Isa. lii. 14, 15.— As many ivere astonished at thee*; (his visage ivas so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men :) so shall he sprinkle many nations.
a Should be " him." Bishop Lowth.
OF all the subjects that ever engaged the attention of the human mind, there is none so important as that which the prophet is now opening : the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament are full of it : it was exhibited in the first promise that was given to man after his fall : it was continued from that period with increasing clearness in the prophecies : it was set before the eyes of men in the sacrifices that were offered : and memorials of it are yet preserved in all Christian churches in the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Our Lord himself frequently intro- duced it in his discourses : it was the one topic of conversation when he talked with Moses and Elias on the mount of transfiguration. The Apostles in their sermons and epistles represent it as the foundation of all their hopes. Paul found it to be such an irresist- able weapon, and so mighty to destroy the strong holds of sin and Satan, that he determined to know nothing among his people but Jesus Christ and him crucified. This is that mystery, in which are con- tained all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is so extensive a field for meditation, that, though we traverse it ever so often, we need never resume the same track : and it is such a marvellous fountain of blessedness to the soul, that, if we have ever drunk of its refreshing streams, we shall find none other so pleasant to our taste ; or rather, we shall never wish to taste any other. To the consideration of this subject, we are immediately led by the words before us, in which we may observe both our Lord's un- paralleled humiliation, and the ends for which he submitted to it.
I. His unparalleled humiliation —
In order to mark this the more distinctly, we will briefly notice the different steps of it from his cradle to his grave. Notwithstanding he was the Creator of the universe, he had no fitter place for his recep- tion than a stable, no better accommodation than a manger : nor had he long made his appearance in the world before his life was sought, and he was driven a
y 2