478 REMNANTS OF TIME. ,bounty and grace. When be led captivity captive the received gifts for men. Our conquering Redeemer was not so elevated with the pomp of his triumphs over the angels his captive enemies, as to forget the captives that he released among the children of Adam. He received many donatives from his Father on high to shower down among them upon his Coco - nation-day, that illustrious day when " he that in righteousness had made war and conquered, received on his own head many crowns ;" Rev. xix. 11, 12. He that could take so much pleasure on earth in his labours of love, takes more delight in heaven in the distributions of grace. This is the sweetest part of his triumph and the most visible among men, even the gifts of the Spirit that he sent down after his ascension. It was necessary that his grace should have some share of the glory of that day. What was said of the great day of deliverance, when the Jews obtained victory over their designed murderers, may be applied with honour to the day when our Lord ascended to heaven and celebrated his triumph over the spirits of darkness. " This was a good day for Israel, for all the saints ; a day when Jesus rested from his enemies, and a month which was turned unto him from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a day of gladness. This was a day of receiving portions for his brethren and of sending gifts to the poòr ;" .esther ix. 22: Jesus our King is the Prince of power and the Prince of peace, he solemnized his victory with acts of mercy and begun his reign with gifts of grace. Ile led Satan the arch - traitor bound at his chariot wheels, aid scattered donatives of pardon and life among the sons of Adam that had been seduced into the great rebellion. It is another pleasant meditation on this text, ". That God the Father had not given away all his gifts to men even when lie gave them his only begotten Son ;" for since that time he ha1Jt given his Son more gifts to be distributed among them. Learn - hence the unwearied love of God, the inexhausted stores of divine mercy. John iv. 10. Christ is called " the gift of God." And 2 Cor. ix. 15. " The unspeakable gift." He gave his own . Son out of his bosom and gave him up to death for us. His Son that was nearest his heart, his Son the delight of his soul and darling Of his eternal enjoyment ; and yet lie is not weary of giving. O the immeasurable treasures of grace. O the unlimitáblebounties of our God.' Stand amazed, O heavens, and let the earth lie low in thankfulness and wonder, and every holy soul adore this surprising love !. Our meditations may 'take another step andsee here the divine condescension to human weakness: How a giving God stoops to the capacity of receiving creatures, and bestows the
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