a more full revelation of Christ as the captain and leader of his people; in this character he has a most conspicuous love; he encourages them with his voice, and they follow; he feeds his flock like a shepherd, and "gently leads those that are with young."

But I am to consider, in the last place, for what purpose a banner is to be set up over every disciple of Jesus that enters in: "He brought me into the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." It must be remembered, that in all the tenderness of mercy, the Lord's Christ maintains the dignity of a king; the fruits of all his victories, he graciously makes over to them that love him, he withholds neither immortality nor life; but the glory of them he reserves as his own. Thus, when he brings some ransomed captive, some child of his providence into his church, he fixes a banner over his head, that he may have a perpetual memorial before his eyes, that it was the Lord who conquered, and the Lord who bought him. Now this banner carries an inscription upon it, which, though it consists but of one single word, gives us a knowledge that the whole book of nature could not supply; it shows us, directly, the instrument of all the conquests of Christ, and, indirectly, the sort of enemy that he overcomes. The name of the instrument is not to

be separated from the conqueror; it is worked into his very banner of triumph-it is love. With this one weapon he has effected more in the way of subduing armies of rebels, and so making peace, than all the carnal weapons that men ever used for establishing or overthrowing kingdoms.

When the author of this book is describing jealousy, he speaks of it as being cruel as the grave; but of divine love, he says, that it is strong as death. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love;" here is a witness to the truth of it; nay, out of the Bible may be gathered a cloud of witnesses. But every believer is a living witness; and he has the experience in himself of what love can produce out of a blind, and weak, and presumptuous mind: his blindness is gone, and with the bright light that has been given him, he can see far into the kingdom of grace; his weakness keeps him no longer the last in the race: he runs, and is not weary; he mounts higher than an eagle, and he has strength for the longest journey; and as to his presumption, he has thrown it off as a filthy garment, and now he stands forth clothed with humility.

James and John would have had their master try another weapon than that of love, when the Samaritans did not receive him into their villages: "Lord, wilt thou that we command

fire to come down from heaven, and consume them? but he turned and rebuked them, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." Whilst cruel men were whetting their swords to slay him, he was weeping over their guilt and impenitence of heart; whilst they were persecuting him unto death, he was bequeathing their naked souls to the care of his disciples: "Go ye and preach the gospel among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." This is evidence of the long-suffering, and matchless compassion of Jesus, who sought not his own glory in his acts of grace, but only the eternal freedom of man.

But before you will see the death of sin, and the fruits of righteousness, his love must be brought into immediate collision with the heart. This is the enemy who, from the foundation of the world, has yielded only to this invisible power. Prophets have spoken to it, ambassadors have reasoned with it, yet not one spark has been driven out of the flint. But of all the ten thousand times ten thousand hearts that the tender hand of a Saviour has effectually touched, he has lost none; they have all cast themselves into mourning, they have all one spirit and one language-"Lord, what shall I do to be saved?" "Be gracious, for I have sinned against thee; consider my complaint, for I

am brought very low." These are the words of submission, and the effects follow; they cut the cords with which the world has entangled them; they flee from the lusts with which the flesh has tempted them; and when the devil offers his usual blandishments to their senses, they fall down before God in prayer, and cry, Abba Father! Here is the triumph of the Lamb of God-the Lord who has died, and is risen! Here are the true nobles in the banqueting house! and the banner over them is love! and here is the rejoicing of those who have come out of great tribulation, and are ready for their second translation into a glory that fadeth not away. My friends, there is not one in that kingdom of conquerors, who has not passed under the rod of Jesus; there is not one, who now reigns in blessedness, that did not first suffer with him in the sorrows of life. Have you a qualification to be where they are? If he has not triumphed, your enmity is not subdued.

In

quire, then, at once into the state of your hearts; ascertain what they are, and to whom they belong; and if the evidence be against you, turn to the altar with weeping and supplication, and go not thence, until the Lord has spoken comfortably to you out of his secret place, and forgiven you even to the uttermost farthing.

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SERMON XVI.

CHRIST THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

ISAIAH xi. 6.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.

THERE are three distinct prophecies announced to us in this chapter: one relating to the restoration of Israel, another to the birth of Christ, and a third, which I propose to consider to-day, describes that with great force and accuracy the influence that his coming would produce upon the characters of men. The events that are here foretold, have occasionally been confounded in the mind, and considered as belonging to one and the same period of time, namely, the millenial kingdom of Christ. But upon a careful examination of the different passages which make up the prophecies, I think it is