' No ; in order that he may sympathize with thee, he shall assume thy natures; and from his own ex- perience of temptation, be prepared and qualified to succour thee in thy temptations11. " I will prepare him a body " for this very end1 : and, that he may not inherit any taint from thee, I will form him in the womb of a pure Virgin ; so that in his human, no less than in his divine nature, he may be the Son of GodV
' But how shall I know his love towards me ?' ' Thou shalt have evidence of it, beyond all con- ception. For, notwithstanding " he has from all eternity been in my bosom1," " a partaker with me in all my glory"1," he shall " empty himself of it all," in order that he may accomplish the work entrusted to- him". Nor shall he only do this great thing, but he shall suffer for thee all that thou hast deserved to suffer, " bearing thy sins in his own sacred body0," and expiating thy guilt by his own obedience unto death p. Yes, "his visage shall be so marred more than any man's, and his form more than the sons of menq," that " by his chastisement thy peace may be effected," and " by his stripes thou mayest be healed1."'
' I marvel, O my God, at this stupendous grace. But how shall I get access to him, to spread my wants before him V
' He shall be ever with thee, and with every one of thy believing posterity, even to the end of the world"; so that, wherever thou art, and under what- ever circumstances, thou mayest have the most endearing " fellowship with him1," and pour thine every request into his gracious earu.'
' But how can I hope that his merciful interposi- tion shall so prevail, as to procure for me an ever- lasting acceptance with thee?'
« Heb. ii. 14. h Heb. ii. 18. i Heb. x. 5.
k Luke i. 34, 35. ' John i. 18. m John xvii. 5.
n Phil. ii. 6, 7. ° 1 Pet. ii. 24. p Phil, ii. 8.
i Isai. lii. 14. r Isai. liii. 4, 5. s Matt, xxviii. 20.
1 1 John i. 3. u Phil. iv. 6.