c Ps. xl. 7, 8. f Eph. v. 2. 8 John xvii. 12.
1717.] Christ's enemies smitten down. 151
the justice of God arrest us, or his holy law condemn us? Behold, Jesus gives up himself in our stead, and says respecting us, " Let these go their way." Isaac was not more certainly doomed to death in the purpose of his father, than we were by reason of our iniquities : but Jesus, like the ram, is accepted in our stead, and we rise to a life of immortality and glory.
Let us ever view Jesus in this light ; let us regard him
as our surety and substitute ; nor doubt, but that
through his willing sacrifice, and authoritative mediation, our souls shall live for ever.]
2. As an avenger of his enemies11 —
[We have seen what Christ did when he was about to surrender up himself, and to stand as a criminal at man's tri- bunal : what then will he not do when he shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and summon the universe to his tribunal ? If an armed band were smitten to the ground by the power of his word in the hour of his deepest humiliation, how shall an individual, unarmed, resist him in the day when he shall sit on his throne of judgment? When he shall say, " I am he," whom thou despisedst, " I am he," whose invitations thou didst slight, and on whose blood thou didst trample ; what confusion will cover us ! what terror will seize us ! and how irresistible will be the power that shall consign us over to perdition ! Surely, " it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living- God." O let us seek Jesus, not to betray and dishonour him,
but rather to serve and glorify him with our whole
hearts.]
3. As a protector of his people —
[As his people were beset with enemies at that time, so are they in every age, and every place. Malignant as they were who came to apprehend our Lord, they were but instru- ments in the hands of that malicious fiend who seeks to destroy us. But all the hosts of hell are as much subject to the power of Jesus, as Judas and the soldiers were. " Not any weapon formed against us can prosper," if only we put our trust in
him Let us then flee to him ; and he will hide us
under the shadow of his wings As birds flying to
protect their young, so will the Lord defend us. And as the attendant angel passed between the destroyer and the houses sprinkled with blood, so will the Lord pass over to preserve us from the assaults of our enemies1. Let us rely on him, and we shall find him a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wallk.]
h Isai. i. 24. j Isai. xxxi. 5. k Isai. xxv. 4.