blessing to that nation, and the salvation of a remnant from among them clearly manifested the efficacy of the great sacrifice.]
But the dispensation of the Gospel to the whole world is incomparably more glorious — It brings far greater good to men —
[We must not disparage the salvation of one single soul ; much less should we undervalue the mercy shewn to so many of the Jews ; but still, the Jews were a small body, when com- pared with the Gentile world, and it was but a little remnant, even of them, that obtained mercy ; but the publication of the Gospel to the Gentiles has been the means of saving unnum- bered myriads. There are persons in every quarter of the globe, who experience the efficacy of the Redeemer's blood ; yea, every day and hour are multitudes ascending from the darkest corners of the earth to swell the chorus in heaven. How much more glorious then is the dispensation which diffuses its blessings so extensively, than that which confined them to such a narrow sphere ! Surely it would have been " a light thing to save the Jews" in comparison of such a multitude. We may well therefore apply to this subject those words of the Apostle0 — .]
It brings also far greater glory to the Saviour him- self—
[Had none but Jews been saved by him, he might have appeared partial in his regards, or it might be thought that his sacrifice was but of a limited value ; but the extension of mercy to the Gentiles displays " the exceeding riches of his grace," and shews that his death is a sufficient " propitiation for the sins of the whole world." How transcendent is the Redeemer's glory in this view ! And how glorious will he appear, when all that he has redeemed from every nation of the earth shall unite in ascribing salvation to him ! The saving of a few from one nation only would not have been a suitable recompence for his work. He might well have complained that he had " spent his strength for nought ;" but he will be fully " satisfied with the travail of his soul," because so en- larged will be his Church, that " the birth of her womb will be as the dew of the morning p."]
We shall conclude with a word of two of advice —
1. Welcome the Saviour under the characters
which are here given him —
[We all need him as the light of our minds, and the Saviour of our souls. Let none then boast of the light of
0 2 Cor. iii. 9—11. P Ps. ex. 3.
950.1 Christ's future reign. 247
reason, or " lean to their own understanding ;" nor let us trust in our own goodness to merit, or strength to work out, salva- tion. Let us rather look to Jesus for the teaching of his word and Spirit, and unite our acknowledgments with those of the saints of oldq. Let us rejoice exceedingly that " help is laid upon One so mighty r," and let us receive him for all the ends for which he is offered to uss. Let none say, I am so far off, I can never hope for salvation by hirn. His exhortation re- corded by the prophet yet sounds in our ears1; nor shall any be ashamed who put their trust in him.]
2. Do not attempt to separate his characters, but
unite them —
[In vain shall we hope to be saved by Christ, if he have not enlightened our understandings. Though he gives not to all his people the same degree of knowledge, he invariably in- structs them in the most important truths ; and if we have no views of the evil of sin, the deceitfulness of the heart, the beauty of holiness, and the suitableness of his salvation, we are still in a lost and perishing condition. The text itself informs us that Christ becomes our salvation by being our light. On the other hand, let us not rest in a speculative knowledge of these things. We must manifest the practical and sanctifying effects of what we know. We must be delivered from the love and practice both of open and secret sin. Without this, the clearest perception of divine truths will be of no avail. Let us unite in our experience what is thus united in Christ, and seek to grow as well in gracious affections, as in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour u]