k. Ms I34S ^ll^oiKjO. \fl mvv YLi'u ,^^^^^^r «-^' [yUL^ (Z-^-f^^T..'^^''^-*^ /^'X-.t.,^ BlIESSIITG THE JBIiEAX): ^Vlien, at the feast ,the TjoiuxLivas spread, He poiir'cl the ^diie . aud 1 >rake ilie bread; And bless'd, as , with aiipctjon ti-iir , de ^ve theuL to His l.'dildid lew^! Loudon; G.Virtae, 26,TvT Lane SCRIPTURE HISTORY, DESIGNED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF YOUTH. BY THE REV. ALEXANDER FLETCHER, atithor of "the family devotions," "lectures to children," etc. [LLUSTRATED WITH 242 ENGRAVINGS. VOL. 11 , LONDON : GEORGE VIRTUE, 26, IVY LANE. 1839. LONDON' : RICHARD CLaV, printer, BREAD STREET HltL, Annex 50^.5932 INDEX TO VOL. II. PAGE Prophecies relating to Christ 1 Blessing the Bread 3 Angel appearing to Zacharias .». 5 Nazareth 7 Annunciation 9 Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth . 1 1 St. John prophesying 13 Angel appearing to the Shepherds 15 Bethlehem 17 The Nativity 19 Wise Men's Star 21 Wise Men's Offerings 23 Simeon's Benediction 25 The Flight into Egypt 27 Afurder of the Innocents 29 Angel appearing to Joseph 31 Holy Family 33 Jerusalem 35 Jesus disputing with the Doctors. 37 John preachingin the Wilderness 39 View at the River Jordan 41 The Baptism of Christ 43 Christ tempted in the Wilderness 45 Christ instructing Nicodemus ... 47 Peter and Andrew called to be Disciples 49 Christandthe Woman of Samaria 51 Christ's Sermon on the Mount .. 53 Pool of Bethesda 55 Cleansing a Leper 57 The miraculous Draught of Fishes 59 Healing the Palsy 61 PAGE Raising the Widow's Son 63 Peter's Mother-in-law healed ... 65 The Storm 67 Christ stiUeth the Storm 69 Touching the Hem of Christ's Garment 71 The Head of John the Baptist brought in a Charger 73 Burial of John the Baptist 75 Jesus miraculously feeding the Multitude 77 The Blind Men receiving their Sight The Transfiguration 81 Christ appointing other seventy Disciples 83 The Woman taken in Adultery. . 85 The good Samaritan 87 The good Samaritan 89 Jesus walketh on the Sea 91 Peter sinking 93 The Woman of Canaan 95 Mary and Martha 97 Jesus heals the Blind Man 99 The Pool of Siloam 101 The good Shepherd 103 Jesus blessing little Children ... 105 The Prodigal Son 107 The Prodigal Son 109 Lazarus at the Rich Man's Door. 1 1 1 Labourers in the Vineyard 113 Christ and Zebedee's Children... 115 Tribute Money 117 79 -AijJ^ IV INDEX TO VOL. II. PAGB The Widow's Mite 119 Lazarus raised from the Dead ... 121 Mary anointing Jesus' feet 123 Bethany 125 Jesus entering Jerusalem 127 Destruction of the Temple fore- told 129 The wise and foolish Virgins 131 Judas betraying Christ 133 The Last Supper 135 Jesus washing the Feet of his Disciples 137 Christ's Agony 139 Jesus apprehended 141 Peter denying Christ 143 Judas throwing down the Money 145 Mocking Jesus «... 147 Christ bearing the Cross 149 The Crucifixion 151 The Descent from the Cross 153 The entombing of Christ's Body. 155 The Resurrection of Christ 157 The Marys at the Sepulchre 159 The Holy Sepulchre 151 Christ appearing to Mary 163 Disciples at Emmaus 165 , The Incredulity of Thomas 167 Jesus appearing to Peter 169 PAGE Ascension of Christ 171 Descent of the Holy Ghost 173 The Lame Man healed 175 The Death of Ananias 177 The stoning of Stephen 179 Philip and the Eunuch 181 The Conversion of Saul 183 Saul recovering his Sight 185 The Angel appearing to Cornelius 187 Peter delivered from Prison 189 Elymas struck blind 191 Paul and Barnabas at Lystra ... 193 Paul stoned 195 The Pythoness 197 Paul preaching at Athens 199 Paul at Ephesus 201 Paul rescued 203 Paul before Felix 205 The Shipwreck of St. Paul 207 Paul and the Viper « 209 Faith 211 Charity 21.3 Paul reproving Peter 215 Hope 217 View of Patmos 219 The Vision of the White Horse... 221 The Seven last Plagues ....m 223 TPBOFIH^K ( ' \'' r^ Y(¥, T, AT 11 ?^(-! < ' Ff^ T.^ T The sTiadovry types of ancient dajs Throug}i Clirist iu-t? bi'i^lilness to the view And Pi'opliecy in lliiii dib-jjliiys Its soui't'o , iiiitl its liilllhuejil too ! SCRIPTURE HISTORY. PROPHECIES RELATING TO CHRIST. The prophecies respecting Ciirist are exceedingly numerous, plain, minute, and striking. Our narrow limits will only allow us to present a few as a specimen. Here it is proper to observe, that all the promises given respecting Christ in the Old Testament, are prophesies, as well as promises. We may notice the following, namely, the promise given to Adam and Eve, the promise given to Abra- ham, the promise uttered by Jacob, the promise uttered by Moses, one of the prophecies delivered by David, and one delivered by Isaiah. The promise delivered to Adam and Eve was given to them by God himself in the garden of Eden, when our first parents had fallen into sin, and were trembling in despair, as they thought, on the very brink of hell ! It was addressed to the serpent ; and oh, it is memorable and glorious I It is this, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The seed of the woman is Christ. Satan bruised Christ's heel in his sufferings. Christ shall bruise his head in his glorious triumphs over that powerful foe. VOL. II. B The following promise and prophecy respecting Christ was delivered to Abraham immediately by God himself. Gen. xxii. 18, "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Here Jesus is the promised Seed, who, after the flesh, was a descendant of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob, on his dying bed, delivered the following promise of Christ in the presence of all his sons. Gen. xlix. 10 : " The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Jesus is Shiloh. He has come. And all the nations of the earth shall flee to his standard. Moses delivered the following prophecy respecting Christ, Deut. xviii. 17, 18 : " And the Lord said unto me, I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth." This prophecy is fulfilled, and the Divine Prophet has appeared. David prophesied. Psalm ex. 1, '' The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." This prophecy is ful- filled. ' ' Isaiah prophesied, " He is led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." This is accomplished ! He prophesied, " He is cut out of the land of the liv- ing." Look to Calvary's cross, and see the fulfilment of this prediction ! 5? H > 0; BLESSING THE BREAD. The Evangelist St. Matthew gives the following account of our Saviour blessing the bread, at the in- teresting time when the Holy Sacrament of the Supper was first instituted, and first observed, chap. xxvi. 26 — 30 : " And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disci- ples, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying. Drink ye all of it ; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the re- mission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives." As an account of the Last Supper will be given in another part of this work, we will at present only con- sider the spiritual meaning of the bread, and our Saviour blessing the bread. First, consider the spiritual meaning of the bread. The body of Christ is particularly represented by bread. When Jesus took the bread in the presence of his disciples, he said, " This is my body." He did not mean it was his real body, but he meant that it represented his body. Let my young friends re- member, that there is a great deal more meant than his B 2 literal body. It represented all his human nature suffered, and also all the blessings he purchased by the sufferings his human nature endured. Bread is made from corn. The corn cannot be bread till it is bruised by the heavy mill-stone. And then it must be put into the hot oven, before it can be fit for the food of man. Before Christ can be the bread of life for the souls of men, women, and children, he must be bruised by the mill-stone of divine wrath, and he must be cast into the oven of God's anger ! Was this the case ? O, yes ! " It pleased the Lord to bruise him V When Jesus took up the bread, he blessed it. He set it apart for a holy sacramental purpose, by prayer and thanksgiving. In the Christian Church and at the sacramental table, the bread is set apart for a holy purpose. That is, it is solemnly set apart for bringing to the remembrance of believers, the Lord Jesus Christ in his human nature, in his sufferings, in his death, and in all the blessings of his purchase. Ministers in following the example of Christ, pray that this effect may be produced ; namely, that communicants may remember when they take the bread into their hands, and into their mouths, that Jesus suffered and died for them, and that he has purchased for them by his death those blessings which will be the comfort, nourishment, and joy of their souls for ever and ever. Beside the AJtar lo .' a Soraph stands ; The ft-iest is struck with terror and sui'prise -. And l>ows hiB head, and spreads liis trenihlrng hands 'Vem- not , thy pray'r is heard - the Ari^>J eries .' ANGEL APPEARING TO ZACH ARIAS. LUKE I. 11. A. M. 3999. John the Baptist was appointed to be the forerunner of Christ. This was one of the highest, if not the very highest, of sacred offices that was ever filled by any human being from the days of Adam to the present time. And we can conceive no office that shall equal it, even till the close of ages, when the mighty angel shall sound his trumpet to awake the dead. His father's name was Zacharias. He lived in the days of Herod the king of Judea. He was a priest of emi- nent piety, of the course of Abia, and often ministered in the temple. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. The Evangelist gives them the highest character for piety. They were both righteous. O, how lovely, when husband and wife are both arrayed in the garments of salvation, and filled with the Holy Ghost ! These excellent individuals gave the most satisfying evidences and proofs of their piety. They walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Blessed cha- racter ! And this is the character of those who were the parents of the Forerunner of our Saviour. So im- portant was the part which John was appointed to perform, that a messenger was dispatched on purpose from heaven to make known to Zaeharias, that he in his old age should be the father of a most wonderful child, who should be employed in the singular office of pre- paring the way of the Lord. The angel that was sent on this errand was Gabriel. He came to Zaeharias when he was in the temple burning incense before the Lord. This celestial mes- senger appeared on the right side of the altar of in- cense. Zaeharias was overwhelmed with fear, when he beheld the glorious angel. He could not tell but he might be a messenger of wrath, and not of mercy. God very soon, and very graciously, dispelled his fears. The angel told him, that his wife Elizabeth should bear a son. They prayed for a son. Their prayer was accepted. The angel informed them that the name of their son should be Johx, w^hich signifies, Grace of the Lord. He told them their son would be the source of great gladness to them, and great joy to multitudes. He also stated that he would rank high in the divine favour, that he would abstain from wine and strong drink, be remarkably holy, and filled with the Holy Ghost. O, what a lovely character ! Blessed are those parents, whose children in any degree resemble the son of Zaeharias and Elizabeth. To crown all, the angel told him his son should be raised to the most honourable work, that in the spirit of Elijah he should prepare a people for the Lord. 1 =§|^i f.BJ ^/j^ p a P •S bS S flF ^1 ^ rS c 4 ft^ ^ o "> X -'-^ ^^ v(^ list" 'i t 9 ^ ^ ^ n; X 4:; ^1*1 '^ "3 -a « J ■"1^1 ^ a ^-2^ V i NAZARETH. LUKE I. 26. Nazareth was a small city, which belonged to the tribe of Zebulon, in Galilee. It is distant from Jeru- salem about seventy-two miles north of that city ; about ten to the north-west of Mount Tabor; and twenty-five west from the point where the Jordan issues from the Sea of Galilee. This town was the place where our Lord resided after the time of his return from Egypt, till the time he entered upon his public ministry. In all ages it has excited great interest in the minds of christian travellers, in con- nexion with Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Bethlehem is interesting, as the town where our Saviour was born, — Jerusalem as the city where our Saviour died, — and Nazareth as the place where our Saviour resided for the greater part of the time he dwelt on earth. It was so obscure and insignificant, that it is not so much as men- tioned once in the Old Testament ; and no Jewish his- torians speak of it, except as the birth-place of Jesus. It is built in a valley, on the top of a hill. Thus it is both situated on a hill, and in a valley. Dr. Richardson gives the following account of its situation : — " The vale resembles a circular basin, surrounded by mountains. It seems as if fifteen mountains meet to form an enclosure for this delightful spot. They rise round it like the edge of a shell, to guard it from intrusion. It is a rich and beautiful field in the midst of barren mountains. It abounds in fig-trees, small gardens, and hedges of the prickly pear ; and the dense rich grass affords an abundant pasture. The village stands on an elevated situation, on the west side of the valley." This is the description of the spot where our Saviour was brought up, and where nearly the whole of his life was spent This place, also, had been the abode of Mary, his mother, and of Joseph, his sup- posed father. It was noted for the wickedness of its inhabitants. Nathanael said unto Philip, " Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" This intimated plainly, that Na- thanael never heard of any good person belonging to that place ; and therefore that its inhabitants must have been generally of a description the most profligate and depraved. Though our Saviour spent nearly his whole life in this city, the inhabitants despised his ministry ; and on one occasion their enmity rose to such a pitch of violence, that they attempted to murder him, by cast- ing him headlong from the brow of the hill, where their city was built. Because Jesus dwelt at Nazareth, he was called a Nazarene ; and thus the prophecies, which represent- ed him as a Nazir, were in some measure fulfilled. As a mark of contempt, the Jews called the followers of Jesus Nazarenes. The place now contains from 700 to 1,000 inhabi- tants. A.T>^ rr^ V i.\'jT 1 o :? Hail • hlc* ill V »;ivoi-<^ rlint siuiU i('<1«'i'ij;lit doom , Ami Llessed art tlioiv amou^ Wompn slie said .And blest is the friut of thy "Womb ! 11 MEETING- OF MARY AND ELIZABETH. Luke I. 40. a.m. 3998. Mary and Elizabeth were two women, the most highly favoured of God among all the descendants of Adam. They were closely related together as friends by natural connexion ; but they were far more inti- mately connected together by the ties of grace. And what a wonderful bond of union was this in addition ! Mary was the mother of Jesus, the Messiah, and Eliza- beth was the mother of John, the appointed and predicted forerunner of the Saviour of men. We must then acknowledge that these two women, and saints, and mothers, were two of the most remarkable person- ages that ever appeared on the face of the earth. The angel Gabriel informed Mary, that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age, and that she had been with child six months. On receiving this intelligence, Mary immediately undertook a long journey, as far distant as Judah, that she might visit and congratulate her cousin Elizabeth, on account of the great smiles of her. God, in the evening of her days. As soon as she entered the house, and delivered her salutation, the babe leaped in the womb of Elizabeth. Immediately, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and gave utterance to the following remarkable ex- pressions; "Blessed art thou among women, and 12 blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy ! And blessed is she that believed : for there shall he a per- formance of those things which were told her from the Lord." Mary also was filled with the Holy Ghost, and in reply to Elizabeth, gave utterance to a song of praise, in strains lofty and sublime. " And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath re- joiced in God my Saviour." Here you see her faith ; now mark her humility. " For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden : for behold, from hence- forth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name." Observe her astonishment at God's mercy! " And his mercy is on them that fear him, from genera- tion to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm, he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." Blessed Mary I All generations shall call her blessed ! 13 ST. JOHN PROPHESYING. LUKE I. 80. A. M. 3398. John the Baptist was the celebrated forerunner of our Lord, and the Elias, or Elijah, of the New Testa- ment. It was he of whom Malaehi thus prophesied, — " Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord : and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the chil- dren, and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Mai. iv. 5, 6. When Gabriel the angel informed Zacharias that he should have a son in his old age, and that this son should be the messenger, to prepare the way of the Lord, Zacharias doubted the word of the angel, and asked a token to convince him that what he had spoken would take place. This was sinful in Zacharias, and offended God. The angel certainly said he should receive a token ; and the token was this, that he should remain dumb till the child was born. Accordingly, his speech left him in an instant of time. Eight days after the child was born, when the circumcision was about to take place, the friends wished to give him the name of his father, and call him Zacharias. The mother, Elizabeth, knew from the angel that his name should be JoJm. At this time the mouth of Zacharias was opened, and his tongue was loosed, and to the 14 great amazement of all who were present, he spake and praised God. The people said, "What manner of child shall this be ?" The father at the same time was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his imme- diate inspiration uttered, and sung a song of praise, proclaiming the great things God had done, and would do for his church. Then turning to the babe, he looked upon him, and thus addressed him in the language of prophecy : "And thou, child, shalt be called The Prophet of the Highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways ; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercies of our God : whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace." We know very little of John from the time this song was sung by his father, till the days when he entered upon his public ministry. The evangelist Luke says, " And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and M'as in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel." We must not suppose that he lived as a hermit, cut off from the society of men, and the people of God. It is reasonable to suppose that he went up to Jerusalem at the feasts. But his time was chiefly spent in the wilderness, in holy meditation, and fellow- ship with God. Jfau. JZ. ye/.' J.9. Avviike , lu-i.se , Lho xVu^'ol said , And l>eiii' the Child to Isiviol's laud , Foi- they who sought its Hfe aa-e (k^id , And none sliall stretch the horiiuut^" haud .' 