himself with my ground of justification, he undertakes its advocacy, and pleads it for me. He is even responsible for the complete success of my suit; for he presides in the judgment, not more in his judicial character, than as my Saviour.

Be not dismayed, then, O my soul, at the awful circumstances of this world's closing scene. Remember thy Saviour, and "that it is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead."* Look upon thyself as engaged in the most arduous conflict, and in a race which will be most earnestly contested to the end, by those who only aim at disappointing thee. But keep thine eye fixed upon the prize. See in whose hand it is held, and by whose decision it is to be awarded; even by thy Saviour's. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life" by anticipation. Press forward, exultingly crying at every step," Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."‡

* Acts x. 42.

† 1 Tim. vi. 12.

+ 2 Tim. iv. 8.

The soul that loves thy throne of grace,

And is familiar there,

In praise and lowly prayer, Knows every feature of thy face; Nor, when thy judgment-seat shall rise

In clouded majesty,

And heaven and earth shall flee, As blighted leaves across the skies, Shall tremble at the dread assize.

My Saviour, in that awful day,

Thy smile my soul shall cheer,

And calm my every fear;
For what shall then inspire dismay?
My Advocate shall fill the throne,

Himself the sentence give,

And bid me ever live, And, 'midst the world's expiring groan, My name amongst his saints will own.

TWENTY-SECOND MEDITATION.

KING.

My Saviour is my King. The prince of the power of the air, having succeeded in withdraw. ing my first parents from their loyalty to Jehovah, usurped supreme authority over this province of God's empire. He afterwards had the audacity to tempt the Son of God to do him homage, by the promise of a viceroyalty under him.*

But the Lord resolved to redeem the rebellious and enslaved province back to himself, and to erect it into a kingdom of unparalleled glory. This kingdom of the divine Messiah was the grand theme to which the prophets struck their lyres, and was the chief expectation of the Jewish people. They mistook its nature, looking for a temporal prince, who should raise them to the summit of empire, and hold all other nations tributary to them. He assured them that his kingdom was not of this world; but they were so bigoted to their own error, and so exasperated by their disappointment, that they crucified him, amidst the emblems and homage of mock majesty, under the double charge of treason against Cæsar, and blasphemy against the Majesty of heaven.

“Yet” – how forcibly expressive is the word ! -“ Yet,” notwithstanding the rage and madness of the people, and even by means of their infatuated opposition, “I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.” * Christ paid down the price of his mediatorial crown, and throne, and empire, in the shedding of his precious blood. He then ascended on high, and was enthroned and crowned King of kings. From his regal seat he exercises kingly authority, restraining the power, and gradually subverting the dominion of Satan, and drawing over the subjects of the prince of darkness into his own kingdom of light.

How impressively affected was Isaiah by the vision of my Saviour in his regal glory, when, with many expressions of self-abasement, he exclaimed, “Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts"!+ Every believing eye looked hrough the vista of the promises, when the

prophetic oracles said, “Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness: "*"A King shall reign. and prosper: "+"Jehovah is our King; he will save us:""Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just and having salvation: "§ "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.”

In thy person, my adorable Saviour, and in thy regal office, the glowing language of the " Song of loves," ¶ is fully realized. Meditating upon thee, "my heart" will be pondering "a good matter." At thy throne my soul has done its faithful homage, and cheerfully submits to thy sceptre. "The oil of gladness," with which thou art anointed, reaches my subject soul. If any rebel sins yet lurk within my heart, let "thine arrows be sharp in the heart of these thine enemies; " and may every power of my soul, subdued to thee by thy victorious grace, acknowledge no other Lord. When shall I behold thee invested with thy with the

66

many crowns