1

you!" This blessing the Apostles still enjoyed, though their first Comforter was gone away: this the meanest Christian, if he be truly such, possesses equally with them. May it be your portion, and mine; that thus beholding him by faith, we may "not be ashamed before him," at "the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ."2

II. THE DESIGN OF THIS MANIFESTATION must now be considered. "The Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Respecting that awful being, who is here called "the devil," men in general are as ignorant and thoughtless, as they are concerning the Son of God. His name, indeed, is continually bandied about by their lips sometimes in wanton levity, sometimes in anger and fury against a brute beast, or a fellow creature. But few seriously believe in his existence, or dread him as the secret enemy of their souls. Nevertheless, every evil which the Redeemer came to rectify, proceeded originally from the devil. It was in order to undo his doings, to "destroy his works," that the Son of God was manifested.-Let us look at some of those works.

1. God's dishonour was the main object aimed at by the devil, when he seduced man into sin. And, for a while, he seemed to have succeeded. God had made a new world, which Satan immediately defiledhad formed a race of subjects, whom he changed into rebels-had called that " very good," "3 which the devil quickly rendered very evil. Now if God had instantly destroyed the work of his own hands, his wisdom as its Creator might have been impeached. Had he continued to take pleasure in his creatures, 2 Titus ii. 13. 3 Genesis i. 31.

1 John xvi. 15,

though corrupted, his truth and holiness would have been brought in question. But in the gospel of Christ every difficulty is cleared away. He is here shewn to be "a just God," and yet "a Saviour:" and the evil introduced by Satan, has but redounded to the greater glory of God the Father.

2. Man's ruin is another of his works. For though man was guilty, sinning with his eyes open; yet the plot was Satan's. "He was a murderer from the beginning." See, in Genesis iii., how he brought about our ruin: but learn, in the same place, how God promised that his "head" should for this be " bruised" by the Seed of the woman. That Seed is the mani

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fested Son of God. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law," by "being made a curse for us"3— by suffering Satan to "bruise his heel." Here, then, the work of Satan is destroyed. Whosoever truly believeth in Christ is saved from his power; Wicked one toucheth him not.”4

"that

3. Sin's dominion was also established, through the devil's influence. The first transgression brought a taint on the whole family of man. When our first parents yielded themselves as the servants of sin, Satan took care that they should never be free again. From that day to this, a sinful nature has been our tyrant. By means of it, that Evil "spirit worketh in the children of disobedience""_" taking them captive at his will." But here again, Christ comes to undo what the devil has done" to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." And this he effects by his holy Spirit, whom he sends to awaken-regenerate--sanctifyguide-and uphold the souls whom he hath chosen.

i Isa. xlv. 21.
4 1 John v. 18.

2 John viii. 44.
5 Eph. ii. 2.

3 Galatians iii. 13.
6 Isaiah lxi. 1.

"Sin shall not have dominion over you:" it may still rebel and struggle within; but it shall never again habitually influence the child of God.

4. Death's victory is another of Satan's doings. "Death_hath passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: " and he who was the Author of sin, has by this means obtained "the power of death." Here however you may imagine, that his work cannot be reversed. And I must confess, that, with the exception of those which shall be "alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord," death must still reign over every child of Adam. Nevertheless, even this "last enemy," this most effectual work of Satan, shall be at length "destroyed." Christ "brings life and immortality to light through the Gospel."4 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it."5

Consider which side you are taking, in this conflict between the Son of God, and the great Author of evil. Are you consenting to his "works?" Or are you humbly co-operating with Christ to "destroy" them?

Judge hence, what you have to expect hereafter. Though the conflict be not yet ended, there can be no doubt how it will end. "He must increase!" "The government shall be on his shoulders!" But, "for the Devil and his angels," "everlasting fire" is already "prepared." Oh how happy, if it may be said of you in that day" These are they which CONTINUED WITH ME in my temptations: and I now appoint unto them a kingdom, as my Father appointed unto me."

1 Rom. v. 12.

4 Tim. i. 10.

2 Heb. ii. 14.

3 1 Cor. xv. 26.

5 Isaiah xxv. 8.

SERMON LII.

Acts xx. 32.—And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

THERE are few connections of a more endearing nature, than that which subsists between a Minister of Jesus Christ, and those "among whom he has gone preaching the kingdom of God." St. Paul was the man to feel this in the very highest degree. His natural temper was ardent and affectionate: and this, when brought under the influence of Christian principle, and expanded by his assurance of the love of Christ to his soul, became a very prominent feature in his religious character. All his epistles exhibit proofs of it; and the parting scene between him and his Christian brethren, as described in this chapter, shews that they were not behindhand with him, in the warmth of their attachment.

The relation in which the Writer and the readers of this volume stand towards each other, is the same in kind, though differing in some of its circumstances. I have not been able to divest myself of the idea-(why indeed should I have wished it?) that I was preaching to my flock and now that I see the last page at hand, I cannot but feel that a separation is taking place between us. How can we better shake hands, than with

St. Paul's farewell? Make it, my brethren, the summary of your prayers for me-as it shall be also of mine on your behalf; and may "the God of all grace"

hear and confirm our mutual benediction !

Let us take the several parts of the text, in the order in which they stand.

Now, BRETHREN, I COMMEND YOU TO GOD! Are we, then, "brethren?" Yes-for we have all one Father, God; "who hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth." 1 And therefore, though Paul was a Jew of Cilicia, and his hearers had been heathens of Ephesusalthough the Preacher may be the native of one country, and his congregation may be gathered out of all the families of the earth-still, all are members of one comprehensive family; bound, by the tie of a common origin, to a mutual regard.

But there is a brotherhood of a far dearer kind; namely, the affinity which subsists among God's spiritual children. Are we brethren in this sense likewise? It is the only really valuable, the only lasting connection. It is attained, by following one and the same Spirit-by trusting in one and the same Saviour by honouring one and the same God: ARE WE brethren ?

In both characters, "I commend you to God." If you be dead in sins, I intreat him to quicken your souls if careless-to make you at length serious: if stouthearted-to pull down your self-will, lest iniquity be your ruin: if "trembling at his word "-to

cause all his goodness to pass before you:"3 if acquainted with Christ-to increase that blessed knowledge: if partakers of peace and joy in the gospel-to 3 Exod. xxxiii. 19.

1 Acts xvii. 26.

2 Isa. lxvi. 2.