P Isai. viii. 18. Phil. ii. 16. <i Mai. iii. 5.
r 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. = Prov. v. 12, 13.
* Acts XX. 26. N. B. If this were the subject of a Visitation Sermon, there should be a suitable Address to Ministers also.
Heb. xiii. 20, 21. Noiv the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Jmen.
IN reading the epistles of St. Paul, we cannot but observe how continually he begins and ends them with prayer. At the same time, we cannot but be
struck with the extraordinary fuhiess and grandeur of his prayers. In truth, there is in them, for the most part, such a vast accumulation of recondite matter, that it is extremely difficult to obtain any thing like an adequate comprehension of them. His prayers in the epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, are pre-eminently distinguished in this view. But that which I have now read, if not equal to the others in grandeur, is extremely inter- esting, on account of the richness and variety of matter contained in it. In unfolding it to your view, I shall notice,
I. His representation of the Deity, whose blessings he implores —
The very name which he here assigns to God is deserving of particular notice —
[Under the Old-Testament dispensation, Jehovah was more generally called " The Lord of Hosts :" but, under the New Testament, he is commended to us rather under the endearing character of the " God of Peace." Between him and us a reconciliation has been effected, by the mediation of
his dear Son and so perfect is that reconciliation, that
nothing but love is felt in his bosom towards us. In truth, every one of his attributes finds in this mystery its sublimest exercise ; so that he is altogether a " God of Peace ;" not having any more of adverse feeling towards us, than if mercy had been his only attribute ]
But what has he done to assure our souls of ''peace?"
[To death and the grave had Jesus been consigned as our Surety and our Substitute. And, if he had continued in the grave, however we might believe that he had inidertaken for us, we could have no assurance that his sufferings had been accepted in our behalf. But Jehovah, having " brought him again from the dead," has given us a proof, that what the Lord Jesus has done and suffered for us, has been effectual
for our complete redemption Now we see, that " that
great Shepherd of the sheep," who " had laid down his life for them," is re-invested with his office, which during his im- prisonment in the grave seemed to have been suspended ; and •* all power is given to him," to " save to the uttermost" all who are brought into his fold, and committed to his care. Now we know, that whatever they need for protection, for