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THE ARGUMENT.

Further admiration of the Spirit of Truth-Though our Saviour appeared truly great and like a God when he distributed health and peace, yet his benevolence had an higher aim--He meant to advance the eternal happiness of man, by teaching him the most important and salutary truths—He applied his life to this purpose, and at last-died a martyr for the good of all mankind-The sermon on the Mount-The excellence of its doctrines-The comfort that arises from following them—The misery that attends neglecting them—Our Saviour was averse to every kind of persecution for difference in religious matters-When the two disciples wished him to call fire from Heaven upon the Samaritans who were schismatics and apostates, he mildly refuses and corrects their indiscretion-Address to intemperate and sanguinary bigots, and to the Church of Rome-The virtues of our Saviour's mind-His regular discretion-He avoided the persecution of a foe, where honor and fair conscience would allow-But where the interest of society required it, he exposes the vices of those in power-He satirises the King-As he is going to Jerusalem, he foretells the siege and the destruction of it—Her ene

mies shall cast a trench around it when her children are within it-Shall keep them in on every sideAnd shall not leave one stone upon another (Luke, xix. 41, 42, 43, 44.) The extacy of the multitude upon his entrance-He enters as it was foretold by the Prophet (Zech. ix. 9, 10.)-The rulers of Jerusalem, who looked for a temporal Messiah, are disgusted with him-One of his disciples through avarice betrays him-Reflection on the love of money-The insults that are offered to him-His crucifixion and the attendant circumstances-Affectionate and grateful observations upon him.

THE

CHRISTIAN.

BOOK THE FOURTH.

WITHDRAW not yet thine aid, O Truth divine!

But gracious to thy vot'ry still incline!

I still thy influence propitious ask,

For not completed is my holy task.

Though great, magnanimous, and like a God, 5
Our Saviour did appear, when he bestow'd
Fair health and peace in distribution free,

With all the tenderness of soft humanity;
Yet his compassion had a higher reach,

The best and most important truths to teach.
The bad and stubborn to reform he meant,

To guide the stray'd, instruct the ignorant,

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And universal virtue to increase,

From which might follow universal peace.

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For this severest toils he underwent,

To this, he all his sacred studies bent.

To this great theme, he all his life applied,
Fearless of danger, and for this he died:

He died with more than an heroic mind,

A martyr for the good of all mankind.

And thus that true benevolence of soul,
Which while he liv'd, no troubles could controul,
Which no ingratitude could ere repress;

(For souls sublime are happy still to bless,
Though the oblig'd are barren to return,
Or with contemptuous pride the giver spurn)
Which not the worst injustice could abate,

The most unmerited, and bitter hate;
Was to the height of fair perfection borne,

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Of a disgraceful death by the triumphant scorn. 30

When from the mount, the multitude he taught,

Was not each word with truest wisdom fraught?

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