Prophets, Priests, and Kings, had been anointed, among the people of God, yet did no one ever unite the three characters in his own person; and still less did any one ever bear them in so exalted a rank as did Jesus, who was far above all principalities and powers, a High Priest for ever, Himself the great subject and the source of prophetical Inspiration.

§ 4. Jesus, as had been foretold, fulfilled the office of a Prophet in all things in which the prophetical character is concerned. He taught the Will of God to Man; he declared the Word and Counsel of the Most High; he laid open the wondrous scheme and mystery of the Universal Redemption of Mankind, with regard to the past, the present, and the future; and he confirmed by the manifestation of supernatural power the doctrine which he taught. He, by whose Spirit the Prophets of old had spoken, now personally instructed his disciples in the blessed truths of the Gospel Dispensation. The doctrine which he delivered consisted of the most holy precepts, of the most precious promises. His mode of teaching was simple and adapted to the multitude, with divine authority and persuasive eloquence; and the principal subjects on which his exhortations were pronounced, were Faith and Repentance, that belief in the appointed method of Salvation, and that holiness of life and manners which should be necessary and prac ticable to all nations to the end of time. The character of Jesus Christ was superior to that of all other Prophets, his predecessors, inasmuch as they shone with a borrowed light, whereas He was that Light

presence of the Deity. By the intercession of Christ our prayers, too, if rightly offered up, are rendered acceptable to God, and are heard so far as is expedient for us. The benefits derived to us, therefore, from the performance of the Priestly Office by Jesus Christ are these;-that our sins are expiated and blotted out; that sinners are reconciled to God; that Heaven is opened to our prayers and hopes; and that the Church of his faithful followers, purchased with his own blood, and now militant on Earth, shall assuredly be triumphant in Heaven, hereafter.

§ 6. The office of King which is attributed to Jesus as the Christ (for as the eternal Son of God, he essentially possesses infinite and never ending dominion), is that Mediatorial Power and Authority by which, as Head and King of the Church, he governs all things relating to it in Heaven and in Earth; rules and perfects it by the Word and Power of the Spirit ; defends it against the assaults of enemies; and will finally bestow upon his faithful subjects eternal Glory. The Messias was uniformly aunounced, by Inspired Writers of the Old Testament, as a Spiritual and Celestial, not as an Earthly King: he was, there fore, unattended by worldly pomp, contrary to the expectation of the Jewish nation, but clothed with Divine Authority and Power. The Kingdom of Christ is not only spiritual, but universal, and to endure to the end of the world, including all nations and languages. "All things shall be put under his feet;" all people shall be subject to his dominion: and then only shall his Mediatorial Kingdom end, when as King he shall come to judgment, and shall finally apportion to the subjects of his spiritual empire the

rewards or punishments they have deserved; when the office of mediation will no longer be required. John Baptist was the herald of that Kingdom of Heaven, of which Jesus was King even from his birth; but small as was its extent during his sojourn upon earth, it was not till after his Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, that he entirely assumed the Government, which he now exercises by the influence of his Gospel and sanctifying Spirit, in protecting his Servants from the attacks of their spiritual enemies, and restraining the power of Sin.

The dominion of Christ, as our LORD, differs from that of all other potentates, inasmuch as it is erected over the Souls of men, and respects their eternal welfare accordingly, laws are instituted, and penal sanctions are affixed peculiar to the constitution of this spiritual Kingdom.

§ 7. The various figurative and descriptive Titles by which Jesus Christ is designated, and which so frequently occur in the pages of Holy Writ, may be classed under several heads: those that have allusion to his divine or human nature separately, or unitedly; and those that refer to the different characters under which, as Mediator, he appeared upon the Earth, and executed the great work of Man's Redemption.

From Scripture.

SECTION 1.

LUKE ii. 21. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke i. 30, 31. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. Matt. i. 21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Numb. xiii. 16. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun, Jehoshua. Acts vii. 45. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David. Heb. iv. 8. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. Zech. iii. 1. And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 John iv. 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. Matt. xviii. 11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Luke ii. 11. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 2 Cor. v. 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us

1 Cor. i. 30.

the ministry of reconciliation. John iii. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Rom. x. 9. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 1 Tim. i. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Heb. v. 9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. 1 Cor. xv. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

SECTION II.

John i. 41. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted, The Christ. John iv. 25. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Dan. ix. 24, 25. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know, therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the walls even in troublous times. 1 Chron. xvi. 22. Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and