one.

"He is not ashamed," or does not disdain, "to call them brethren." In further discoursing from this text, I propose, in dependence on divine aid, first to offer a few remarks in confirmation of the assertion, that Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call his disciples brethren; secondly, to show what the text pre-supposes, though it does not express,-that it is wonderful that he is not ashamed to call them brethren. The discussion of these topics will naturally pave the way, in the third place, for some important practical lessons.

First, then, I shall make a few remarks in confirmation and illustration of the assertion in the text, "that the Son of God is not ashamed to call his followers brethren."

The relation subsisting between brothers is one peculiarly interesting and endearing. Born of the same parents, fed at the same table, sharing in childhood in the same sports and joys and sorrows, connected in manhood by a community of interests, and, perhaps, of pursuits, and prompted by an instinctive impulse to cherish sentiments of reciprocal love,-they naturally regard each other with an affection peculiarly ardent and tender. In the very name of brethren, there is something that irresistibly appeals to the best emotions of the heart; and accordingly the name of brother, or brethren, is that which men usually employ when they wish to intimate to others that they cherish for them a strong regard. When the Son of God, then, takes to himself the appellation of our brother, and calls us brethren, it implies, that between him and us there is established a most intimate relation, and that he regards us with a most tender affection. In one sense, he is the brother of all men; but strictly, only of his followers, -the members of the church. That Jesus Christ calls

his followers brethren, is a point which it is not necessary to demonstrate by any formal proof; for in the immediate context the apostle himself proves it by several quotations, to which we have already briefly adverted. To those quotations others might easily be added, in which believers are represented virtually, or explicitly, as the brethren of Christ, either by Christ himself, or by those who wrote and spoke under his direction. "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God." It frequently happens among men, that the great and the opulent, though they may not absolutely disown their poor kindred, are ashamed of them, and do not act towards them the part of relatives and friends; but we may be assured that the Son of God will call none brethren without treating them as such. Deeds, however, are more decisive evidence than words; and words, without deeds, are delusion and an insult. Instead, then, of multiplying quotations to prove that Jesus Christ calls his followers brethren, it will be more interesting and instructive to show that he evinces himself their brother by his conduct towards them. If you ask for proofs of his fraternal affection, let me direct your attention to his conduct in coming into the world, to his conduct while in it, and to his conduct since he left it.

Consider his conduct in coming into our world. He came from heaven to earth; in other words, he assumed a human nature, and thus he became actually the brother of his people. Though possessed in common with the Father, of all divine attributes and glories, he abased his greatness, and vailed his glory, and became really and truly the Son of man,-" bone of our bone, and

VOL. II.

P

flesh of our flesh."

"Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." Were an earthly potentate to lay aside for a season his royal apparel, to abandon his magnificent palace, to clothe himself in rags, and to endure the bitterest privations of poverty, in order to confer some important benefit on the meanest and most worthless of his subjects, even this would be nothing to the condescension and kindness of the Son of God. Nay, if we might make a supposition so extravagant, as that an archangel were to assume the nature, and descend to the condition of an insect or a reptile, even that abasement would be nothing to that of the Son of God for the distance between the highest and the lowest of creatures is finite and measurable, but the distance between the Creator and the creature, between God and man, is infinite and immeasurable.

Suppose we had not been informed of the object of his incarnation, but had been permitted to conjecture in what manner he would manifest himself, we should naturally have anticipated that a divine person would not present himself to mankind, even in a human form, without exhibiting unequivocal tokens of divinity. We should expect him to keep at a dignified distance from the multitude; we should paint him seated on an elevated throne, and encompassed with celestial splendours, such as would astonish and overawe beholders. In some respects the Son of God, while he resided on earth, did afford unequivocal tokens of his divine dignity; for he spake with a tone of majesty and authority suited to the Author and Lord of men, and performed works to which Omnipotence only was adequate. But though he displayed the "glory of the only begotten of the Father," he was yet "full of grace and truth." He descended from heaven to be

the instructor and Saviour, the friend and brother of man; and" in all things it behoved him to be made. like unto his brethren." So far, then, from making "men afraid with his terrors," he appeared in a mean and indigent condition, encountered, like other men, the shock of temptation, and bore far more than an ordinary share of the burden of affliction: he evinced, too, on all occasions, the feelings of a friend and brother; for he shed tears over the ravages of death; while he was never stained by sin, he received sinners and ate with them; the weary and the heavy laden he invited to come to him, and accept of rest for their souls; and he was prompt to acknowledge as friends and brethren not only the twelve disciples, selected to be his constant attendants, but all who received him. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

A proof of compassion and love to men still more decisive, a proof of incalculable force and magnitude, the Son of God gave by laying down his life for them; and by his voluntary endurance, in the capacity of their surety, of unparalleled agonies, and of an accursed death. To do this was the grand object of his descent from heaven to earth; and by doing this he made ample satisfaction to divine justice for their transgressions, opened a way for the exercise of pardoning mercy and purifying grace, and obtained authority and power to rescue all who should believe on him from the jaws of everlasting destruction, and to elevate them to reign with him in life eternal.

With the resurrection of the Son of God, his humiliation and his sorrows terminated, his exaltation and his reward commenced. But the same fraternal feelings as before continued to glow in his heart; and we

find accordingly, that, notwithstanding the ungrateful and pusillanimous conduct of his disciples in the hour of his sorrow, yet at his first appearance after his resurrection, he did not disdain to call them brethren. "Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." It has often happened that men who conducted themselves with considerable prudence and propriety in adversity, have been unduly elated in prosperity, and have looked down with disdain on those whom they had formerly owned as kinsmen and friends. But the change which has taken place on the condition of the Lord Jesus, has produced no change on his heart or character. He is as condescending and as compassionate now that he sits on the throne in heaven, and sways the sceptre of the universe, as he was when he wandered on earth, and "had not where to lay his head."

"Though now ascended up on high,
He bends on earth a brother's eye;
Partaker of the human name,

He knows the frailty of our frame.

"Our fellow sufferer yet retains
A fellow feeling of our pains;
And still remembers in the skies,
His tears, his agonies, and cries."

In the personal conduct of the Son of God during the days of his flesh, we have an epitome and an emblem of the general system of his official conduct; for on the principles on which he then acted, he still acts, and will continue to act, as long as "the sun and moon endure." The poorest and meanest, and even the guiltiest and vilest of mankind, he affectionately invites to receive him as their instructor and deliverer;