testimony are declared to be precisely such as we have affirmed. It was of the wonders of redemption that they testified ; and the Author of their testimony was Jesus Christ.
In due time he came down from heaven, and testified of these things in his own person. He had from all eternity been " in the bosom of his Father1," and was privy to every thing which the Father had ordained"1: and at the appointed season he came, " as a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the Fathers11:" as St. John informs us ; " He that cometh from heaven is above all : and what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth0." The light which he cast on this mystery was far greater than that which had been given to the Jewish Church: yet the time was not come for the full disclosure of it : he had many things to say, which the people could not hear whilst he was yet sojourning on earth, because the mystery itself yet re- mained to be accomplished, by his death, and resurrection, and ascension.
He therefore afterwards bore a fuller testimony by his Apostles ; who, through that " unction of the Holy One who taught them all things" and " brought all things to their re- membrance," " testified of the Gospel of the grace of Godp," and " declared the whole counsel of God" respecting it. To this effect St. John says ; " We have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the worldq." The record was the same, by whomsoever it was delivered ; namely, " that God has given to us eternal life ; and that this life is in his Son : he that hath the Son, hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life r." By whomsoever it was delivered also, it was equally " the testimony of Christ %" both as having him for its Author, and him for its end.
Hence the appropriate name of Christ, as designating the first great object of his Mission, is, " The faithful and true Witness1."]
2. To be " a Leader and Commander to the
people" —
[Moses, in his day, was a witness from God, to make known to the Jewish people the Divine will : but Joshua was the commander, who was to lead them into the Promised Land, and to give them a full possession of their inheritance. The two offices are combined in Christ ; who, whilst he is given for a Witness, is also given for "a Leader and Commander to the people." He even appeared to Joshua of old, " as Captain
1 John i. 18. m John v. 20. n Rom. xv. 8.
0 John iii. 31, 32. P Acts xx. 24. i 1 John iv. 14.
r 1 John v. 11, 12. s 1 Cor. i. G. l Rev.i.5. and iii. 14.