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"I am not the Christ. Art thou Elias, or one of "the Prophets?" He, modestly, corrects the high opinion they had entertained of him, respectfully declines the distinguished honor they were prepared to pay him, and returns this humble answer in the words of the Prophet-" I am the voice of one crying "in the wilderness, make straight the way of the "Lord." He then proceeds, "He it is," that is, He the Christ," who coming after me, is preferred "before me," to whom I am not worthy to do the meanest offices. He declares that he saw the Spirit of God descend upon Christ, and light upon Him, and heard this wonderful attestation from heaven-" this " is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He twice affirms that Christ was "the Lamb of God that "taketh away the sins of the world." In this manner did the Baptist divert the thoughts of his hearers, and of the Jewish nation, from his own merit, and direct them to the divine perfections of Christ, the end of whose mission was to reform a corrupt, and redeem a guilty, world.

And as he could not be tempted by the gilded baits of praise and honor, so neither could he be deterred by the awful terrors of imprisonment and death from an undeviating attachment to the cause of truth and Religion. He boldly rebuked vice," without respect "of persons:" he held no man, however rich and powerful, in admiration," because of advantage." Even Herod the king of Judea, was the object of his severe reproofs for his incestuous marriage, and "for "all the evil he had done;" but, instead of profiting by such reproofs, he persecuted the faithful reprover. He was, in consequence, dragged to prison, where he

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suffered

suffered, patiently, for the truth's sake, until he died a martyr to that integrity which his precepts, and example, had so strongly recommended to general practice and individual imitation.

After this manner were the virtues of John the Baptist instrumental in preparing men to receive Christ, and embrace Christianity; inasmuch as they enforced his own precepts, and added abundant weight, and irresistible authority, to his testimony of the only-begotten Son of God, the Messiah of the Jews, the Redeemer of the Gentiles.

One reflection arises from what has been said. The Jews were ready to hear the instructions of John the Baptist, from the great esteem in which he was holden by them. And whoever would recommend the Gospel of Christ to the observance of men, must always be able to address them, with confidence, in the language of the Apostle, "Be ye followers of me, as I am " also of Christ." He, like the Baptist, must be distinguished by the amiable virtues of meekness and humility, of forbearance and forgiveness; by a benevolent disposition manifesting itself in a readiness to perform all kind and charitable offices: in this manner must he procure the esteem, the reverence, and the affections, of men. But then, "hitherto must thou

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go, and no farther." John the Baptist did not condescend to compliances unbecoming his office and character, He, constantly," spoke the truth," boldly "rebuked vice, and, patiently suffered for the truth's

sake." Worldly wisdom may suggest to a teacher that he may insinuate himself into the affections of men, by painting their vices in false colors, and saying to the wicked, "thou art righteous." But woe

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unto that man who thus dishonors the sacred charac ter! he is a reproach to the Gospel, and, foolishly, covets the kindness of men, rather than, diligently studies to obtain the praise of God. May it be, on the contrary, the empassioned, and unwearied, zeal of all the shepherds of the flock to bring the sheep within the fold, and to support them with the word of life! And then, if men will act so unreasonably as to reject Christianity, or so inconsistently, as not to de

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part from iniquity, when they name the name of Christ," the ambassadors of God may, severally, apply, with comfort, the words of the evangelical Prophet-"Though we have labored in vain, and 66 spent our strength for nought, yet surely our work "is with the Lord, and our judgment with our God: "and though Israel be not gathered, yet shall we be

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glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and our God shall "be our strength."

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Convinced, Lord God omnipotent, that life and immortality are brought to life through the Gospel, grant, we beseech Thee, that it may have its just influence on our souls, by turning the hearts of the children with the fathers, and the hearts of the fathers with the children! May it bring low the mountains by eradicating pride and vain-glory, exalt the vallies by its support of meekness and humility; may it make the crooked ways straight by extirpating hypocrisy and fraud, the rough places plain by banishing oppression and injustice! That it may, the more effectually, answer these heavenly purposes, may the word preached be accompanied by thy Grace, that, on whatever soil it falls, it may take deep root, spring up, and become the largest of all ⚫ trees!

trees! May it be watered by thy Blessing, as with drops of rain; may the speech of all thy ministers distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass, that all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, may learn to fear Thee all the days of their life!"

SERMON

SERMON XI.

ST. PETER'S DAY.

THIS eminent Apostle was born at Bethsaida, a town of Galilee, being by profession a fisherman. He was brother to St. Andrew, and his elder brother most probably; be. cause in the catalogue of the Apostles he is mentioned before him (Mat. x. 2). He had in his character some eminent qualifications, which gave him a distinction above the generality of the Apostles. He was the first of them, who publicly professed his belief of the Divinity of our Blessed Lord (xvi. 16); which frank declaration of his made our Saviour promise him, that his preaching and confession should be a principal foundation of the Church, which He designed to build. He, together with James and John, was greatly beloved by our Blessed Lord (xvii. 1. ch. xxvi. 37). He had a mighty zeal for his Master which prompted him to draw his sword in His defence. But, withal, it must be said, that these good qualities were eclipsed by the cowardice, which he shewed in denying his Master, and by his dissimu lation which he used in complying with the Jews, in the observance of their ceremonies (Gal. ii. 4).

After our Saviour's Ascension, he did singular service in the propagation of the Gospel. He, by one sermon, convinced three thousand souls of the truth of Christianity. He was sent by the Apostolical College, together with John, to confirm the new converts that Philip had gained to the faith in Samaria, which office they discharged with great faithfulness.

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