He is just

[His justice appears in every law which he has enacted, and his righteousness in every part of his administrationThere are indeed many things in his government, which we are not at present able to account for; but the day of judgment will clear up all the present obscurities, and manifest that every the minutest occurrence was ordered by him with unerring wisdom, goodness, and truth-It will then be seen that righteousness was at all times the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reinsb". -1

He is powerful

[Earthly kings may be just, yet not be able to screen their subjects from the injustice of others-But Jesus" has salvation" in his hand for all those who call upon him-Does sin oppress us? he can deliver us both from its guilt and powerDoes satan assault and buffet us?" His grace shall be sufficient" for the weakest of his people-Does "the fear of death keep us in bondage ?" He can make us triumphant both in the prospect of it now, and in a happy resurrection at the last day-]

He is lowly [Great power and dignity are too often the means of en-gendering pride in our hearts-The kings of the earth would think it a degradation to converse familiarly with their meanest subjects-But our almighty monarch possesses a lowliness of mind, which makes him accessible to every subject in his dominions-There is not any moment when we may not enter into his presence, nor any complaint which we may not pour into his bosom-His ear is ever open to hear, and his hand ever stretched out to relieve his needy suppliants-The same lowliness which induced him, at his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to ride upon a young ass, with no other furniture than the clothes of his poor disciples, when he might as easily have commanded all the pomp and splendor of an earthly monarch, still actuates him in his exalted state-There is no office to which he will not condescend for the benefit of those who wait upon him-]

From this description of Jesus we may well be prepared to hear

II. The exhortation to rejoice in him

The advent of such a prince is a proper ground of joy for all people

[When first he came in the fesh, the event was announced by angels as glad tidings of great joy to all people—And all

b Isai. xi. 5.

the

the multitudes who surrounded him at the time referred to in the text, were penetrated with the liveliest joy-And is there not now as much cause for joy as on either of those occasions?Are not the great ends of his advent better understood now than at his incarnation? and the nature of his kingdom more clearly seen than at the time of his triumphant entry into Jerusalem? Surely then our joy should far surpass all that could be experienced at those seasons-How should poor captives now rejoice to hear that there is one proclaiming liberty to the сарtives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound!If an earthly king were coming not only to redress all the grievances of his people, but to relieve all their wants, and enrich them with all that their hearts could desire, would not all exult and leap for joy?-Would not every one be impatient to see him, and to receive his benefits?-Why then should not all rejoice in the advent of him, who is come to bind up the broken-hearted, and to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness?-]

But the "daughters of Zion" in particular should rejoice in this event

[The daughters of Zion are the true members of the church, who have been begotten by the Word and Spirit of God-These are addressed by the prophet, and are bidden to exult, and "shout" for joy-Well does the prophet select them as the persons to whom he should direct his exhortation"Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed"They know the glorious character of their prince-They have found both his laws and government to be "holy and just and good"-They have experienced his power to save, "to save to the uttermost those that call upon him"-They have continual proofs of his lowliness, being admitted daily to the most intimate fellowship with him-Should not they then rejoice? "Surely the very stones would cry out against them if they held their peace"" Behold" then, believers, your king, even he whom you have chosen to reign over you, is comeHe now waits for you" Arise, lo! he calleth you"-Go, enter into his presence-chamber, and receive the blessings which he is come to bestow-]

APPLICATION

[Are there any who feel no disposition to rejoice in this event? Alas! too many, like Herod and the Pharisees, cannot join in the general chorus-Let them not, however, imagine themselves related to the church of God-They are daughters of the world, but not daughters of Zion-Nor need they have any other evidence of their alienation from God, than their want of joy in the Lord-How base is their ingratitude! that

