divinity. After the lapse of many years, this prophecy was accomplished at Bethlehem, in the land of Judea; for there the Messiah made his appearance, both as a child and as The Mighty God. Let us examine his character with modesty and humility. This fine passage of Scripture will furnish our thoughts with rich materials.

I. UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN.

But who is intended? The Prophet had an eye to the child Jesus, whose birth was, in many points of view, an exact accomplishment of ancient prophecy. It had been foretold that he should be born of a virgin; and he was born of the virgin Mary. Isai. vii, 14; Matt. i, 22, 23. The prophecy of Micah, which foretold that he should be born at Bethlehem, was literally fulfilled. Mich. v, 2; Matt. ii, 1. And it had been predicted, that he should appear in low and mean circumstances, or as a root out of a dry ground. This also was fulfilled when he was born in a stable, and laid in a manger.

His birth was humble; but not without honour. He was made known by the angel of the Lord to certain shepherds who were "keeping watch over their flocks by night;" and his appearance in our nature was celebrated by a song of angels. Luke ii, 11, 13, 14. And it is highly probable that those angels had been worshipping the Lord of glory in the stable; for it is written, "When he bringeth in the First-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Heb. i, 6. Surely that stable where this child was born, and where the host of heaven adored him, was a glorious temple of the Lord!

But the most important consideration is expressed in two words: unto us. His incarnation was for us men; including every human being. "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham." Heb. ii, 16. Good angels did not stand in need of his mediation; and bad ones could not share the blessings of redeeming love; but he became man, that he might redeem and save apostate men. 1 Tim. ii, 15. This appears from the subject of the angels' song: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men." Luke ii, 14.

II. UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN.

Jesus was the Son of God. He is called the Son of God in reference to his miraculous conception in the womb of Mary. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God." Luke i, 35. He was the Son of God by com mission; being sent of God to save the world. "Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" John x, 36. He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Rom. i, 4. And he is the only begotten Son of God in his Divine nature. John iii, 16; Heb. i, 1—3. The last application of the word Son, is the most important, as it conveys an idea of his Godhead, and the glory which he had with the Father before his incarnation. John xvii, 5.

The Son of God was given by the Father, to enlighten the world; to

make atonement for sin; to make reconciliation for iniquity; to save the world; and to bring many sons unto glory. John viii, 12; 1 John ii, 2; Dan. ix, 24; John iii, 17; Heb. ii, 10. He was the greatest gift that heaven could bestow on man; and in that gift every other necessary gift is included. For, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Rom. viii, 32. May all the gracious designs of God, in this unspeakable gift, be realized in our experience both here and hereafter! III. THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER.

The Prophet does not refer to the political government of the Jews. Civil governments are necessary in the present state of things; but the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world. John xviii, 36. It was below his dignity to wield an earthly sceptre. The Jews expected a conquering Messiah, who would restore again the kingdom to Israel; but they mistook the meaning of their own prophets, and the nature of Christ's government.

The predictions of the Messiah's kingdom relate to the spiritual government of his church, in all its vast and weighty concerns; and this government, including both the church in heaven and the church on earth, was laid on the shoulder of Christ. He is the Head of the church; and his faithful followers dare not acknowledge any other lord or master. Eph. iv, 15; Col. i, 18.

And he is able to bear the weight of this government; for all power was given unto him in heaven and in earth. Matt. xxviii, 18. He has wisdom to manage and direct all the affairs of his spiritual kingdom; for "in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' Col. ii, 3. He now rules in righteousness; and will for ever rule. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." Heb. i, 8.

ÍV. AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED, Wonderful.

The Hebrews gave names which expressed the qualities of things, and the characters and offices of persons; and Christ really was what he is called in our text. His name shall be called, that is, he shall be Wonderful. He was called Jesus, because he was a Saviour; and he was called Emmanuel, because he was "God with us." Matt. i, 21, 23. Christ was wonderful in his person: a child born, and yet the Mighty God; the Lord of David in his Divine nature; and the son of David in his human nature: the root of David in his Divinity; and the off-spring of David in his humanity. Matt. xxii, 45; Rev. xxii, 16. And the union of these two natures in one person was truly wonderful. He was wonderful in his love to man, and wonderful in all his undertakings. Who can fully understand his nature? Who can fully understand his merciful designs? Why do we ask after his name? Why do we pry into inconceivable mysteries? Let us stand still, and wonder, and adore! Gen. xxxii, 9; Judges xiii, 18.

V. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED, Counsellor.

The word counsellor may be applied to Christ as a revealer of secrets. He revealed the Gospel, which is called the counsel of God; he opened the secrets of the invisible world, and brought life and immortality to

light through the Gospel; and he is called Aóyos T, the WORD OF Gon, because he has always been the Revealer of God's attributes and will to mankind; for no man knoweth "the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Matt. xi, 27.

But a counsellor is one who gives counsel. Christ gave counsel in the days of his flesh, by all his public and private discourses; he gave salutary counsel to the church in Laodicea after his ascension; and he now gives counsel by his Holy Spirit, his written Word, and his faithful Ministers. His counsel is safe; and may be had on easy terms; and, if it be followed, will guide us to glory. Ps. lxxiii, 24.

VI. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED, THE MIGHTY GOD.

There are four unanswerable arguments for the Divinity of Christ: First, The titles of God are given to him. He is called God; the great God; the true God; and LORD, or JEHOVAH. John i, 1; Tit. ii, 13; 1 John v, 20; Isai. xl, 3. Secondly, The attributes of God are ascribed to him. He is from everlasting. Mich. v, 2. He is omnipotent. Rev. i, 8. He is omnipresent. Matt. xviii, 20. He is omniscient. John xxi, 17. And he is unchangeable. Heb. xiii, 8. Thirdly, He created all things. The visible world was made by him. John i, 3. And the invisible world, including thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, is the work of his hand. Col. i, 16. Fourthly, Divine worship has been paid to him. He was worshipped by angels at his birth. Heb. i, 6. Stephen, the first martyr, worshipped him. Acts vii, 59. All who baptize in his name worship him; for baptism is an act of worship. Matt. xxviii, 19. And he is now worshipped in the heavenly world. Rev. v, 13.

Paul and Barnabas refused to accept the worship which was offered to them at Lystra. Acts xiv, 15. The angel that appeared to John in the Isle of Patmos refused to accept the worship of that Apostle. Rev. xxii, 8, 9. But Christ, the Mighty God, accepts the adoration of his people; and happy are they who worship at his feet.

VII. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED, THE EVERLASTING FATHER

Christ is the Father of his church; true believers are called his children; and when the Christian family shall stand before him, he will say, "Behold I, and the children which God hath given me." Heb. ii, 13. The Septuagint render the words Everlasting Father, The Father of the world to come; and in allusion to this, the Gospel dispensation, under the reign of the Messiah, is called the world to come. Heb. ii, 5.

The Son of God is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Heb. v, 9. He was the Founder of the new and eternal age; the Father of a new race: and the Head of a new family which will never be extinct. Christian believers, who love and obey him, are his seed. Isai. liii, 10. And they are brought into a new life, and into a new state, through the atonement which he made, and by the influences of his Holy Spirit.

Earthly fathers die; but Christ says, "I am alive Rev. i, 18. Does an earthly father love his children? church. Does an earthly father protect his children? hiding-place to his people, and a covert in the tempest.

for evermore."
Christ loves his
Christ is as an
Isai. xxxii, 2

Does an earthly father provide for his children? Christ gives grace and glory to all that walk uprightly. Ps. lxxxiv, 11.

VIII. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

Christ is a PRINCE. He is called the Prince of the kings of the earth; and he surpasseth them in all that is great and excellent. Rev. i, 5. By him "kings reign, and princes decree justice." Prov. viii, 15. He is the Prince of life: or the Author of natural life, spiritual life, and eternal life; for he created us at first, brings us into spiritual life by a new creation, and conducts us safely into everlasting life. Acts iii, 15; Eph. ii, 10; John x, 27, 28.

