satisfaction, their rest. 'It behoved Him to be made in all points like
unto His brethren,' that His succour might be ever near, and His
sympathy sure. The man Christ Jesus who, being man, is God manifest in
the flesh, exercises in one and the same act the offices of divine pity
and human compassion, of divine and human guardianship, of divine and
human love.

'And so the Word had breath, and wrought
With human hands the creed of creeds
In loveliness of perfect deeds,
More strong than all poetic thought.'

The dreams of weary hearts that have longed for an impossible perfection
are all below the reality. The fact surpasses all expectation. It is
more than all prophecies, it is more than all hopes, it is more than all
praise. It is God's unspeakable gift. Well might an angel voice proclaim
the mystery of love, 'Unto you is _born_ a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord.' The ancient promise of our text is history now. A man has been
and is all these things for us.

A refuge and a hiding-place from every storm--adverse circumstances
sweep upon us, and His mighty hand is put down there as a buckler,
behind which we may hide and be safe. Temptations to evil storm upon us,
but if we are enclosed within Him they never touch us. The fears of our
own hearts swirl like a river in flood against the walls of our fortress
home, and we can laugh at them, for it is founded upon a rock! The day
of judgment rises before us solemn and certain, and we can await it
without fear, and approach it with calm joy. I call upon no mountains
and hills to cover me.