look upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.

He became poor, when he assumed our nature and veiled the glories of his divinity in the frailty and the meanness of human flesh. This was a second, and most astonishing instance of his humiliation and grace. "Without all controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifested in the flesh." In contemplating this event, we are equally astonished at that depth of humiliation to which the divinity stooped, and that height of glory to which the manhood was exalted. The very circumstances in which he was born tend to excite bigher emotions of wonder at his condescension. His residence was not a splendid palace, but a manger; his raiment was not the costly robes of state, but, as the historian mentions, he was wrapped in swadling clothes; his mother and his immediate connections were not the magnificent or honorable of this world, but an obscure and contemptible family. He thus humbled himself not only in becoming man, but in assuming our nature with every circumstance of meanness and abasement.

He became poor, by submitting to ten thousand instances of reproach and mortification through life. What is the history of the Son of God from his birth to his death, but a history of poverty, and insult, and suffering? Instead of being courted by the

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fashionable or mighty of this world, he was regarded by them with scorn and disdain : Him none of the princes of this world knew they acknowledged him not as their equal; they did not frequent his society as one worthy of their friendship: Instead of occupying the costly mansion, or sitting on the lap of outward ease and indulgence, he had not where to lay his head, and suffered in their turn hunger, and thirst, and fatigue: He did not wear the ensigns of royalty, or ride in triumph over the necks of his enemies, but was subject to the authority of his parents, obeyed the commands of an earthly ruler, and was at last betrayed into the hands of sinful men: He did not leave this world with those marks of honor which have often distinguished conquerors and princes; he did not bear the palm in his hand, or the laurel upon his head, these emblems of victory and glory, but was openly set at nought, was spit upon, was scourged, and was signalized by his betrayers and murderers with every conceivable mark of insult and infamy. We should naturally expect that, while earth and hell were combining their malignant ingenuity to aggravate his abasement and agony, his Father at least would interpose and support his departing spirit with the smiles of his countenance: But the fact was directly the reverse. A cloud deeper than midnight, impenetrable as the blackness of darkness which envelopes the

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damned in hell, overcast for a time the soul of the Surety, and even the natural sun refused a solitary ray to enlighten or cheer its expiring Creator. How plaintive, how melancholy, how melting was his language in the garden, and on the cross! "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; O my Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me Again, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" Then it was that the Son of God who had been formerly rich became poor in the extreme. No misery can be imagined, nay, it is not extravagant to assert, that no misery could be inflicted which was not inflicted with unabating horrors on our suffering substitute. Formerly, when he had been oppressed in body, the calm, and the consolation of his mind ministered support, but now the very distress of his body is almost infinitely heightened by the wrath of God which, like a mighty torrent, overflowed and overwhelmed his spirit :Formerly, when tempted by devils, he was ministered unto by angels; when misrepresented and blasphemed by his enemies, he was vindicated and adored by his disciples; his righteous Father upon various occasions openly acknowledged and countenanced him; by the waters of Jordan he announced him his beloved Son, and on Tabor's mount unveiled for a few moments that glory which

the Redeemer had with him before the world began: But now he is forsaken by all his former friends, and heaven and earth, and hell are armed against him. Behold what manner of love is this? He who was in the form of God; who was "the brightness of the divine glory, and over all blessed forever becomes a man of sorrows, is acquainted with grief," and is made a curse for us. To aim at feebly illustrating this GRACE was our third proposition, to which we now proceed. Ye know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word grace signifies free favor; bounty expressed where it is altogether undeserved, and without any prospect of reward: In proportion as this favor is rich, unsolicited, unmerited, this grace rises in value, and excites our astonishment.

All this poverty and humiliation were of grace,

1. Because the Redeemer could not be materially profited by us; as he was necessarily blessed before we existed, he must have continued necessarily blessed had we never been restored from our apostacy.Man frequently communicates his favors where they are unexpected and undeserved from the prospect of a reward; with a view probably of promoting his interest, or honor, or happiness. But no consideration of this kind could possibly actuate the Redee

mer.

Can a man be profitable to God as he

that is wise is profitable to himself? The es sential happiness or glory of his nature can neither be enhanced by our obedience, nor diminished by our ingratitude or obduracy. These are the same yesterday, from eternity past, to-day, amidst all the changes of time, and forever, through eternity to come.

This poverty, this humiliation was of grace, because,

2. There was no comparison between the character of the Person suffering, and the character of those for whom he suffered. We usually feel a degree of esteem for one that is our equal; we feel still more respect for a superior, and in the time of his distress may be disposed to accommodate or assist him. But the grace of the Son appears altogether singular, when we reflect that those for whom he interposed were not his superiors; they were not his equals, but infinitely inferior. Nay, a comparison between his dignity and their's cannot be made. Some comparison might be drawn between a beast of the field, and a rational man, or between the lowest insect upon the earth, and the loftiest angel in heaven: They both derived their existence from God, and on his good pleasure they depend for all they enjoy, or can expect: But there is not even a shade of comparison between finite and infinite, between frail, mortal man, and the ever-living, life-giving God. "Who in the heavens may be compared to the Lord, or who