15 ANGEL APPEARING TO THE SHEP- HERDS. LUKE II. 8—14. A. M. 4000. Many judicious writers have observed with wonder, that when Jesus, the King of kings, and the Saviour of man was born, it was not made known by the angel first to monarchs, or princes, or nobles, or philosophers, or Jewish priests. The angel was not sent first with his message to splendid mansions, or gilded palaces. To whom was he first sent ? To whom did he first communicate the joyful tidings of the birth of the Son of God, and the Redeemer of a fallen world ? It was to devout and humble shepherds, engaged in watching over their flocks by night. The inspired Evangelist gives the following account of this blessed communi- cation. '' And there were in the same country shep- herds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not : for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of Davrd, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the babe 16 wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there M-as with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." We have every reason to believe, that these shepherds were holy men. They were humble in their circum- stances, but exalted in their piety. They often con- versed together on divine things, and particularly spake with great interest about the coming of the long-expected Messiah. Is it not likely that they frequently prayed together among the beautiful little hills near Bethlehem, and cried to God with great earnestness that the promised Shiloh might soon appear ? Who can tell, but they had been thus en- gaged that very night, before the angel visited them, supplicating Israel's God that the promised Messiah would come, according to all the animated predictions of Old-Testament prophets ? Oh how God honours prayer I What was their surprise when a heavenly messenger stood before them, shining in the bright rays of heaven's glory ! Great was their delight when this lovely angelic visitor informed them that Christ was actually born, — and born in a town very near the place where they fed their flocks, namely, Bethlehem, the city where David was born I That was a joyful night, when their ears listened to the songs of angels ! Ill imp Hill r 2 ^ ^H 3 :^ ;a S w cr tn g 17 BETHLEHEM. LUKE II. 4. A. M. 4000. Bethlehem was remarkable on two accounts. First, it was remarkable as the birth-place of David ; and, secondly, it was remarkable as the place where Christ, the Saviour of men, Avas born. We cannot help looking with great interest on particular spots and places, where great events have taken place. I looked with great interest on the fields and plains of Waterloo, where a most wonderful battle was fought, and where a victory was won, which decided the fate of empires and kings. I have looked with great interest on the vale of Runnymede, where Magna Charta received the royal seal of King John, and thus secured great privileges to the English nation, which have continued from those days to the present time. But oh, with what infinitely greater interest must a pious and devout mind look upon the city of Bethle- hem, where Jesus the Saviour was born I Bethlehem is a Hebrew word, and signifies the house of bread. What a suitable name for the birth- place of Him who is the bread of life ! Jesus said of himself, " I am the bread of life. I am the true bread which came down from heaven. He that eateth my body, and drinketh my blood, shall live for ever." How striking, that the town where our Saviour wa VOL. II. c 18 born should be called Bethlehem, the house of bread ! Bethlehem was a city of Judah, about six miles south of Jerusalem, and very pleasantly situated on the declivity of a hill. The prophet Micah calls it Bethlehem Ephratah. This city was never considerable for wealth or extent ; but it was important as the birth-place of Elimelech, Boaz, David ; but, above all, of Jesus, the root and offspring of David. It was here Rachel, the wife of Jacob, was buried, of which Moses gives the following striking account, Gen. xxxv. 16, 18, 19: " And theyjourneyed from Bethel, and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath : and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, — for she died, — that she called his name Benoni, but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is in Bethlehem." This town is still much visited by pilgrims. Here there are three convents, — one of the Latin, another of the Greek, and a third of the Armenian Christians. Here they show the stable where our Saviour was born ; the manger in which he was laid, instead of a cradle ; and the grotto where he, and his mother, and Joseph, lay hid from the rage of Herod, before they departed to Egypt. At a little distance is shown the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds. TE.JE I'fATlTl-jEY lukeJI.ver. 2 Not in tlie Palace, with its Halls of state . Where croucliiiio slaves , and ^atohfiil ^lirrioi's wait But in the Stal>le. witii the l)eiLsts arouiitL , The King of Kings a new born Babe is tbuncL ! 19 THE NATIVITY. LUKE II. 7. A.M. 4000. There was a time fixed by the immutable decree of the Eternal Jehovah, when Jesus should be born. That time is called in Scripture the fulness of time. When that time arrived, the Son of God appeared in- carnate, made of a woman, and in the form of a feeble infant O, unfathomable mystery ! The evangelist Luke gives the following account of the time, place, and manner of our Saviour's birth : — " And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Ca;sar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into the city of David, which is called Beth- lehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed, with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while tliey were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first- born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." Be amazed, ye young ; this is the affecting and humbling account of the birth of your Saviour, the birth of the greatest personage on whom the eyes of angels ever looked, the birth of Jehovah's only-begot- ten and eternal Son I 20 Our blessed Lord was born in the daj's of Augus- tus Caesar, when the Ptoman empire was more exten- sive than in any other period of its history. It included Parthia on the east, and Britain on the west. It was called Terrarum orbis imperium, or, the empire of the whole world ; for there was scarcely any part of the civilized world that was not dependent upon it. When our Saviour was born, that prophecy of Daniel began to be fulfilled, Dan. ii. 4 : "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed." The place where our Saviour was born is ob- servable : it was Bethlehem, as foretold by the prophet Micah. Jesus, after the flesh, was the son of David, of the royal line, and therefore was born in the city of David. The circumstance which led to the exact ful- filment of this prophecy, that he should be born in Bethlehem, was the command of Caesar, that all his subjects should be taxed; that is, have their names regularly enrolled. Joseph and Mary belonging to the family ot' David, went to the city of David, namely, Bethlehem, and at that very time Jesus was born, and the prediction was literally fulfilled. How truly affecting the circumstances of his birth ! He was the son of a poor, though a pious woman. He was born at an inn, to show he came to sojourn for a season in our world. He was born in a stable, as if re- jected of men. He was laid in a manger, where cattle fed, — He who came as the bread of life ! ^ '^ ^• O to I £ In? 5' ^- ^ = X c ^ •::: 21 WISE MEN'S STAR. MATT. II. 10. A.M. 4000. The Wise Men of the East were guided by a myste- rious and supernatural star, from their own country to Judea. They had never seen this star before, nor any star bearing any resemblance to it. As wise men, as philosophers, and we may add, as astronomers, they had often examined, and observed, and studied the stars. Their surprise must have been great when they saw this star of unusual appearance, and of uncommon glory. We cannot attempt a description of this star. It is probable, however, that it appeared in the lower regions of the sky. The whole of the inhabitants of the country, who saw the star, must have been greatly amazed, and filled with fear. It was very natural for them to conclude that some great event was to take place. They might suppose God was about to visit them in his anger, and that he sent this star as a fore- runner of wrath and destruction. Oh, how different the case I It was not the messenger of wrath, but of love. It was not the messenger of destruction, but of salvation. It was a morning star. It was a star sent to tell the nations and the world that the Sun of Righteousness was about to appear. We cannot think tliat all who saw the star, knew it was the star which was sent to declare the birth of 22 Jesus, the king of the Jews, and the Saviour of men. But the wise men knew it. How did they obtain this knowledge ? It was not by their own wisdom. It was not by their learned books. It was by the im- mediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It was an angel who was employed to make known the birth of Christ to the Jewish shepherds ; and it was by a bright and supernatural star, that God made known the birth of Jesus to Gentile philosophers. Thus God has employed various methods in communi- cating his will, and in making known his mercy to man, at different periods of the history of the church. The wise men were not only divinely instructed that the great Messiah was born, but they were stirred up, in- clined, and directed, to go in search of this infant prince. For this purpose, they went from the East to Jerusalem. They were filled with an holy impatience, made speedy preparation for their lengthened journey, and actually arrived at Jerusalem, not far distant from the place where the infant Jesus was found. Blessed are they who wish to find Jesus, and who seek him dili- gently in his ordinances ! " They shall know, who follow on to know the Lord." In Jerusalem, they learned that Jesus should be born in Bethlehem. The STAR again appeared. They followed their guide. It stood over the cottage where Jesus was found. Then it disappeared, and was seen no more. wisiE :^qT, x'f^ PerfiiTues sweet , and fragrant spice. Gold, nud ^ms of oostly price , Ofl'eriuo's to tlie uew l>>rn Kino' K.'ts-tt-rn Sao-es humblv hrinrf ! I 23 WISE MEN'S OFFERING. MATT. II. 11. A.M. 4000. The Wise Men presenting offerings of great value at the feet of Christ, when an infant in Bethlehem, is a circumstance connected with a very important part of sacred history. In the days of Herod the king, com- monly called Herod the Greats Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem to make inquiry respecting the birth of the Messiah. They also said, they had seen his star, and were come to worship him. Here it may be proper, as far as we are able, to give some account of these Wise Men. The original name in the Greek is Magoi. Hence they are commonly called, in our language, Magi^ or Magicians, Among the Persians the Magi were their philosophers and their priests. They were held in such estimation, that none were even allowed to be their kings, unless they were first enrolled among the Magi. Those who dealt in unlawful arts were also called Magoi in Scripture, such as Simon Magus, and Elymas the Sorcerer. Whether theWise Men who came tovisit the infant Jesus were magicians and sorcerers, or whether of the sect of the Persian magicians, who believed two subordinate principles, one of good, and another of evil, and detested images and temples, and worshipped God, only under the emblem of fire ; or whether they were only philosophers ; we cannot determine. We know posi- 24^ tively they came from the East ; that is, some country or nation lying very considerably to the east of Judea ; but we cannot tell whether they came from Persia, Chaldea, or Eastern Arabia. If the knowledge of the particular place from which they came had been of any real importance, it would have been communicated : as it would not, it is left in obscurity. The arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem excited a great sensation. The object of their visit greatly af- fected their king. He sent for the Wise Men, and had an interview with them. He desired them, if they found Jesus at Bethlehem, to return and tell him the tidings. They went and found the child, but were warned of God not to return and tell Herod. What must have been their surprise, w^hen they found the new-born prince, not in a royal palace, attended by. soldiers as life-guards, but in a humble cottage, in a poor and mean habitation, and in the arms of his mother, a woman in circumstances humble and indi- gent. But they knew it was Jesus. The blazing star stood immediately above the cottage, and poured down upon the lowly habitation the lustre of its glorious rays. They entered ; they saw the child with his mother ; they fell down before him, and worshipped him. Lovely sight ! Then they opened their treasures, and they presented to him gifts, consisting of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being warned of God, they returned into their own land. Young friends, present yourselves to Jesus a living sacrifice. Amen. Nowl(>tU't;t tliou iiiv soul ill jn-act- depart . The good Mfui ei-ifnl.as ill his arms he presl The hol^ Child, and h-om his iuiiiost heai't , The God of Hea^'n for M^ul's salvation blest 25 SIMEON'S BENEDICTION. LUKE II. 29. A. M. 4000. Eight days after our Saviour was born, his name was called Jesus. According to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought him to Jerusalem, to present him before the Lord. At the same time, there lived in that city a most pious, excellent aged man, called Simeon. He was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel : and the Holy Ghost was upon him. What a character ! What a privilege ! What an honour ! He stood exceedingly high in the enjoy- ment of the Divine favour. As an evidence of this, it was communicated to him by the immediate inspira- tion of the Divine Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Great must have been his desire to see the Messiah, who had been promised to the church and the world for nearly four thousand years. Simeon had no wish to live any longer on earth, except to enjoy the blessedness and delight of seeing Christ before he fell asleep in the arms of death. He was fully assured that he should most certainly see Christ witli the eyes of his body, before the earthly house of this tabernacle was dis- solved. Directed by the Spirit, he came to the temple, at the very time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do unto him alter the custom of the law. The moment he fixed his eyes upon the child, he knew it was Jesus 26 What must have been the surprise of Mary, when the venerable, aged saint came up to her, with feeble, trembling steps, and requested permission to take the child into his arms ! When he took him up into his arms, he blessed God, and said, *• Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word : for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people : a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Joseph and the mother marvelled at the things which were spoken of Simeon. Then the holy man, who was on the very brink of the glories of heaven, blessed therriy and said unto Mary his mother, *' Behold, this child is set for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel ; and for a sign which shall be spoken against ; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also :) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." See the readiness of Simeon to die. His soul was saved, his heart was changed, his sins were pardoned. Only such are ready to die. See also his willingness to die : "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace I" The death of a saint is only a departure from earth to heaven. It was the sight of Christ which made him so willing to die. May we by faith see Christ as our Saviour, — may we embrace him with the arms of love ; then, like Simeon, we shall be ready, we shall be willing to die I TEl? T' IT^^TO EGTPT. ler 14 Warn'dbTaii AnoVl , Joseph ta]ies,l)y night To Eoy^its land his Hea,v'n -appointed tli^lit ; And thus -while feai^s of Herods po^vrt? are stfll'd The vroixls of frophecT are "w^ell fulfill 'd . 