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SECT.VI." filled." I have no greater pleasure than to hear, that difciples go from me to him. As the morning ftar, I only fhone to proclaim the approach of the fun. Now he is rifen, I go. down ; "he muft increase, but I muft decrease;" he will shine more and more unto the perfect day, while I fhall fet, and dif appear. And reafon good why it should be fo. That which is preparatory must give place to that which is perfective; a baptifm of water muft yield to a bap tifm of fire; an human instructor must cede to one that is divine. "He that " is of the earth is earthly, and speak"eth of the earth;" in fpite of his best endeavours, he will favour of his origi nal, and there will be an alloy of duft and ashes in all he faith; whereas "he "that cometh from heaven,” I mean the bleffed perfon of whom ye are fo jealous," is above all" the children of Adam. When this fun shineth in his strength, every star is obfcured, and the world will perceive the difference between the discourses of the Mafter and thofe of the fervant, as readily as it dif tinguisheth the glories of the day from

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the pale luftre and faint glimmering of SECT.VI. thofe orbs, which ferve in fome mea+ fure to dispel the darkness of the night. According to the grace given unto me, I have declared the kingdom of heaven to be at hand; but when Meffiah speaks of that kingdom, he fpeaks from his own knowlege; "what he hath feen "and heard, that he teftifieth ;" and yet, though I have faid fo much of him, and fo many go to hear him, "no man "receiveth his teftimony," as he ought to do. Think not this a flight matter, for no one can difbelieve him, without giving God the lie; "he that hath re"ceived his teftimony, hath fet to his

feal, that God is true," by allowing the credentials of his Son, and acknow→ ledging in him the accomplishment of what was foretold by the law, by the prophets, and by myself. "For he," the Meffiah, "whom God hath sẹnt, "fpeaketh the words of God," and that in a different sense from all others, who, from time to time, have been endued with such a portion of the divine influence as was meet for them but "God giveth not the Spirit by

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SECT.VI. measure unto him," having decreed, that in him should all fulness dwell. "For the Father loveth the Son," not as he loveth any of his faithful servants, but so as that he hath put all things " into his hand," difpenfing glory, honour, and immortality to mankind, through him alone. Be no longer envious and jealous, then, of his greatnefs, which is your falvation. If you would honour me, and at the same time ferve your own eternal intereft, receive, in few words, the fum and fubftance of this my last testimony "He "that believeth on the Son, hath ever

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lafting life: and he that believeth "not the Son, fhall not fee life; but "the wrath of God abideth on him."

By this part of St. John's character and conduct, in how pleasing a manner are the minifters of Chrift inftructed, that they are to bear teftimony to him, not to themselves; to feek his glory, not their own; that they should take pleasure in the fuccefs of their brethren's labours, by which the cause of their common Mafter is promoted; that

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the rifing lights of the church fhould SECT.VI. do honour to those who have gone before them, and the fetting ones rejoice to be outshone by those who are coming after them; that envy and jealoufy, in short, ought to have no place among the disciples of the Lamb of God, on whom defcended and abode the celestial Dove.

SEC

Sect. VII.

SECTION VII.

Confiderations on the imprisonment of St.
John, the meage fent by him to
Chrift, and the answer returned to

it.

A

DMIRABLE is the advice of the
fon of Sirach to every one who

is about to ftand forth in the cause of

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true religion. My fon, if thou come
"to ferve the Lord, prepare thy foul
"for temptation. Set thy heart aright,
" and constantly endure, and make not
"hafte in time of trouble, Whatfo-
"ever is brought upon thee take cheer-
fully, and be patient when thou art

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changed to a low eftate. For gold is "tried in the fire, and acceptable men "in the furnace of adverfity." The reformer will proceed but a little way in his work, whofe zeal is not backed with fortitude. The apprehenfion of danger, or even the frown of power,

a Ecclef. ii. I.

A

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