Jesus also was commissioned to bring his followers into the Canaan that is above [He, probably in reference to Joshua, is styled the Captain of our salvation: and he appeared to Joshua himself in this very character, proclaiming himself to be the Captain of the Lord's host'. "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh," the Lord Jesus Christ came to effect. He has been divinely qualified for the work; and, like Joshua, was "encouraged to it, and strengthened in it,' by an assurance of God's continual presence, and support", He leads his people on from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from victory to victory. Nor will he ever desist from his work, till he shall have subdued his enemies, and established his people in their promised inheritance.] Happily for us the resemblance may be likewise traced III. In his success Nothing could oppose any effectual bar to Joshua's progress [Though Jordan had overflowed its banks, its waters were divided, to open him a path on dry land. The impregnable walls of Jericho, merely at the sound of rams horns, were made to fall. Confederate kings fled before him'. City after city, kingdom after kingdom, were subjected to his allconquering arms; and almost the whole accursed race of Canaanites were extirpated, and destroyed. The promised land was divided by him amongst his followers: and he appealed to them with his dying breath, that not so much as one, of all the promises that God had given them, had ever failed".] And shall less be said respecting our adorable Emmanuel? " pro [He "triumphed over all the principalities and powers' of hell; and causes his followers to trample on the necks of their mightiest foes. He leads them safely through the swellings of Jordan, when they come to the border of the mised land; and, having given them the victory, he divides among them the heavenly inheritance. When he comes to number them at last, even though they may have sustained the sorest conflicts, it will be found, that not so much as one of them is lost: and he will be able to appeal to the whole assembled Rom. viii. 3. Ps. lxxxiv. 7. 2 Cor. iii. 18. Rev. vi. 2. 9 Josh. vi. 20. Josh. x. 16. Josh. xi. 23. and xviii. 10. Matt. xxv. 34. assembled universe, that not so much as one jot or tittle of God's word hath failed of its accomplishment. Thus will all of them be put into possession of " that rest, which remained for them," in the hope and expectation of which they endured the labours of travel, and the fatigues of war.] INFER 1. How earnestly, and how humbly, should all submit themselves to Jesus! с [Notwithstanding Joshua's commission was utterly to destroy the inhabitants of that sinful land, yet he both spared the Gibeonites, and made a league with them, when they humbled themselves before him ; he, moreover, gave a special charge respecting the preservation of the harlot Rahab, who, in faith, had concealed his spies. But resistance to him was vain; there were none that could stand before him. Thus must all thine enemies, O Lord, perish, if they do not prostrate themselves before thee in humility and faith. Shall we not then believingly receive his messengers, and, in the use of his appointed means, expect his mercy? Shall we not go and make a covenant with him, and yield up ourselves, with unreserved submission, to his commands? Yes: and if this conduct provoke the world to combine against us, we will call him in to our aid, and despise the assaults of earth and hell.] go 2. How confidently may the very weakest Christians. forth to their future conflicts! [Though Canaan was promised to the Israelites, yet they were all to fight for it: so neither is heaven to be gained with out many severe conflicts. But what have we to fear, when we have such a Captain? "If he be for us, who can be against us?" Did he ever yet suffer one of his faithful followers to perish? If they have been wounded, has he not healed. their wounds? If they have fainted, has he not renewed their strength? Has he not made them conquerors, yea, more than conquerors?" What then, though we have mighty Anakims to contend with, and their fortresses be walled up to heaven? Let us "be strong and very courageous;" and we shall find that "the weapons of prayer and faith, though weak and contemptible to a carnal eye, are mighty through God to the casting down of strong holds, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God." Let us then "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Let us " put on the whole armour of God". " b Heb. iv. 1, 9, 11. e Josh. X. 4. Eph. vi. 10, 11, And let let us look forward with confidence to the joyful period, when we shall receive our portion in the promised land," the land that floweth with milk and honey."] Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24. I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them: I the Lord have spoken it. THERE is nothing so comforting to an afflicted soul, as to contemplate the promises of God: indeed they were given to us for this very purpose, that they might be our support and consolation in the time of trouble. The same may be observed with respect to the prophecies that relate to Christ: they were delivered to the church in seasons of peculiar trial, as encouragements to the saints to hold fast their profession. It was under circumstances of this nature, that the glorious prophecy before us was revealed. Both the ecclesiastical and civil governors of Israel had greatly oppressed the poor, and especially the godly: but God afforded them seasonable support, by declaring, that he would not only espouse their cause, but would raise up to them a Shepherd, and a Governor of a very different description, even the Messiah himself, who should redress all their wrongs, and bring them into the possession of perfect happiness. Such being the occasion of the words, we proceed to enquire I. Why Christ is so often called David It is undoubtedly the Messiah that is here called "David" [David himself had been dead many hundred years; nor has there been any other person after him, to whom this appellation was ever given. But Christ is frequently spoken of in the prophets by the name of Dava; and to him the characters, here annexed to that name, most eminently belong.] He is called by that name, because David was a very distinguished type of him 2 Jer. xxx. 9. Hos. iii. 5. [David [David was chosen by God from a very low state, and was anointed to be King over Israel. He was also made a prophet of the Most High; and under the influence of the holy Spirit, often spake as actually personating the Messiah himself. Many parts of his heavenly compositions, though apparently intended respecting himself, have indeed no reference to himself at all, except as he was a type of Christ, in whom the very things predicted were literally fulfilled. And so exact was the correspondence between the type and antitype, that Christ, springing "from the root of Jesse,' as a root out of the dry ground," and "anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows," was born (according to the predictions) in the very place of David's nativity, was constituted a prophet like unto him, and was raised to "the throne of his father Davidf."] His resemblance to David will yet further appear, if we consider II. What offices are bere assigned him Like his honoured representative, he was to be 1. A shepherd [David, in his early youth, followed the occupation of a shepherd, and repeatedly exposed his life to most imminent danger in defence of the flock entrusted to him. And, after he became a king, he still, figuratively at least, sustained the same office," feeding his people, according to the integrity of his heart, and guiding them by the skilfulness of his hands." But he, whom David typified, was, in a far more exalted sense," the great shepherd of the sheep." only exposed, but willingly sacrificed, his life for his sheep*: nor can a juster description of him be conveyed in words, than that, which is given us in the preceding context': He is incessantly "seeking the lost, bringing back that which has been driven away, binding up the broken, strengthening the sick," and administering to the necessities of all.] 2. A Prince He not [The promises of David's exaltation were at last fulfilled, and he was seated on the throne, to which he had been appointed. He did indeed meet with innumerable conflicts in his way to it: at one time, we see him encountering Goliath; at another, fleeing from the murderous attacks of Saul: yea, he was even driven from his kingdom by his own nearest relative, and treasonably sacrificed by his most familiar friend; b Ps. xxii. 18, & lxix. 21. Isai. xi. 1. & liii. 2. h Ps. lxxviii. 70—72. ₫ Ps. xlv. 7. in f Luke i. 32, دو in consequence of which, he fled weeping over that very brook Kidron, over which his Lord passed afterwards to crucifixion. But God preserved him from every danger, and made him "Head over Israel," and "the heathen too m Thus it was also that Christ was raised to his throne: He had scarcely made his appearance in the world before he became an object of Herod's jealousy, and was forced to seek an asylum in a heathen land". On many occasions he escaped only by a miraculous exertion of his own almighty power. When his time was come, he was betrayed by one of his own sciples, who, like David's treacherous friend, speedily went and hanged himself. But, infinitely beyond David, was Christ a man of sorrows;" ;" "his visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." Yet, after all, "the stone which the builders refused, was made the head-stone of the corner." He was " exalted to be a prince and a saviour," " the utmost ends of the earth were given him for his dominion;" and " of his kingdom there shall be no end."] Nor are we uninterested in these offices; as will appear, if we enquire III. What is the state of those on whose behalf he executes them To have God "a God unto us," comprehends all that men or angels can receive [It is not possible for a finite imagination to conceive the full import of such an expression as this. It must certainly imply, that he will protect us from all kinds of evil, and fill us with the richest consolation both in this world, and the world to come: every perfection, which God himself possesses, shall be improved for our present benefit, and all his glory shall be enjoyed for our eternal happiness.] This will most assuredly be our portion, if we be numbered among the flock of Christ [It is to these that the promise in the text must be confined. As for the ungodly world, they have no prospect whatever of such a blessing: there is not one word in all the holy oracles, that warrants such an hope. But to those who believe in Christ the promises are made: to those, who have been brought into his fold, who feed in his pastures, and yield up themselves unfeignedly to his dominion, God has pledged himself to be their God. He himself expatiates upon this |