27 THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. MATT. II. l^. A.M. 4000. Great must have be*^!! the wonder of Mary and Joseph, when the Wise Men from the East came into their humble dwelling. Their surprise must have increased when the Wise Men fell down at the feet of the babe, and worshipped him. Their surprise must still have increased, when they presented their offerings of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. They never were so enriched before, and might readily exclaim, What can all this mean ! Their flight to Egypt for the preservation of the child's life, is an answer to this question of surprise. Of themselves, they were not able to bear the expense of a journey so distant, the expense of their residence in that country, and the expense of their return to their own land. For this purpose they are assisted and enriched out of the very treasures of eastern and distant lands. Almost immediately after the Wise Men departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in 9 dream, and thus addressed him, " Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thoa there until I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Immediately he pre- pared for the flight. " He arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." There they remained until the death of Herod, that it 28 might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, '' Out of Egypt have I called my son." We may remark on this very astonishing piece of sacred history, that an angel is employed to tell Joseph of the great danger to which he and his family were exposed. Before Joseph was allied to Jesus, he was not accustomed to angels' visits. What an honour ; a saint in the humblest circumstances in life waited on by messengers from the throne of heaven ! Alas, how soon, and how violently the rage of kings was manifested against Jesus ! The angel said, " Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." This cruel king thought that the young child would rise up to great temporal power, and hurl him down from his throne ; therefore he was determined at once to prevent it, by putting him to death. But Herod's purpose shall not be accomplished. There is a place of refuge pro- vided for the infant Jesus, in the land of Egypt, and on the banks of the Nile. Joseph, at the command of tlie angel, instantly obeyed. It was not safe to begin tlie journey by day ; he therefore departed at night. Israel came from Egypt to Canaan, and now Israel's Saviour is carried for safety from Canaan to Egypt. There is a remarkable tradition, that when the holy family entered Egypt, and went into one of their temples, all the images of their gods were overthrown by an in- visible power, and fell like Dagon before the ark. DIFMDJEK OF THE I^TNOriETf TS Maar.JT.ven 16. Vaiuly are tlie Children prest To Oie Motliers burning bi-efLst ; Infaxit blood arcnuid is poui-'d , By tbe Monster Monarch's sword 29 MURDER OF THE INNOCENTS. MATT. II. 16. A. M. 4000. The inspired writer gives the following account of one of the blackest crimes that stains the history of fallen man, namely, the barbarous murder of a large number of children, from two years old and under. " Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise Men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time he had diligently inquired of the Wise Men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her cliildren, and would not be comforted, because they are not." When the Wise Men left Herod, they promised to return, and tell him all the particulars respecting Jesus, the new-born Prince. By the directions of an angel, they were prevented from fulfilling their intentions. The king waited for them with great anxiety. It was evidently his design, as soon as he had received in- formation where the young king was born, to have sent and murdered him, and thus lay aside all fears that he should rise up, and deprive him of his kingly power. He was of course greatly disappointed, be- cause the Wise Men did not return. He was exceeding so wroth. He thought to crush Jesus at once, and thus render himself more sure in the enjoyment of that regal power which he never deserved. He is determined that he shall not be altogether dis- appointed in his hopes. He contrives a plan for the murder of Jesus, which shows he was, in a most pre- eminent degree, a child of Satan, the first rebel, and the first murderer. His plan was this, to slay all the children in Bethlehem and the surrounding coasts, from two years old and under, expecting that Jesus would certainly be one of the number. We wonder that such a thought should ever enter the heart of the most wicked of men, for there is something about children and babes which call for the kindness and protection of the worst of human beings. Herod was peculiarly blood-thirsty. He slew three of his own sons, Alexander, Aristobulus, and Antipater. Were monsters found to execute the bloody and in- fernal purpose ? Alas, alas, such monsters in human tihape were found ! They went immediately from the throne of the hateful tyrant to Bethlehem. They took the babes from the cradle, and also from their mothers' bosoms, and murdered them before their eyes ' No cries, no tears, no shrieks of woe could produce upon the murderers the slightest impression of com- punction. They began, they went through, they finished their deeds of blood. Great was the lamentation ! Mothers wept for their murdered babes, and refused to be comforted, because thev were not. 31 ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSEPH. MATT. II. 19. A.M. 4000. Wb know nothing of the particulars of the history of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, while they sojourned in Egypt. There they were, at a distance from the temple and public service of God, and dwelt among idolaters. But though they were far from the temple of the Lord, they were not far from the Lord of the temple. They had him with them, who in his divinity is the object of religious worship, and whose presence converts a cot- tage, or a cave, or a dungeon, into a temple. Joseph had several visits from angels. We have considered two. A third visit is paid him in Egypt. He was commanded to remain in that country till God should give him word to depart. At last, the appointed time arrived when he should return, and an angel is sent to deliver the tidings. When Herod the tyrant, the murderer, and the monster, was dead, " behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying. Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's life." The death of Herod makes way for the return of Jesus. The death of the murderer makes way for the divine Saviour. Some writers think that Herod onlv lived three months after the murder uf the infants, it 32 is a heart-revolting thought, that it was very soon after he committed his hellish act, his soul was cast into hell. He had no pity on helpless babes and weeping mothers, and therefore he vras sent to that world where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, but where there is no pity I O may the young think of the miseries of hell, and be persuaded to avoid those sins which lead to such miseries ! Joseph instantly obeyed the angel. " He arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel." That Providence which watched over and preserved them in their long, and dreary, and dangerous journey from Judea to Egypt, preserved them in Egypt, and brought them back in safety to the land of Israel. The sun, though very sultry, did not smite them by day, and the moon, though accompanied by intense cold, did not smite them by night. When Joseph returned, he heard that Archelaus the son of Herod reigned in the stead of his father. The account he received of his character was far from favourable. He feared that if the son should have it in his power, he would attempt to do to Jesus what the father attempted. He therefore receives the honour of a visit from God, probably by the ministry of an angel. He told him to turn aside into the parts of Galilee. " And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth ; that it might be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." i -ZvJce IT. rer. 40 . Ol't tiio riiiitL was tbncll_v pi»est To tlie Mothers happv breast . As Ho strong* in spirit c^re-vv, Fill'd Avith ^ace , and Avisdom too 33 HOLY FAMILY. LUKE II. 40. A. M. 4000. In speaking of the Holy Family, there are several things to be considered, very worthy of observation. The members of the family. They were three in number. There are in the Holy Trinity three Persons, and in this holy family there were three members, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. Joseph was the supposed father of our Lord, while as man our Saviour had no father. The name Joseph signifies fruitfulness. Though he was not the real, but supposed father of Jesus, he had the paternal care of hIxM, who is the everlasting Father, whose spiritual offspring, before the close of ages, will be countless as the stars of heaven. Joseph was by profession a carpenter. Jesus was not com- mitted to the paternal care of a philosopher, or a mi- nister of state, or a monarch. No, — he was committed to the affectionate guardianship of a carpenter, an humble, but pious mechanic. He had not the riches of this world, but he had the riches of grace. He had not the soft and costly attire of princes, but he was clothed with the garments of salvation. Though of royal descent, he had no expectation of an earthly diadem, but he waited for the salvation of Israel. The genealogy of Joseph is given by St. Matthew. There it appears he was, adding three omitted, the thirty- VOL. II. D 34 second in descent from David, in the royal line of Solomon. O how mysterious ! Jesus remained with Joseph, and laboured at his humble employment, till he was thirty years of age. Mary was the virgin mother of our Lord ; and ever since has been called, by way of eminence, the Virgin Mary. She was the daughter of Eli) of the royal but then debased family of David. It is striking to think, that the name Eli signifies my God. Little was Eli aware that his daughter should bear a Son, in whose humanity the Deity should dwell, and who also should be named Emmanuel, that is, God with us. She lived at Nazareth, and was there betrothed in marriage to Joseph, of the same royal descent with herself. Never was woman so honoured ! She conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost. She brought forth that Child in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed. She presented the world with a Saviour who was destined to bruise the serpent's head. The most illustrious member of this family was Jesus. We have the following short but interesting account of his early days : " And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and the grace of God was upon him." In his humanity shone the most amazing intellectual powers, and moral excel- lencies. When a child, he showed greater wisdom than Solomon. There was no question put to him by the learned Jewish Doctors, which he could not answer. Though only twelve years of age, wisdom irradiated him with glory. > -: = 't_ z: — '< 't z = z S5 JERUSALEM. LUKE II. 41. Jerusalem was the most remarkable city of Ca- naan. On many accounts it was the most remarkable city that was ever built. The name signifies, the vision of perfect peace. When we consider the temple and its worship, but, above all, Jesus, who appeared in the second temple, and preached upon the streets of Jerusalem, as the Prince of peace, we may see some reason why the name was given to it. This city was also known by the names Jebus, and Salem. It is situated about twenty-five miles westward of Jordan, and forty-two eastward of the Mediterranean Sea. It was built on an eminence, commanding a most en- chanting view, and surrounded by hills on all sides. There is some reason to believe that it was as ancient as Melchizedek, and to have been the capital where that remarkable prince lived and reigned. In the days of Joshua it was one of the most powerful cities of Canaan. This great captain routed and overthrew Adonibezek, its king. The whole city was never com- pletely reduced till the days of David. It was reserved for him, to have the honour of becoming the conquer- ing master of the most famous city upon the face of the earth. David built a new city, on the north-west end of the other, and both were divided by a valley, running from west to cast, between the two hills of Zion on the south, and Acra on the north. D 2 36 Opposite the north-east end of Zion was built the Temple, on Mount Moriah. This city became very mag- nificent in the days of David and Solomon. It had the following gates: — the sheep-gate ; the fish-gate ; the old gate, or gate of Damascus ; the high-gate of Benjamin; the gate of Ephraim ; the valley-gate ; the dung-gate ; the fountain-gate ; the water-gate ; the horse-gate^ and the prison-gate. The walls around Jerusalem were about four miles in extent. On these were built several towers. To these the Psalmist refers, Psalm xlviii., when he says, " Tell the towers thereof." As the temple which stood in Jerusalem was the residence of the symbols of the Divine presence, Jeru- salem became common to all the tribes, who visited it thrice a year, at the solemn feasts. Few cities have ever suflTered such reverses and cala- mities as Jerusalem. Suflfering rose to a height un- paralleled, when, about seventy years after Christ, it was taken by the army of Titus, the Roman general. On the one hand, the citizens fell on each other ; and then the Roman soldiers, infuriated in the highest degree, fell upon the inhabitants. Titus, their general, could not restrain them from committing the most heart- rending and appalling cruelties. At present, Jerusalem is a place of about three miles in circumference, poor, and thinly inhabited. Where the Temple and Holy of Holies stood, there is a Maho- metan mosque. Thus the gold is become dim, and the most fine gold is changed ! iJlESITS IDISFUTING "WITM THIE I])0CT01RS< ZuJce IT. ver. 46- Behold tlie Child , b^- hoav \-.._ . ....... o^iiolit , Wlioin lono'liis Parents liaTC with sori'owia^ sought Aiuidtit t}ic> Sa^os in the Teniplo stand , AruL lipwai'd point them with his teach incj hand. 37 JESUS DISPUTING WITH THE DOCTORS. LUKE II. 46. A. D. 12. There is only one thing told us in Scripture re- specting Christ, from the days of his infancy till the time he was twenty-nine years of age ; — that is, going up with his parents, to attend the passover at Jeru- salem, when he was twelve years of age. It was the custom of Joseph and Mary regularly to visit Jerusa- lem, and attend the sacred feasts. Though the journey was long, and though they themselves were poor, yet, being eminent for piety, they endured hardships, and attended the feasts. They were indeed glad when it was said unto them, " Let us go up into the house of the Lord." When Jesus was twelve years of age, he went with his parents to Jerusalem. Young friends ! seek grace, to teach and enable you to imitate the example of your blessed Saviour in early piety, and in early attachment to God's ordinances in his house. On leaving Jerusalem, the parents of Jesus inad- vertently left him behind. They travelled a day's journey before they missed the holy child. Greatly afflicted, they returned to Jerusalem. They continued their search three days before they found him. Except when Jesus was crucified, these were probably the most sorrowful days they spent in the course of their whole life. They found him at last, after much earnest prayer and careful search. And where did they find 38 him ? " They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." They found Jesus in the temple, in his own house. They should have sought him first in his own house ; but they sought him last, where they should have sought him first. The temple did not honour Christ by having him within its walls, but he honoured the temple. Thus, the second temple was more honoured than the first. His parents found him in the midst of the learned doctors, or teachers of the Jewish laws. They found him, in whom were laid up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, engaged in close and inter- esting conversation with them, who were the wisest and most learned men Jerusalem could furnish. It is said, he heard them, he listened to them ; giving us an example that we should be swift to hear. Without this, we never can attain to the heights of wisdom. — Jesus asked them questions. They were put with gen- tleness and humility, but they showed the greatness of his mind, the strength of his faculties, and the amazing extent of his learning. — He returned answers to them. They put many questions to him, but they put none he Mas not able to answer. He appeared before them as a prodigy of wisdom, of learning, and of grace. Rays of his mediatorial excellence shone forth. Alas ! the minds of these learned doctors were blinded ! They looked not on him as the promised Messiah. - ^ ■J. — 39 JOHN PREACHING IN THE WILDER- NESS. LUKE III. 3. A. D. 26. The inspired Luke informs us, in writing respecting John the Baptist, that " in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Annas and Caiaphas being the High Priests, the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." The preaching of John in the wilderness was a great event. It was the subject of Old Testament prophecy many hundreds of years before he was born. This event was so interesting, that the date of it, or the time it took place, is very particularly recorded. It was during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, (who was the third in regular order, of the Twelve Caesars,) and who was one of the very worst of men. The viceroys who ruled in the Holy Land, under the Roman emperor, are also mentioned, during the time of whose govern- ment John began his public ministry in the wilderness. These were Pontius Pilate, who reigned in Judea ; Herod, who reigned in Galilee ; Philip, who reigned over Iturea and Trachonitis ; and Lysanias, who reigned over Abilene. To make the date more full and com- plete, the names of the chief ecclesiastical rulers of the Jewish church are mentioned, who, at the time of the event were the chief priests of the Jews. They were Annas and Caiaphas. Indeed, they were vile and 40 execrable men, who stirred up Pilate and the Jewish people, to put Jesus to death. Their hoary hairs were stained with blood ! John preached under an high commission. * " The word of the Lord came unto John." How it came, whether by a dream, a vision, an angel, or an audible voice, we know not. But it came with such power, that there could be no doubt whatever of its Divine origin. It came to him in the wilderness. It did not find him in the crowded city ; it found him in the retirement of the wilderness, where he enjoyed undis- turbed fellowship with God. As soon as he received his commission, he entered upon his work ; he began his active and itinerant labours. He did not confine himself to one spot. He came into all the country about Jordan. The first part of the country that Israel possessed, when they entered Canaan, under the direction of Joshua, was the place where John first began to preach the gospel. He left the desert places, and came into the more populous parts, to prepare the way of the Lord. The- great substance of his sermons is mentioned : it was repentance^ and the remission of sins. The people were greatly estranged from God, and he now calls upon them to forsake their sins, and return. He enforced the duty by a promise, that God was ready to forgive. No doubt he informed them that gracious aid was necessary to enable them to perform the duty of repentance ; and tiiat free grace alone was the foun- tain of the blessing of forgiveness. J^ 41 VIEW AT THE RIVER JORDAN, MATT. III. 6. A. D. 27. The spectacle, or sight, which was seen at the river Jordan, was remarkable, impressive, solemn, and ani- mating. A very large assembly of people was col- lected together, from Jerusalem, and Judea, and from the neighbourhood of Jordan, to hear John the Baptist preaching on the banks of that far-famed river. St. Matthew says, " In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins ; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan ; and were baptized of him, confessing their sins." We cannot read these things without feeling con- vinced that the view presented upon the banks of Jordan was most striking and heart-stirring. Nothing like it had been witnessed for ages. It will be proper to enter into some particulars. And may the Holy Spirit assist and bless our contemplations ! The appearance of the preacher is very minutely described. His raiment consisted of camel's hair, with a leathern girdle about his loins. Though the fore- runner of Christ, the King of kings, the brightness of the Father's glory, he did not appear arrayed in costly and shining robes, to attract the attention, and excite 42 {'he wonder of the people. This he would have done, if Christ had been only a temporal prince, as the foolish Jews expected. John was great in the sight of the Lord, but, like his Master, mean in the eyes of the world. As to his diet, he did not live on the luxuries of the world. His chief food consisted of locusts and wild honey. The locusts were clean insects, of con- siderable size, good for food, and easily digested. Wild honey was found in abundance in Judea. Thus John furnished a most remarkable example of temperance and mortification, and very suitable to the doctrine of repentance which he so frequently taught. When John the Baptist began his public ministry, there was an uncommon excitement ; and this excite- ment was from God. The fame of John very soon spread over the country, far and wide. In a few days he was attended by a vast concourse of people. Thus God honoured John. He was humble ; but " he that humbleth hmiself shall be exalted." Many appeared to be affected, and impressed by his ministry. As an evidence that his sermons were blessed, a vast number came to him, confessing their sins. The word reached their consciences, and they acknowledged their repentance by confessing their sins. Such as were considered true penitents were baptized, and in this way were publicly declared to be his disciples. Holy Spirit, baptize us with thy sacred influence ! When Jesus stood bj Jordans side . Thus to his Lord the Servant cried I need to he baptiz'd of Thee , And, Master, coraest thou to me ? 