SERMON XXVIII. 395 God? And bow can we otherwise hope to be the subjects and favourites of the Princeof peace ? Ishumility another part of an amiable character ! Whowas ever humble as the Son of God ? The brightness of Ms Father's glory, and the express image of his person, Who emptied himself; and took upon him tite form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and humbled himself yet lower, even to the death of the cross, and tothe dust of the grave ; Phil. ii. 6 -9. There- fore the Father loved him, and the Father exalted him. This is the man, the ,God-man, who calls us to the practice of this vir- tue ; Learn of me, says lies for I am meek and lowly, and ye shall find rest for your souls; Mat. xi. 29. What folly and madness is it for dust and ashes to be proud, when God's own Son was humble ? And he gives us a noble instance to assure us that humility is a lovely quality: When the rich young man in the gospel came and kneeled before him to ask his advice, Jesus looked upon him and lovedhint; andwould have left it upon record in his word, that there was something lovely in a modest and humble carriage, e'ven where the saving grace of Godwas want- ing : Mark x. 21. Meekness and patience are the next things I mentioned, that go to make up the character of a lovely person. But who was meek as the Son of God is ? What affronts did he endure even while he was inviting sinners in the most affecting language to their own eternal happiness ? What shameful mockery did he sustain ? What loads of malicious and infamous blasphemy ? But when he reas reviled, he reviled not again; 1 Pet. ii. 23. as a sheep before her shearer is dumb, so opened he not his mouth; Is. liii. 7. Ówhen shall we learn to imitate our blessed Lord, and forbear and forgive as he did. Howwas his patience tried to the utmost? Andthat not only in the fruitless and thankless labours of his life among a cruel and insolent race of men, but in the approaches of his bloody death. When the blessed Redeemer lay agonizing in the garden, or hung bleeding on the cross, to see him oppressed with the weight of the wrath of God due to our sins, conflicting with the rage of devils, forsaken by his friends, and surrounded with the profane insults of barbarous men : What a mournful and moving spectacle ! And yet there is something divinely amiable in it, to behold him all over calm and patient, and meditating immortal and forgiving love. What unworthy follower; are we of the blessed Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, when upon every occa- sion we take fire, and break out into an impatient fury ? But if I should enter upon the last instance of a lovely cha- racter, and begin the mention of love, how, farbeyond all exam- ple, and beyond all description, is the love of our Lord Jesus !
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