shall judge, that a little village, where the gofpel is known, prized and adorned by a suitable conversation, has a dignity and importance far preferable to all the parade of a wealthy metropolis, if destitute of the like privileges.

On the contrary, Every mountain and hill fhall be brought low. MESSIAH came to pour contempt on all human glory. He detected the wickednefs, and confounded the pride of the Scribes and Pharifees, and rulers; and made it appear, that what is highly esteemed among men, to vŋλov, the summit of their boafted excellency, is worthlefs, yea, abomination in the fight of God *. And by living himself in a state of poverty, and associating chiefly with poor people, he placed the vanity of the distinctions and affluence which mankind generally admire and envy, in the most striking and humiliating light. Such likewife was and will be the effect of his gospel. When faithfully preached, it is found mighty through God, to the pulling down ftrong holds, high thoughts, and every species of felf-exaltation. When the convincing word touches the heart, it has an # Luke xvi. 15.

effect

effect like the hand-writing which Belshaz
zar faw upon the wall *.
the wall *. In that day the
lofty looks of man are humbled, and his
haughtiness bowed down +; he dares no longer
plead the goodness of his heart, or truft to
the work of his hands. A fenfe of for-
giveness and acceptance through the Beloved,
received by faith in his atonement, lays him
ftill lower; he now renounces as lofs, for
the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift
Jefus the Lord, all that he once efteemed his
gain, and is glad that he has nothing to trust
or glory in but the crofs. Farther, every
mountain that oppofes the kingdom of
MESSIAH, in due time must fink into a
plain . Though the nations rage, and the
|].
rulers take counsel together, he who fitteth in
the heavens will fupport and maintain his own
work, and all their power and policy fhall
fall before it.

The crooked fhall be made ftrait, and the rough places fmooth. He came to rectify the perverse difpofition of the hearts of men, to soften and fubdue their obftinate fpirits, and to form to himself a willing people in the day of his power. The Jewish teachers, by their tra* Dan.v.6. + Ifai.ii.11. Phil,iii.7,8. || Zech.iv.7.

ditions.

ditions and will-worship, had given an apparent obliquity to the ftrait and perfect rule of the law of God, and deformed the beauties of holiness, binding heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne upon the confcience; but he vindicated the law from their corrupt gloffes, and made the path of obedience plain, practicable and pleasant.

Thus the glory of the Lord was revealed. Not to every eye; many prejudiced by his outward appearance, and by the low mistaken views the Jews indulged of the office and kingdom of MESSIAH, whom they expected, could fee no form or excellence in him, that they should defire him, but his disciples could fay, We beheld his glory*. He spake with authority. His word was power. He controlled the elements, he raised the dead. He knew, and revealed, and judged the thoughts of men's hearts. He forgave fin, and thus exercised the rights, and displayed the perfections of divine fovereignty in his own perfon. But the prophecy looks forward to future times. After his afcenfion he filled his apostles and difciples with light and power, and fent them forth in all directions

John i. 14.

to

to proclaim his love and grace to a finful world. Then the glory of the Lord was revealed, and spread from one kingdom to another people. We ftill wait for the full accomplishment of this promife, and expect a time when the whole earth fhall be filled

with his glory. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It is to the power of his word that we owe the continuance of day and night, and the regular return of the seasons of the year. But these appointments are only for a limited term; the hour is coming, when the frame of nature shall be diffolved. Heaven and earth fhall pass away; but not a jot or tittle of what he hath declared concerning his kingdom of grace fhall fail, till the whole be fulfilled.

Thofe of you who have heard the Mefiab will do well to recollect, whether

you were affected by fuch thoughts as these, while this paffage was performed; or whether you were only captivated by the mufic, and paid no more regard to the words than if they had no meaning. They are, however, the great truths of God. May they engage your ferious attention, now they are thus fet before you!

SER

SERMON III.

THE SHAKING OF THE HEAVENS AND THE

EARTH.

HAGGAI ii. 6, 7:

Thus faith the Lord of hofts, Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the fea, and the dry land And I will shake all nations, and the defire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this boufe with glory, faith the Lord of hofts.

OD shook the earth when he proclaim

Go

The

ed his law to Ifrael from Sinai. description, though very fimple, presents to our thoughts a scene unspeakably majestic, grand and awful. The mountain was in flames at the top, and trembled to its basis *,

Exod. xix. 16-19.

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