43 THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST. MATT. III. 14. A. D. 30 Our blessed Lord did not enter upon his public mi- nistry till he was baptized of John. This was indeed a very surprising event, — the Messiah baptized by his forerunner, who was appointed to prepare the way of the Lord. The particulars of this baptism of the Saviour are thus recorded : — " Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ? And Jesus answering, said unto him. Suffer it to be so now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water : and lo, the heavens were opened unto him ; and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." For thirty years Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, remained hid, and concealed, as under dark clouds, in Nazareth, a city of Galilee. The time has now come, when this blessed Sun must rise, when Christ's public life and public ministry must begin. Now he must :>our upon a benighted world the blessed rays of his nircy, wisdom, and grace. Before this can take place, t was necessary he should be baptized of John. He 44 knew that John was preaching and baptizing at Jordan, and therefore he goes to John ; and for this purpose went from Galilee to Jordan. Jesus might have sent for John to come to him ; — but see his humility, he goes from Galilee to John ! How infinitely pleased John was to see Jesus ! But his surprise was great in the extreme, when Jesus told him he came to receive baptism at his hand. "John forbade him." He was overwhelmed at the conde- scension of Christ, and considered himself altogether unworthy of the honour of baptizing his Lord. In ex- pressing his surprise, he says, "I have need to be baptized of thee." As if he had said, "I only baptize with water, but thou hast come to baptize with the Holy Ghost, as with fire ; — and that is the baptism which I need at thy hand, and which thou alone art able to bestow." Jesus kindly overruled the objection, by telling John that the baptism was necessary for ful- filling all righteousness. Jesus, in submitting to the ceremonies of Moses, fulfilled the righteousness of that dispensation. By submitting to be baptized of John, he fulfilled the righteousness of his dispensation. Thus he gave his public testimony to the truth and divine origin of the dispensation of John. O what glorious marks of Divine approbation at- tended the baptism of Jesus! The heavens were opened, and poured down a stream of glorious light. The Spirit descended on Jesus, in the form of a dove; and the Father declares him to be his " beloved Son." ^^ 45 CHRIST TEMPTED IN THE WILDER- NESS. MATT. IV. 1 11. A.D. 30. Jesus cannot enter upon his public ministry until he is baptized of John — and, wonderful to tell, until he is tempted of the devil. He received the first, and was baptized of John. He submitted to the second — he was tempted of the devil, and he nobly resisted and conquered the foe. In this temptation we see that the labours and sufferings of Christ began at the same time. No sooner had he left the company of holy John, than he is led by the Spirit into the wilder- ness, to be lempted of the devil. The following is the account of this famous duel, that was fought betwixt Michael and the Dragon, — betwixt the Prince of light, and the prince of darkness, — betwixt the Saviour of souls, and the murderer of souls, — betwixt the King of heaven, and the king of hell : — " Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wil- derness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was after- wards an-hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said. If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the 46 holy cit\', and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saitli unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast th3'self down," Sec. It was necessary that Jesus, the Captain of salvation, should be made perfect through sufferings. Without this, he could not have been a Saviour. On this ac- count he endured the temptations of Satan, and is therefore able both to pity and to succour them who are templed The devil tried him with the following temptations : — First, he tempted him to call in question his sonship or relation to the Father ; he said, " If thou be Son of God." Secondly, he placed before him the tempta- tion of presumption ; namely, to make bread out of stones: "If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Thirdly, he presented before him the temptation of self-murder : " He set- teth him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith to him, Cast thyself down." Fourthly, he presents before him the temptation of worshipping himself, — the devil : he promised him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory, if he would only fall down and worship him. O what daring, what presumptuous iniquity ! It is very surprising that Satan employed parts of passages of Scripture to give his temptations the greater power. Our Saviour resists all his temptations by passages of Scripture. Satan could not stand such powerful artillery. " Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Mark the Riilers strong suiT)nse , While the Lord, in language plain, Tells him, would ho roach the sTdes He rmist needs be born again . i7 CHRIST INSTRUCTING NICODEMUS. JOHN III. 2, &C. A. D. 30. NicoDEMUS, in the Jewish church, was a Pharisee, and a ruler among the people. By the providence of God he was brought under the preaching of our Lord. A serious impression was produ'ced upon his heart. On this account he formed an high opinion of Christ, and became one of his followers. Grace entered his mind ; but it was in so small a degree, that for some considerable time, he was actually ashamed to confess Christ, or publicly to acknowledge that he loved him. However, before he died, both his fears and his shame fled. Yes — even before Pilate, he nobly declared he was not ashamed of that Jesus, who was not ashamed to die upon the cross for him. A short time after Nicodemus was seriously im- pressed with divine things, he came by night, to our Saviour, to receive more information on the great things of God. He had some light, but he wished more. He learned some important lessons, but he longed and thirsted for more information. He knew he could receive what he wanted from none but Jesus, and to Jesus he went. May God the Spirit give us the same desire, and mercifully lead us to the same Divine Teacher ! When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he at once acknowledged he was a teacher sent from God. 48 As a proof of this acknowledgment, he mentioned the miracles M'hich our Saviour wrought. On this occasion, Jesus taught him the following important lesson, — " That unless he was born again, and experienced a converting change, he could not enter the kingdom of God." That is, he could neither enter the church of God on earth, nor be admitted into the kingdom of God in heaven. Important truth ! Young readers, pray earnestly to God the Spirit, that you may feel its great, its solemn importance ! Nicodemus was so ig- norant of the new births and of the Old Testament Scriptures which speak of it, that he imagined our Saviour spake of the body being born again, and not of the change the soul required. Jesus told him it was surprising that a teacher of Israel was so ignorant of these things. Nicodemus felt his ignorance, and there- fore was the better prepared to receive the kind instruction of the Divine Teacher. Jesus further told him, that the new birth was a change of soul, that could only take place by the power of the Holy Ghost. Then he led him on to see, that as ^Nloses lifted up the brazen serpent on a pole in the wilderness, for healing the stung and dying Israelites, so he, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a cross, to die for the salvation of a diseased, wretched, and ruined world. Blessed are they who are taught such lessons ! 49 PETER AND ANDREW CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES. MARK I. 17. A. D. 30. One remarkable event at the commencement of our Saviour's public ministry was the calling of men to be his disciples. The word disciple signifies learner, or scholar. Those men who were called by way of emi- nence disciples, were more than disciples. They were called and appointed to be the teachers of others. They must be scholars or disciples, before they can be, teachers and apostles. Christ's ministry was fully commenced, when John was put into prison. As the forerunner retires, the Lord appears. As John's star sets, the Sun of Righteousness begins to shine. " Now after that John was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea : (for they were fishers.) And Jesus said unto them. Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And straight- way they forsook their nets, and followed him." Jesus could have instructed the world by his own power, without any instruments. He in himself needs no assistance. In his sovereignty and condescension he is pleased to employ men for the instruction of men, and for the salvation of men. And when he began VOL. II. E 50 his ministry on earth, what men did our Saviour choose ? where did he apply for suitable individuals ? Did he go to the Sanhedrim, the learned council of seventy ? No. Did he apply to the learned Jewish Rabbis ? No. Did he apply to those who held the highest offices in the Jewish church ? No. • Did he apply to the schools of philosophers, to obtain the most learned and eloquent among them, for this great and noble cause ? No. Human nature, and human wisdom would have thought it wise, to have obtained men from these sources. Human wisdom would have considered, that the most learned men were the likeliest to be successful in making known, in promoting, and in establishing the christian faith. And what does Jesus do ? He goes at once to the side of the sea of Galilee, and calls a few poor, ragged, ignorant fisher- men. He calls his disciples and apostles from the most mean and illiterate of men. He did so, that no man might glory in man. He does so, that the excellency of the power might appear to be of God, and not of maji. He does so, to confound the pride and ambition of men. No sooner does Jesus call Simon and Andrew, than they obeyed. He said to them. Follow me. The word was accompanied with power, — yes, with almighty power. It reached their hearts. They left all and followed him. They left their boats, and their nets, to become fishers of men. Holy Spirit, make us followers of Christ ! l'H]R2 3T Am? THE WOMA^ OF SAM^kRIA Jc'Tin IV^yer. 7. He who takes ol" moi-fnl Me Earthly water tbii-sts .lo.iii But of Jesii's living store, He wlio fli-iiiks shall thirst i 51 CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. JOHN IV. 7. A. D. 30. Samaria was that part of the Holy Land which was situated betwixt Judea and Galilee. There dwelt originally the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Issachar. According to the predictions of the prophets, the in- habitants of Samaria forming a part of the ten tribes were carried away captive by the king of Assyria. Heathen colonies were transplanted by the conquering king, and put in their place, who married with the poor Jews who were left behind. The Samaritans, therefore, in blood and religion, were mongrel Jews. They worshipped the God of Israel only. They erected to his honour a temple on Mount Gerizzim, in opposition to the temple which was built in Jerusalem. Great enmity existed between them and the Jews, so that the two people had no dealings together. The worst name which could be given to any one, in the estimation of the Jews, was to call him a Samaritan. Hence the Jews said of Jesus, in the enmity of their hearts, " Thou art a Samaritan^ and hast a devil." Our blessed Lord, in his holy career of active benevolence, when on a certain occasion he left Judea, for the purpose of visiting Galilee, found it necessary in his way to go through Samaria. "What made it E 2 52 necessary ? There was a wretched woman, living in a city of Samaria, called Sychar, whom he was de- termined to convert by his grace. She was a harlot. She had lived long in infamy and sin ; and surely no life can be so disgraceful or so miserable. Blessed be God, that the holy Jesus does not overlook the vilest, the most guilty, or the most degraded of sinners ! He came to seek and to save the lost. Our Lord, accompanied by his disciples, came near to a city of Samaria, called Sychar. This city was also called Sychem, and Shechem. It received its name from Shechem, the son of Hamor, who brought disgrace on Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. Near this place Jacob bought a piece of ground. This he left to his son Joseph, who after a very long period of time, was buried in it. Here there was a well, called Jacob's well. Jesus being wearied with his journey, sat down to rest on the side of the well. His disciples went to the city, to buy bread. In the mean time, the woman of Samaria came to the well, to fetch water. " Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink." The woman was surprised that a Jew should have asked drink from one who was a Samaritan. Jesus began to speak to her about the ivater of life. He showed that he was acquainted with all her past and infamous life. He made himself known to her as the Christ. He re- generated her soul. He filled her with his Spirit. He arrayed her in the garments of salvation. Her con- version was followed by the conversion of a great multitude, in the city of Sychar. r31IJRiIST''S SEMMOH OI^ IJTS. DIO^T^T , hl»'ss«'d ni-o the jx.or aiidTiiPek, IM«'ss«m1 tlu»v whi> lnuul>lv seek , Henvenlv gi-ace.tbr tbev slmB see 'mmI tlu-ourfh all Eternitv. -, 53 CHRIST^S SERMON ON THE MOUNT. MATT. V. 2. A. D. 30. One of the first sermons our blessed Lord delivered, is commonly called, The Sermon on the Mount. How great the condescension of the Lord our God I He came from heaven to earth, in the person of the Son, clothed in our nature, and became an instructor and a preacher. He was the Prince of preachers, the great Prophet of the church, the Light of the world. No man ever taught as he taught ; no man ever spake as he spake ; and no man ever preached as he preached. Wonderful preachers went before Christ, such as Enoch, and Noah, and Moses, and Ezra, and Isaiah, and John the Baptist. But Jesus excelled them all. No wonder, for he taught them all. They all spake as they were moved and taught by his Spirit. The place is very particularly mentioned, where Christ taught. It was a mountain. The mountain was not situated near Jerusalem, but in Galilee. The Scribes and Pharisees sat at their ease, in the chair of Moses. See how indifferently our Lord was accommo- dated on earth. Does he wish to sleep ? He has not where to lay his head. Does he wish to preach ? He must go from desert to desert, and from mountain to mountain. Still we have in this an important lesson; namely, that all places under the gospel are equally sacred, and that the tidings of salvation may be 54- proclaimed in every place which is decent and convenient. The sermon which our Saviour delivered on the mount, was intentionally an exposition of the law, which was delivered upon a mountain. It was also proper that the christian law, as well as the law of Moses, should be delivered on a mountain. How amazing the dif- ference ! When the law of Moses was delivered on a mountain, it was accompanied with thunder and light- ning. Now the Christian law is uttered in a still, sweet, gentle voice. When the law of Moses was de- livered, the people were not allowed to come near the mountain. Now the people are congregated upon the mountain, to hear the voice of love and mercy. When the law was given, only Moses was admitted into the presence of the Lawgiver. W^hen the chris- tian law is given, all the people are admitted into the presence of Jesus, who is Immanuel, God with us. In the first case, the people were overwhelmed with fear — in the second, they are allured, — they are drawn with love. The hearers of this remarkable sermon were the disciples of Christ. It was not merely his twelve disciples, but a large number who were very partial to our Saviour's ministry, and who wished to learn wisdom and knowledge from his lips. Holy Spirit, grant that all the youthful readers of these pages may become the disciples of Christ. May they love his holy doctrine, gospel, and laws. May they sit at his feet, and learn of him who is meek, and lowly in heart. Amen ! 