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ERRATA.

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BIBLE CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1856.

DIVINITY.

THE GOSPEL GRADUALLY REVEALED.

"When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son."-Gal. iv. 4. In this passage there are two things implied:-

I. That the time or period when the Son of God should pear in this our world was a fixed and pre-determined one.

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II. That when Christ came, all circumstances conspired to prove that it was the fit and proper time; in that all things were ripened, and matured for his Advent.

On the first of these propositions it is not necessary to use any arguments, nor produce any evidence beyond that given by the Apostle Peter. If we turn to his first Epistle, i. 18-20, we shall find him saying,-"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."

On the second proposition we remark, that the purposes and designs of God in the redemption of mankind, were not made known to the world all at once; but were gradually revealed and disclosed. There seems to be the same law or rule with the arrangements of Jehovah, in nature, providence, and grace, namely, the law of gradual developement. In nature, we find that the full light of day does not burst forth on the world at once, but gradually. At first we see the morning-star, indicating that day is approaching; then we behold a few clouds lighted up by the approaching orb of day; and as the sun rises higher and higher in the heavens, so cloud after cloud becomes illuminated by his rays; darkness, mists, and vapours, disappear, and the whole scene appears full of light, and life, and beauty! It is the same with the process of vegetation :-First, VOL. XXI. THIRD SERIES.

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there is the decomposition, then the germination, then the bursting blade, followed by the opening flower, and consummated by the ripened fruit.

It is the same in the arrangements and developements of Divine Providence. One event we see leading to another, one circumstance making way to, and preparing for another, all, proving so many links in the same great chain! So has it been with God in the development of the scheme of redemption. The light of the glorious Gospel did not burst forth on the world all at once. The first ray, the first beam from the "Sun of righteousness" fell on the minds of our first parents in the garden of Eden, in the promise, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." During the Patriarchal and Prophetical ages, we see the light becoming brighter and brighter, cloud after cloud in the moral heavens becomes tinged and lighted by the promises of the Saviour given to the Patriarchs and the Prophets; the types, shadows, and sacrifices of the Jewish economy pointed to the Messiah, like so many fingers stained with blood. The morning stars of prediction and prophecy were indicative of the coming sun; and by and bye we see the moral heavens are illuminated-"the fulness of time" has arrived the moon and stars now disappear-Jesus, the Son of God, appears as the "Sun of Righteousness," to scatter all the moral darkness and gloom, crying, "I am the light of the world!" The world had to be prepared, trained, and disciplined for Christ's appearance. Mankind had to be schooled by the law; and to learn from types and shadows, ceremonies and sacrifices, the need of Christ's appearing in "the likeness of sinful flesh." "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ" and to prepare us for Christ. If any therefore ask, why Christ was not sent sooner, or earlier? we reply by saying, 'that the world was not prepared or ready for His coming.' The prophecies and predictions concerning Him had not received their accomplishment and fulfilment. As soon as they were all fulfilled, when the purposes of God were fully ripe, then, and not till then, Christ came.

Jesus came when he was the "desire of all nations." The nations of the earth had been trying various schemes in order to satisfy and pacify the conscience, but all had signally failed. Idolatry, Paganism, Polytheism, Pantheism, Philosophy, Science, and Literature had all failed. "The world by wisdom knew not God." All nations were now weary in their pursuit · after salvation. Wearied humanity was now on tip-toe in expectation of the Messiah; although when He came, men were disappointed in Him, and rejected Him, owing to their mistaken, carnal, and worldly notions of His person, character, and mission.

The coming of Christ into this our world was something like

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