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you holy. Though you had a million of worlds opposing you, he will do it: "He is faithful, who also will do it."

III. His purpose in eternity-twofold.

1. Its perfection: "A glorious Church." At present believers are sadly imperfect. They have on the perfect righteousness that will be no brighter above; but they are not perfectly holy; they mourn over a body of sin-spots and wrinkles. Neither are they perfectly happy. Often crushed; waves go over them; like the moon wading. But they shall be perfectly glorious. Perfect in righteousness - White robes, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Perfect in holiness-Filled with the Holy Spirit. Perfect in happinessThis shall be. It is all in the covenant.

2. He will present it to himself-He will be both Father and Bridegroom. He has bought the redeemed-he will give them away to himself. The believer will have great nearness he shall see the king in his beauty. Great intimacy-walk with him-speak with him. He shall have oneness with him-" All that I have is thine."

St Peter's, Jan. 1841.-(Action Sermon.)

SERMON XXIV.

CHRIST BECAME POOR FOR SINNERS.

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."-2 Cor. viii. 9.

In these words, there is brought before you the amazing of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the broken bread and grace poured out wine you will this day see the same thing brought before your eyes. Before your eyes Jesus Christ is this day to be evidently set forth crucified. It is the most awakening sight in all this world. Oh! pray that many secure sinners may this day be brought to look on Him whom they have pierced, and to mourn. It is the

most peace-giving sight in this world. Oh! pray that the Holy Spirit may be poured upon awakened souls, that they may look to a crucified Jesus, and be saved. It is the most sanctifying sight in this world. Oh! pray that all God's children may look upon this gracious Saviour, till they are changed into his image.

I. The Lord Jesus was rich.

The riches here spoken of are not the riches which he now possesses as Mediator, but the riches which he had with the Father before the world was. He was full of all riches.

1. He was rich in the love and adoration of all the creatures. All holy creatures loved and adored him. This is shown in Isa. vi.: "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke." John (xii. 41) tells us: "These things said Esaias when he saw his glory, and spake of him.'

It was from all eternity the will of God that every creature should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. The brightest seraphs bowed down before him. The highest angels found their chief joy in always beholding his face. He was their Creator: "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him."-Col. i. 16. And, therefore, it was little wonder that they poured out their perpetual adorations before him. Now there is great joy in being loved by one holy creature-it fills the heart with true joy; but every holy creature loved Jesus with their whole heart and strength. This, then, was part of his riches-part of his infinite joy.

2. He was rich in the love of the Father. This is shown in Prov. viii. 22, 30: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his

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not be able to help us; but God's love is a sati

tion.

But none ever enjoyed the love of God a True, God's love to the holy angels is infini says, in John xvii. 26, that he loves believers w love with which he loves Christ- "That the lov thou hast loved me may be in them;" still ther finite difference between believers and Christ can contain but a few drops of the love of Go but vessels they cannot open their mouth w But Jesus could contain all the infinite ocean o God. In the Son there was an object worthy of love of the Father; and if the Father's love wa the bosom of the Son was infinite also. From there was the flowing of infinite love from the Father into the bosom of the Son: "The Fath Son"-"Rejoicing always before him." This wa riches of the Lord Jesus. This was the infinit his soul. If a man has the love of God, he ca all other things. If a man want food and raime like Lazarus at the rich man's gate, full of sore be lying in the love of God, he is truly rich. the well-beloved Son of God, the only begotten o was rich in the full outpouring of the Father's eternity.

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3. He was rich in power and glory. He wa of all worlds: "Without him was not anythin was made." He was the Preserver of all world all things consist," and hang together. All w fore, were his domain-he was Lord of all. "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I v I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, an thereof."-Ps. 1. 10-12. All lands sang aloud sea roared his praise-the cedars bowed before adoration. Nay, he could say: "All things tha hath are mine" (John xvi. 15); and he could Father of the glory which he had with him befo Whatever of power, glory, riches, bles

was.

Father had, dwelt with equal fulness in the Son; for he was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God. This was the riches of the Lord Jesus.

Oh, brethren! can you trust your salvation to such an one? You hear it was he that undertook to be the surety of sinners, and died for them. Can you trust your soul in the hands of such an one. Ah! surely if so rich and glorious a being undertake for us, he will not fail nor be discouraged, "till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law."

II. Christ became poor.

He was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God; but he made himself of no reputation (ExEYEY), and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He became poor in all those things wherein he had been rich.

1. At his birth. (1.) He laid aside the adoration of the creatures. He left the hallelujahs of the heavenly world for the manger at Bethlehem. No angel bowed before the infant Saviour; no seraph veiled his face and feet before him. The world knew him not. A few shepherds from the fields of Bethlehem came and kneeled to him, and the wise men saw and adored the infant King; but the most despised him. His mother wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, for there was no room for them in the inn: "He became poor." (2.) He left the love of God. The moment that babe was born, he became the surety of a guilty world. He was born of a woman, made under the law. The law took hold of him, even in infancy, as our surety. From the cradle to the cross he was bearing the sins of many; and therefore he says: "I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up; while I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted."-Ps. lxxxv. 15. Ah! what a change was here, from the infinite joy of his Father's love to the misery and terror of his Father's frown: "He became poor." (3.) He left the power and glory that he had. Instead of wanting nothing, he became a helpless baby, in want of everything. Instead of saying: "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee," he needed now the milk of his mother's breast. Instead of holding up worlds with his arm, he needed now to be supported-to be wrapped in swaddling

clothes, and laid in a manger, watched by a mother's tender eye: "He was rich, and became poor."

2. In his life. He that was adored by the myriads of heaven was lightly esteemed. Few believed on him; they called him glutton-wine-bibber-deceiver. Once they sought to cast him over the rocks-often they plotted to kill him. He that before received the full love of God, now received his full frown. The cloud became every day darker over his soul. Many of the hills and valleys of this world re-echoed with his cries and bitter agony. Gethsemane was watered with his blood. He that had all things as his domain now wanted everything. Certain women ministered to him of their substance.-Luke viii. 3. He had no money to pay the tribute, and a fish of the sea had to bring it to him. Matt. xvii. 27. The creatures of his hand had a warmer bed than he: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head."-Matt. viii. Every man went to his own home-Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. And again, we are told, as they sailed, Jesus was asleep on a pillow. Another time he sat wearied at the well, and said: "Give me to drink." He that was God over all, blessed for ever, could say, "I am a worm, and no man: "He became

poor."

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3. In his death most of all he became poor.

(1.) Once his ear was filled with the holy songs of angels, hymning their pure praises: "Holy, holy, holy;" now his ears are filled with the cry of his creatures: "Not this man, but Barabbas"-" Crucify him, crucify him." Once every face was veiled before him; now rulers deride him—soldiers mock him—thieves rail on him. They shoot out the lip— they wag the head-they give him vinegar to drink. "He became poor" indeed. (2.) Once God loved him without a cloud between; now not a ray of divine love fell upon his soul; but instead of it, a stream of infinite wrath. He that once said: "The Lord possessed me: I was daily his delight," now cried: " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani." Ah! this was poverty indeed. (3.) Once he gave being to unnumbered worlds-gave life to all-he was the Prince of life; but now he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. He lay down in the grave among worms. He became a

worm, and no man.

Ah! this is what is set before you in bread and wine today: The Son of God became poor. He takes simple bread,

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