55 POOL OF BETHESDA. JOHN V. 2. A. D. 30. Bethesda was a pool on the east of Jerusalem. The name is a Hebrew word, and signifies the house of mercy. This name was probably given to it, because a public bath was erected on the spot, and also because an angel occasionally was sent of God to trouble the waters, and at the same time to communicate to them a healing virtue. Historians inform us, that these remarkable visits only took place a few years before Christ, the great Healer and Physician, appeared in the flesh. Was not this a lively intimation of the approach of One, who would mercifully impart his healing vir- tue to diseased souls } As to the fitting up of the buildings which sur- rounded the pool, we are informed that there were five porches, in which the sick lay. Here we have the charity of men uniting with the mercy of God. Blessed union ! There is no sight ^more pleasing, when visiting great cities, than those buildings which are erected by the hand of christian charity, for the relief of the diseased, the indigent, the orphan, and the afflicted. Great numbers frequented this pool of healing, — this house of mercy. Wherever we go, we find there are numerous afflictions, and many afflicted. How loudly 56 does this proclaim that we are a degenerate race, and that we are living in a sinful world ! Where there is a sinful atmosphere, those who breathe it must be the subjects of many afflictions. Very affecting it must have been, to have Avitnessed the various descriptions of impotent persons, lying in the porches, and waiting for the moving of the waters. There lay and waited the blind, the halt, and the withered. This is an emblem of the spiritual diseases of the souls of men. Happy are they who wait in the porches of gospel ordinances, for Christ's gracious healing visits ! The waters of the pool of Bethesda did not always possess healing virtue. It was o?ily when the angel descended, and troubled the waters. It is onfy when the Spirit of Christ accompanies the ordinances of re- ligion, that they become instrumental in healing dis- eased souls. It was a peculiarity about this pool, that none were healed except the man or woman who entered first into it, after the angel troubled the waters. O what mercy — at all times Christ is willing to dispense the healing virtue of his grace I Our Saviour visited the pool, and saw a very afflict- ed man, who particularly excited his compassion. The man had been afflicted thirty-eight years. He lay a very long time at the side of the pool, but never suc- ceeded in getting first into the waters. His case really seemed hopeless. Our Saviour entered into conversa- tion with him. He said to him, " Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." Instantly he was made whole. Mer- ciful Jesus, heal our diseased souls ! Amen. C JL ]E AW S :i IT & A IL IB F IE R IMoved. witli compassioTi ,oTi the leper's lieacL , The Saviour gently laid his healing hand ; 'I will— be elean"the Man of sorrows said, And straight the sickness fled at his conamand 57 CLEANSING A LEPER. MARK I. 41. A. D. 31. There is unspeakable pleasure to be derived from a careful attention to the miracles of Christ. His mi- racles prove that he was God as well as man ; and they prove he was the real Messiah. Consider the happiness which our blessed Lord's miracles conferred on those who were the objects of his mercy. O what must the man have felt, who was long blind, and who was restored to sight ! What must the man have felt when the devils, who long tormented him, were ex- pelled from his bosom I O what must the leper have felt, when the kind Saviour commanded the foul malady to depart, and made his flesh pure as the flesh and clean as the skin of a child ! St. Mark gives us a very interesting account of a miraculous cure, which our tender-hearted Saviour performed upon the body of a man, who was covered with leprosy. " And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him. If thou wilt, thou canst make me whole. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will, be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." Consider the grievous situation of this poor and af- flicted man. He was a leper. The leprosy among the 58 Jews was the most distressing and disgusting of all bodil}' diseases. It was particularly considered unclean. It made the countenance appear horrible to the view. At the same time, it was very infectious ; so much so, that it infected garments, and even furniture, and the walls of houses. No medicine could cure it ; and it was only healed by a miracle. What rendered this disease still more dreadful, was this : — a leper was obliged to live alone, in a house standing by itself, at a proper distance from other houses. He ^yas not allowed to go into any company. When he walked out, he was obliged to walk by himself, with his head covered. If he saw any one coming near him, the Jewish law compelled him to cry aloud. Unclean, unclean ! that the person approaching might keep at a sufficient distance from him, to be beyond the reach of his infection. When we think of these things, we may form some idea of the greatness of our Saviour's kindness, in performing the miracle upon the afflicted leper, by making him quite whole. O how earnestly the leper cried to Jesus to deliver him from the loathsome disease ! May we be as earnest in crying to Jesus, to deliver us from the disease and leprosy of sin ! O Jesus, wash us in thy blood ! See how readily Jesus answered his prayer. Jesus was moved with compassion, and healed him. Lord Jesus, extend to us thy saving compassion ! Amen. C ^. ZZ r- 12 53 ^ ^ ^ _ ■>. ET* en' ^ - ?^r: -^ ~ - » -. r 59 THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES. LUKE V. 8. A.D. 31. Wherever our Saviour journeyed, he found a pulpit from which to preach. At one time we find him in the wilderness, — at another time, on a moun- tain, — at another time, by the side of Jacob's well, — and then in a fishing-boat, from which he proclaimed salvation and mercy to a large assembly on the sea shore, who met together to learn wisdom from his lips. On the lake of Gennesaret our Saviour entered into a small boat, belonging to Peter, and graciously preached to the multitudes on the shore. When the sermon was finished, he desired Peter to launch out into the deep. The fishing-net was beside them, in the little ship. Jesus told Peter to let down the net for a draught of fishes. Spiritually considered, when ministers proclaim the gospel, they let down the net for a draught of fishes. When this is done at Christ's command, and in the way he requires, we have reason to expect a successful draught. Peter does not refuse to let down the net, but mentions their unsuccessful labours during the pre- ceding night. He said, " We have toiled all night, and have taken nothing." Having had no success when his Saviour was absent, he hopes that now his Saviour is present, the net shall not be let down in vain. Therefore, at Christ's word, he let down he net. When parents, and teachers, and ministers, let 60 down the net of instruction at Christ's blessed com- mand, they may indeed depend upon him for the blessing. Peter let down the net in hope. Let parents, and teachers, and ministers let down the net of gospel instruction in hope, and they will assuredly find that their hope will not make ashamed. Almost as soon as Peter let down the net, a large multitude of fishes was enclosed. So great was the number, that the net sus- tained some injury, — part of it brake. However, the net was not so injured as to lose the fishes. Peter re- quired assistance. He therefore asked his friends to come and assist him. They came, and filled the two ships to such a degree, that they began to sink. Such a miracle could not fail to produce a very deep impression on the minds of those who saw it. They were all astonished. Christ's name is Wonderful, and all his works are works of wonder. This was a work of wonderful power, and of wonderful goodness. Blessed are they who readily, and faithfully, and con- stantly serve Jesus. He is the kindest and the best ol masters. They are blessed in his service, and at the same time Jesus enriches them with gracious rewards. Christ's goodness produced on the mind of Peter the effect of the deepest humility and self-abasement. He said, " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord !" In one moment the great and unexpected goodness of Christ presented before him an aff'ecting view of his sinfulness and guilt. He considered him- self infinitely unworthy of the favour and fellowship of a Saviour so kind and so great. Tv^^ Tver. 1.9 With matchless niprcr. and imeqnaU'd skill ^Vhile Srrihes and Pharisees impatient view, To shew his power, ami all their murmurs still, The Lord of Life gires hoedth. and pardon too. 61 HEALING THE PALSY. LUKE V. 19. A. D. 31. Our Saviour when on earth cured many who were afflicted with the palsy. This is a very distressing disease. A partial palsy is, when a person loses a part of his bodily motion, and a part of his bodily feeling. In many instances there are individuals who lose the power of one half of their bodies ; and there are other in- stances where the body is deprived of all its power, when it resembles a log of wood, or a mass of cumbrous clay. This is a great calamity ! What is very remarkable, many are struck with palsy in a moment of time. The one moment they are comparatively well, and the other they are helpless as a new-born babe. In some, this complaint is soon followed by death, whilst others linger out their lives for several years in abject weakness and sorrow. Individuals in this doleful case were often brought to our Saviour, and laid at his feet. There never was an instance of one brought to him for a cure, whom he did not mercifully relieve: those who were afflicted were not more willing to be cured, than our Saviour was to heal them. St. Luke gives the following account of one brought to Jesus in a very remarkable way, who was raised from weakness to strength, in the presence of a multitude of people, who were filled with such 62 amazement, that they cried out, " We have seen strange things to-day." " And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy ; and they sought means to bring him in, and lay him before him." O that we were as anxious for the salvation of the souls of our graceless relatives, as the friends of this man were for the healing of his body ! The evangelist goes on to say, "And when they could not find by what way they might bring him because of the multitude, they went upon the house top, and let him down through the tiling with his couch, into the midst, before Jesus." They met with great difficulties, but their perseverance overcame them all. They succeeded in laying their afflicted relative at the feet of the merciful Jesus. Holy Spirit, enable us to lay ourselves, and our graceless relatives, at the feet of Jesus. When the poor, helpless man was laid at Jesus's feet, he said two things to him, and performed two miracles on him. He performed a miracle of grace upon his soul, and said, " Thy sins be forgiven thee." He per- formed a miracle of mercy upon his body, and said, " Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house." Immediately he rose up before all the people, he took up the couch on which he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. I-I ~ - :;: c -^ c ■■■-■"" .- 'r ^ o > i o ifi i ^-^^ ^ § i ^S ^ 0* ^ *^ - 63 RAISING THE WIDOW^S SON. LUKE VII. 15. A. D. 31 The miracle which our Saviour wrought, when he raised the widow's son to life, is one which cannot be thought upon, without feelings of deep and intense interest. The miracle was performed in a city called Nam. Some think that this place was near Endor, and about two miles south of mount Tabor. Others say that it was situated near the foot of mount Hermon. What renders this place at all worthy of notice, is this, that here our Saviour performed the far-famed miracle, of raising to life the son of an afflicted widow, when the mourning friends were in the very act of carrying his lifeless body to the grave. Many were present when the miracle took place. It is said, " Many of his disciples and much people went with him." All these had an opportunity of spreading abroad Christ's fame, and of giving their testimony to his great power, and his great mercy. Consider the person on whom the miracle was per- formed. He was a young man, in the very flower of his existence, when death laid upon him his cold hand. O how many young flowers has death cut down ! How true, man comes forth like a floiver and is cut down, O Lord, impress this solemn truth upon the minds of the youthful readers of these pages I This young man 64 was the son of a widow, and the only son of a widow. When her husband died, she hoped that her only son would be spared to be a comfort to her. She fondly- hoped, that in some measure, her son would fill up the place of the departed father. O what was her anguish when the hand of death struck her only son, and in one moment blasted all her earthly hopes I She was much beloved and much pitied ; for when the inter- ment of her son was about to take place, much people of the city accompanied her. As the funeral procession was passing along the streets with great solemnity, Jesus came at the same time into the city, and met the bereaved mother and friends while they were in the act of conveying the lifeless body of the young man to the grave. When he looked upon the widow, when he saw her grief and the tears of sorrow which gushed down her cheeks, he was filled with compassion. He resolved to convert her sorrow into joy, and to change her tears of grief into tears of gladness and of praise. He went forward to the mother and said unto her, " Weep not." The word reached her heart. This is not all ; he touched the bier, namely, that on which the dead body was stretched. Immediately those who carried it stood still. Then our Saviour said to the young man, "Arise !** He instantly arose, and was restored to his mother. Amazing mercy I Amazing power ! * '^ 5 o t*3 ^3 3! pr* 65 PETEKS MOTHER-IN-LAW HEALED. MATT. VIII. 15. A. D. 3L The holy Evangelist, Matthew, employs very few words in giving an account of the merciful miracle the Saviour performed, in the instant cure of Peter's mother-in-law. He says, *' And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her ; and she arose and ministered unto them." In this miracle, our Lord acts up fully to the meaning of his name, Jesus. Jesus is a name of Hebrew origin, and signifies a Saviour. Though he came from heaven to earth more especially to save the souls of men, yet he often performed miracles of compassion upon the body, by healing the most grievous, and tormenting, and dangerous diseases. Oh, how admirably Isaiah described the character of Jesus, nearly seven hundred years before our Saviour's birth ! Isaiah Ixi. 1 — 3. " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted ; to proclaim liberty to the captives ; and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion ; to give unto them beauty for ashes ; the oil of joy for mourning ; and the garment of praise for the VOL. II. F 66 spirit of heaviness." We cannot attentively peruse the miracles of our Lord without seeing a rich and astonishing illustration of that most lovely and ani- mating description which the prophet gave of our Saviour's life, so many centuries before he appeared on earth. It is said, Jesus went into Peter's house. What an honour to have such a visitor ! He is the King of kings; the incarnate Jehovah; the Almighty Re- deemer. Let us value Christ's fellowship, and seek his presence. Happy are they who invite him into their hearts, and into their abodes ! He will accept the invitation. He will make their hearts his temphy and their abodes his Bethel. When Jesus entered the house of Peter, he found his mother-in-law in great affliction, and at the very point of death. She was laid in her bed sick of a fever ! Thus the Saviour found her when he entered the house ; but he knew her afflicted situation before he entered. Indeed, he went on purpose to command the fever to depart. His errand to that house was an errand of mercy. As soon as he went into the house, he advanced to the bed- side of the aged woman, and touched her. Immediately the fever left her. It did not gradually leave her ; and even that would have been an unspeakable mercy ; — but it left her at once. As an evidence the cure was complete, she rose up and ministered unto them. " Lord Jesus, mercifully come and heal the diseases of our souls." — Amen. I 67 THE STORM. MARK IV. 38. A. D. 31. The holy Evangelist gives us an account of a remarkable storm which our Saviour miraculously con- verted into a calm. The narrative furnishes a just, literal, and striking illustration of the following lines of the celebrated and much afflicted Cowper ; — " God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform ; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break With blessings on your head." After a day of great activity, labour, and fatigue, Jesus said unto his disciples, " Let us pass over unto the other side ;" that is, on the other side of a lake formed by the widening of the river Jordan, and com- monly called the sea of Galilee, because Galilee was situated along its shores. Jesus went constantly about doing good. He had work to do on one side of the lake, and he did it : and he had work to do on the other side of the lake, and therefore says to his disci- ples, " Let us pass over unto the other side." Agree- ably to our Saviour's desire, they took him into a little ship. "And there arose a great storm of wind, and f2 68 the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow." Though this vessel is called a ship, it was only a small fishing boat, and open, without a deck. For this reason, when the waves rose high, and became tempestuous, they broke over the little boat, and all the disciples could do, they were unable to prevent it from being rapidly filled with water. It continued filling and filling, till at last it began to sink. To human appearance, they were all, certainly, on the very brink of perishing. There was One on board who was able to save them ; but he was fast asleep. The tem- pest raged ; yet the raging tempest did not awake the Saviour from his slumbers. The waves dashed upon the little boat with awful violence ; and still the Saviour slept as sweetly, and soundly, in the hinder part of the ship, as the babe sleeps in its cradle under the affec- tionate care of a kind and tender-hearted mother. The disciples, surprised that their Lord should