The lines of prophecy are indeed exceeding va- rious ; yet do they all meet in one common centre, the Lord Jesus Christ^ In some view or other, the application of prophecy to him will always be found just: it may respect iiim more immediately. or more remotely ; but Him it always does respect ; and it presents us with a clear compendious view of,
1. His nature and character —
[It represents him as *' Emmanuel, God with us," even " the mighty God :" and at the same time informs us that he should be " a child born, a son given ;" and that being born of a pure virgin, he should be " a man, Jehovah's fellow."
Such does it represent his nature to be, perfect God and perfect man ; and his characler it describes in all its parts. He was to be infinitely hohj, " loving righteousness, and hating iniquity." His uisdom also was to be infinite ; for he was to have " a spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and of might, of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ; and was to be quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord." He was to be week and lowlu, so as " not to break a bruised reed or quench the smoking flax ;" and leJidtrhj (ornpass'uniale, " carry- ing the lambs in his bosom, and gently leading them that were with young." He was to be invincibly palJevl also, being, like " a lamb led to the slaughter, or sheep before her shearers, dumb :" he gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. In short, he was to be " J'u'irer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely."]
2. His work and offices —
[He was to be the " ever-living Redeemer," who should "give redemption to his people," and by the blood of his co- vanant should bring up his prisoners out of the pit wherein there is no water." In order to execute this work, he was to be " a Prophet like unto Moses," who should " give light to the Gentiles" as Moses had done to the Jews, and " whose instructions the whole world at the peril of their souls must hear." He was also, as a Priest, to make, not beasts, but " his own soul, an offering for sin ;" " to have our iniquities laid on him ;" to be himself "wo vmded for our trangressions and bruised for our iniquities;" yea, "to be cut oflj but not for himself;" and thus to " make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in an everlasting righteousness." He was also to "make inter- cession for transgressors;" and by presenting himself before the mercy-seat as " the Lord our Righteousness," he was en- tirely to " make an end of sin," so that " in him all the seed of
Israel
»• John i. 45. & Acls x. 42, 43. & John v. 39.