residue of the Spirit," and can send forth ten thou- sand such labourers into his vineyard, whensoever it shall please him. Though the creature, on whose lips you have so often hung with profit and delight, is now no more, yet the Creator, the Redeemer, the Saviour of the world is still the same ; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever : he is the same in the dignity of his person — the extent of his power — the virtue of his sacrifice — the tenderness of his compassion — and in fidelity to his promises.
I. In the dignity of his person —
The terms " yesterday, to-day, and for ever," are expressive of a true and proper eternity : they do not import merely a long duration, but an existence that never had a beginning, nor shall ever have an end. In this view they are frequently applied to Jehovah, to distinguish him from any creature, how exalted soever he might be. When God revealed his name to Moses, that name whereby he was to be made known to the Israelites, he called himself I AM : *^ say to them, I AM hath sent me unto you :" and St. John expressly distinguishing the Father both from Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit, calls him the person " who is, and was, and is to come." Now this august title is given repeatedly to Jesus Christ, both in the Old and New Testament. The very words of our text evidently refer to the 102d Psalm, where the psalmist, indisputably speaking of Jehovah, says, " Thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." And lest there should be the smallest doubt to whom this character belongs, the author of this epistle quotes the words in the very first chapter^ insists upon them as immediately applicable to the Messiah, and adduces them in proof, that Christ was infinitely superior to any created being, even " God blessed for evermore." Our Lord himself on various occasions asserted his claim to this title : to the carnal Jews, who thought him a mere creature like
e Heb. i. 12.