remain asleep in the midst of so dangerous a storm, and con- vinced that there was no time to delay, awoke him, and said, " Master, carest thou not that we perish ? " He heard their prayer : indeed, he waited for their application. He awoke, and arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, " Peace, be still." O what majesty ! O what power ! The mighty Creator, clothed with human flesh, and addressing, and com- manding, and controlling the elements his own hand had formed ! " And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." CffljRiST stii,t.ktj:i the sToioa, Mali . F/n, yen i'd. The tempest is hush'd at ttc Savioui-'s voice , And the Seamen astonish'd with feai- rejoice; What nianiiei' of Mail is this r"- thev say , "Who eoTTimands , and the wind and the sea o We v"! CHRIST STILLETH THE STORM. MATT. VIII. 26. A. D. 31. Both Matthew and Mark give an account of the same storm, and of the miracle Jesus performed in changing the storm into a calm. Now, we are more particularly to consider the stilling of the storm by the word of Christ's power. First observe, that the disciples earnestly prayed to Christ to save them from the great danger to which they were exposed. They knew he could save them, and he was near to them. Their prayer was short : " Lord, save us, we perish ! " As if they had said, ' None can save us, O Jesus, but thyself; and if thy kind and powerful hand be not stretched out for our help, we must be lost, yea, irrecoverably lost : " Lord, save us, we perish." ' Young readers ! if you are not converted by redeem- ing grace, you are in danger of perishing in the sea of divine wrath. Christ alone can save you from perish- ing. Have you asked him to save you ? If you have not yet, will you ask him ? Seek and im- plore the Spirit to enable you to ask him. O ask him now ; delay not. Say to him with earnestness of heart, " Lord, save us, we perish!" Before Christ answered the prayer of the disciples, he kindly and seasonably reproved them. They needed reproof, and he mercifully administered it. " And he 70 said unto thera, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith ! " Their fear was in a great measure slavish. It reached to downright terror, and very nearly approached to despair. Their excessive fear was sin- ful, because their Saviour was near, and both able and willing to deliver thera out of all their troubles. As soon as our Saviour had finished his seasonable reproof, he commanded the storm to cease. He spake to the winds, and he commanded the waves. He spake to them as if they knew his voice, and he commanded them as his willing and obedient servants. " He rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm." His word was a word of power, and of Almighty power. The winds could not withstand his word, and the tempestuous waves could not resist his authority. " There was a great calm." It was not an ordinary calm ; it was a great calm ; it took place suddenly. As soon as the mighty Jesus uttered his command, the sea and the winds obeyed ; it was there- fore a great calm. And it was a universal calm, ex- tending over the whole lake. Of course, the disciples were much astonished. They gave utterance to their astonishment in the fol- lowing words : — " But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him ? " And so they might be astonished, both at the power and the mercy of Jesus. May we be made the objects of his mercy, and we shall be astonished for ever ! TOFCHE^G THIE MEM OF CHTdST^S GA303:e:5To MarJc V^ ver J?8 . Humble faith ^voD fi^oiu its Lord Kvi o'ain a high rewai^d So she foiiud ^N-^ho long eiidur'd Toach'd his ^ainueut - and was !iir'd ! 71 TOUCHING THE HEM OF CHRISrS GARMENT. MARK V. 28. A. D. 31. Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, earnestly entreated our Saviour to heal his beloved daughter, who was at the point of death. Jesus went with him, followed by a great multitude of people. On his way to the house of Jairus, he performed a very merciful and remarkable miracle on a poor woman who had been long and greatly afflicted. May God the Spirit bless our consideration of the various parti- culars connected with this interesting miracle ! Her disease is mentioned — an issue of blood. That is, a flowing of blood. It is not unlikely it was a cancer^ accompanied with a flowing of blood ; if so, it was one of the worst of diseases. This complaint of the poor woman was the more grievous, because the blood, the very vital fluid, the great agent which supports life, was gradually wasting away. The complaint had been of long standing, — twelve years I At the beginning it must have been very gra- dual in its progress. But as the complaint continued so long, the hopes of her recovery diminished. As the complaint grcM' stronger, the hopes of recovery became weaker. So it is with the disease of sin ; the longer it continues, the less hope of recovery. O ye young, apply to Christ the physician now. Now is the day of salvation. This afflicted woman did all she could to obtain a cure. She applied to earthly physicians. She fondly 72 hoped they would be the means of her recovery from a loathsome and wasting disease. These men had tried many experiments upon her, and had occasioned her great suffering. Indee*d, she was so persevering and earnest in her attendance and applications, that she spent upon them all her substance. In seeking to be delivered from the affliction of disease, she brought upon herself the affliction of poverty. At last she spent her all, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. As it respected human aid and human skill, her hopes were blasted. She had now nothing before her but to drag out a little longer a very miser- able existence, and then sink into the grave I In this sad situation, she heard of Jesus. A beam of hope began to shine upon her afflicted soul. She heard that Jesus was near. Providentially, Jesus passed the very place where she was. She cried, no doubt, to God for help, and resolved to make a strong, and likely a last effort for the recovery of her long lost health. She came in the press behind Jesus, and touched the hern of his garment. She believed that if she might only touch but his clothes, she should be made whole. She touched him. O what a touch ! It was the touch of hope, — it was the touch of faith. Jesus gave her the faith, Jesus inclined her, Jesus enabled her to touch. Was she healed ? Yes. The very moment she touched the hem of the garment, virtue flowed from Jesus into her wound, and she was instantly healed. " O Jesus, heal our diseased souls !" — Amen. I'BF. 3ir£lAJj) OTP- eJOHOT ITBJK J13A1PTTST BK^Qr^UT J/ar/l- V/, yer 28 The victim of a Woman's linto . At a I'Gleiitmg Tvraiifs U-ouili, While oi-ueJ o«,,ax>ds ai^ound him wait. The Baptist bows his head to deaUi 73 THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST BROUGHT IN A CHARGER. MARK VI. 28. A.D. 32. John the Baptist, one of the greatest, and best, and most honoured of men, was cruelly put to death ! His murder was one of the basest and most atrocious that was ever committed, even by the vilest of men. During the time John preached as the forerunner of Jesus, Herod was tetrarch, or king of Galilee, under the Roman imperial government. This is not the same Herod who reigned at the time of our Saviour's birth. He died when the infant Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, abode in Egypt. But this was the same Herod who reigned when our Saviour died on Calvary's cross, — the same Herod before whom our Lord appeared when this monster of iniquity commanded him to be arrayed in a gorgeous robe of mock royalty, and to be set at nought. Such was the fame of John the Baptist throughout the whole land, that Herod was influenced by curiosity, and felt a great desire to listen to his remarkable elo- quence. He gratified his wish. He went and heard him. The sermons produced a considerable effect upon his mind, though long hardened in sin. So much was he impressed, that he feared, that is venerated and respected, John. He felt convinced that he was a just and an holy man. He observed him, and paid particular attention to him, as a teacher sent of God, and appointed by Heaven, Some change appeared in the out- ward conduct of the king, and hopes were entertained of 74 his conversion, for he actually " did many things" under the awakening influence of John's preaching, and heard him gladly. The murder of John was a sad evidence that no work of grace had commenced, and that all his impressions were like the morning cloud and the early dew, which soon passed away. In one of his sermons, John told Herod to his face, that he was living in incest and adultery, because he had married his brother Philip's wife, in opposition to the laws of God and man. Both Herod, and Herodias, Philip's wife, were filled with indignation. They could not bear to be opposed, or even disturbed in the en- joyment of the unlawful pleasures of their adulterous intercourse. Herod cast John into prison, determined to be no longer exposed by the faithful preaching of that faithful messenger. Herodias wished to proceed to greater lengths. She resolved, if possible, to put John to death. Vile adultress ! However, a fatal day arrived, when she fulfilled her purpose, and gratified her revenge. During a great festival in honour of Herod's birth-day, the daughter of Herodias came in and danced and pleased the king. Foolish, wicked man ! he made an oath, and said, that whatever she would ask he would give it her, even unto the half of the kingdom. Instructed by her mother, she demanded the head of John the Baptist, and that it should be placed before her in a charger. The king was sorry, yet for the sake of his oath he gave orders. John was beheaded in prison, and his head brought in a charger, and presented to the damsel and her mother. * =•■ r- — '2 V. r - 75 BURIAL OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. MARK VI. 29. A.D. 32. The Evangelist St. Mark gives the following account of the burial of John the Baptist : " And when his disciples heard of it," that is, of his cruel murder in the prison, " they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb." St. Matthew says, (ch. xiv. 12,) " And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus." John's disciples were warmly attached to him, as their wise, and holy, and affectionate instructor. They greatly enjoyed his fellowship, greatly admired his graces, and held his faithful sermons in the highest estimation. We are unable to conceive the pungency of their grief, when he was barbarously cast into prison at the instigation of a vile adultress. It is likely, however, that they had the pleasure of visiting him in his confinement, and of uniting with him in those devotional services, which were preparatory to the glory and felicity of heaven. Probably they enjoyed, even in the gloomy prison, the sweet and delicious foretastes of the joys of the celestial paradise. Young friends ! believe it, the dungeons of martyrs have often been the very antechambers of the palace of the heavenly city. Herodias could not rest satisfied while John was alive. She succeeded in accomplishing his murder. Indeed, the chief guilt of the murder of that great saint and messenger of God, lighted on her head. 76 Soon the tidings of his cruel death spread abroad, and could not long be confined within the limits of the prison, or within the walls of the palace. Soon, the news of the tragical murder of one of the best of men, reached the ears of his disciples. While he lived, they cherished some hope that he might be set at liberty. They fondly expected, and earnestly prayed, that their beloved master might still preach the doctrines of repentance, and both astonish and edify attentive multitudes with his fervent, solemn, and matchless eloquence. How rapidly these affectionate wishes were buried in the dust ! They went to the prison, and saw the affecting, the heart-rending sight ! They saw his mutilated body, — his lifeless corpse ! They now found, that the short career of the forerunner of the Messiah was come to a close. The sun of the messenger who prepared the way of the Lord is now set, and the Sun of righteousness is now rising. How affecting, that the ministry of both was not only closed in death, but by murder ! The disciples took up the body, and committed it to the tomb. They did not put his corpse into the hands of mercenary unfeeling hirelings. They undertook the office themselves, with mourning and loving hearts ! They laid a body in the grave embalmed with the love of Christ, — a body which will awake in the morning of the resurrection, clothed with immortal glory. After the interment, they went and told Jesus, who was ready to pour into their wounded hearts the balm of heavenly grace. 77 JESUS MIRACULOUSLY FEEDING THE MULTITUDE. MARK VI. 41. A.D. 32. We cannot too often observe and admire the mercy which shone in the miracles of Christ. They sprang from the purest benevolence, and conferred happiness on multitudes. Though that happiness was great, it was far exceeded by the enjoyment and delight our Saviour experienced in bestowing such comfort on others. That saying was really verified in our Lord, and in all the miracles he performed — " It is more blessed to give than to receive." After the burial of John the Baptist, Jesus went into a desert place, with his disciples. They went privately by a small ship. However, the people heard of the direction he took, and they went after him in great multitudes, out of all the neighbouring cities. They followed him to a desert. Blessed desert, where Christ is ! His presence can change a dungeon into a palace, the whale's belly into a temple, a desert into a paradise, and the valley and shadow of death into the portico of heaven. When the Saviour looked upon the vast multitude, he was filled with compassion. He had compassion on their souls, because they were as sheep having no shepherd. Alas ! there was no one in the Jewish church who cared for their souls. He therefore taught them many things. He preached affectionately, and plainly, and for a considerable length of time. We hope many heard to the salvation of their souls. " Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound !" May it be our blessedness to know it, to believe it, to enjoy it, and to live under its influence ! Our Saviour felt compassion for the bodies, as well as for the souls of the assembled multitude. At the close of the day, the disciples requested him to disperse the people, and to go to the various villages to buy bread. Great was their surprise, when he told them to give the people bread to eat. The disciples were poor themselves : how then could they be expected to provide bread for five thousand men, and for nearly as many women and children, amounting in the whole to at least ten thousand persons ? Jesus asked how many loaves they had. They said, Five, and two fishes. These were not sufficient to feed them ; but they shall be fed. Jesus, the Bread of life, will feed them, and furnish a splendid display of his power and of his mercy. He made the people sit down in companies, by fifties and by hundreds, upon the grass. He looked up to heaven, and blessed the loaves and the fishes. The loaves and fishes were distributed among the people. They did all eat, and they were all filled. As the loaves of bread passed along the ranks, they did not diminish. They increased as they proceeded. At the conclusion of this miraculous feast, the frag- ments were more abundant than the bread and fishes at the beginning. I THE BLOTB ME3' KBCEITI^^'G TESJJl SIGHT They alone will Christ deride "^Mio have sight by nature dim . Ihc-v whose Eyes" He opens ^v-ide \S'ill be sure to fbllo^v Him .' 79 THE BLIND MEN RECEIVING THEIR SIGHT. MATT. XX. 34. A.D. 33. We are now to consider a very notable miracle, namely, Jesus conferring sight upon two blind men. The place and time are mentioned, where, and when the miracle was performed. It was in the vicinity of Jericho. That city was once demolished in the days of Joshua. There was a curse pronounced upon it, if it should ever be rebuilt again. But even in the neighbourhood of this city, the merciful Saviour pei- formed a most notable miracle of kindness, in opening the eyes of two blind men, sitting by the way-side. The whole world, and the whole race of men, were under a curse ; but Jesus came to remove the curse — O wonderful love ! — by becoming a curse for us ! The miracle was performed in the presence of a great multitude of witnesses. It was not only for the benefit of the men on whom it was performed, but for the profit and advantage of the witnesses, that tliev might have a glorious proof that Jesus was the Christy and the Saviour of men. The prayer of the blind men is truly striking. They prayed together. Their case was similar, and their opportunity was similar, and their prayer was similar. Solitary prayer is a great blessing, and social prayer is a great blessing. When two or three are present together in Christ's name, most assuredly he will be in so the midst of them, to bless them. He has given his promise it- ?r/// be the case, and his gracious promise must be fultilled. The matter and manner of the blind men's prayer are truly interesting : " Have mercy upon us, O Lord, thou Son of David." In this prayer we have an ex- pression of adoration and reverence. They addressed Jesus as Lord, and as the Messiah. This is intimated by the name and title, " Thou Son of David." This name, among the Jews, was the same as Messiah. Observe the importunity and earnestness with which they prayed. They felt their wretched case, and that if they allowed the present opportunity to pass away, another opportunity of having their eyes opened might never return. Holy Spirit, teach us, like these blind men, to be importunate in prayer ! Tliese men were interrupted in their prayer. The multitude rebuked them, and called upon them to be silent. This only added to their earnestness : " They cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David." The merciful Jesus heard and answered their prayer. He taught them to pray, and he answered the prayer he taught them. " He said to them. What will ye that I shall do unto you ? They say unto him. Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes : and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." Lord Jesus, mercifully open the eyes of our souls ! THE TlRAIfSlFIf&n^ATI©::^ .Wtik'd froiii sift-p l>v ^^i(ji-.v's tlazzliu^ ravs riii' lovVl Disi'ipli^s oil tlicir Mnst<^T gfize ; "ii'l < TV, <'ntrauc'd vviihjo.v aiul liolv fi^ai-, . ••■'.()(| {V)T IIS !() Ix' ioi- t'vcr lu'i-*' ! 