the description in some particulars. I then follow him to see if other things concur to point him out: and, the more minutely I examine, the more evidence I gain, Mithout one sincrle disappointment. As the lot for the discovery of Achan felf first on the tril)e, then on the family, then on the house- hold and then on the individual ; so does every prophecy lead me nearer and nearer unto Jesus, till they fix infallibly oa liim as the object of my pursuit. Thus, I say, I take pro- phecy for my light ; and I follow it, till it stands over the very person of my adorable Lord, and leaves me no possi- ])ility of doubt respecting his being the true Messiah, tlie Saviour of the world.]
2. To lead us to an experimental sense of his excellency and glory —
[We must not be satisfied with knowing that Jesus is the Messiah, but must seek to experience all the blessings of his salvation in our souls. Suppose a condemned criminal to receive a pardon from his prince, and at the same time a grant of large estates, and a title to all the highest honours of his kingdom ; and the mail were to satisfy himself with examining and^'ascertaining that the writing which conveyed to him these benefits, was not a forgery : what should we say of that man? Should we think him sane ? Should we not expect that, as a rational being, he would leave his prison, and go forth to possess his estates and honours ? Yet this is the very folly which we are guilty of. We are contented with ascertaining to our satisfaction the Messiah ship of Jesus, and go not forth to him to obtain the blessings he has purchased for us. But let us remember, that a lamp is only to guide us through a dark place : when the day has dawned and the sun is risen, we are then to walk in the light of that sun, which will super- sede the use of the glimmering taper we have just employed. Now thus it is that the Lord Jesus Christ, " the true Mori>- ing-star*," " the Sun of Righteousness V will arise in our hearts, and " will manifest himself to us, as he does not unto the world '^." And, as light is its own evidence, so will lie bring his own evidence, along with him, and prove himself to be the JNIessiah by the blessings he imparts. Only let that " God, who commanded hght to shine out of darkness, shine into our hearts to give tjhe light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ''," and we shall have the same evidence of his Messiahship as a man has of the sun's existence when he is basking in the beams of its meridian splendf)ur. Tiiis then is what we must seek. W^e must seek to liave "the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts:"
and
• Rev. xxii. 16. 'Mai. iv. 2.
' Joiiu xiv. 22. '' 2 Cor. iv. 6.