How far they might be acquainted with these sciences I will not pretend to say, but I am perfuaded their wisdom extended much farther, and was of a fuperior nature; for true wisdom consists in the knowledge of divine things, such as refpect the Almighty, spiritual truth, and what appertains to the foul and eternal life. And had they not been acquainted with this wisdom, they would not have taken fo long a journey to worship the new-born, but defpised Meffiah. They had seen his star in the East, and which might direct their external fight; but they had also an internal view of his glory, and were illuminated by heavenly wisdom to know that Jesus was not only then to be born, but also that he was the Saviour, Redeemer, and God of mankind. Could we suppose that mere astronomy or aftrology would have influenced these men to take a journey of this length; to bring gold, frankincenfe, and myrrh; and to worship the Lord Jesus Chrift? No, they were men of spiritual wisdom, influenced by divine truth, and impelled by love to offer the best sacrifice, to the God and Saviour of their fouls, that they were capable of offering. And let us remember, that nothing less than a true knowledge of, and love to the Lord, can influence us to offer service and worship to him. It is faid that they came from the East-By the East, when mentioned in the sacred scriptures, is meant most frequently the Lord himself, or the divine love and goodness of the Lord; because he is the fun of heaven, from whom B 2 : whom all spiritual heat and light proceed: and as our natural fun appears in the East, and is the fountain of all natural heat and light, hence the Lord is thus spiritually represented. Therefore the meaning is, that these men came from the East, or were principled in and directed by the divine love and wisdom of the Lord their God. And by this we are taught to understand, that heat and light, or love and wisdom from the Lord, can alone make us truly wife and really good, and qualify us to offer an acceptable sacrifice unto him. An ignorant and blind worship cannot be acceptable to the Lord, nor any fervice which has not pure love for its origin and source. Therefore it becomes us to study the doctrines and truths of his holy word, to make ourselves acquainted with the Lord, his character, perfections, his falvation, and the laws of his kingdom, that in consequence of this knowledge we may love and worship him. For the one great cause why the Lord Jesus Chrift is not acknowledged as God alone, nor loved, or served, is that men remain ignorant of him, his true character, nature, and government. And let us be assured that when, like these wife men, we are under the influence of love and wisdom, we shall willingly offer up every sacrifice and service to the Lord, we are capable of offering. But behold the consummate hypocrify and deceit of Herod the King. "He called the wife " men privately, and inquired of them what time "the star appeared? and faid, Go and search dili" gently "gently for the young child, and when ye have "found him, bring me word again, that I may "come and worship him also. But they were "warned of God in a dream that they should not "return to Herod. And the angel of the Lord "appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arife, "take the young child and his mother, and flee "into Egypt; for Herod will seek the young "child, to destroy him." So far was this ungodly King from desiring to worship the Lord, that his real design was to take away his life. But we will proceed to notice the words of our text:--" And when they had opened " their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, " gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." I shall, in the first place, explain the spiritual meaning of these words. Secondly, Prove that they comprehend every thing that we can render unto the Lord. Thirdly, Inforce the necessity of presenting this offering, with the advantages we shall derive therefrom. And, first, I am to explain the spiritual sense of the words. One part of the treasure the wife men offered, is said to be gold. This valuable mineral, or metal, is frequently mentioned in the word of the Lord, and that it signifies something more than the metal itself, must be evident to the most superficial observer. B 3 i server. Thus the altar, the pillars, the vessels, &c. of the temple, were pure gold. And Psa. xxi. 3, "For thou preventest him with the blessings of "goodness; thou settest a crown of pure gold on " his head." Psa. xlv. 9, "Upon thy right-hand " did stand the queen, in gold of Ophir." Ifa. Ix. 6, "They shall bring gold, and incense; and they " shall shew forth the praises of the Lord." And, ver. 17, "For brass I will bring gold, and for "iron I will bring filver, and for wood brass, and " for ftones iron," &c. Lam. iv, 1, "How is the "gold become dim! how is the most fine gold "changed!" And, Rev. iii. 18, the Lord says, " I counsel thee to buy of me gold, tried in the "fire, that thou mayest be rich." xxi. 18, "The " city was pure gold, like unto clear glass." By all these passages we plainly see material gold is not meant, but something spiritual, corresponding thereunto. In the highest sense of the word, gold means the celestial principle of divine love and goodness, which is in the Lord; and, when applied to men, as in our text, it signifies the highest principle of love and goodness, in the mind of man. So the wife men of the East, who had received the influx of divine love from the Lord into their will, offered unto the Lord their highest affection and love; confiftent with that first and great commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God " with all thy heart, foul, mind, and strength." This love may fitly be compared to gold, and represented by it. Inasmuch as gold is the most pure, ufeful, useful, and valuable metal on earth; so love, pure genuine love to God, is the most pure, useful, and valuable grace, or virtue, that can dwell in the mind of man. What is all religion, without love? why a mere empty found. What is all religious worship, or service, without love? why mere hypocrify and diffimulation. Love is the very foul of religion, worship, fervice, and obedience. So the wife men, that is, all who are taught of God, and are truly wife, offer gold unto the Lord. All their affections are given up to him, and to him alone. They worship him in love-serve him in love-keep his commandments in love-do all that they do in love-and this is a part of that treasure which they cheerfully dispense. It is faid of the wife men, when they opened their treasures, they presented gold, &c.; by which we are taught two things: First, That pure love to God is the greatest treasure which the human mind is capable of enjoying. Indeed it is this alone which makes us men and christians-without love to God we have only the form of men, but are in our nature infernal. The will of man is so formed, as to receive the divine influx of heavenly love; but if our will be given up to the love of self, of the world, and evil, we thereby pervert the order of our life, and become forms of evil. On the contrary, by admitting the influx of divine love into the will, and living under the influence thereof, we become forms of goodness, and angelic in our natures. 13 B 3 : The |