The time of Christ's advent being thus clearly ascertained, let us consider, II. The consequences of it— The last clause of the text is by some applied to Judah, to whom the tribe of Benjamin was attached, and the few of the other ten tribes, who returned after their dispersion by the Assyrians, were gathered". But the sense of that clause is both more clear, and infinitely more important, as applied to Shiloh. And, if it be understood, as it may well be, as a further limitation of the time beyond which Judah should not retain this power, it will mark, with most astonishing accuracy, the precise period at which his sceptre was to depart. But, taking it according to its general acceptation, it declares the calling of the Gentiles to the knowledge of Christ [The Scriptures speak much upon this glorious subject. Without noticing the innumerable passages that declare God's intention to convert the Gentiles, we will confine our attention to two or three that speak of it almost in the very same terms as those in the text. Isaiah, representing Christ as standing for an ensign to the people, says, "To him shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious." There was a remarkable prophecy to the same effect unwittingly uttered by Caiaphas the high-priest. While he designed nothing more than to instigate the Jews to destroy Jesus, God overruled his mind to declare that Jesus should die for the whole world, and should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Our Lord himself also, foretelling the same glorious event, said, “ I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me1." Nor is only the mere circumstance of their conversion declared in the text; the manner also of their coming to him is strongly intimated. They "shall be a willing people in the day of God's power," and as the prophet describes at large, shall fly to him as a cloud, or as doves to their windows".] 66 This part of the prediction also has received, and is daily receiving, its accomplishment— [No sooner had our Lord given up the Ghost, than the centurion, the first fruits of the Gentiles, was led to acknowledge him as the Son of God. Presently, not Judea only, but k John xi. 52. h 1 Chron. ix. 3. 1 John xii. 32. i Isai. xi. 10. the whole Roman empire, was filled with those who were gathered unto him. And, at this moment, "all who are taught of God come unto him" as the one foundation of all their hopes, and the only fountain of all their blessings. There is a period still future, when this prophecy shall be fulfilled in its utmost extent; when "all kings shall bow down before him, and all nations shall serve him." Blessed period! may "God hasten it in its time!" may his " Gospel run and be glorified," and "his glory fill the whole earth!"] Let us now ADDRESS a few words, 1. To those who are yet dispersed, and at a distance from the Lord [We need not here turn our eyes to Jews, but reflect how many are there even in this Christian land, who have no more fellowship with Jesus than if he had never come into the world! But what account will they give to him when they shall stand at his tribunal in the last day? Are not the words of our text a direction, as well as a prophecy? Are they not equivalent to an express command? Has not Christ himself enforced this command by repeated invitations and promises, "Look unto me, and be ye saved;" "Come unto me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls?" Has he not even sworn that all shall come to him, or perish for their neglect "? Why then should we not all gather ourselves around him as in the days of his flesh? Why should not the blind, the lame, the leprous, the possessed, come to him for deliverance? Why should not the poor trembling sinner press through the crowd, and "touch the hem of his garment? Surely none should find it in vain to come unto him; "Virtue should go forth from him to heal them all." O let the prophecy then receive a fresh accomplishment this day; and may God so "draw us by his Spirit that we may run after him," and abide with him for ever!] 2. Those who, through grace, have been gathered to him He [The sceptre is now passed into the hands of Jesus. is the true lion of the tribe of Judah', to whom all power in heaven and in earth has been committed. What then have ye to fear, who are under his protection? Who shall ever pluck you from his hands? When, or to whom shall his sceptre ever be transferred? His mediatorial kingdom will indeed be put down, when there shall be no more occasion for it. But though he will cease to mediate between God and man, his o Rev. v. 5. P John x. 28. n Isai. xlv. 22-25. q 1 Cor. xv. 24. This relates to the peculiar mode of administering the affairs of his kingdom as our Mediator. sovereign dominion shall exist to all eternity; "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; of thy kingdom there shall be no end." Rejoice then, believers, in your Lord; "let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.' Cherish his attrac tive influences: gather yourselves around him yet daily and hourly: spread before him your every want: commune with him on every occasion: consult him; listen to him; obey him: cleave to him with full purpose of heart: so will he keep you steadfast unto the end, and admit you to the richer fruition of his presence in his kingdom above.] r Isai. ix. 7. Dan. ii. 44. Heb. i. 8. LXI. JOSEPH A TYPE OF CHRIST. Gen. xlix. 22-24. