SERMON XLVIII. 7¡. fellow-feeling of their infirmities and sorrows ; Heb. ü; 18. andiv. 15. Again, he must be acquainted with the hidden iniquities of men and devils, that he may countermine their pernicious plots, that he may sometimes prevent the mischiefs which they design, and sometimes permit them to accomplish their wicked purposes for the trial of his people. All the dark perplexities of provi- dence, and the whole maze and labyrinth of human events lies open before him, and the secret things in the heart of man ; for " he must bring to light the hidden things of darkness, he must manifest the counsels of the heart, and reward every one accord- ing to their works ;" 1 Cor, iv. 5. Rev. xxii. 12. But besides all this, we must remember in the next place, that he is possessed of active power equal to this extensive know- ledge. What could the name of such a sublime authority do toward the government of all things, even if he had sufficient knowledge without a correspondent power ? It would be but a splendid title and a mere shadow of kingship. But Jesus Our King has universal royalty, and has power to support it. He must not sit like a shining cypher on the throne of govern- Merit, nor on the tribunal of judgment; Rev. v. 6. " The Lamb who had been slain appears in the midst of the throne with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into allthe earth." Whether thisdenotes the seven chief angels which are prime ministers in the court of heaven, employed by our exalted Saviour, or whether the number " seven" signi- fies a perfection of knowledge and power described by eyes and horns ; still it must imply either such outward mediums of power and knowledge, or such inward capacities as the Son Of 'God is furnished with in order to govern the ends of the 'earth; and execute his Father's decrees. The sun and moon With-all their attendant lights ; the earth, air, and sea, with rill their millions of living inhabitants; nature and time with all their wheels and motions, are put under his controul : all Move onward in their constant courses by his word, and they shall stop at his command and finish their last period. Then shall he call to the graves to give up their dead ; the graves shall obey the Son of man, and the dead shall arise in mil- lions at his call ; John v. 26. And indeed without such all- commanding power, which can subdue all things to himself, how can he execute the office of being " Head over all things for the good of his church ?" How can he fulfil his Father's decrees? How is it possible he should transact the important aliitirs of the last day, that he should judge the intelligent creation, that he should reward his friends and favourites in . the heavens, and send iris implacable enemies to the second
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