unremitted. It was " his meat and drink to do the will of his heavenly Father;" nor could any thing for one moment divert or deter him from the prosecution of his work. His meekness, patience, fortitude, were altogether invincible. Whatever was amiable and excellent in man abounded in him1. He was not merely virtuous, but virtue itself incarnate. Nor, though con- tinually tried in the hottest furnace, was there found in him the smallest imperfection or alloy s.]
3. In bis mediatorial character —
[With what readiness did he become a surety for sinful man'! What astonishing condescension did he manifest in uniting himself to our nature ! How cheerfully did he go forth to meet the sufferings that were appointed for him. In the garden and on the cross, when to the eye of sense " his visage was marred more than any man's," his beauty was most conspicuous to the eye of faith. His obedience unto death was the fruit of his love, and the price of our redemption. How beautiful is he now in the eyes of those who behold his glory! And how will he " be admired and glorified by all" in the last day ! Satan must have blinded us indeed if we be yet insensible to his charmsu. If we be true believers, he cannot but be precious to our souls x.]
Application —
1. To those who have never yet beheld the good- ness and beauty of the Lord —
[We speak not now to those who seek his face, and long to enjoy him ; for though their sorrow endure for a night, joy will come to them in the morning. But they, who pant not after him, are miserably ignorant of his excellency. Their views of Christ are different from those of the most competent judges y, and different from what they will shortly be in the eternal world. Let such persons diligently consider the Sa- viour's character, and cry to God for that spirit whose office it is to reveal Christ unto us. Then shall they both see the King in his beauty, and be changed into his image2.]
2. To those whose eyes have been opened to behold him —
r Ps. xlv. 2. ^ John xiv. 30. * Ps. xl. 7, 8.
u 2 Cor. iv. 4. x 1 Pet. ii. 7.
y To the Father he is " chosen and precious," 1 Pet. ii. 4 ; to the angels, the subject of their praise, Rev. v. 11, 12 ; to saints of old, an object of great desire, Hagg. ii. 7. John viii. 56 ; to all pious men at this time, their supreme good, Phil. hi. 7, 8.
2 Isai. xxxiii. 17. 2 Cor. hi. 18.