flock to be saved by his blood-not merely his adopted family to be received into his kingdom and made happy there forever, but it is his body, his flesh; for the Apostle says, still more boldly, "for we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones." The Church is the fullness, the completeness of Christ. It is on this account in part, that the Father promised the Son that he should not make the sacrifice of himself in vain-that he should see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied-that he should have a seed to serve him-in short, that he should be complete in his connection with the Church, both on earth and in heaven. Already does Christ the Redeemer exhibit his glory in this char acter to the older inhabitants of heaven as he receives the homage of that portion of the Church that has already crossed the flood and joined itself to his glorious throne; and on earth how can he manifest himself to the ungodly except in this way, showing the power of his grace and exhibiting the riches of his love in calling a people out of the world and bestowing upon them the blessings of his salvation? Would Christ be what he is now in heaven-would he be throughout eternity what we are assured he will be, if, having made his sacrifice, and continuing his merciful intercession, all men should be left to hardness of heart, should resist his mercy, and not one be saved to sing in heaven the praises of redeeming love. Such a result would not, could not rob him of a single ray of his personal and essential glory, for as God he would still stand forth arrayed in spotless holiness and complete perfection; but he would not be exalted to the throne of dominion over the redeemed host, who shall now vie forever with the angels in their notes of praise. The Church is the fullness of Christ.

But lest there might be any unholy exultation-lest any thing of credit might be arrogated by the Church, the apostle ascribes all the excellence of the Church to Christ. It is the fullness of him that filleth all in all; the very existence of the Church-its spirituality, its connection with the Redeemer, its ultimate excellence, when according to his promise, he shall "present it to himself, a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing" --all this is derived from Christ; he filleth the members of this spiritual body with all their graces. The Lamb of God prepares for himself a spouse; to her it is granted that "she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, and the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints." Soon shall be heard "the voice of the great multitude as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." The Church shall be cherished by the Redeemer as a wife of youth. Of her he shall say, when she is received to his embrace, "Thou art all fair, my love-there is

66

no spot in thee." What honor thus to be united with Christ. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church." All this love and favor is secured to the people of God because Christ is the head and they the body.

II. We have another truth taught in the text; the main instruction of the passage. It is the superiority of Christ. He is the head! Language more expressive of excellence could not be used. Literally interpreted, the text declares Christ's exaltation among the exalted. The head is the most honorable part of the body. It is the throne of the intellect-the home of thought. In it the organs of sense are located. It is the especial dwelling of the soul, that looks out from the guarded windows, that listens at the surrounding galleries, that holds its court within its hidden chambers, issuing thence its orders and there receiving reports from the whole system. The head as the centre of thought, gives its character to the whole being; for say what we will of the heart as the seat of the affections, and thus determining the moral qualities, yet it ever remains true, "For as a man thinketh so is he." Upon the countenance we look to determine the intellectual and moral character of the individual. The head has all authority; to the head is committed all care. This language, implying Christ's superiority, is established by many other passages of Scripture. It is said by prophecy of Christ, "I will make him my first born, higher than the kings of the earth." "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, hath raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand, far above all principalities and powers and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet." The Church on earth is more precious in the sight of God the Father than any thing else the world contains-nay, than the world and all in it besides. For its sake, the blessings of Providence and grace are bestowed upon mankind. In his purposes of mercy and love towards his people, God bestows favors upon sinners who are joined with them in the relations of this life. Upon this Church shall be poured the treasures of God's glory; his power to make it holy and happy shall be exerted forever; and yet as the head of this body is Christ placed. This is to be Christ's redeemed family, this his everlasting kingdom. He shall reign by the appointment of his Father in uninterrupted dominion forever and ever. He is the Head! However intimate may be the communion of the Church with her Lord-however highly exalted she may be by this connection, in the reception of the blessings God confers upon her-she will ever be in such subjection to her Lord-she will ever be so inferior, as properly to be regarded only as the body of which he is the head.

This superior excellency of Christ consists in part in his divine nature. As when he was upon the earth wearing the outward form of humanity he was not divested of his deity, but through the veil, the glory of the Godhead would sometimes shine forth, so that that human voice seemed to carry with it the authority of Jehovah, as it healed the sick, and raised the dead, and quelled the tempest, so, in heaven, as the head of the Church, though we are assured that Christ will have a glorified body like the arisen bodies of the saints, and be known there as the elder brother of the redeemed family, yet this will not be at the expense of his divinity; this he will retain, with this he cannot part, and in this he will ever be worshipped as the Lord of angels, as well as the King of saints.

And not only thus will he be exalted, but as the Author of their salvation will all the redeemed exalt him forever. He is their Head in this respect. He contrived, he purposed, he executed, even amid sufferings, the plan of redemption. His ardent love impelled him to the sacrifice required; he stained the shameful cross with his own blood, that, thus sprinkled, it might turn aside the avenger, the angel of death; he sent the Spirit to move upon the souls of sinners and subdue their opposition to his will, to open their eyes, shut up against his beauty, and to unstop their ears, deaf to the music of his inviting voice, to renew and sanctify the soul, and to keep his chosen in the path of life unto the end. He has been ever present in the believer's experience-in every scene of his eventful life he has exercised control; in sorrow, he has been near to comfort; in temptation, to strengthen; in danger, to defend; and in death, to cheer and animate with heavenly hopes; until now safely gathered into his kingdom above, the happy spirits of the redeemed are ready to exalt him, not only as King of Heaven, but as the author of eternal life. Each shining member of that church on high, gathered at last from every nation to dwell forever at the right hand of God, looking up to him, who is there gratefully acknowledged as the Head not only of the Church, but of all principality and power, will be ready, with an emphasis which Thomas could not express, to exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" Christ shall be the glorious Head of the Church forever and

ever.