He is called the PRINCE OF PEACE, because his government subdues the turbulent passions of men, and promotes peace in the world; and when the nations of the earth shall receive him as their Prince, and bow down to his authority, they shall learn war no more. By him all that believe have peace with God; their minds are kept in perfect peace; and peaceable dispositions predominate in their hearts.

To conclude: let us admire and adore the Lord Jesus Christ; let us trust in him for pardon, peace, and holiness; let us look up to him in all our difficulties and dangers; and let us commit to his care, our Dodies and souls, our families and friends, and all temporal and spiritual affairs. His person is wonderful; his counsel is infallible; his authority is absolute; his paternal care is everlasting; and his government is peaceful. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.

SERMON LXXXVIII.

SINNERS INVITED TO CHRIST.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

MATTHEW Xi, 28.

OUR blessed Saviour, in the days of his flesh, "went about doing good." Acts x, 38. He did good to the bodies of men, by opening the eyes of the blind, by cleansing the lepers, and by raising the dead. He did good to the souls of men, by instructing the ignorant, by reproving the careless, and by comforting the afflicted. A conscience burdened with a load of guilt is the heaviest affliction of man in the present world; but when penitent sinners applied to Jesus, he healed their wounded hearts. All that laboured and were heavy laden were invited to approach his gracious presence; and all that obeyed the invitation found rest and peace.

In discoursing on these words, we shall arrange our thoughts under three heads: First, awakened sinners labour and are heavy laden; Secondly, they are graciously invited to go to Christ; and, Thirdly, when they go to him, he gives them rest.

I. AWAKENED SINNERS LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.

Worldly sorrow, which worketh death, is a heavy burden; but Christianity offers no consolation, either here or hereafter, to the unsanctified sorrows of a carnal man. He mourns the loss of pleasure, wealth, and fame; but he loves his sins, abhors religion, and is joined to idols. The world has deceived him, but he still pursues it; and sin has plunged him into sorrow, but he does not repent.

The ceremonial law was a burden, and many of the Jews laboured and were heavy laden under its expensive rites; but the invitation of our text was not addressed to men whose only sorrow was that of an expensive religion. Jesus had a greater work before him than that of putting an end to the Jewish ritual. He came into the world to save sinners; and they are invited to come to him for salvation.

The character of sinners, who labour and are heavy laden, may be expressed in three particulars: they are convinced of sin; they feel its heavy weight; and they desire to be delivered from it.

They are convinced of sin. The light of truth has opened their eyes to see the wickedness of their hearts, and the sinfulness of their lives. And now they are ready to acknowledge that they were shapen in iniquity; that their hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked; and that their lives have been one continued source of sin and folly. But have they no good works to plead? Not one. Their best works have been sinful in a legal point of view, having fallen short of what the law requires; and they have been defective in that which is essential to every good work, namely, a single eye to the glory of God.

But they feel the heavy weight of sin; and it is a burden that is "intolerable to be borne." Their spirits are pressed down to the earth; they sigh and groan, they weep and lament, and know not where to flee for safety. If they turn to the law, they see the mount which burned with fire; if they look upwards, they see the frowns of an angry God; and if they look downwards, they see a yawning hell. Their health declines; business fails in their hands; and the world says, they are going mad. What a painful state of mind! "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmities; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

And now they desire a deliverance from this wretched state. The cry of their hearts is, Who shall deliver? This desire leads them to an use of means. They begin to pray; they forsake their old companions; they renounce their sins; and they associate with the children of God. The lie at the pool of Bethesda; they knock at the door of mercy; and are not far from the kingdom. Jesus sees their sorrow; his bowels of compassion move towards them; and he says, "Come unto me." Now the day breaks; and the light of the Gospel dawns upon their hearts. II. THEY ARE GRACIOUSLY INVITED TO GO TO CHRIST.

But many are ready to inquire, Where shall we find him? When he gave this gracious invitation to labouring and heavy laden sinners, he was on earth; but he has left our world, and is highly exalted at the right hand of God. Can we find access to him in the regions of glory? We reply, If you cannot ascend to him, he can come down to you. He knows you well; he hears your prayers; and is ever ready to afford you