before us. It is repeatedly applied to Christ in the New Testament, as marking out with precision the very place where he should be bornk. In explaining it therefore as referring to his spiritual kingdom, we cannot err.
The enemies of God's people of old were typical of those spiritual enemies with which his people have to contend in every age. And it is certain that the ene- mies of our souls may prevail for a season in a very alarming degree. But when sin and Satan make their fiercest assaults, even then will Christ maintain our peace,
1. By the merit of his blood —
[This it is which enables us to behold all our guilt without terror or despondency: this it is which enables us to answer the accuser of the brethren, " Who is he that shall condemn, since Christ has died1?" In this view especially is Christ called " our peace," since " he made peace for us by the blood of his cross ; " and every one of us by believing in Him shall have peace with Godm.]
2. By the prevalence of his intercession —
[The prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah were effectual for the peace of Jerusalem, even while the besiegers encompassed itn: and in answer to them, one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrian army were slain by an angel in one night0. What then may not be expected from the prayers of our ador- able Redeemer ? Shall not he prevail, seeing that " He ever liveth on purpose to make intercession for usp?" To this, as to an inexhaustible source of consolation, we are taught to look, under the conflicts which we are called to sustain; " If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is also the propitiation for our sinsq."
3. By the sufficiency of his grace —
[We may be reduced to a more perilous condition than even Jerusalem itself, and yet find peace in the consideration, that Christ is all-sufficient, and that " through him we shall be more than conquerors." We can scarcely conceive a more dis- tressing experience than that of Paul under the bufferings of Satan : yet this word, " My grace is sufficient for thee," was able to turn his desponding sorrows into joy and triumph1". In
k ver. 2. with Matt. ii. 6. and John vii. 42. ! Rom. viii. 34. m Rom. v. 1. n Isai. xxxvii. 22. ° Isai.xxxvii. 36.
P Heb. vii. 25. i 1 John ii. 1. r 2 Cor. xii. 9.