§21. St. Paul was enjoined to preach, and continued to preach, at Corinth,

character, is found in Hebr. i. 3, (which is there translated express image,) and applied to the Divine Nature; I would observe, that the term is found there indeed, but has a very different sense, and seems to be specially applied to the person of Christ, as the Messiah, Immanuel, or God-man, and not, as hath been often supposed, to his divine nature only, as the Son, or Second Person in the Godhead; because, in that view, there would be an idem per idem, and the Divinity would be the sensible representation or express image of the Divinity, which appears to be absurd and impossible. Nor does the term seem applicable to the whole undivided or undistinguished Trinity. At all events, the word character, in the common sense, appears to be rather improper and unappropriate respecting God, and cannot justify the vulgar usage of it in the manner above-mentioned. Again: if we consider, that the human nature of Christ, filled with the divine, is said to be, in a stronger acceptation than Adam's originally was, the image of the invisible God; then the words, character, sign,

stamp,

Corinth, for a year and six months, by an express revelation, and for an expressed

stamp, or express image of his Hypostasis, must relate to Jesus Christ, as the visible declaration or manifestation of his own person in the Godhead, which could not otherwise have been understood as performing and communicating those special acts of grace and love for man's redemption, which, as a witness or party in the everlast ing covenant, he had undertaken to perform. —If the latter part of the text be duly considered, this application, so far from appearing incoherent or strained, may possibly appear the most accordant and natural; for, the great Immanuel, or God-man, being the sensible brightness of the glory, and the perfect representation or impression in human flesh of his own divine hypostasis or person, which must otherwise have been invisible and unknown to those for whose sakes he came into the world, upholds all things by the word of his power, whether in grace or nature; and, when he had BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High. That is; he carried up the human nature, which he had assumed, to the throne of glory,

and

expressed reason; because (said the Lord) I have much people in that city. But it was not revealed to the Apostle, before his preaching, who were the special people designated by the Lord. They were to be discovered by him only in the effect of his ministry, seconded and succeeded by the Holy Spirit, who had authorized and empowered him to preach generally to all who would hear him. Thus the showers, that saturate the fields and afford fertility to the corn, fall also upon wastes, and roads, and rocks,

and exalted it in himself far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. If the serious reader will compare the text, Hebr. i. 3, with Eph. i. 20-23, and Col. i. 14-19, he will probably perceive not only a beautiful harmony in those passages, but also a most invincible testimony of the Saviour's Divinity and Glory.

and

and seas, appearing, to us at least, in these instances to distil from the heavens in vain. The acts of God are ample, but his intentions are pointed and sure. His word, though widely diffused and much rejected, doth not return unto him void, but accomplishes, really, every purpose whereunto he sent it.

§ 22. In like manner, the same Apostle was directed to declare the Gospel in Macedonia. He only knew, that he was to perform his function, and accordingly went thither. On the sabbath day, he went to the

προσευχή,

gooʊxn, or place where prayer was wont to be made in the environs of the city of Philippi, knowing nothing of Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened, and intended to open, under his preaching, and perhaps not surmising that, through the medium of an afflictive. imprisonment afterwards to himself, he should be the means, through the

divine influence, of releasing his jailor from the confinement of sin and Satan, and of bringing him among others into the liberty of the children of God. When these purposes were accomplished, the Apostle saw what was the object of his mission, and was then at liberty to depart and to perform his apostleship elsewhere.

§ 23. A circumstance, not very dissimilar, occurs in the 2d Book of Chronicles, xxx. 1-12. King Hezekiah, in the faith and fear of God, resolved to keep the Passover, according to the Law, unto JEHOVAH, the ALEHIM of Israel, The Passover was spiritually a commemoration of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which Believers receive thereby. This feast had been, for a long time, neglected or improperly performed. Letters were sent, therefore, by the authority of the King and his counsellors, throughout all Israel and Judah,