shall the blood of another creature effect the greatest ?" But if Christ be God as well as man, then is the argument clear, and worthy of an inspired Apostle. In a word, if Christ be not God, he cannot be the Saviour revealed in the Old Testa- ment : for of him it is expressly said, " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God, and there is none else. There is no God else beside me ; a just God and a Saviour : there is none beside me''."]
But it is not so much of the essential, as of the mediatorial, dignity of Christ that the text speaks : for it immediately proceeds to mark,
II. The excellency of his kingdom —
Earthly kingdoms are but of a limited duration : and, from the imperfection of all human institutions, there must of necessity be something in them of par- tiality and of comparative oppression. But Christ's kingdom is perfect in every respect : it is,
1. In its duration perpetual —
[The four great monarchies all found a termination of their power': but the kingdom which Christ has established, shall endure for ever'". True it is, that the present mode of administering it will cease, when there are no more subjects to be governed, or enemies to be subdued. When the final judgment is passed, the enemies of the Messiah's kingdom will all be shut up in the prison prepared for their reception ; and his subjects be exalted to those regions, where their every want will be supplied. " Then the Son will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, that God may be all in all"." Still, however, the kingdom itself will remain: and Christ, as its glorious Head, be acknowledged by all his sub- jects, as the one source of their happiness, the one author of their salvation".]
2. In its administration just —
[" His sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness." Every law that proceeds from him is " holy, and just, and good." Nothing of imperfection is found in any one of them : they are alike incapable of diminution or addition. If any one law appears too strict, it is only through our own ignorance and love of sin. To tiie renewed soul, not one of his commandments is grievous : the only thing that is grievous to it is, that it is not
k Isai. xlv. 21, 22. i Dan. ii. 37—41.
>" Dan. ii. 44. and vii. 13. 14. " 1 Cor. xv. 24, 28.
o Rev. V. 9, 10.