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. PECULIAR care is to be used in unfolding the types, lest, by indulging our own imagination, we bring the very truth of God itself into contempt. Where the Scriptures themselves have marked the typical reference, we may proceed without fear; but when once they cease to guide us, we should not venture one step but with fear and trembling. This observation is peculiarly applicable to the subject before us. It does not appear that Joseph is anywhere declared to be a type of Christ, notwithstanding the circumstances wherein they resemble each other are as numerous and remarkable, as in almost any other instance whatever. We forbear therefore to assert any thing on this subject with confidence; while, in compliance with the opinion of the most judicious commentators, and indeed with the almost irresistible conviction of our own mind, we proceed to trace the resemblance of Joseph to Christ, in, I. His distinguishing character Joseph is represented as "a fruitful bough" [Every tribe is distinguished by something characteristic, either of the patriarchs themselves, or of their descendants. The distinction assigned to Joseph, is that of peculiar fruitfulness: and to him it eminently belonged. All his brethren indeed were honoured with being heads of distinct tribes: but Joseph had both his sons chosen of God, and appointed to be heads of separate tribes; and thus two tribes sprang from him, while one tribe only sprang from any of his brethren.] To our Lord also is a similar title frequently ascribed [Jesus was that "beautiful and glorious BRANCH," which was in due time to spring from the stem of Jessea, the fruit whereof was to fill the whole earth". It was not one tribe only, or two, that was to acknowledge him as their head, but all the tribes; yea, Gentiles as well as Jews, even all the ends of the earth: his fruit was to shake like the woods of Lebanon, and they, who should spring from him, were to be numerous as the piles of grass, the stars of heaven, and the sands upon the sea-shore. And so abundantly has this prediction been already verified, that we may say of this Branch as the Psalmist did of that which typically represented it, "It has taken deep root, and filled the land: the hills are covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof are like the goodly cedars; it has sent forth its boughs unto the sea, and its branches unto the riverf."] But the resemblance will more fully appear, while we consider, II. His grievous sufferings Joseph was for many years very grievously afflicted [He was eminently the beloved of his father; and, being utterly averse to sin himself, he would reprove, and lay before his father, the misconduct of his brethren: he also, unreservedly, communicated to them all the repeated intimations, which he had had in dreams, respecting his future exaltation above his whole family. For these reasons he was envied, hated, and persecuted by his brethren. And when he came to them from his father, upon an errand of love, they conspired against him to kill him. An opportunity offering at the moment, they sold him into the hands of strangers for twenty pieces of silverm. After that, he was accused of a crime he utterly abhorred, and, without any one to plead his cause, was cast into prison", where, for a time at least, "he was laid a Isai. iv. 2. and xi. 1. d Gen. xv. 5. Gen. xxxvii. 3. k Gen. xxxvii. 4, 11. m Gen. xxxvii. 28. b Isai. xxvii. 6. c Ps. lxxii. 16. 1 Gen. xxxvii. 18-20. in irons," and galled with heavy fetters; so "sorely did the archers grieve him, and shoot at him, and hate him."] And can we err in tracing here the sufferings of our Lord? [Jesus was, infinitely above all others, the well-beloved of his Father; and, while he faithfully reproved the sins of his brethren, declared to them his future exaltation and glory. Filled with envy and wrath against him, they said, as it were in malignant triumph, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him;" so cruelly "did they reward him evil for good, and hatred for his loves." When he was come to them from his Father with the most benevolent design, behold, one of his own disciples sold him, and that to strangers too, for thirty pieces of silver. He was accused of blasphemy against God, and of rebellion against his king; and, without any one appearing to speak on his behalf", was instantly condemned; and thus, though 66 none could convince him of sin," was numbered with the transgressors." Could there have been such a coincidence of circumstances between his lot and Joseph's, at least is it probable there would have been, if it had not been particularly ordained of God?] 66 We may pursue the comparison yet further, in, III. His unshaken constancy— Joseph was marvellously upheld under all his trials [Though he besought his brethren with cries and tears, we read not of any reproachful language that he used: when he entreated Pharaoh's butler to intercede for him, he did not so much as mention either his brethren, who had sold him, or his mistress, who had falsely accused him: nor, while he was enduring his hard lot, did he once murmur or repine at the providence of God: through the whole of his trial he possessed his soul in patience: nor, when he had it in his power to revenge himself, did he render any thing but love for hatred, and good for evil. The apparent unkindness of his deportment, which he adopted for a time, was a violence done to his own feelings, in order that he might discern the real 'state of their minds, and reveal himself to them afterwards to better effect. When the proper season was arrived, he fully evinced the tenderness of his heart, and the delight he took in the exercise of mercy; and, so far from upbraiding his brethren, he said all he could to extenuate their crime, and referred o Ps. cv. 18. P Matt. iii. 17. 9 John vii. 7. and Matt. xxvi. 64. r Matt. xxi. 38. s Ps. cix. 3-5. t Matt. xxvi. 15, 16. u Isai. liii. 8. See Bp. Lowth's translation and note, and Ps. lxix. 20. x Gen. xl. 14, 15. y Gen. xlii. 7, 9, 12. |