"son to them that are bound to proclaim the "ACCEPTABLE YEAR of the Lord." Now, this very sentence our Lord hath applied to him! self, and pronounced with his own lips. For, we read that, when he was in the synagogue, at Nazareth, and had stood up for to read, there

was delivered to him the book of the prophet "Isaiah, and, when he had opened the book, "she found the place where it was written, "the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because "he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel "to the poor, to preach deliverance to the "captives to set at liberty them that are

bound; to preach the ACCEPTABLE YEAR of "the Lord." And he closed the book, and he "began to say unto them, this day is this "scripture fulfilled in your ears."t

This scripture was fulfilled, at that day, "to "all them that looked for redemption in Jeru“salem." It was fulfilled to every one who came unto Christ, notwithstanding the reproach of men, and "took up the cross and "followed him," receiving from him remission of sins, deliverance from the captivity of evil passions, and admission to the "glorious "liberty of the sons of God." This scripture was fulfilled more completely afterwards, when the spirit was poured out from on high, and

multitudes were translated "from darkness to "light, and from the power of Satan unto "God." And it is fulfilled, in like manner, at this day, when the sinner cometh to Christ in faith and penitence, and, "taking up the 66. cross, followeth him" in sincerity and truth, not moved by the example or opinion of an evil world; and receiveth from him peace of conscience, grace to walk worthy of the Gospel, and a hope of eternal life.

The dispensation of the Gospel then may be regarded as the JUBILEE OF THE world. And so it was announced by the heavenly Host, who proclaimed it as "GLAD TIDINGS of great joy "which should be to all people." When our Saviour saith above, that he came " to give "deliverance to the captives;" and, in another place, that he came to give his life" for "the life of the world," it is implied that the world was LOST. He saith, expressly, "the 66 son of man is come to seek, and to save, "that which was lost." And again, "the son "of man is come to give his life a RANSOM "for many."

And now, my brethren, let us apply this subject to our individual improvement; first, in faith, in relation to our own souls, as redeemed by Christ; and secondly, in prac-. tice, by imitating the conduct of Christ in

redeeming the captive, and releasing the debtor.

1. Let every man ask himself, whether the Gospel hath, in any sense, been truly considered by him as GLAD TIDINGS. If he believe not that he is LOST, and that Christ is come as a RANSOM, the Gospel is no Jubilee to him. He is yet in his bondage. He is yet tied and "bound with the chain of his sins," whether he feel that chain or not; and he will remain thus bound, until he begins to be sensible of his captivity. But when the day-spring from "on high shall have visited him," then will he contemplate, with joy, the power and willingness of HIM who came "to deliver the captives, "and to set at liberty them that are bound." And that era of his life, when these salutary reflections first occupied his mind, will be to him as the year of release; "the ACCEPTABLE YEAR of "the Lord."

σε

There are men who say, that they need no ransom! But the voice of the human race is against them: Almost all nations look out for a Redeemer; and, in this respect, some in the heathen world will rise up in judgment, at the great day, against "Chorazin and Beth"saida." In the pride and strength of life, men may say, they need no ransom: But, when they come to die, they are sometimes permitted to see their need of it; and, their

L

having slighted or rejected the Redeemer, is the real cause of that depression of spirits and ultimate despair, which often assail the soul, on its being summoned to enter into the invisible world.

*

Let us then believe this solemn and eternal. truth, that Christ is come, To DELIVER US FROM THE WRATH TO COME. Let us pray, that, in this our day of health and strength, we may be enabled to see our souls as God sees them ; that we may feel our need of a ransom, and "flee for refuge to the hope set before us."

2. We are also to apply this subject to our improvement in a practical way, by endeavouring to imitate the example of Christ in redeeming the captive, in releasing the debtor, and in forgiving the trespasses of our brethren.

Would, then, a man know whether he hath just sense of Christ, as giving his life a ransom for his soul; let him ask himself whether he hath any concern about the souls of others; whether he hath ever done any thing, or means to do any thing, for the soul of his neighbour. For his concern about the spiritual welfare of others, will be proportionate to the solicitude he hath felt about his own soul.

Again, would the Christian know whether "God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven him his

* 1 Thess. i. 10.

"debts;" let him ask himself, whether he hath forgiven the debts of others. First, whether he hath forgiven injuries received in word and in deed, and, especially offences that wound his pride. And these, perhaps, are the debts most difficult to forgive. But these debts MUST be forgiven; for our Lord hath said, "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, "neither will your heavenly Father forgive

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your trespasses." Secondly, whether he hath forgiven debts of money and obligation, in cases where the debtor could not pay, or could only pay with extreme difficulty. If the penitent sinner hath ever had any just sense of the mercy of Christ to himself, he will be merciful to his brother. If his Lord "hath for"given him his ten thousand talents," he will not stake his brother by the throat, and say, "pay me that thou owest." My brethren, there are many excellent persons, we appre hend, who do not sufficiently consider their obligations in this respect. But it ought to be remembered, that the law of the Jubilee, for the release of the debtor, was merely a TYPE of that generous compassion which should animaté every true Christian under the grace of the GOSPEL

Let every man, then, who is a possessor of land in Britain, remember the words of God to the Israelites;" The land is MINE; and