Jehovah whom their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saw, and who was worshipped by them and their children through many generations, and who was not ashamed to be called their God.

Some, however, even of this sinful and adulterous people, waited for the day of his coming; and they, like Abraham, saw it and were glad. Among these were Zacharias and Elizabeth, the virgin Mary, Simeon, Joseph of Arimathea, and Anna the prophetess. They knew when Augustus Cæsar laid the tax upon the Jews as well as others, the sceptre was entirely gone from Judah, and a lawgiver from between his feet, and believed the Shiloh must be come; and as they were led by the Holy Spirit to look for him, his extreme poverty, meanness, and despicable appearance in the world did not stumble them. They believed on him, blessed God that their eyes had seen his salvation, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Israel to these, as well as to that happy few who in those times received him and all who have since believed on his name, he has granted the pri vilege or power of becoming sons of God, while all, who receive him not, miss this great blessing, and suffer loss eternally.

From the days of God's being first manifested in the flesh to this time, he is preached in the world, and now, as well as formerly, many received him not. Some stand aloof and hear concerning his redemption, but are in no immediate want, and let him go unconcernedly. He knocks indeed at the door of their hearts, but they are like the inns in Bethlehem, there is no room for him there; the pleasures of this life, the deceits of honours, friends and riches supply his place, and they receive him not. Others like the proud children of Israel, scorn to submit to him, and with Jewish haughti

ness

ness despise his Godhead, and wantonly and presumptuously, like the gentile and heathen nations, are resolved not to have this man to reign over them, or to acknowledge for their Lord a man who suffered death upon a cross between two thieves. But yet there are some who still receive Jesus with open and glad hearts, and who inherit the adoption of sons, and are numbered with his friends, and counted to the Lord for a generation. These in general are the poor in spirit, souls who are ready to perish, lost sheep, miserable and unhappy persons, and such as were self-spoiled and ruined, together with such as had sincerely sought after righteousness by works under the law, and who, weary and almost in despair at finding they failed, were ready to conclude themselves without hope; these, when Christ has been preached to them, or when the Holy Ghost has glorified the loving Saviour in their sight, like Zaccheus, have gladly received him, and so commenced his children, his sons and daughters.

To receive Christ implies not only a concession to the doctrine of the creed, or assenting to the truth and validity of the scriptures, or the acknowledging him to be the Lord, the Messiah and Christ that should come into the world, and so choosing to be called by his name, and blame Jews and Deists who are of another mind; but to receive him, is to accept of him as he is offered and preached in the scriptures as our Lord God, our only Saviour, our righteousness, wisdom, holiness, and redemption. It is a closing in with him in his new Testament; he becomes a Father to us, and we become his children; he is our God, and we are his people our Shepherd, and we are his Sheep; our Husband; and we are his rib, his sister, his spouse and wife; yea, it is receiving of him into our hearts by his Spirit, we let in him that stands at the door and

knocks,

knocks, and he sups with us, gives us a foretaste and pledge of the marriage-feast, the earnest that we shall sup with him there for ever. This cannot be learnt

in theory. It is no matter for the sensual and natural man, he cannot understand it. In this matter, no worldly wisdom helps or avails, no large capacity, no depth of thought is of use, but an honest heart, who day and night thirsts for salvation and grasps after Jesus as a hart for the water, and as a dry land for refreshing rain, and who learns it of the Holy Ghostwithin. There he brings the news, and makes them to understand this wisdom secretly. He speaks in the soft still voice, "Open thy heart; open the everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in." 66 Open, my love, my dove, and I will come in," Jesus says; and where he is manifested, there is his reward with him; his Father also comes and makes his abode there; and the chaste and newwashed temple of the body becomes the house of God.

The receiving Christ is a thing wholly for the heart, and is known only by experience. It is the common privilege of all the faithful; every believer in Jesus knows this precious benefit of having received the Lord; and whoever does not know he hath found the Saviour, he is no true Christian. As many as believe in his name, have him in them. He dwells with them; he is their new and eternal life, as it is written, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life." St. Paul says, "Now the life which I live in the flesh, is the life of the Son of God. It is not I that live; it is Christ that liveth in me.'

When one of the martyrs was advised to have God before his eyes, when he was near his execution, he answered cheerfully, I have him in my heart. This is what I mean, and what the Holy Ghost means in the text, for such and such only are

of

of his family who receive him. Others, whether they are professors or profane, live without Christ in the world.

.. Our Saviour never intended, when he was taken up bodily into heaven, to leave his disciples orphans and desolate upon earth, he promised certainly to be with them and in them, and not only would so appear to them who were then his followers, and let them see and enjoy him, that they should find he had not left them comfortless, but he made the same promise to their generations and children then unborn when he said, "If any man love me, I will come to him, and manifest myself to him; I will bring my Father, and we will come and make our abode with him." Again, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him," &c. All who believe on him, find his words true and faithful; they are his witnesses that he has fulfilled his promise, and happily experience that he is come with salvation to them; and the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, and who dwells in the high and holy place, vouchsafes to dwell with them. But the receivers of Christ, or such as believe on him, are not only thus honoured; they not only receive the Lamb of God into their houses; the King of saints, the God of heaven and earth does not only condescend to make their bodies his temple, but they receive with him remission of sins, deliverance from hell, death and the law; beside they have power to become sons of God, or the privilege to call the Father of Jesus Our Father, and he is pleased to adopt them for children, and to call them, "My sons and daughters." This is that doctrine so often repeated even in the Old Testament times, as well as by the apostles of our Saviour and by our Lord himself.

In the New Testament writings servants of God are clearly distinguished from sons, for indeed there

U 2

is

is a great difference between them. A son or child of God may be a servant, he may over and above his sonship be employed in the Redeemer's work, and labour in his vineyard, as the apostles and other ministers of Christ have done; but their hope was not that they had been servants or prospered in the work of their Master, nor did their safety consist therein, but in being made children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. When the disciples once returned from their labour of preaching and working miracles, &c. in the name of their Master, they told him with a sort of joy how well they had succeeded, and how even Satan was subject to their word; but Jesus answered them, "Notwithstanding rejoice not in this, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven;" and at another time he told them, "I have not called you servants, but friends.” Again, "A servant abideth not in the house alway, but a son abideth alway;" so when he sent Magdalene to tell them he was risen, he says, Go tell my brethren that I go to my Father and to your Father, &c." He had often done after this manner in the days of his flesh; he taught them in their prayers to call God their Father; "when ye pray, say, Our Father," &c. Again,"Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Again, "Your heavenly Father will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him." This is what David, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah had foreseen so long ago when they said, "Thou shalt call me, my Father," And that name was known among the prophets some hundreds of years before the New Testament was of force, and they taught the people how the Redeemer would bring the souls strayed afar off, and such who had forfeited their right to the kingdom, into the nearest fellowship and kindred with God, that he would be their Father, and vouchsafe to call them