U 2

the

the Lord of glory should come down from heaven for them, and they have no hearts to welcome his arrival-That they should be gratified with the company of an earthly friend, and have no delight in communion with Jesus-Surely if they were to have all the curses of God's law inflicted on them, who served not the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart on account of the temporal benefits bestowed upon them, they must have a far heavier condemnation, who so despise the condescension and love of our incarnate God-Mark then the alternative to which ye are reduced; ye must begin now that joy in the Lord which ye shall possess for ever, or, by continuing insensible of his mercy, continue destitute of any interest in it to all eternity-Choose ye now whether ye will have life. or death-Remember, however necessary it may be at other times to weep for your sins, it is to joy that we now invite you; not to carnal joy, but to that which is spiritual and heavenlyWe unite with the apostle in saying, "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again, I say, rejoice"-Methinks such an exhortation should not be slighted, especially when your present joy is to be a certain prelude to eternal happiness-But if ye will still despise the mercies of your God, behold this king comethshortly to judge the world-Behold he cometh riding upon the heavens with myriads of the heavenly host-Know too that he is just and powerful; but his justice will condemn, and his power punish you-Go to him then in this day of salvation, welcome him in this the accepted time-So shall you at his second coming behold his face with joy-And join the choir of heaven in everlasting hallelujahs-]

C

Deut. xxviii. 45, 47.

CLXXXI.

THE CHILDREN VINDICATED.

Matt. xxi. 16. Have ye never reud, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

THE wisdom of our Lord was very conspicuous in the answers he returned to cavillers

He was thoroughly conversant with every part of the sacred writings

From thein he took as well his offensive as defensive armour

In his conflicts with satan he invariably had recourse to them".

Nor, when assaulted by men, would he fight with any weapon which was not brought from that divine arsenal.

But every passage which he adduced was as an arrow from a well-directed bow

This is well exemplified in the words before us-We shall consider

Our Lord had just driven the traders and moneychangers out of the temple

And had healed multitudes of persons, who flocked around him for a cure

The children that were there, surrounded him with acclamations and hosannas

[They were struck with wonder at the authority and benevolence of Jesus-·

And, doubtless, were both taught and actuated by the Spirit of God

They therefore, when the adult persons manifested no disposition to glorify him, burst forth into shouts of praise—

They welcomed him as the Messiah that had been promised to that nation

And expressed their ardent desire for the establishment of his kingdom

What a glorious sight was this, to behold children thus occupied !

How should it have stirred up others to an holy emulation!

But on the proud and envious Pharisees it produced a far different effect-]

The Chief Priests and Scribes, filled with indignation, remonstrated with our Lord for suffering them to act in this manner

[They could not endure to hear these honours given to our Lord

Nor was all their authority able to silence the triumphant choir

They therefore, with sarcastic virulence, reproached our Lord himself

Alas!

Compare Matt. xxvi. 51, 52. with John v. 39. They could not mean to ask simply, "Whether our Lord heard what they said?" for he could not but hear. They insinuated that it was a disgrace to him to be pleased with the acclamations of weak silly

children.

Alas! what enmity is there in the heart against God!What will not afford a plea for prejudice to vent its spleen ?-.

The priests and Scribes should have been the foremost to encourage early piety

Yet they were the first to repress what their "zeal should rather have been provoked" to imitate-]

Our Lord repelled their objection with an unanswerable appeal to scripture

II. The words themselves

The sense, rather than the exact meaning of the words, was quoted by our Lord_

They were understood by the Jews themselves as having a reference to the Messiah

Nor did the priests attempt to invalidate the application of the prophecy

The words, as quoted on this occasion, lead us to observe that

1. An appeal to scripture is the best way of answering all objections

[Many difficulties may be proposed, to which reason cannot furnish a sufficient answer

But the scripture declares plainly whatever is to be believed or done

If men will cavil at that, they contend, not with us, but with God

There is doubtless much in a Christian's faith and practice, which natural men will account foolishness

But he need not regard ridicule, if he have the word of God on his side

"The word is, that sword of the Spirit," which will enable him to combat all the prejudices of an ignorant and malignant world

Nor can it ever be wielded in a more efficacious manner than it was by our Lord on this occasion

Let every follower of Christ then adopt the rule prescribed by the prophet

Thus

children.-If, by waidas, we understand servants and followers (as perhaps we ought) they were objected to as an ignorant mob.

"" But

David says, Ps. viii. 2. "Thou hast ordained strength.' our Lord quoted his words, as the apostles after him frequently did, according to the Septuagint. The meaning is the same in both: God manifests his strength, and glorifies his name, in using weak instruments to effect his purposes..

1 Cor. ii. 14.

́f Isai. viii. 20.