81 THE TRANSFIGURATION. LUKE IX. 29. A. D. 32. The transfiguration of Christ is one of the most re- markable events of our Saviour's life here below. He came to our world to be humbled and degraded, in a way and form in which no other individual was ever humbled, before or since. As he came for such a purpose, it is natural for us to inquire. For what end was our Saviour transfigured upon the mountain in the presence of his disciples ? For what purpose did he exhibit such bright displays of divine and media- torial glory, more suited to a state of exaltation than to a state of humiliation and suffering ? To these questions the following answers may be given. He was transfigured to give his disciples a specimen of that glory in which he would appear at the last day, and as the judge of assembled worlds. He did so, that his disciples might be encouraged both to serve him and to suffer for him. He did so, that they might form some idea of that glory they should be- hold, and enjoy, through the endless ages of eternity. Peter, John, and James were called and privi- leged to be the witnesses of this extraordinary event. They also were present with him on a very different occasion, namely, in the garden of Gethsemane, when the Saviour's sweat was great drops of blood falling to the ground. In the one case the disciples had a VOL. II. G 82 specimen of the glories of heaven, and in the other of the agonies of hell I Jesus went up to a mountain with these three dis- ciples to pray. It was while humbling himself in prayer, he was so greatly honoured and exalted by his Father. Prayer is a privilege of the very highest and most honourable description. It is a transforming ordinance. In prayer and fellowship with God, be- lievers see, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, and are changed into the same image. While our Saviour prayed, the fashion of his counte- nance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. The face of Moses shone when he came down from the mountain ; but the face of Jesus shone with far greater glory w^hen transfigured on the moun- tain. The body and the raiment of our Lord were like a transparency, and the beams of his divinity shone through them with brightness exceeding that of the lightning. Thus, his transfiguration was in reality the divinity shining through the humanity. Moses and Elias came from heaven on purpose to attend our Lord on this most animating occasion. They brought with them their celestial robes. " There talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias : who appeared in glory, and spake of his de- cease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem." We cannot conceive the glory of the saints in heaven. So glorious are they, that they are called " glorified saints." Holy Spirit, prepare us to appear with Christ in glory ! Amen. J-:, r = ;1j — -^ J. jc. - < - 83 CHRIST APPOINTING OTHER SEVENTY DISCIPLES. LUKE X. 1. A.D. 32. Twelve disciples were not a sufficient number to proclaim the glorious gospel throughout Judea and Galilee. Our Saviour, therefore, in his wisdom, added seventy more, making in the whole eighty-two. How small this number, compared with those who are now employed as ministers of truth in various parts of the earth ! Still we have reason to say, and lament while we say it, '* The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers into his harvest." We want whole armies of ministers, to go up and encompass the land. Jesus gave to the seventy disciples an ample com- mission to preach the gospel, and to confirm it by miracles. He gave them full instruction how they were to conduct themselves in a work so new, so im- portant, and so difficult. As' a kind and gracious Master, he gives them a variety of encouragements to animate and cheer them in their blessed employment. The number was seventy. In the choice of the twelve apostles, our Lord had a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel ; so in the appointment of the seventy additional disciples, he had a respect to the seventy elders of Israel. The increase of labourers showed that there was an increase in the hearers of the gospel and in the followers of Christ. Let each one of us pray, that during our lives there may be a rapid g2 84 and abundant increase of the friends and followers of Christ. Observe the manner in which our Saviour sent them. He sent them two and two. He did so that they might strengthen and encourage one another. If one should fall, the other was near and ready to raise him up. He did not send them to all the cities of Israel, but to every place and city where he himself would come. Thus, they were to go before him as harbingers, to tell the people that Jesus would appear among them, and to prepare them for his kind and gracious visit. Blessed Jesus, prepare our hearts to receive thee ! The work which our -Saviour required of them was two-fold. They were to heal the sick, and to perform in his name miracles of mercy. This would prepare the minds of the people to receive Jesus, and fill them with longing desires to see Jesus. When they saw such miracles performed by his very name, what must they think of the person of him by whose name such wonders were accomplished ? In addition to the per- formance of miracles, our Lord required the seventy to preach to the people that the kingdom of God was come nigh them. By this kingdom, we are to under- stand the dispensation of mercy and salvation. Let us rejoice that this kingdom is actually come, that the gospel of this kingdom is proclaimed in our land. Young readers, may God the Spirit introduce you into the kingdom of grace, and at death into the kingdom of glory ! 85 THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY. JOHN VIII. 4. A. D. 32. The Scribes and Pharisees were the inveterate and constant enemies of Christ. They often interrupted him in his ministry, and they frequently laid snares for him, to entangle him in his speech. O what folly — what wickedness ! How could human craft and cun- ning ever succeed in the ensnaring of Him in whom dwelt all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ? Impossible ! They laid a snare for him in bringing before him a woman taken in adultery, which snare he easily and admirably escaped. They placed the guilty woman before Christ, as a prisoner is placed at the bar before the judge. They pretend to confer great honour upon him ; they call him Master. This name might be taken to intimate an high opinion of Christ's knowledge and wisdom. However worthy of the name, while the language of respect was upon the lips of these men, malignity against Christ reigned in their hearts. The crime with which the woman was charged was that of adultery. By the Jewish law, those who were guilty of this sin were put to death. And while the Jews were under the Roman government, they were allowed, in this and in many other cases, to put in force their own criminal laws. 86 The Jews declared that the guilt of the woman was so evident, that no doubt remained respecting the fact. Besides, the woman herself made no attempt either to deny the sin, or plead any excuse for its commission. The Jews mentioned the law of Moses respecting this sin, that they who w^ere guilty of it should be put to death, Lev. xx. 10. God, as a divine Sovereign, had an undoubted right to appoint this punishment, in the peculiar circumstances in which the Jewish nation was placed. It also proclaimed God's great abhorrence of a sin which has brought such complicated misery on thousands of the human race. Young readers, pray for grace, that you may be preserved from vain companions, who easily lead astray into the paths of unhallowed pleasure and all manner of uncleanness. The Jews sought Christ's opinion in this case, hoping, that whatever opinion he would give, they should succeed in entangling him. Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground, as apparently uncon- cerned about what they said. Still they continued pressing him for his opinion. At last he did answer them, and with one sentence addressed to their con- science, resembling a thunderbolt, filled them with confusion and shame. He said, *' He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Con- vinced that they were as guilty as the woman, they went out one by one, until Jesus was left alone. She stood before him an humble penitent, — in the presence of that Saviour, who we trust washed all her guilt away. Jesus said unto her, " Go, and sin no more." 89 THE GOOD SAMARITAN. LUKE X. 30—36. A. D. 32. Our Saviour, in the parable of the Good Samari- tan^ shows who is our neighbour, in opposition to the false doctrine which was taught by the Jewish teachers. They taught that none were their neighbours but the Jews. They would not put an Israelite to death for killing a Gentile, because, they said, he is not our neighbour. In this parable we have an account of a poor Jew, in great distress, succoured and relieved, not by those of his own country and people, but by a Samaritan, one hated and despised by the Jewish nation. The poor Jew found none of his own people to look upon him as a neighbour, or to act toward him a neighbour s part. But a despised Samaritan found him in his great affliction, treated him as a neighbour, and nobly acted a humane and generous neighbour's part. The situation of the poor Jew is described as really deplorable. Following his usual calling and business, he was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among thieves. ^^They robbed him of all he had upon his person. Not satisfied with robbing him of his property, they attempted to deprive him of his life. How often do we find robbery and murder connected ! Many who commit robbery, also commit murder, to conceal it. The thieves stripped the Jew of his 90 raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. In this sad situation he was left to perish, on the side of the highway. The Saviour mentions the cold, unfeeling, barbarous treatment this afflicted Jew received from those who travelled along the road, and who saw him in his wretchedness. Two men came to him, namely, a priest and a Levite. These men filled sacred offices connected with the worship, the law, and the service of God. Surely, when they see the poor wounded Jew, we can expect nothing less than this — that they will show mercy and compassion to one of their own nation, and of their own church. And do they show this compassion ? Do they look upon him as a neighbour, do they act a neighbour's part ? Alas, they do the very reverse. When the priest saw him, he passed by on the other side. As for the Levite, he was as hardened and base. He came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. How different the conduct of the Samaritan, who belonged to another nation, and to a nation which the Jews held in the greatest abhorrence I The moment he saw him, his heart was moved with compassion. He lifted him up from the ground. He washed his bleeding wounds. He poured in oil and wine. He took him to a neighbouring inn, and made every provision for his comfort and recovery. He treated the poor Jew as his neighbour, and he acted towards him a neighbour's part. So Jesus acts to the afflicted, penitent, humble sinner. 91 JESUS WALKETH ON THE SEA. MATT. XIV. 26. A. D. 32. In our meditations on the miracle of Christ walking upon the waves of the sea, we shall see a striking illustration of these lines : — " God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform ; He plants his footsteps in the sea. And rides upon the storm." At the close of the day, when our Saviour had fed nearly ten thousand persons on five loaves and two fishes, he constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while he sent the multitude of people away, to go to their respective homes. The disciples were unwilling to go without their Master. This testi- fied their love to him, and their confidence in him. Though it was painful for them to depart alone, yet as their Lord required it, they obeyed. After the disciples had left, and the multitudes were sent away, Jesus went into a mountain to pray. And when the evening was come, he was there alone, en- joying fellowship with his Father. O what delightful fellowship — the fellowship of the Father and the Son ! While Jesus was pouring out his soul in prayer into the bosom of his Father, the little ship which contained the disciples was tossed with waves in the midst of the sea. Long before midnight the disciples expected to 92 have arrived in safety at the opposite shore. But the wind was contrary. It was not only contrary, but violent. They were unable, with their oars, to make any progress by rowing. So violent was the wind, and so boisterous the waves, that they were placed in the greatest peril, and were really in danger of perish- ing. On a similar occasion before, Christ was with them in the ship. They cried to him for help, and he saved them. He showed his Almighty power, by changing the storm into a calm. But now, in this frightful tempest, Jesus was not with them in the ship. If they were not actually in despair, they were upon the very brink. They feared they should no more see their peaceful homes, that they should no more see their blessed Master. While their minds were surrounded with such gloomy clouds of fear, and while the rolling billows seemed to threaten them with immediate destruction, a circum- stance occurred, which raised their terror and dismay to the greatest height. They saw what they considered a spirit, in the form of a man, walking upon the waves of the sea. They thought it was some demon of the deep, sent to bury them in the waves. They cried out for fear. It was the agonizing shriek of despair ! O how their hearts were cheered when they heard the voice of Jesus ! But straightway Jesus spake unto them, and said, ** Be of ffood cheer ; it is I, be not afraid." IPIETlSiR SIIfKIK'G-, .Ifn./t . A'/F, ver. 31 . When siiiKuiv^ i'cif'i- (jK-d With dread His Lord his hand stretrli'd oiil ; And "Thon of httle laith',' lie said "(^h Avhoivioro dii ^Tohn 7,T, ver. 7 . "Wliv ha tl Siloa Ill's pool sue li virtues rare , To eiire th<^ Wind berond the Leeeh's skill Bofaiise tlie Savicnir sent the Sid'tei'er thei-^ And t»ave it pow'x- to execnte his will . 101 THE POOL OF SILOAM. JOHN IX. 7. A.D. 32. The pool of Siloam is rendered remarkable in sacred history, by the cure of the blind man, who, at the command of Jesus, washed his eyes in its waters, aiid was instantly blessed with sight. Our Saviour having answered a question of his disciples respecting the man who was born blind, proceeded at once to perform the miracle. " He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which is by interpretation, Sent. He Avent his way, therefore, and washed, and came seeing." As to this remarkable pool, its name signifies sent. There is a close correspondence betwixt the name of the pool, and our Saviour sending the poor blind man on such an important errand, as to go and wash in its waters, that he might receive the unspeakable blessing of having his blindness exchanged for sight. This should remind us, that Jesus is the Sent of the Father. He is the Messenger of the covenant. Mai. iii. 1 : " The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in : behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts." As Jesus sent the blind man to the pool of Siloam to wash, and receive his sight, so, as a 102 prophet, he sends us to himself as a priest, and says, Go, wash in the fountain of my blood, my righteousness, my spirit ; a fountain opened, not a pool shut up, a flowing, an ever-flowing fountain, whence the waters of salvation copiously flow. Siloara is said to have been the same as the Gihon, and to have had its spring on the west of Jerusalem. It is said to have had two pools ; the pool of Siloam, near the south-east of the temple, and the pool of Shelah, or Siloah, somewhere to the westward. It was supplied with water from ^Nlount Zion, on account of which they M'ere called the Waters of the Sanctuarj^ These waters are most beautifully alluded to in Psalm xlvi. 4, as figurative of the waters of salvation, the mighty and everlasting river of goodness, which flows from Christ the divine fountain. " There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High." Very likely the prophet Ezekiel alluded to these waters of Siloam, in the following description, chap, xlvii. 9. "And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, %yhithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live : for they shall be healed : and every thing shall live whither the river cometh." The waters of Siloam are taken to signify the throne and house of David, evidently pointing to the kingdom of the ^Messiah. Isa. viii. 6, "This people refuseth the Maters of Shiloah, that go softly." O Lord, how long shall the Jews refuse these waters of salvation — Christ and his salvation ! 3: ^ t: _— ^ i ^ 103 THE GOOD SHEPHERD. JOHN X. 14. A. D. 32. ' Our Lord Jesus Christ is frequently called Shepherd in the Holy Scriptures. He is called God's Shepherd. Zech. xiii. 7 : "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow." He is called God's Shepherd, because his Father committed the church, as a flock, to his pastoral and mediatorial care ; because he appointed him to die for their salvation, and ever afterwards to feed them ; first, in the pastures of grace on earth, and afterwards in the pastures of glory in heaven. Jesus is called the One Shepherd, Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3 : " And I will set up ojie shepherd over them and he shall feed them, even my servant David," (that is, Christ :) " he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd." He is called the One Shep- herd, because he alone owns the sheep, and he alone answers and supplies their wants. Jesus is called the Great and C/^'e/" Shepherd, Heb. xiii. 20 : " Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep." 1 Pet. v. 4, " And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away." He is called great and chief, because he is infinitely great in himself; he is highly exalted as our Mediator ; he has the supreme manage- ment of the church in his hand ; and ministers and magistrates are but subject to him. By way of eminence, our Lord is called the G'jod Shepherd, John x. 11 : " I am the good Shepherd : the 104 good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Ver. 14-, " I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." Jesus is infinitely worthy of being called the Good Shepherd, principally on two accounts : first, his affec- tionate knowledge of his iiock ; and secondly, because he laid down his life for his sheep. He is the Good Shepherd, because of his affectionate knowledge of his flock : He knows his sheep. With a distinguishing eye he knows, he discerns, who are his sheep, and who are not. No appearances can deceive him. He knows them and loves them. His regard for them is most tender and compassionate : "He gathers the lambs with his arms, and carries them in his bosom." He knows them and directs them : " He leadeth Joseph like a flock." He guides them with his eye. O blessed Guide ! Let each young person pray, *'0 Jesus, be thou my guide !" " Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land, I am weak, but thou art mighty. Hold me -n-ith thy powerful hand." Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the best of all shepherds, for he " laid down his life for the sheep." " I lay down my life for the sheep." It is a great mark of love for one man to venture\i\'s> life for another. Jesus did more than venture, or endanger his life : he actually died, he laid it down. It was not taken from him by violence. He did it willingly, that his lost sheep might be redeemed, and at last collected in the glorious fold of heaven. lE.srs BLESS irfG iiTTiJi; Jl«^Wi- The ,w r. w vv ,, ; . ,,; ii Willi /-oal mind is oft employ 'd . The erring works of sinful Mavi Will soon Ix? all destroy'd . 201 PAUL AT EPHESUS. ACTS XIX. 19. A.D. 54. Ephesus was, in ancient days, one of the most fa- mous cities of Lesser Asia. It is said to have been built by Ephesus, an Amazon lady ; and is thought to have been as ancient as the days of David. It was situated upon the river Cayster, about twenty-three miles north of Miletus, and sixty-three west of Lao- dicea. Among the heathen, it was chiefly famed for a magnificent temple of Diana. It is said to have been 425 feet in length, 220 in breadth; its roof, being 70 feet high, was supported by 127 pillars of great beauty. It was more than 200 years in finishing. Seven times it was set on fire. At one time, Ephesus was wholly destroyed by an earthquake. In the year 19 it was rebuilt. Now it is only a ruinous village, consisting of forty or fifty houses, and an old castle. Originally, the inhabitants of this city were noted for sorcery, divination, astrology, and idolatry. Diana was the false deity they held in greatest admiration. When Paul first visited Ephesus, he only continued a few days. Some months after, he returned, re- mained three years, and preached with great success. Here some Jewish impostors pretended to have the power of casting out devils, and called upon them in the name of Jesus, whom Paul served, to leave those 202 persons in whom they dwelt. In one instance, an evil spirit, acting by means of the body in which it dwelt, said, " Jesus I know, and Paul I know ; but who are ye?" The man possessed of the devil leaped upon them, and wounded them. Paul's preaching, in connexion with this alarming event, was blessed in greatly impressing the minds of many of the Ephesians. Great numbers of those who dealt in sorcery, and who used curious and unlawful arts, brought their books and publicly burnt them. The price amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver, and which, in our money, was equal to 6250/. Oh splendid and blessed effect of a preached gospel ! " So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." The word grew in the remarkable effects which it produced, by adding to the number of the members of the church of Christ. Glorious sight, to see the word of truth prevail over error ! — to see the word and worship of God prevail over the corrupted and idolatrous worship of false gods ! Very soon after, Demetrius, a silversmith, raised a great mob against Paul and his associates. He made silver shrines for Diana, which brought no small gain to the craftsmen. Paul was mercifully preserved. He left Ephesus at that time, and Timothy remained be- hind to settle the affairs of the church. About twelve years after, when Paul was prisoner at Rome, he wrote the Christians here a most sublime and useful epistle. TPA UI^ MT.^C WE B . All Instruments are in the hand Of Christ his People's Kin<^ ; And, at his word , the Warrior Ixuid To T'avil thoir siieconi's bi-ing. i 203 PAUL RESCUED. ACTS XXI. 32, &C. A. D. 60. The inspired writer in the book of the Acts gives an account of a very providential rescue of the apostle Paul, when he was in danger of being torn to pieces by an infuriated mob in Jerusalem, which longed for his destruction. The Jews in that city had heard of the amazing success which had attended his ministry in Lesser Asia, in Greece, and in other parts of the earth ; they were therefore resolved, when he came to Jerusalem, to deprive him of his life. After a very considerable absence, Paul returned to Jerusalem ; but he returned to lose his liberty. He returned to be taken from tribunal to tribunal. He returned to be conducted a prisoner to Rome, where he wrote several epistles to various churches — epistles which will prove an invaluable legacy to the church of Christ, till the close of ages. His life was placed in the greatest danger, but Providence inter- posed. His life was preserved, yet his liberty was lost. The dangers and deliverance of Paul are subjects of great importance, and furnish reflections much calcu- lated to promote our improvement. Consider his danger. Paul went into the temple regularly every day, for seven days, according to the law of Moses, in consequence of a vow which he had made. Whether he was right or wrong in thus con- forming to the law of Moses, is a point 1 cannot deter- mine ; yet one thing I know, it placed him in the greatest peril, and actually issued in the collection of an immense concourse of people, who almost succeeded in depriving him of life. Paul, in his missionary travels, had met with immense opposition from the Jews of Lesser Asia. The treat- ment he received at Lystra, is a proof of this fact. While Paul was in the temple, nearly at the close of seven days, some of those who knew and persecuted him when he was in Lesser Asia, recognised him. They immediately stirred up all the people and laid hands upon him, and cried, '• Men of Israel, help !" They charge him with teaching corrupted doctrines against the laws of Moses ; and they charge him with ill practices, as well as with corrupt doctrines, namely, with bringing Greeks into the temple, and thus polluting the holy place. Nothing was so calculated as this to raise a tumult among the Jews. Li a short time, the whole city was moved. The people rushed into the temple in great numbers. Having dragged him out of the temple, like a polluted criminal, tidings came to the chief captain that the infuriated populace were going about to kill Paul, and that the whole city was in an uproar. Without delay, he went down with centurions and soldiers. As soon as the captain and military ap- peared, the people left beating of Paul. " Then the chief captain came near him, and took him, and com- manded him to be bound with two chains." Thus Paul was preserved from those who more resembled lions than men. n ^Z' i 5" ^ 5- 1^9 3- P S/f 205 PAUL BEFORE FELIX. ACTS XXIV. 25. A.D. 60. After Paul was made a prisoner in Jerusalem, he was sent by Lysias with a strong military guard to Cesarea, to the care of Felix, the Roman governor at that place. Within five days after, Ananias the high priest, and others, followed him to carry on a legal pro- secution against him before Felix. TertuUus, a flaming orator, was employed to oppose Paul in the court. As the apostle successfully repelled all his charges, the further consideration of his case was delayed a few days, until the arrival of Lysias, the chief captain, from Jerusalem. In the interval, Paul received much cour- tesy and kindness from Felix, who allowed him to receive the visits of his friends. Some days after, Felix, and his wife Drusilla, sent for Paul. They wished to hear him declare to them in private those doctrines he generally taught, and which had excited so much feeling and noise in many parts of the Roman empire. These doctrines were directly at variance with the practices of Felix and Drusilla. However, Paul was faithful to his God, to his conscience, and to his hearers. " When Felix came, M'ith his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time ; when I have a convenient sea- son I will call for thee." 206 Here we have a remarkable preacher, a remarkable auditory, a remarkable sermon, and a remarkable effect produced. The preacher was the apostle; one of the greatest, the best, and the most useful of men that ever lived, or adorned the christian church. The preacher, too, was a prisoner, through the malice of the rulers of the Jewish church, who not only attempted to ruin his good name, by casting upon him the vilest reproaches, but laid plans to deprive him of his life. This was the preacher. The congregation was remarkable. It consisted of Felix, and his wife Drusilla. He was Roman deputy in the government of Judea. He married in adultery, for he enticed Drusilla, the wife of Azizus, king of Emesa, to divorce her husband, and marry himself. Drusilla was a Jev/ess, and the daughter of Herod Agrippa, who was eaten up of worms. Being edu- cated in the Jewish religion, she felt a great curiosity to hear Paul speak, whom the leaders of the Jewish religion so violently opposed. The sermon was striking. The preacher reasoned of righteousness and temperance, to convince Felix of his unrighteousness and intemperance, of which he was so guilty. He spoke of the certainty of a judgment to come ; thus showing, that though he might escape punishment from men, there was a tribunal to come, from the sentence of which there could be no escape. Great Mas the impression produced on Felix. He was much agitated. He trembled I Conscience awoke; but, alas, there was no conversion ! 207 THE SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL. ACTS XXVII. ^-i-. A.D. 62. When Paul appeared before Festus, he refused to return to Jerusalem to be tried by the Jews; and claiming his right as a Roman citizen, he appealed unto Caesar. Accordingly he was put on board a ship of Adramyttium, and, with other prisoners, committed to the charge of Julius, a centurion of Augustus's band. On the day after their voyage commenced, they touched at the ancient city of Sidon. There Paul was very courteously permitted to land by Julius, and refresh himself, and see his friends. Having left Sidon, they -sailed under the island where Paul's labours had been so eminently blessed. When they reached Myra, a city of Lycia, the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy, into which all the prisoners were in- troduced. For many days they sailed slowly, and passed Cnidus, Crete, and Salmone. A tempestuous wind arose, when they were near Crete, which, in de- hance of all the efforts of the mariners, drove them close upon the rocks of the island of Clauda. By the kindness of Providence they were preserved. For four- teen days they were tossed up and down the Adriatic sea, which lies betwixt Italy and Greece. During all that time, they saw neither sun, moon, nor stars. Paul being informed by God, assured them that all their lives should be preserved, and only the ship would be lost. The mariners, by their sounding-line, found the water was not deep, and therefore concluded they weie drawing near land. They let down the boat for the purpose of escaping themselves, and leaving all the rest who were in the ship to perish. Paul prevailed upon the centurion to prevent their intention, as essentially necessary for the preservation of the lives of the pas- sengers. The soldiers cut off the boat, and allowed her to be driven away by the sea. Paul was now the com- forter of the afflicted passengers. The most of them had been holding a fast for fourteen days. During this time, they had only taken a small portion of bread and water for their support. Paul encouraged theni to take food, and persuaded them that they should not perish in the waves, but be cast on some island, which they should reach in safety. Observing land, the mariners wished to conduct the vessel into a creek. Now the shipwreck was complete, for she struck aground upon a neck of land, and was broken to pieces. The soldiers, seeing that the prisoners would have an opportunity of escaping, proposed that they should be all put to death. Julius, animated with a better spirit, and from respect to Paul, prevented the execution of a purpose so cruel, barbarous, and bloody. The number in the ship amounted to two hundred and seventy-six. Some by swimming, and others on planks and broken boards, got safe to land, on the island of Malta. PATT^L APTiD tii:e ^^tpe:r Arcs Xr/-2ZZ. yer. 4 VvTien Taul the Viper seiz'd-alarm'd , To deatt they deem'd. Jiina given ,- But , vrhen lie siook it off xmharin'd, Thev thouo^Lt lie canie fi'orn Heaven ! 209 PAUL AND THE VIPER. ACTS XXVIII. 4, A.D. 62. We read of no individual connected with the church of Christ, in such a variety of circumstances and jilaces as the apostle Paul. One justly observes, " He was a planet, and not a fixed star. We find him in the island of Melita, to which, in all probability, he would never have come, unless he had been thrown upon it by a storm. Yet it seems God has work for him to do here : even stormy winds fulfil God's counsel. This ill wind blew good to the island of Melita, for it gave them Paul's company for three months, who'was a blessing wherever he went." Melita, or Malta, is a small island of the Medi- terranean sea, about 54< miles south of Sicily, and 150 north of Africa. The word Melet signifies a place of refuge, and accordingly Melita was employed as a place of refuge to the ancient Tyrians, in their voyages to Carthage and Spain. Paul and his companions were, as we have said, driven upon this isle by a shipwreck. They were most kindly received by the natives, who it is probable were descended from the ancient Tyrians. When Paul and the other passengers arrived at the island, both cold and rain prevailed. They were all drenched with wet. A fire was most desirable, and a fire was kindled by the inhabitants. Paul, with others, went to gather sticks : when he had gathered a bundle, 210 he laid it on the fire. A viper at that moment came out of the fire and fastened on his hand. It had re- mained concealed and asleep among the dry rubbish of sticks which Paul gathered and cast into the fire. When it felt the heat, it instantly flew at Paul, and fastened upon his hand. In this there was a divine interposition ; we may add, there was a divine direction. This will appear when we consider the very wonderful effects which this circumstance produced upon the minds of the inhabitants of the island. The viper was well known to the people of Malta : they knew it to be one whose sting was mortal. When they saw the viper cleaving fast to his hand, they con- cluded he was a murderer. They thought that though he escaped the dangers of shipwreck, the justice of God was determined to follow him close, and not allow him to escape his merited doom. Therefore they ex- pected every moment to see him fall down dead. Paul shook the viper into the fire. May God enable my youthful readers to cast off the viper of temptation ; if you allow it to keep its hold, it will sting you, and wound you, and destroy you. The islanders continued looking on Paul, thinking that he should have swollen, or fallen down dead sud- denly ; " but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." This was followed by a miracle performed on the aged father of Publius the chief man of the island ; and also miracles performed on many others at the point of death. FAITH. 2iom. Ill, ver, 31. Faith Las aii eye no tears can dun A lieaa't no g'Tiefs can stir ,• Slu^ beai-s the cross, and looks to Wlio tore it first for her ! f 211 FAITH. ROM. III. 31. A.D. 60. Faith properly signifies a persuasive assent to any truth on proper authority. Things may be explained by their opposites. Doubting is the very opposite of faith. Divines commonly mention four kinds of faith, which respect the truths of revelation. There is historical faith : this is an assent to the Bible as a true and infal- lible record. There is a temporary faith, by which divine truth may be received with some affection ; but soon after, the impression is removed, as if it had never existed. There is the faith of miracles, by which a man believed a miracle would be performed upon him, either by Christ or his apostles. The fourth is saving faith, or the grace of faith ; this faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. He takes the things of Christ, that is, divine truth and the blessings of salvation ; he shows them to the soul, and thus persuades and enables us to receive and rest upon Christ for salvation, as he is iffered to us in the gospel. In the Assembly's Shorter i^'atechism we have the following admirable description of saving faith : — " Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Christ alone tor salvation, £is he is offered to us in the gospel." p2 212 It is b}' faith we believe ourselves altogether sinful, lost, and undone, without Jesus Christ. This, our true state as sinners, we believe upon the testimony of the law. The law is in this case our schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ. By faith we believe that Jesus is '■ infinitely suited to our case, that he is able to save us; we believe that he is really offered to us in the gospel ; we believe that on the warrant of this offer we mai/ receive Christ ; and to crown the whole, by faith we actually receive Christ as our Saviour and surety. Vrhen the soul actually receives Christ, and actually rests on Christ, then that act is performed by which the salvation of the soul is completed ; in other words, f/ie?i the sold is saved. All this is done upon the testi- mony of the gospel. As we believe we are lost upon the testimony of the law, we believe we are saved upon the testimony of the gospel. O how delightful when this is the case ! The soul is placed in a situation of the highest honour, having God for its Father, and angels for its kindred. It is placed in a situation of the greatest blessedness, as it tastes the sweets of divine love here, and as it becomes an assured heir of the ceaseless pleasures of heaven hereafter. And it is placed in a situation of the greatest security and de- fence. It dwells in the secret place of the Most High, and abides under the shadow of Him who is the Al- mighty. Young friends, seek this faith ! O seek it as silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures! C M A m I T 'F 2 Cor. IX. x-er 7. mmmuMm Moi'tals if ye "woiiid display , Charity sincere and tme , "WTiile "his due 1o Man ye pay, Keep yiii