of the prophets, expected the establishment of a spiritual kingdom, wherein they should not merely be " delivered from all their enemies, but should serve God without fear in right- eousness and holiness before him all the days of their life0."
To those who viewed him as the appointed Source of these benefits, his advent must be an occasion of most exalted joy: and accordingly it was announced as such by the angelic hosts, who said, " Behold, we bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people ; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord p."]
2. In reference to the Christian Church —
[Having partaken of all the preceding benefits, we are led to contemplate the Saviour more immediately in reference to our own necessities : and O, what a consolation is he to us, while we view him as a Propitiation for our sins ! What tongue can utter the feelings of a contrite soul, when, after many fears of God's wrath, it is enabled to see the efficacy of Christ's atone- ment? O, the peace, the joy, the exultation that arise from every fresh application of his blood to the conscience ! Well is " the peace said to pass understanding," and " the joy of be- lieving to be unspeakable and glorified!"
But we are enabled to view him further as our " Advocate ivith the Father." In this light, he is, if possible, more precious than in the former. The comfort springing from his sacrifice would be greatly diminished, if we did not know that he is entered into heaven with his own blood, to plead the merit of it in our behalf. What should we do under any fresh con- tracted guilt, if we had not an Intercessor, through whom we might return to God, and offer our petitions with confidence of acceptance? Weak and frail as we are, we should sit down in despair: but having such a High-Priest that is passed into the heavens for us, we may come boldly to the throne of grace, assured of obtaining mercy, and of finding grace to help us in the time of need0-.
Further, we behold him also as a fountain of all spiritual blessings. " It hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulness dwellr. Whatever we want, whether wisdom, or righteousness, or strength, there is a fulness of it all in him ; and we may say, " In the Lord have I righteousness and strength s." What an unspeakable consolation must this be to those who feel their emptiness and poverty! What blessed confidence does it bring into the soul, when, under a full con- viction that we have not in ourselves a sufficiency even to think a good thought*, we are enabled to say, " I can do all things through Christ, who strengthened meu!"
0 Luke i. 72—75. p Luke ii. 10, 11. n Heb. iv. 14, 16. r Col. i. 19. ■ Isai. xlv. 24. * 2 Cor. iii. 5. « Phil. iv. 13.