ns both of Christ and his
people, may be adverted to. He is introduced as a Husband,[416] and,
consequently, as the Head of his people, engaged to him by vow.[417] He
is exhibited as the Captain of the Lord's host, and as a Leader and
Commander to the people.[418] That he might be presented as at once of
the lineage of David according to the flesh, as the author of
everlasting righteousness, as allied in the capacity of the First-born
among many brethren to the Church redeemed by his blood, and as the
Builder and the Head thereof, and Head over all things to it, he is
denominated the Branch.[419] As the Covenant of the people he is
revealed, to denote that he is the Mediator of the Covenant, and that in
that capacity he received the gift of the people of the Covenant,
fulfilled its conditions by obeying the law and presenting himself as a
covenant sacrifice, appeared as a sign of the Covenant, and was to carry
into final effect the whole scheme of it. As the Days-Man,[420] he is
made known, to intimate that, by Him alone, and only in a covenant
relation, men chargeable with sin can hold communion with God. As the
Ladder,[421] he is spoken of, to point him out as, in the natures of God
and man, the only means of communication between earth and heaven. As a
Witness[422] to the people, he is described to be given by the Father,
and consequently according to his own voluntary engagement. And as
Shiloh, he was promised, and his people thus received him as their
Peace--provided in the Covenant.[423] And his Church is denominated his
_portion_, and _the lot of his inheritance_. In various passages she is
described as _peaceable_ or _perfect_, and is thus presented as in
Covenant.[424] And as _Israel_, the _loved_ of the Lord, she appears
under his promised protection. And, to give and conclude with one
illustration more belonging to this place, reference may be made to two
terms. First, _atonement_ ([Hebrew: kaper]--[Greek: chatallage].) "The
idea that seems to be expressed by this word, is that of averting some
dreaded consequence by means of a substitutionary interposition. It thus
fitly denotes the doctrine of salvation from sin and wrath, by a ransom
of infinite worth." Secondly, _reconciliation_. "This term occurs in
both the Old and New Testaments several times. But it is generally, if
not always, used as a translation of the original words above explained.
Indeed, as has already been remarked, it is quite synonymous with