god's regard for those who approach unto him.
Jer. xxx. 21. Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me ? saith the Lord.
THE history of the Jews is deserving of attention, not merely as unfolding to our view the gradual in- troduction of Christianity, but as shadowing forth all the most important parts of the Christian system. The passage before us primarily relates to the return of the Jews from Babylon. It foretells, that a ter- rible destruction should come upon their oppressors :
that they, in consequence of it, should be restored to their own country, and live under governors of their own nation, and have the same access to God, in his worship, as they had enjoyed before the destruction of their city and temple. But, under these events, many others of a more sublime nature were typified. Their governors represented Christ, who should in due time arise to reign over them ; and their enjoy- ment of Divine ordinances depicted the privileges which we were to possess under the Christian dispen- sation. To evince this, we will shew,
I. To whom this passage refers —
Besides referring to Zerubbabel and the Jewish people, it refers,
1. To Christ—
[Beyond all doubt he was the Governor who was to arise from among that people a, and to reign over the house of David
for everb He " approached unto God" as our Surety
and High Priest on earth, and as our Advocate and Interces- sor in heaven In this glorious work he " engaged
his heart." When first he entered into covenant with the Father respecting it, he shewed that his whole heart was en- gaged in it c : and, from the moment that he entered upon his work, he persisted in it, notwithstanding all which he had to endure in the prosecution of it d ]
2. To his people —
[His followers are characterized as " a people near unto Gode :" and to them, as the words following the text evince, the words before us may be applied. They endeavour to " approach God " in the way that he has appointed : they " draw near to him with a true heart, in full assurance of
a Compare ver. 9. with Ps. xxii. 28. and Matt. ii. 6.
b Luke i. 32, 33, 68 — 75. where the whole subject of the chapter before us is represented as verified in Christ.
c Ps. xl. 7, 8.
d See while yet a child, Luke ii. 46 — 49. And during his ministry, he went into the wilderness that he might be tempted, Matt. iv. 1. — he rebuked Peter for dissuading him from suffering, Matt. xvi. 22,23. — he longed for his bloody baptism, Luke xii. 50. — he resigned him- self to suffer all that was necessary, John xii. 27, 28. — nor would he rescue himself (John xviii. 6 — 9.), or be rescued (Matt. xxvi. 51 — 54.), or come down from the cross, till he could say, "It is finished," Matt, xxvii. 42.
e Ps. cxlviii. 14.