from his native dignity, and lost to innocence! They had seen him rise from his maker's hand, with form erect, countenance elevated towards Heaven, and the image of divinity imprinted on his soul! They had seen him enrobed in native innocence, and rejoicing in conscious integrity! They had seen him, also, become vain in his imagination, entangled in the multitude of his own inventions, enslaved by corruption, and groaning under the chains of guilt and wretchedness: They had seen him at enmity with God-at enmity with himself-without peace-without hope-and without a com forter!

In exact proportion to the compassion and sorrow which these gloomy scenes called forth, must have been the joy of angels on the appearance of a Saviour fraught with the tidings. of salvation, the blessings of peace, and the seeds of benevolence and good-will among men. And as this Saviour was the messenger of Heaven the spontaneous gift of the father's lovefor the redemption, recovery, and reconciliation of an enslaved and distracted world, generosity and devotion must have jointly inspired the angelic song of gratulation and praise: Glory to God among the highest; on earth peace; good-will among men !"

What

What was thus a subject of praise and congratulation to angels, who were only the messengers of glad tidings to others, should surely be a subject of gratitude and joy to men-men, to whom this peace was proclaimed, and among whom, good-will, as its parent, was to be cherished for ever.

That we may see this with, clearness, and learn the improvement to which it leads, let us now consider the extent and importance of the peace here proclaimed.

Peace with God is the foundation of human hope, and human happiness. This peace is represented in scripture, as violated by idolatry, and every kind of wickedness. The former is called enmity against God, as deposing him from his sovereignty, and placing an idol in his stead; the latter, as violating his authority and withholding that allegiance which is due to him, as Lord of the universe. Peace with him, therefore, is restored in the one case, by reclaiming men from idolatry, to the belief, acknowledgment, and worship of him alone, as "the only living and true God;" and in the other, by turning them from their iniquities into the paths of righteousness. As these effects were eminently produced by the revelation of Christ, and of him alone, he is emphatically called "our peace:" and the apostle declares

f2

declares, that, " we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

In this particular, the extent and importance of the peace proclaimed by the angels, is obvious and amazing. It reaches wide as the be lief of the gospel has been, now is, or ever will be. It is important, as the first principle of true religion, with all the blessings of which it is productive. And how great that importance is, we may easily judge, by comparing the state even of the most ignorant nations of the christian world with those who sit in darkness-" who know not God, and obey not the Gospel." But what shall be its importance, when its extent shall become wide as the habitable world! When the fullness of the heathen shall become the inheritance of Christ, and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession! When enmity shall cease, and the universal ́prevalence of the gospel shall unite the hearts of men in peace with God!

This leads us to a second circumstance implicd in the peace here announced; that is, peace among men, in the exercise of that worship, of which God is the only proper object. In the heathen world, nation had been separated from nation, through all ages, by the diversity and opposition of their religious rites, and the objects of their devotion. Hence in

their

their contests, not only men were considered as at war with men, but gods with gods. Between all of them and the Jews, this diversity was the source of mutual contempt and enmity, from an abuse of the precepts, by which the seed of Abraham were enjoined to avoid intercourse with them, "lest they should be corrupted by their example," Every heathen was prohibited from their society, till he became a convert to their religion; and even then, he was not admitted to a fullness of communion. He could neither hold an office in their temple, nor be admitted into its inner court. Circumcision, the seal of the Abrahamic covenant, was a never-failing source of enmity and reproach. Without submission to it, no heathen could be admitted into religious communion.

This mark of distinction, though necessary for a time, yet invidious from its abuse, was abolished by Christ; and Jew and Gentile united by his gospel, in community of religious rights, equality of privilege, and the bonds of The view of this reconciliation given by the peace. apostle Paul, in opposition to the Judaizing teachers, who argued for the continuance of Mosaical distinctions, is equally just and elegant. The quotation is long, but should not be overlooked. "Remember," saith he to the converts from the Heathen at Ephesus-" Re member that ye, formerly Gentiles in the flesh,

called

called uncircumcision, by that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise; having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus, ye who were formerly afar off, have been made nigh, by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in his flesh, the enmity, the law of commandments, in ordinances, to make in himself of twain, one new manmaking peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God, in one body, by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby; and came and preached peace to you, who were afar off, and to them who were nigh. For through him, we have both access to the father by one spirit. Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens, with the saints, and of the household of God."

Important as these two particulars are, there is a third of equal, if not superior importance, implied in the peace" which was sung by angels in the fields of Bethlehem-I say, superior importance; as, without it, neither peace with God, nor harmony in his worship, can be enjoyed or subsist. That is peace among

the