some of them his lowly situation in society had been minutely foretold. But the respect which is in this world given to power, and riches, and grandeur, blinded their eyes, and misled their hearts. This had likewise been foretold many ages before; being mentioned by Isaiah as an inevitable consequence of their mistaken views.

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My thoughts are not your thoughts, "neither are my ways your ways, saith "the Lord: for as the heavens are "above the earth, so are my ways

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higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

The Jews read this, and they believed it; but still, having their minds filled with images of vulgar glory, they forgot that it alluded to the description that had just been given of the Messiah, as "a man of "sorrows and acquainted with grief," and persisted in expecting that the

promises made to their fathers should be fulfilled by the appearance of a great and powerful prince.

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We ought to reap instruction from their mistake; and as we must be convinced of the cause of their delusion, should be upon our guard, lest it assaults us in another form. shall have occasion to speak more of this hereafter. At present I wish to call your attention to those circumstances which peculiarly distinguish the revelation given by Jesus Christ from that given by the "messengers "sent before to prepare his way."

In my last letters I have endeavoured to shew you, that the 'light which God dispensed through these inspired persons, was progressive; diffusing into the hearts of those who received it clearer views of the Divine nature, than man by the use of reason could have obtained. That every

suc

successive revelation gave an addi tional motive to the practice of virtue, by giving additional assurance that virtue was pleasing in the sight of God; and that a departure from the laws of truth, and justice, and piety, and mercy, would bring down the wrath of Deity upon the offender.

By these lights the prophets prepared the way for Him, who was to be the way, the truth, and the light; and who was to unfold the Divine nature and the scheme of Providence with an effulgence and an efficacy beyond their commission or their power to impart. To Him give all the prophets witness; testifying that in Him should the law, and all its types and symbolical institutions, be fulfilled; exemplifying in

his

pure and holy life the perfection of righteousness, and thus fulfilling the moral law; and offering in his death a sacrifice for the sin of the whole

world, and thus accomplishing all that the ordinances of the law had by its various rites prefigured.

Believing that you are not as yet prepared for comprehending the solemn truths, involved in the important but mysterious doctrines of redemption, I shall refrain from entering upon them further than is necessary towards layinga proper, and consequently a deep, foundation for the formation of religious principle in your heart. To this end I am anxious to direct your attention to what was spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah; of whom, in obedience to the spirit of God, though in direct opposition to their own prejudices, they spake as bringing salvation not to the Jews alone, but to all the nations of the earth.

All that God had, by the voice of his inspired prophets, promised, was, by the coming of the Son of God, accomplished.

plished. By him the counsels of God were published. By him the scheme of Providence was so far displayed as was necessary towards effecting the purposes of the dispensation of grace; the additional knowledge afforded being of such a nature as could never without Divine revelation have been obtained, and such as had, in every instance, a tendency to increase and strengthen the principles of moral virtue.

By Moses and the prophets God had been declared to be a God of holiness. By them he was represented as hating sin, and punishing all manner of iniquity. But in how much brighter colours was this displayed by Jesus Christ in what he saw fit to unfold of the scheme of redemption !

By Moses, God had promised to the Israelites to grant them especial assistance, on certain conditions of obedience; and while they performed their