frowns-no alarm at the reproach of the infidel-and no terror at the malediction