107 Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.... SERMON XIV. LUKE xxii. 48. Betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss SERMON XV. ACTS i. 25. ... Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own 116 place 125 HEBREWS xii, 14. And holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord MATT. xix. 20. All these things have I kept from my youth up. What 160 lack I yet? 168 COLOS. i. 18. Who is the Beginning? NA AMES and titles amongst men are generally insignificant, and are not characteristic of the persons to whom they are applied. But the titles given to Christ are always descriptive and recommendatory; denoting the peculiar excellencies of which he is possessed, and the invaluable blessings which he imparts. They either tend to illustrate the glory of his character as Mediator, or display his infinite and adorable perfections as God over all, and blessed for ever. I. He is the beginning, as to his divine nature.- He is here called the image of the invisible God; not an imperfect representation, as angels and saints may be; but as it is said in another place, he "is the express image of his person. He is personally distinct from the Father, but essentially the same; not only manifesting, but participating all his glories. Hence when Philip made that request, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us; Jesus answered, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me. Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, But this could only be true, on the supposition of a perfect equality, and a full participation of the divine nature. 1. The pre-eminence that is here ascribed to Christ, implies his eternity and self-existence. He is not God by derivation, or by commission; but is really and properly He is before all things, and by him all things con 80. sist; he is therefore the beginning, and the fountain of all created existence. What he is as a divine person, that he ever was, and will never cease to be. He who is the first beginning and last end of all things, must himself be without beginning or end; and is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. The same in the perfections of his nature, and consequently in his claim to our regard. As man he had beginning of days, and end of life; but as God he has neither. His goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. He is in himself the mighty God, and towards his church the everlasting Father. He is self-originated, and underived, and was eternally All, when all things which ever were, now are, or ever shall be, were nothing. I AM is his memorial to all generations; and this name denotes necessary existence, and absolute immutability. 2. The pre-eminence ascribed to him, implies that he is the fountain of life and existence to all creatures. He who received life from none, communicates life to all. The vegetative life in plants, the animal life in beasts, the rational life in man, the spiritual life in saints, and that eternal life for which they are preparing, are all from Christ. Not only our being, but all our intellectual and moral excellencies are from him. By his power we are what we are as men; by his grace we are what we are as Christians. Ministers derive their gifts, and magistrates their authority from Christ. He is the beginning of time; and is that angel who stood upon the earth and the sea, and who shall one day swear that time shall be no longer. He is the beginning of the world, not by a delegated power, but a power inherent in himself. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. It was he that spread forth the heavens like a curtain, that laid the foundations of the earth, and fixed the boundaries of the raging sea; saying, hitherto shalt thou go, and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be staid. From him the sun receives its light, |