"trembling (j)." Afk with right difpofitions and in the name of Jefus Chrift for the fanctifying aid of Divine grace; and it will not be withheld. Study to improve by that which is bestowed; and more will be granted. But "grieve not" by tranfgreffion "the Holy Spirit of God (k);" left you be abandoned to yourself, “and given over to a reprobate "mind (/)." (j) Philip. ii. 12. (4) Ephef. iv. 30. (1) Rom. i. 28. X 4 CHAP. VIII. ON THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST. THE great pattern which a Christian is uniformly to propofe for his imitation, is the character of his Saviour. "Learn of me; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye "shall find reft unto your fouls (a) ”—“ I "have given you an example, that ye fhould "do as I have done (b)."-" Chrift fuffered "for us, leaving us an example, that ye "fhould follow his fteps (c)."-" Be like"minded one towards another, according to "the example of Chrift Jefus (d)."— Let "that mind be in you, which was in Christ Jefus (e)." When our Lord laid afide the glory which he had with the Father before the world was, and took human nature upon him; "he was made like unto his brethren, "and was in all points tempted," although tempted in vain," like as we are(ƒ)." Hence (a) Matt. xi. 29. (c) Pet. ii. 21. (6) John, xiii. 15. (d) Rom. xv. 5. in the marginal translation. (e) Philip. ii. 5. (f) John, xvii. 5. Heb. ii. 17. iv. 15. he he is repeatedly ftyled in the Scriptures the Son of Man, the man Chrift Jefus; and is defcribed as growing not in ftature only, but in wifdom, and in favour with God. Hence too there appears an obvious reafon for those expreffions, in which he speaks of his inferiority to his Father, and his ignorance of a part of the divine counfels (g): expreffions which, but for this confideration, might have been deemed inconfiftent with other expreffions of his own (b), and with the doctrine of his divinity. Regarding him then in the ftate in which he manifefted himself in the flesh, as a man, converfant with men, encompaffed with the infirmities and fubject to the pains and forrows of mortality; let us investigate, with fome degree of detail, the example which he has left for our imitation. The first duty required of men is piety towards God. The fervent piety of our Lord was his earliest and most prominent diftinction. At the age of twelve years he left his mother and Jofeph, and repaired to the Temple at Jerufalem; where he was found by them in the midst of the Jewish teachers, hearing them, and afking them questions. In answer to the Virgin Mary, whose address (g) John, xiv. 28. Mark, xiii. 32. to On to him implied confiderable furprise, he said, "How is it that ye fought me? Wist ye "not that I must be about my Father's bufi"nefs ();" employed in promoting the object for which I came into the world, the glory of my Heavenly Father? When occupied in the labours of his public ministry, we find that it was his cuftom regularly to attend the fynagogues, the established places of worship, on the Sabbath, and to explain to the people the word of God (k). every occafion he spoke with the utmost reverence of the Holy Scriptures. He exhorted his hearers to read and fearch them out: he interpreted fuch parts as related to himfelf: he affirmed that they could not be broken; that not one circumftance recorded therein should pafs away without being fulfilled. In one of his parables he speaks in the fevereft terms of those who defpifed or neglected the Scriptures; declaring that if the perfons whom he defcribed would not hear and obey Mofes and the prophets, neither would they be convinced, though one should even be raised from the dead for their converfion. The rejection of Chriftianity by the Jews after his own refurrection practically confirmed the truth of this declaration. In (i) Luke, ii. 48, &c. (4) Luke, iv. 16. all all his actions he fhewed the warmest zeal for the glory of God. When he came into the Temple, and faw the outward court crowded with people who fold oxen, fheep, and doves for facrifices; and with money-changers, who supplied fuch as wanted Jewish money in exchange for foreign coin; he drove them from the place with indignation: and told them that the house of God was to be a house of prayer; but that they had made it a den of thieves. All his own mighty works, his doctrines, his fufferings, and his refurrection, he afcribed to the glory of God his Father. To him he habitually gave thanks on partaking or distributing of food. To him he prayed continually, at all feasons, fometimes alone, at other times with his disciples. He encouraged them to be earnest and conftant in offering their petitions; and at their request drew up a form of prayer, admirable alike for piety, fimplicity, energy, wifdom, and comprehensiveness, to direct and affift their devotions. In all things he fubmitted himself wholly to the will of God. And in his laft agony, when he prayed with such perseverance and fervency that his Father would remove from him, if it were poffible, the bitter cup; he clofed his fupplication with these words: "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be "done." Thus completely did our Blessed Saviour |