d John xvii. e Luke xi. 22.
By these united means then is Christ's kingdom to be extended : nor, when once they are combined, shall all the powers of earth and hell withstand their influence. However desperate the condition of any may appear, though they should have sold themselves to work iniquity, and become in a peculiar sense, " the lawful prey" of Satan, yet shall they be rescued, like Lot, from their victorious captors f. This very difficulty is both stated and answered by the prophet : " Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered ?" Yes ; " Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered : for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children8."
Previous to the accomplishment of this promise, Christ was to purchase the Church with his own blood : " he was to make his soul an offering for sin, and, after that, to see a seed" given to him for a por- tion \ Such was the tenour of the covenant which the Father entered into with his Son. But the prophet, foreseeing this work of Christ, as it were already com- pleted, speaks of it as if finished ; and states the execu- tion of his part of the covenant, as the ground, on which he might expect the accomplishment of the Father's part towards him.
In further investigating this promise, it will be proper more fully to consider,
II. The grounds on which the fulfilment of it may be certainly expected —
The Lord Jesus has fulfilled his part of the cove- nant entered into with the Father. His death and intercession comprehend the whole of that work, which He was to perform on earth and in heaven for the redemption of man. And, they being virtually accomplished from the foundation of the world, our blessed Lord had a right to his purchase, and a claim upon the Father's honour for the performance of the engagements stipulated on his part.
* Gen. xiv. 14—16. e Isai. xlix. 24, 25. h ver. 10.
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In this view, the death of Christ is first mentioned in the text ; " Therefore will I divide him a portion, be- cause he hath poured out his soul unto death." But it was not sufficient that Christ should die : he must die in a particular manner, and for particular ends. Was an atonement necessary to reconcile the Father to us ? His death must be sacrificial. Was ever- lasting shame the portion we had merited? His death must be ignominious. Was it necessary for the honour of God's government that sin should be punished in the sight of the whole universe ? His death must be judicial. Now it was in this very manner, and for these very ends, that Jesus died. The sacrifices under the law had their blood shed, and poured out at the foot of the altar : and Jesus, our sacrifice, shed his blood from every pore of his body, and " poured out his soul unto death." To mark the ignominy that he was to endure for us, "he was numbered with transgressors" of the most atrocious character, and crucified between two thieves ; as though, instead of being the Lord of glory, he was the vilest of the human race. And, lastly, to make full satisfaction to Divine Justice, he died under a judicial sentence, bearing in his own person the load of our iniquities, and enduring the curse and condemnation due to the whole world.
Here then is one ground on which we may expect assuredly the conversion of sinners to him. Has he fulfilled his covenant engagements in every part, and shall the Father violate his engagements to him ? Has he performed his work, and shall he not receive his wages ? Has he paid down the price, and shall he not enjoy his purchased possession ? Were multitudes ex- pressly given to him on purpose that he might redeem them ; and shall they never partake of his redemption ? Was he himself exalted far above all principalities and powers, and entrusted with gifts that he might bestow them on the rebellious ; yea, was all fulness of blessings committed to him on purpose that he might impart them, in rich abundance, to his ransomed people, and will he not exercise his power for these ends ? We may be assured, that if there be any faithfulness in God the