sented. Many of these differences are nearly verbal, and would cease, if due allowance was made for the imperfection of human language, and the effects of an accustomed phraseology, which often lead people to affix different ideas to the same expressions, or to express the same ideas in different words. And if, in some things, we cannot exactly agree, since we confess that we are all weak and fallible, mutual patience and forbearance would be equally becoming the acknowledgements we make, and the Gospel which we profess. We should thereby act in character, as the followers of Him who was compassionate to the infirmities and mistakes of his disciples, and taught them, not every thing at once, but gradually, as they were able to bear.

The author ought not to be very solicitous upon his own account, what reception his performance may meet with. The fashion of this world is passing away. The voice, both of applause and of censure, will soon be stifled in the dust. It is, therefore, but a small thing to be judged of man's judgement.* But conscious of the vast importance of the subject which he thus puts into the reader's hands, he cannot take leave of him without earnestly entreating his serious attention. The one principle which he assumes for granted, and which he is certain cannot be disproved, is, that the Bible is a revelation from God. By this standard he is willing that whatever he has advanced may be tried. If the Bible be true, we must all give an account, each one of himself, to the great and final Judge. That when we shall appear before his awful tribunal, we may be found at his right hand, accepted in the Beloved, is the author's fervent prayer, both for his readers and for himself.

LONDON, 15th April, 1786.

* 1 Cor. iv. 6.

CONTENTS.

SERMON I.

The Consolation.

Isaiah, xl. 1, 2.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received at the Lord's hand double for all her sins

SERMON II.

The Harbinger.

Isaiah, xl. 3-5.

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The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high-way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it .

SERMON III.

The shaking of the Heavens and the Earth.

Haggai, ii. 6, 7.

16

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land: And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts

29

SERMON IV.

The Lord coming to his Temple.

Malachi, iii. 1-3.

The Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple: even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in: Behold, he

shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's sope-And he shall purify the sons of Levi-that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 40

SERMON V.

Immanuel.

Isaiah, vii. 14.

Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US

SERMON VI.

Salvation published from the Mountains.

Isaiah, xl. 9.

55

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountains. O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

SERMON VII.

The Morning Light.

Isaiah, lx. 1—3.

68

Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising

SERMON VIII.

The Sun rising upon a dark World.

Isaiah, ix. 2.

79

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

91

SERMON IX.

Characters and Names of Messiah.

Isaiah, ix. 6.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the

government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace

SERMON X.

The Angel's Message and Song.

Luke, ii. 8—14.

103

There were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men

SERMON XI.

Messiah's Entrance into Jerusalem.

Zech. ix. 9, 10.

115

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.—And he shall speak peace unto the heathen 127

SERMON XII.

Effects of Messiah's Appearance.

Isaiah, xxxv. 5, 6.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped: Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing

SERMON XIII.

The Great Shepherd.

Isaiah, xl. 11.

138

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom; and shall gently