It would have been needless to have paused over this word, or inserted it in this place, but from the very earnest and special use made of it in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, as typical of his person and nature; but considered with an eye to him, nothing can be more interesting than to behold how unceasingly the Holy Ghost is glorifying our Lord under this beautiful figure through the whole word of God. Every one knows the character of a lamb: among all the creatures of God there are none so harmless, inoffensive, meek, and gentle as the lamb. A lamb will receive injuries, but will offer none. There is a loveliness in the tender lamb of the fold which interests every beholder. In every point the lamb is useful: its fleece affords covering, and its flesh food; both in life and death the lamb is eminently profitable. Nothing could be more happily chosen to depicture Christ Jesus in his immaculate holiness and purity; his meekness, gentleness, and patience, is indeed as the Lamb of God, "for in his mouth was found no guile; who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not." He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Well might it be said of him, that "he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7) And what endears Christ in this lovely character, and which the typical representation of the lamb eminently sets forth, he is both the covering for his people, and their sustenance; for his righteousness is their garment of salvation, and "his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed." In every and all points of view, in his designation as a sacrifice, he is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8) In his manifestation to Israel in the days of his flesh, his humiliation unto death, and his exaltation to glory, still is he the Lamb of God, and the Lamb in the midst of the throne, the Christ of God, and the salvation of God to every one that believeth. The song of heaven is one and the same with the hymn of earth: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." (Revelation 5:9-12)


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