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fifted in an obedience to ceremonial SECT.V. rites, as well as moral precepts. In the character and capacity of our fubftitute, he underwent circumcifion, although he had no fin of his own to be cut off; and received baptism, although he had no pollution of his own to be washed away. What Chriftian can flight the ordinances of the church, when he fees the Redeemer, for his fake, fubmitting to obferve them all?

No fooner was Jefus baptized, but he "came up straightway" out of the river, like another Joshua, leading his people, through the waters of Jordan, to the land of promise. And as he was "praying," doubtlefs for fuccess in the great work he had undertaken, Lo, "the heavens were opened, and the

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Spirit of God," encompaffed, we may prefume, with a blaze of glory, "def❝cended in a bodily shape like a dove,” speaking better things than that of Noah. In this form, emblematical of innocence and purity, it " lighted," fettled, and abode upon him, the Father thus confecrating him to his office, by anointing him with the Holy Ghost N 2

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"and

SECT.V." and with power "," as the legal minifters were anointed with oil. And that no doubt might remain, the appearance was farther explained by "a voice from "heaven, faying, “This is my beloved "Son, in whom I am well pleased." Such are the bleflings which, in effect, do always attend the divine facraments, when duly adminiftered, with prayer. For then the heavens are opened, and the Spirit is given, to conform us to the image of a meek and holy Saviour, and, through him, to make us acceptable in the fight of God.

a Acts x. 38.

SEC

SECTION VI.

Confiderations on the teftimony born by
St. John, at different times, to the
Meffiabfhip of Jesus.

WH

HEN a fervant of God, through SECT.VI. the power of divine grace, hath

made fome proficiency in holiness, and feeth the world and the flesh under his feet, it is not uncommon for his third grand enemy, the devil, to fet upon him, and prevail over him, by puffing him up with a conceit of his own excellency, and fo rendering his very attainments an occafion of his falling. The hurt which a man receives, in such a cafe, is proportionable to the height from which he falls; as hell was first prepared for the tempter himself, because he fell from heaven.

IT is not, therefore, the leaft confpicuous part of St. John's character, that a fanctity fo extraordinary was not in him accompanied with any degree of pride,

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SECT.VI. pride, a worm which often cankers the faireft fruits that grow in the garden of God. He heard his own praise echoed from every quarter, and "all "men," ftruck with admiration at what was about to happen, "mufed in their "hearts concerning him, whether he "was the Chrift "." Nay, the Sanhedrim, that they might be refolved in fo important a point, sent a formal deputation of " priests and Levites from Jerufalem, to enquire of him, Who art "thou." As the Baptift was, at that time, in high repute among his countrymen, and as fecular defigns are sometimes covered with fpiritual pretences, it is not impoffible, but that they might hope to flatter him into an acknowledgment of his being "fome great one," and to frame of him a Meffiah adapted to their purposes. But John was neither ambitious of an honour which did not belong to him, nor afhamed of a Mafter, who was about to appear in the form of a fervant. He took no glory to himself, but remitted it all where he

a Luke iii. 15.
↳ John i. 19, &c.

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knew

knew it to be due. "He confeffed, and SECT.VI. "denied not, but confeffed, I am not "the Chrift. And they asked him, "What then? Art thou Elias," that is, Elijah the Tifbbite, whom they expected to defcend from heaven? " And he faith, I am not. Art thou o weeonins, "the prophet," meaning probably " Je"remias, or one of the prophets," whom, as it appears by Matt. XVI. 14. the Jews looked for to arife from the dead." And he answered, No."

To all thefe enquiries, made by the priests and Levites deputed from the Sanhedrim, St. John returned answers which were true, but concife as poffible, that they might take no advantage of his words, being aware that they grew envious of his fame, jealous for their own authority, and fearful of a Meffiah, who would not answer their hopes, by gratifying their avarice and ambition. "Then faid they to him, "Who art thou, that we may give an "anfwer to them that fent us? What

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sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am "the voice of one crying in the wilder

ness, Make straight the way of the
Lord,

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