passed us upon the road, and are gone, as it were, to prepare for our reception. And surely, in the journcy' of life, as in other journeys, it is a pleasing reflection that, whatever usage we may meet with abroad (and strangers do not often meet with the best), we have friends who are thinking of us at home, and will receive us with joy when our journey is at an end. And, lo, the heavens are opened, and the habitations of the blessed disclose themselves to view. The glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, all that have departed hence, from the beginning of the world, in the faith and fear of God, a great multitude which no man can number, are seen standing in white robes, with palms in their hands. They beckon us away to those blissful regions from whence sin and sorrow are for ever excluded, and into which they who are admitted "go no more "out." All, once, like us, trod, with many a toilsome step, this valley of weeping; all, once, were strangers in the earth." Now, they rest from their labours, and are entered into the joy of their Lord. They have accomplished happily their journey, and through faith and patience have inherited the promises. A seraph's voice, from the eternal throne, calls to every one of us-"Go, and do thou like"wise."

346

DISCOURSE XXIV.

THE FULNESS OF TIME.

GALATIANS, IV. 4, 5.

When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

THE words make part of the epistle for the day. And none could have been chosen with greater propriety: none can more fully represent to us, in a short compass, the wonderful nature and blessed effects of the redemption, begun as at this season to be wrought for us. Highly fit it is, that our thoughts should still continue to be employed upon it. The angels desire to look into it: we surely cannot yet be weary of meditating upon it. To refresh, to quicken, to fix, the impressions that may have been made, is the intention of the following discourse, in which some reflections shall be offered, on the several particulars of the text, exactly in the order in which they lie; for a better cannot be devised.

I. When the fulness of time was come."-The same truth is here pointed out, which is taught us by the wise man in the book of Ecclesiastes: "To

every thing, and to every purpose under heaven, "there is a time and season." Events do not come

to pass, one at this time, and another at that, by mere chance. He, who created the world, regulates and disposes the things that are passing in it, appointing to each its time. This time, all circumstances considered, is always the very best and fittest. It is impossible for us to consider all circumstances, or, perhaps, one thousandth part of them; and therefore, it is impossible for us to say which time is the best and fittest. The great God only can do this. To the eye of the divine mind (if we may so express it), all events, with all their circumstances, from the beginning to the end of the world, present themselves at once, and stand arranged, by infinite wisdom, each in its due time and place. This all-seeing and alldirecting Providence extends not only to the rise and fall of empires, or the births and deaths of great men, but to every the smallest concern. The hairs of our heads are numbered, and a sparrow falls not to the ground unnoticed. In the Scriptures, where the designs of God are opened, and we are admitted, as it were, behind the scenes, this is shown in many instances. In others, where his designs are kept secret from us, we must learn to trust, and not presumptuously determine that this or that event takes place at an unseasonable time, or fancy that we could have ordered things in a better manner.

What has been said must apply in the strongest manner to the birth of Christ, which being the most important event that ever did happen, must needs have happened at that very time which of all others

was proper, by the apostle in the text called "the "fulness of time;" when all the designs of God respecting it were ripe and ready for accomplishment. A thinking man, who sits down to consider the dispensations going before from the beginning, with the then state of the world, both Jew and Gentile, may discover many reasons why the time of Christ's appearance was the proper time. Some have asked why he did not come sooner? And if the world should last many ages longer, and his religion seem to be perishing, others may ask why he did not come later? All such questions have no foundation but in our own ignorance. Could we see as God sees, we should see that all is right: since we cannot see, we must believe; because all-wise and all-righteous is He who has ordained it so to be as it is. I would wish to impress this general consideration on your minds, as one which alone will carry you safe through all doubts and difficulties, all dangers and distresses. Only love God, and serve him; and then, "all things" cannot but "work together," under his direction, "for good" to you in the end.

II. "When the fulness of time"-that time judged to be, on all accounts, the fittest-" was come, God "sent forth his Son." He had a Son therefore to send forth; that Son of whom it is said, that he was in the bosom of the Father; that he had glory with the Father before the world was; that Son, by the beloved disciple, St. John, styled "THE WORD, who was in the 'beginning with God, and who was God; by whom "all things were made, and without whom was not

any thing made that was made;" that Son, who

66

came down from heaven; who "came from the Father, and returned to him;" that Son, who says, "I and the Father are one; I am in the Father, "and the Father in me; he that hath seen me hath "seen the Father." These passages show you, as clearly as language can show, that the Saviour born, as at this season, though born as a man, was in reality more than man; a divine person, who had being in heaven before the world began; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven; whose title is, the son, or the WORD, of God. That these two titles belong to one and the same person, will be evident to you from a wonderful description in the nineteenth chapter of St. John's Revelation, which I cannot forbear reciting; "I saw heaven opened, " and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon "him was called Faithful and True; and in righ"teousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes

r

were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man "knew but he himself; and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called THE 66 WORD OF GOD. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, "AND LORD OF LORDS." The being here described is certainly a person; and that person can be no other than our ever-blessed Redeemer, going forth to judge and take vengeance on his enemies. He is styled the WORD OF GOD, and must be the same WORD mentioned in the beginning of St. John's Gospel, who "was in the beginning with God, and was God."