and at another time he told his disciples, that " the Father had appointed unto him a kingdom." Thus plain is it, that whether he executed the office of a prophet, priest, or king, he acted in the capacity of a servant.
In the whole of his work he prospered. The text says, " My servant shall deal prudently ;" but in the margin of the Bible it is put, " shall prosper." This rendering of the word seems rather better to agree with the context, and with that expression in the fol- lowing chapter, " the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." The very same word also is used in reference to Christ by Jeremiah, where our translators have given this sense to it ; "I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper8." Let us view this servant of Jehovah in the various offices he performed, and we shall see that he prospered in them all. Was he teaching the people ? behold, what wonderful things he brought to light ; things, which from eternity had been hidden in the bosom of the Father ! How did the clouds of ignorance and superstition vanish before him ! the corrupt glosses, with which the Jewish doctors had obscured the law, were refuted : the truths of God were established on the firmest basis ; the most subtle objectors were put to silence ; the most ignorant were instructed in the deepest mysteries ; and all, with such condescension, such ease, such wisdom, and such authority, that his very enemies were constrained to say, " Never man spake like this man." Was he setting up his kingdom? he rejected with disdain the pomp of earthly monarchs, and laid the foundations of his throne in the hearts of his people. Nor did he bring any into subjection by outward force : a single word was sufficient to subdue the stoutest heart. If he said to Matthew, " Follow me," not all the wealth of kingdoms could detain the willing captive. If he said, " Come down, Zaccheus," behold, a covetous extortioner is instantly transformed into a benevolent and obedient servant. Whomsoever he would, he
s Jer. xxiii. 5.