III. This passage also gives us light in respect to the nature of the present connection between Christ and his Church. It is here represented by the connection of the head with the body. As the head is essential to the life of the body, so is Christ essential to the very existence and life of the Church. Its spiritual being has been derived from him, and for its continuance it is entirely dependent upon him. The body would not sooner lose all its powers and turn to corruption, if the head were removed, than

the Church if it should be separated from Christ. There is no state of society more analogous to the putrefaction of a dead body than that in which a form of religion prevails-in which there is the name of a church remaining, but in which all connection with Christ and all regard for a spiritual Christianity have ceased. There are about the forms of a ceremonial religion, from which all that is Christlike has departed, an unsightliness like dead men's bones, and a savor like the charnelhouse. The life of the Church is in its union with Christ the head.

Nor merely existence, but all vigor, all that we call life, in distinction from inactivity and uselessness, depends upon Christ. The head gives motion to the whole frame-when it reposes in slumber, the whole frame is in repose. From the head are sent out the messages which put in action the entire system, and impel each member to its appropriate work. Such is the energizing influence of Jesus Christ, the head, upon the Church-upon each individual member. When in any period the Church has been peculiarly alive and active in its appointed sphere of labor, engaging as with one spirit in the great cause of benevolence, in building up the Redeemer's kingdom, and in doing good to men, then has Christ, the head, been sending forth throughout the whole body his invigorating influences; impelling his people forward in their holy calling; and whenever, on the contrary, the Church has been sleeping, languid, and stupid, it has been when she has separated herself from Christ, giving herself up to some other motive, and not being constrained in all things by the love of her Lord. And as it is a controlling influence that the head exerts in the human system, so is it with Christ and his Church. He, as the Head, controls and regulates all her movements, when she indeed submits to him. There are states of the human system when the determinations of the mind are not carried into execution; when the hand, for example, refuses to obey the commands of the will-when paralysis has removed from some member the power of motion. Such paralysis then, is in the Church, Christ's body, when it does not move in every limb according to the directions of its Head. This is the established connection between the Church and Christ-he controls, she submits; so it must ever be in a healthy state. She is not safe or prosperous, if she follow any other leader, or if she refuse or neglect to follow him.

This relation of Christ to his Church gives him all authority. Let his people ever inquire what Christ has said, what is Christ's will as made known in his word, rather than to yield to the dictation of the whole body, or of any earthly head. Christ Jesus is the only head of the Church. That which is not subordinate to him, which does not rule in accordance with his directions, should receive no respect from the faithful members of Christ's

body. Let the Head control, or else confusion and disaster are sure to ensue.

There is another connection of Christ with his Church here presented to our view, more impressive and interesting than any that has been mentioned. It is the connection of sympathy. How complete is the union of the whole human frame with the head. Here, because the brain is located-here because it is the centre of the nervous system-here, because it is the seat of sensation-here, is every thing felt, most acutely, that gives pleasure or pain to the remotest members. So are we taught that, in a manner to us incomprehensible, but yet real, Christ suffers with his suffering people. He is complete in his blessedness, as he sits upon the throne of Heaven. He has finished his work of atonement, yet are there trials to be endured in promoting his cause in an ungodly world-yet are there enemies to be met in this spiritual warfare-yet are there groans and sighs and tears, from which those cannot hope to escape who engage in his service; "for through much tribulation we enter into the Kingdom of God," and, "in all these afflictions he is afflicted" -so perfectly does he sympathize with his Church below. "Why persecutest thou me?" cried Jesus from the skies to him who was dragging the saints to prison. "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones, it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck and that he were cast into the depths of the sea." He that wounds one of the true believers of Christ, strikes a blow at the very person of the Redeemer, and this not merely in intention; he feels it who is on the highest throne of heaven. Surely the enemies of God's people know not what they do. Is not this the meaning of the Apostle when he says, in language of solemn warning, "From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Did he not mean to have his foes understand that Christ would consider himself wounded in the person of his own accepted disciple? Still more plainly may he be considered as speaking on this point when he says, "I, Paul, rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, in my flesh, for his body's sake, which is the Church." It is not necessary that Christ should suffer more than he has done to complete the glorious work of redemption, but there are afflictions for his body to endure in the final conflict with Satan upon the earth-these are the afflictions of Christ, Paul, and every suffering child of God who is called to tribulation for Christ's sake, each one is filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ. He regards them as his own, so complete is the union between the head and the body. And how sweet and comforting the language of the Bible to those who are thus wounded for him. It is declared by the prophet, "In all their afflictions he was afflicted"-" for he that toucheth you, touch