I should not have paused over this word which we meet with in the bible, had it not been that among the numberless names, by which the Lord Jesus is distinguished in Scripture, he condescended to be called the bright and morning Star. It is always profitable to eye the Lord Jesus Christ under any, and every name, by which the Holy Ghost reveals him. And there is somewhat very gracious and interesting in this similitude of a star, and particularly in that of the bright and morning star. The Hebrews called the Star Chocab. And that memorable prophecy the Holy Ghost extorted from the mouth of Balaam, no doubt had an allusion to Jesus the bright and morning star. And so again in the instance of Caiaphas. Let the reader compare Numbers 24:17 with John 10:39-42. Those united views of Balaam and Caiaphas will shew how the Holy Ghost, by his sovereign power, overrules the minds of men to say and predict sometimes the very reverse of what they intend, and makes them the unwilling instruments of proclaiming his precious truths.
It is very blessed to behold how the Lord Jesus is distinguished in Scripture by his different names, and offices, and characters. And it is doubly blessed to behold how JEHOVAH delights to hold him forth to his church's view under every sweet and endearing manifestation, by which he may be brought home to the warmest affections of the heart of his redeemed, and formed in them the hope of glory. All, and every name, and perfection and grace, ascribed to the person of the Lord Jesus, shews that JEHOVAH'S great intention hath been from everlasting to exalt and glorify his dear Lord. And if the reader, as he reads his Bible, would remark it, he would discover that whenever the Lord speaks of any thing of eminency, or greatness, or glory, it is by way of introducing the Lord Jesus. Hence, he speaks of himself as the light and the life of men, the light of the world, the sun of righteousness, the bright and morning star. Hail! I would say for myself and readers, hail the blessed brightness of thy Father's glory, and the express image of his person! Do thou in mercy arise, morning by morning, upon my soul, to chase away all the remaining darkness of my poor wintry, cold, and cheerless heart, and give me grace to be%hold thee, and accept thee, as the sure pledge of that everlasting day, whose sun shall no more go down, but the Lord himself will be "my everlasting light, and my God, my glory." (Isaiah 60:19)