record, that this is the Son of God." SECT.VI. So little account did these two wonderful perfonages make of their relation according to the flesh. From their infancy they had not conversed together; and when they met, it was in public, that John might bear his teftimony s foon after which, he was caft into prifon, and faw Jefus no more. An higher, more important, and durable connection, than any formed by confanguinity, engaged his attention, as it (hould do that of all Chrift's difciples, according to thofe deep and divine ftrains of St. Paul;The love of Chrift con

traineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all "dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themfelves, but unto him

which died for them, and rofe again, "Wherefore henceforth know we no "man after the flesh, yea, though we "have known Chrift after the flesh, yet "now henceforth know we him no "more. Therefore if any man be in "Chrift, he is a new creature: old

things

SECT.VI." things are paft away; behold, all " things are become new "."

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THE Baptift, having now lived to fee the Lord's Chrift, and fhew him to the world, was ready, like old Simeon, to depart in peace, and to make over his difciples to a better Mafter, who would never leave them, nor forfake them. Again, the next day after, John ftood, and two of his difciples; " and looking upon Jefus as he walked, "he faith, Behold the Lamb of God." Happy the Chriftian minifter, who, like St. John, lives only to point out the Saviour to his people. And happy the people, who, like the two difciples, thereupon follow Jefus, enquire where he dwelleth, enter in, and abide with him.

To one of St. John's difpofition it could not but be matter of concern to find envy and jealoufy ftirring in the breafts of his difciples, on account of the increafing fame of Jefus, as being likely to eclipfe that of their master. For on occafion of a dispute which had happened about purification by baptism

(difputes being feldom managed fo as SECT.VI. not to produce ill-will) "they came

unto John, and faid unto him, Rabbi, " he that was with thee beyond Jordan, "to whom thou beareft witness, be"hold, the fame baptizeth, and all "men come unto him;" intimating, that John was in danger of lofing both his credit and his difciples, by means of one, whom they took for a disciple, like themselves, as he had been baptized by the fame mafter. So ready are men, at every turn, to form parties in religion, and to set up their respective teachers in oppofition to each other; the confequences of which are, that the hearers wafte that time in wrangling about a duty, which should be spent in practifing it; and the teachers, if they have not good hearts and steady heads, preach themselves, inftead of preaching Jefus Chrift. "All men come

to him!" Great hath been the power of this argument to kindle the flames of emulation and diffention in the church; and the difciples of John did not doubt but that the confideration would excite

a John iii. 26, &c.

in

SECT. VI. in him those paffions, which they felt working within themselves.

BUT he was not framed of materials liable to take fire from fuch a fpark. On the contrary, a perufal of the discourse which this address procured from him, is enough at any time to extinguifh it, where it may have fallen. He made use of the incident, to bear his laft and most noble teftimony to the power and majefty of his Lord. So far was he from being offended, or chagrined, because all men reforted to Jefus, that he triumphed in it, as his glory and his joy, as the very end for which he was fent into the world, to preach and to baptize. As if he had said

WHY are ye jealous, and why do envious thoughts arife in your hearts? Look not to me, or to any thing that is in me, but to God, who made me what I am, placed me in the ftation, and called me to the office defigned for me; "a man can receive," or take to himfelf, " nothing, except it be given him "from above." And ye know the character in which I have ever acted; "Ye "yourselves bear me witness, that I

faid, I am not the Chrift, but that I SECT. VI. "am fent before him," as his messenger and minifter, not to affemble disciples in mine own name, but to prepare men for him, and direct men to him. If therefore ye set so much by my authority, why do ye not credit my teftimony? To Meffiah, not to me, the church is to be gathered and united; and "he "that hath the bride is the bridegroom: "but the friend of the bridegroom,” who hath been honoured with a share in bringing about fo happy an event, and who, when it is brought about, "standeth and heareth him" converfing with his spouse, cannot therefore be grieved and vexed; he cannot envy the felicity of the bridegroom, or defire to take the bride from him; but most asfuredly congratulates with him, and

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rejoiceth greatly because of the bride

groom's voice," finding that he hath fo well fucceeded in the work in which he was employed. This is my very case, when you come and tell me, that all men refort to the perfon, of whom I have so often testified, that he is the Chrift; "this my joy therefore is ful"filled."

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