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"lamb of God,".

"the lamb flain from the

"foundation of the world."

But left thefe typical reprefentations of the promifed feed fhould prove too thick and obfcure a vail, it pleafed God gradually to unfold the purposes of his grace, by raising up prophets at different periods of time; who, though they feparately bare witness to this illuftrious perfon, yet they perfectly agreed in the report they gave of him; reprefenting him as an irrefiftible conqueror, "who fhould divide the fpoil with the "frong," as "the King whom God had fet upon his holy hill of Zion,"-as "the Lord

ftrong in battle," " and mighty to fave;" who fhould "proclaim liberty to the captives, "and the opening of the prifon to them that "were bound;"--who would "finish tranfgref"fion, and make an end of fins," or offerings for fin, and make reconciliaton for iniquity, and "bring in everlafting righteoufnefs."

Accordingly, when the fulness of time was come, the Son of God made his entrance into the world in the declared character of a Saviour and Redeemer. A heavenly herald was employed to announce his appearence, and to appoint him. a name expreffive of his office: "Thou fhalt "call his name Jefus," faid the angel to Joseph; "for he fhall fave his people from their fins." A fpecial meffenger was raifed up to prepare the way before him, to bid Satan defiance, and to call upon men to repent, because the King"dom of God was at hand." This was John, who foon after had the honour to introduce Chrift by baptifm into the field of battle, and

"

to

to point him out to the men of that age as "the "Lamb of God which taketh away the fin of "the world."

And now let us review his perfonal conduct, and trace him through the courfe of his public ministry, where we thall behold the moft ftriking proofs of the Apoftle's affertion, that for this purpose the Son of God was manifefted, that be might deftroy the works of the devil. No fooner is he baptized, and confecrated to his office by the visible defcent of the Holy Ghoft, than he suffers himself to be "led by the spirit into the "wildernefs," and continued there for the space of forty days "tempted of the devil." The circumftances of this combat, and the happy iffue of it, are recorded by three Evangelifts, and are fo generally known, that I need not stay to repeat them. This was the firft fignal defeat of the adverfary: in the wildernefs was the ferpent's head broken as tempter, which on Calvary was afterwards bruised as tormentor.

Having thus vanquished the devil in single fight, our Lord forthwith invites men to fight under his banner. He choofeth twelve apoftles, whom he appoints to be the stated attendants upon his perfon, and the principal leaders of the army under him. With these he joins feventy of a fubordinate rank, to whom he gives orders to attack the enemy, and to exercise the power of his word and spirit against him. In obedience to his command, and relying upon his aid, they refolutely go forth two by two, into every city and place whither he himself was to come; and after a rapid and most fuccessful progress, like

young

young foldiers flushed with their first profperous adventure, they return again with joy, faying, "Lord, even the devils are fubject unto us through thy name."

Upon this the hotter part of the war begins. The old ferpent puts forth all his ftrength and cunning, raised up enemies from every quarter, works upon the pride, envy, and prejudices of the Jewish rulers and teachers, and by their agency carries on a moft furious perfecution against him. Yet ftill this great Captain of Salvation maintains his ground, and, amidst all the oppofition that is made to him, lays the foundation of a kingdom, against which the gates of hell fhall never be able to prevail, till at length, by feeming to yield, he gives the enemy the mortal blow, pursues him into his own dominions; and, by a myfterious wifdom, "through "death, he conquers him that had the power of "death, that is the devil: And having thus obtained a complete victory, he rifeth from the grave in triumph, afcended up on high, leading captivity captive; where, feated on the right hand of the Father, he fhall continue in the exercife of government as Mediator, till all his enemies be made his foot-ftool.

Thus, you fee, that the doctrine of my text doth not lean upon a fingle teftimony, but is fupported by many clear and exprefs declarations of holy writ, and beautifully illuftrated by the whole of our Saviour's conduct during the time of his abode on this earth.-Let us then proceed,

II. In the fecond place, To confider more particularly fome of the principal means by which

the

the Son of God hath hitherto conducted his falutary undertaking, and fhall finally destroy the works of the devil.

If, He hath given us the most certain and enlarged difcoveries of every thing that is neceffary to be known, believed, or done by us, in order to our prefent improvement in holiness, and the perfection of our happiness in a future ftate.

The devil is ftyled "the god of this world, "who blindeth the minds of thofe that believe "not," and by keeping the light from them leads them captive at his pleafure. And Chrift delivers them from this thraldom, by "opening their

eyes, and turning them from darkness to light;" difpelling thofe clouds of ignoranoe, error, and prejudice, whereby Satan maintains his ufurpation over the hearts of men.

"No man hath feen God at any time; the "only begotten Son, who is in the bofom of the "Father, he hath declared him." To him we are indebted for the fulleft and most fatisfying information concerning the nature and perfections of God Moft High; the measures of his government, his relation to us, and the worship that is due to him and that neither guilt nor distance might difcourage our approach to the throne of his holiness, Chrift hath opened to us in his own blood, a precious fountain of fovereign virtue, in which the chief of finners may wafh, and be made clean; and by revealing to us the mysterious union of the divine and human nature, in his own perfon as Mediator, he hath,. as it were, thrown a bridge over that boundless

infinite

infinite ocean, which feparates the creature from the invifible Godhead: fo that through the man Chrift Jefus, who is alfo God's beloved Son, we may now address the Father of our fpirits, without that dread of a repulse, and fear of offending him, which otherwife muft have overwhelmed our minds. He hath given us a law which is holy, juft, and good, utterly fubverfive of the kingdom of Satan, and contrary to all his works; "teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, and

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righteously, and godly, in this prefent world." This law he hath enforced with the most perfuafive arguments. Every motive to obedience that can either encourage our hopes, or alarm our fears, is fet before us in the ftrongest and most affecting light. Heaven is unfolded to our view, and deftruction hath no covering: And that no incitement may be wanting to invigorate our oppofition to the devil and his works, this great Captain of falvation folemnly enlifts us into his army by baptifm; and hath appointed the other facrament, not merely to reprefent his atoning facrifice, and to remind us of the price with which we were redeemed, but likewise to afford us an opportunity of recognifing his title to our grateful homage and most loyal subjection; and to be a means of imparting to our fouls thofe fupplies of grace, which will enable us to quit ourfelves like men, while we fight under his banner against the powers of darkness, till the God of peace fhall in due time bruife Satan underneath our feet. Thus doth the Son of God destroy the works of the devil, by the doctrines,

and