ours, as much ours, for these blessed purposes, as if we had wrought it out each in his own person. Foreseeing and contemplating these blessings, the enraptured Zechariah cries out, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just and having salva tion, lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass," Zech ix. 9. He addresses himself to Zion and Jerusalem, to the ecclesiastical and civil community. Persons of all ranks, and of every character, are exhorted to "rejoice;" to rejoice "greatly;" nay, to express the joy of their heart by loud hallelujahs and triumphant exclamations. What is the cause of thi general delight? what can fill both church and state with such high satis faction? Thy King cometh unto thee;" even that glorious King wh rules in heaven, and rules in the heart; whose service is freedom, and whos laws are love. "He is just;" divinely righteous in his nature, and h cometh to fulfil all righteousness in thy stead. "Having salvation;" hereb procuring salvation for his people; deliverance from sin, from death and hell from every evil thou deservest, and from every misery thou fearest. Tha none may be discouraged, and none deterred, from applying to this Prince Peace, he is, amidst all the honours of his sovereignty, "lowly;" does no abhor the basest, will not despise the meanest; to the poor his gospel i preached, and for the guilty his benefits are intended. As an emblem, as proof of this most amiable and condescending goodness, "he will ride," no like the conquerors of old, in a triumphal chariot, or on a richly-caparisone steed, but upon the most mean and despicable of all animals, an ass;" nay what is still more despicable, on a rude undisciplined "colt, the" waywar "foal of an ass *." 66 And now, since my Theron confesses himself to be miserable, and poor and naked; since the eyes of his understanding are enlightened to see th impurity of his heart, the imperfection of his righteousness, and that he is in himself a lost undone sinner; what advice, cheering and salutary, shall suggest? O! let him listen to an Adviser infinitely more able and compas sionate; listen to him who is the Ancient of Days, and the wisdom of God "I counsel thee," says the blessed Jesus, "to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, * Because profane scoffers have presumed to ridicule this very remarkable incident our Lord's life, some interpreters have endeavoured to rescue it from their abusive attempts by observing, "That the eastern asses are much larger and more graceful than ours; tha patriarchs and judges thought it no disgrace to ride upon them." This observation has, fear, more of false delicacy, than of real truth, or Christian simplicity. In the patriarcha ages, persons of high distinction thought it no dishonour, in their journeys and processions to appear on this animal; but I very much question whether the same fashion subsisted or the same way of thinking prevailed, in the reign of Tiberius Cæsar. See James iii. 3 -Nay, I find that Solomon had four thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelv thousand horsemen; and that horses were brought to him out of Egypt, and divers othe countries, 1 Kings iv. 26; x. 28, 29. From this period, it is probable, none but the po and inferior sort of people rode upon asses. Well, therefore, might the prophet say, wit wonder and delight, “lowly, and riding upon an ass !" Was it a mean attitude? I make no scruple to grant it; nay, I make my boast of it It is for the honour of our Lord's condescension; it is for the utter confusion of a worldly pomp and grandeur; and it is for the unspeakable comfort of my sinful soul They who would dignify this action, any otherwise than from its ever-to-be-admire abasement, seem to have forgotten the stable and the manger. They who are offended & this circumstance, and ashamed to own their Lord in his deep humiliation, have but ver imperfectly learned the apostle's lesson, "God forbid that I should glory, save in th ross of Christ Jesus, my Lord." Rev. iii. 18. Gold! what can this denote, but all those spiritual treasures which are hid in Christ? which are in measure unsearchable, in value inestimable, in duration eternal. "White raiment!" Surely this must signify the righteousness of our Redeemer, which is all purity, and all perfection; which clothes the soul, as a most suitable and commodious garment; which covers every deformity and every sin; and presents the believer, free from shame and free from blemish, before the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. This, to use the delicate language and amiable images of Isaiah—this doctrine, embraced by a realizing faith, is the only pillow of rest, "wherewith we may cause the weary and heavy laden soul to find repose;" and this is the sovereign cordial prepared by infinite mercy for the refreshment of anxious and desponding transgressors. O! let us not be in the number of those proud and refractory creatures, who, though they infinitely needed, "yet would not hear" the gracious news, Isa. xxviii. 12, nor receive the unspeakable benefit. In this respect, and in this most eminently, is that other saying of the same sublime teacher true, "The Lord of Hosts, shall be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people," Isa. xxviii. 5. Shall we tear from our temples, or reject with disdain, this unfading and heavenly ornament, in order to substitute a mean and tawdry chaplet of our own? Let me add a pertinent passage from one of our celebrated dramatic writers, which, if proper in his sense, will be incomparably more so according to our manner of application: It were contemning, With impious self-sufficient arrogance, I might proceed to urge this expostulation of the poet, as I might easily have multipled my quotations from holy writ. But, studious of brevity, I leave both, without further enlargement, to your own meditation. Yet more studious of my friend's happiness, I cannot conclude without wishing him an interest, a clear and established interest, in this everlasting righteousness of Christ. For so, and so only, can he have "everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace."-I am, my dear Theron, inviolably yours, ASPASIO. P. S.-Opposite to the room in which I write, is a most agreeable prospect of the gardens and the fields; these, covered with herbage and loaded with corn; those adorned with flowers and abounding with esculents; all appearing with so florid and so beautiful an aspect, that they really seem, in conformity to the Psalmist's description, even to "laugh and sing." Let me just observe, that all these fine scenes, all these rich productions, sprungfrom what? From the dissolution of the respective seeds. The seeds planted by the gardener, and the grain sowed by the husbandman, first perished in the ground, and then the copious increase arose. Much in the same manner a true faith in Christ and his righteousness arises from what? From the ruins of self-sufficiency, and the death of personal excellency. Let me therefore entreat my Theron still to take th diary for his counsellor; still to keep an eye on the depravity of his natur and the miscarriages of his life. The more clearly we see, the more deep we feel our guilt and our misery, the more highly shall we value the obedience of our blessed Surety. In such a heart faith will flourish as a rose, and lift up its head like a cedar in Lebanon. To such a soul the great Redeemer's righteousness will be welcome, as waters to the thirsty coil, or as rivers in the sandy desert. LETTER V.-ASPASIO TO THERON. DEAR THERON,-Give me leave to relate an uncommon accident which happened a little while ago in this neighbourhood, and of which I myself was a spectator. The day was the Sabbath; the place appropriated to divine worship was the scene of this remarkable affair. A boy came running into the church breathless and trembling. He told, but in a low voice, those who stood near, that a press-gang* was advancing to besiege the doors, and arrest the sailors. An alarm was immediately taken. The seamen, with much hurry, and no less anxiety, began to shift for themselves. The rest of the congregation, perceiving an unusual stir, were struck with surprise. A whisper of inquiry ran from seat to seat, which increased by degrees into a confused murmur. No one could inform his neighbour, therefore every one was left to solve the appearance from the suggestions of a timorous imagination. Some suspected the town was on fire: some were apprehensive of an invasion from the Spaniards: others looked up, and looked round, to see if the walls were not giving way, and the roof falling upon their heads. In a few moments the consternation became general. The men stood like statues, in silent amazement, and unavailing perplexity. The women shrieked aloud; fell into fits; sunk to the ground in a swoon. Nothing was seen but wild disorder; nothing heard but tumultuous clamour. Drowned was the preacher's voice. Had he spoke in thunder, his message would scarce have been regarded. To have gone on with his work amidst such a prodigious ferment, had been like arguing with a whirlwind, or talking to a tempest. This brought to my mind that great tremendous day, when the heavens will pass away, when the earth will be dissolved, and all its inhabitants receive their final doom. If at such incidents of very inferior dread our hearts are ready to fail, what unknown and inconceivable astonishment must seize the guilty conscience, when the hand of the Almighty shall open those unparalleled scenes of wonder, desolation, and horror! when the trumpet shall sound-the dead arise-the world be in flames-the Judge on the throne-and all mankind at the bar! "The trumpet shall sound," 1 Cor. xv. 52, says the prophetic teacher. And how startling, how stupendous the summons! Nothing equal to it, nothing like it, was ever heard through all the regions of the universe, or all the revolutions of time. When conflicting armies have discharged the bellowing artillery of war, or when victorious armies have shouted for joy of The reader, it is hoped, will excuse whatever may appear low, or savour of the plebeian, in any of these circumstances. If Aspasio had set himself to invent the description of a panic, he would probably have formed it upon some more raised and dignified incident. But as this was a real matter of fact, which lately happened in one of our sea-port towns, truth, even in a plain dress, may possibly be no less acceptable than fiction tricked up.with with the most splendid embellishments. the conquest, the seas and shores have rung, the mountains and plains have echoed. But the shout of the archangel and the trump of God will resound from pole to pole; will pierce the centre, and shake the pillars of heaven. Stronger, stranger still! it will penetrate even the deepest recesses of the tomb. It will pour its amazing thunder into all the abodes of silence. The dead, the very dead, shall hear. When the trumpet has sounded, "the dead shall arise." In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the graves open, the monumental piles are cleft asunder, and the nations under ground start into day. What an immense harvest of men and women, springing up from the caverns of the earth, and the depths of the sea! Stand awhile, my soul, and consider the wonderful spectacle. Adam formed in Paradise, and the babe born but yesterday; the earliest ages, and latest generations, meet upon the same level. Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Barbarians, people of all climes and languages, unite in the promiscuous throng. Here those vast armies, which like swarms of locusts, covered countries, which with an irresistible sweep overrun empires-here they all appear, and here they are all lost-lost like the small drop of a bucket, when plunged into the unfathomable and boundless ocean. -O the multitudes! the multitudes which these eyes shall survey, when God" calleth the heavens from above, and the earth, that he may judge his people." What shame must flush the guilty cheek! what anguish wound the polluted breast! to have all their filthy practices, and infamous tempers, exposed before this innumerable crowd of witnesses!-Fly, my Theron; and fly, my soul; instantly let us fly, earnestly let us fly, to the purifying blood of Jesus; that all our sins may be blotted out; that we may be found "unblamable and unreprovable" in the presence of the assembled world, and, what is infinitely more to be revered, in the sight of the omnipotent God. When the swarm issues, the hive will burn: there is no more need of this habitable globe. The elect have fought the good fight, and finished their course the wicked have been tried and found incorrigible. The important drama is ended, every actor has performed his part; now, therefore, the scenes are taken down, and the stage demolished. "Wo be to the earth, and to the works thereof!" Its streams are turned into pitch, its dust into brimstone, and the breath of the Almighty, like a torrent of fire, enkindles the whole. See! see how the conflagration rages, spreads, prevails over all! The forests are in a blaze, and the mountains are wrapt in flame. Cities, kingdoms, continents, sink in the burning deluge. London, Britain, Europe, are no more. Through all the receptacles of water, through all the tracts of land, through the whole extent of air, nothing is discernible but one vast, prodigious, fiery ruin.-Where now are the treasures of the covetous? where the possessions of the mighty? where the delights of the voluptuary? How wise, how happy are they, whose portion is lodged in heavenly mansions! Their "inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled;" such as the last fire cannot reach, nor the dissolution of nature impair. But see! the azure vault cleaves; the expanse of heaven is rolled back like a scroll; and the Judge, the Judge appears! "He cometh," cries a mighty seraph, the herald of his approach, "he cometh to judge the world in righteousness, and minister true Judgment unto the people!" He cometh, not as formerly in the habit of a servant, but clad with uncreated glory, and magnificently attended with the armies of heaven. Angels and archangels stand before him, and ten thousand times ten thousand of those celestial spirits minister unto him. Behold him, ye faithful followers of the Lamb, and wonder and love! This is he who bore all your iniquities on the ignominious cross this is he who fulfilled all righteousness for the justification of your persons.-Behold him, ye despisers of his grace, and wonder, and perish! This is he whose merciful overtures you have contemned, and on whose precious blood you have trampled. The great white throne, Rev. xx. 11, beyond description august and formidable, is erected. The King of heaven, the Lord of glory, takes his seat on the dreadful tribunal. Mercy on his right hand displays the olive-branch of peace, and holds forth the crown of righteousness: Justice on his left poises the impartial scale, and unsheathes the sword of vengeance: while wisdom and holiness, brighter than ten thousand suns, beam in his divine aspect. What are all the preceding events to this new scene of dignity and awe? The peals of thunder, sounding in the archangel's trumpet; the blaze of a burning world, and the strong convulsions of expiring nature; the unnumbered myriads of human creatures, starting into instantaneous existence, and thronging the astonished skies; all these seem familiar incidents, compared with the appearance of the incarnate Jehovah. Amazement, more than amazement, is all around. Terror and glory unite in their extremes. From the sight of his majestic eye, from the insupportable splendours of his face, the earth itself, and the very "heavens, flee away," Rev. xx. 11. How then, O how shall the ungodly stand! stand in his angry presence, and draw near to this consuming fire! Yet draw near they must, and take their trial, their decisive trial, at his righteous bar. Every action comes under examination; for each idle word they must give account. Not so much as a secret thought escapes this exact scrutiny. How shall the criminals, the impenitent criminals, either conceal their guilt or elude the sentence? They have to do with a sagacity too keen to be deceived, with a power too strong to be resisted, and (O terrible, terrible consideration!) with a severity of most just displeasure, that will never lent, never be entreated more. What ghastly despair lowers on their pale ks! What racking agonies rend their distracted hearts! The bloody e and the torturing wheel are ease, are down, compared with their prodious woe. And (O holy God! wonderful in thy doings! fearful in thy dgments!) even this prodigious woe is the gentlest of visitations, compared with that indignation and wrath which are hanging over their guilty heads, which are even now falling on all the sons of rebellion, which will plunge them deep in aggravated and endless destruction. And is there a last day? and must there come A sure, a fix'd irrevocable doom? Surely then, to use the words of a pious prelate*, it should be "the main care of our lives and deaths, what shall give us peace and acceptation before the dreadful tribunal of God. What but righteousness? What righteousness, or whose? Ours, or Christ's? Ours, in the inherent graces wrought in us, in the holy works wrought by us? or Christ's, in his most perfect obedience and meritorious satisfaction, wrought for us, and applied to us? The popish faction is for the former: we protestants are for the latter. God is as • Bishop Hall. |