February 24

PART IV.

CHRIST'S FIRST TEXT.

And recovering of sight to the blind, &c.—Luke 4:18.

CAPTIVES were often deprived of their sight, by their cruel oppressors, and sometimes placed in close and solitary confinement. This was the case with Zedekiah. (2 Kings 25:7.) Now in this the sinner's condition is strikingly pourtrayed and exhibited. The sinner is a captive deprived of sight, the God of this world having blinded his eyes. He is a prisoner, bound with torturing fetters and chains. Jesus not only brings us out of captivity, but he sets the soul at perfect liberty. All the powers of the soul are disenthralled, and they enjoy all the freedom of the sons of God Jesus also confers what no earthly conqueror could bestow, even eyesight to the blind,

"He saves from dark'ning scales of vice, And clears the inward sight, And on the eyeballs of the blind, He pours celestial light.

In addition to all this, Christ introduces the acceptable year of the Lord; that is, the year of spiritual Jubilee. The ancient Jubilee was intended to be a shadowy representation of better things. The entire substance we have in the Gospel. Christ introduced this year. His advent formed the glad morning of that joyous era. Now is proclaimed a universal rest from all the toils and burdensome observances of the Levitical economy. Now is the grand opening of the prison doors to them who are bound. Now the poor are surrounded with an overflowing abundance of good things. Now the joyful sound of gospel trumpets is heard throughout the land; and now a better Eden, and a more glorious paradise is presented, in place of those possessions we had forfeited by transgression. This acceptable year Jesus proclaimed. And by his authority, and in his name it is still preached, and shall be so, until this gospel has been published to all nations throughout the world, and then shall the end come. What spiritual happiness and joy, this subject should produce in our hearts. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound.