THE SERMON. 133 



us ; every one may readily follow the facts, and be aware 

 of their typical import. 



" But now we come again to the ' fire of coals ' and the 

 prepared repast — what truths did these symbolically teach, 

 when taken, as they must be, in immediate connection 

 with the other figurative facts ? My brethren, you are to 

 observe and remember, that the Jewish and the Christian 

 dispensations are not so truly distinct and detached 

 economies, as component parts of one great plan and 

 arrangement. There have never been two ways in which 

 sinners might be saved ; in the Old Testament, as in the 

 New, ' everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, 

 who is the only mediator between God and Man, being 

 both Grod and Man.' In the New Testament, indeed, we 

 have the clearer exposition of the great scheme of mercy ; 

 God's wondrous purpose of saving the Church through the 

 sacrifice of His only begotten Son, is there set forth with a 

 fulness and precision, which it were vain to seek in the 

 writings of the Old. Nevertheless there is no difference 

 whatsoever in the doctrine propounded, but only in the 

 measure of its revelation : and however great the change 

 which was made through the coming of Christ when 

 external distinctions were swept away, and life and immor- 

 tality especially brought to light, there still went on the 

 original process for the deliverance of the fallen race of 

 man. The process was but continued, though with less of 

 vail and obscurity, and they who were first enclosed within 



K 3 



