that many believed on him because of his word; and having heard him themselves, they acknowledged that he was indeed the Chrift, the Saviour of the world.

The Samaritans might have fome pretenfions to a common notice with the Jews, inafmuch as they acknowledged the fame Law of Mofes, and boasted of the fame Defcent from Abraham. But as opportunities arofe, he did not scruple to extend the benefits of his miffion to thofe, who had no fhadow of title, either by profeffion of faith, or by distinction of lineage, to the privileges of God's peculiar people. Indeed as the fcene of his perfonal miniftry was confined to the land of Paleftine, fo the immediate benefits of his miffion were in a good measure limited to the House of Ifrael. But inftances occur in the Gospel hiftory, of his admitting the Gentiles, when they came in his way, to the fame common benefits both temporal and fpiritual. Thus immediately after his Sermon on the Mount, when he was entered into Capernaum, he received a fupplication from a Roman Centurion, in behalf of his fervant, who lay at his house severely afflicted with the palfy. Jefus did not hesitate to answer, that he would

come and heal him: But while he was on the way, he received a fecond meffage from the Centurion confeffing his unworthiness to receive fo great a Prophet under his roof, and requesting only that he would speak the word, in full affurance that his fervant would be healed. Jefus hearing this professed to the multitude who followed him, that he had not found fo great a faith in Ifrael: and he declared unto them, that many should come from the various quarters of the world, and fhould fit down with the Patriarchs in the Kingdom of Heaven, as children of the kingdom through the righteousness of faith, and heirs of the promises that were made to the faithful; while many, who were children by natural descent, fhould be rejected from the Kingdom, for want of that faith to which thefe promises were given. Hereupon he immediately declared, that the mercy he implored was granted: and his fervant was healed in the self fame hour f.

Thus alfo when he came into the coafts of Tyre and Sidon, a Woman of Canaan, who was a Heathen, addreffed him as the Son of David, and implored him to have mercy on her daughter, who was grievously

f Mat. viii. 5-13. Luke vii. 1—10,

vexed with an impure fpirit. For a while he feemed to pay no attention to her suit. But when the continued her importunities, he declared, with a view (as' appears from the fequel) to elucidate her faith, that his miffion was to the house of Ifrael, and he urged the impropriety of taking that bread which belonged to the children, and giving it to aliens. The woman, not difcouraged from perfeverance in her fuit, expreffed her hope, that though the first portion in this divine household was due to the children, yet in the riches of divine grace there was an overflowing abundance for all other fupplicants. Hereupon Jefus commended her faith, and for her faith affured her, that it fhould be done as the defired 8. Thus admitting the Heathens to partake in his temporal mercies, he gave them an affurance, that he admitted them alfo to partake in his spiritual bleffings; that though the first overtures were to the house of Ifrael, yet now, on the promulgation of peace on earth and of goodwill to men, this houfe had no longer an exclufive title to the favour and regard of Heaven; that the bounties of divine grace, now open in the Gospel, were impartially ex

laid

& Mat. xv. 21-28, Mark vii, 24-30.

tended

tended to all perfons and orders and communities of men; and whoever accepted this faith and complied with these terms, should be received into the privileges of the heavenly kingdom.

Thus we see the wisdom and benevolence displayed, not only in the Gofpel Covenant itfelf, but in the method or economy employed of imparting this Covenant to men. The Founder of our faith affumed our nature, and dwelt among us, and through the course of an active and laborious life made ufe of all means and occafions, by every mode of doctrine, and in every form of example, to unfold the counfels of divine grace, and to impress upon us the conditions of his Covenant. He gave evidence of his miffion and illuftration of his character by healing all manner of ficknefs and disease. And though his perfonal miniftry was neceffarily limited to a certain region and to a certain people, yet has he given us full affurance, that his Kingdom comprehends every clime and age, and that the benefits of his gospel are laid open indifferently to all nations and communities of

men.

If we do not perfonally fee and hear him

in his ministry of grace, we virtually fee and hear him in that facred word, which by the active zeal of his Apostles and Evangelifts, illumined by the Spirit of God, is left on perpetual record for the instruction and edification of men. In the history of the Gospel we in fpirit may attend him in his travels of benevolence through the land; we may hear him teaching in the fynagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom; we may fee him healing all manner of fickness and all manner of disease among the people. Thus looking unto Jefus the Author and Finisher of our faith, let us pay the fame attention to him, as if we perfonally witneffed all his words and works. Let us walk by faith, as if we walked by fight. So fhall we have the full benefit of his preaching: fo fhall we be healed of all the diseases and infirmities of our fouls: and fo may we hope to be partakers of his kingdom both in the present state of grace and in the future ftate of glory.