notice of the Jewish Sanhedrim at Jerufalem was excited by the furprifing effects of his miniftry; and they fent meffengers to enquire the nature of his claims and the intent of his baptifm. To them he replied, with the strongest affeverations, that he pretended not to be any other than the Harbinger of the Saviour, and referred them to Jefus, as the Perfon whom he came to introduce. Day after day, while Jefus probably attended upon his preaching, John repeated his teftimony concerning him, and called upon the furrounding multitudes to regard Him, as the great propitiatory facrifice, which alone can expiate our guilt: "Behold," said he, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the fin of the world!"

On another occafion we perceive in him the fame affectionate refpect for Jefus, and eager defire to bring others acquainted with his character. When Jefus had entered on his miniftry, and immenfe numbers flocked after him, the difciples of John were disturbed, left their mafter's reputation fhould fuffer*. But the Baptift immediately corrected their jealousy and narrowness of spirit, and with an aftonishing humility and zeal, rejoiced that the Saviour fhould be exalted, even though his own popularity would be thereby impaired. He proceeded to defcribe the high dignity of this illuftrious Perfonage, as the Bridegroom of his Church, the Lord from heaven, the well-beloved of the Father, the univerfal Governor, and folemnly declared, that every finner, rejecting his offered mercy, must inevitably lie under the wrath of God for

ver.

his is an example, which claims the attention of or furely there is not an individual, who should our to poffefs, though in a different sphere of thofe graces which characterized the Baptift, the world, humility, difinterestedness,

*John iii. 26, &c.

and

and a fupreme regard to the Redeemer. But the minifters of religion feem more especially concerned to place this eminent pattern before them; for their office requires a nearer refemblance and imitation of him. They also are sent to prepare the way of the Lord;" that, every obstacle being removed, He may come and reign in the hearts of his finful creatures. These are like the wilderness, in which are various impediments, forbidding all accefs. How much is to be done! In a moral fenfe, the rough and crooked 'paths must be levelled and made ftraight. The faithful heralds muft "cry aloud and spare not, and fhew the people their tranfgreffions," and proclaim unto the end of the world, "Behold, your Salvation cometh." In every different fituation, to which they may be appointed, as they have but one object, their language must be the fame," Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." They must therefore preach the law, explain its extenfive demands' and tremendous fanctions, in order to convince men of their depravity, guilt, and danger, and of the neceffity of an entire renovation. Thus they will labour, like John, to "turn the difobedient to the wifdom of the juft, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

You admire the zeal, the courage, and the faithfulness of the Baptift; but are you defirous, that your ministers should in any measure copy after him? Are you willing to hear the doctrine, which he conftantly delivered, and to be addreffed with the fame unreferved plainnefs? Your wifhes, indeed, in this cafe are not to be confulted: “ whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear," the ambaffadors of Christ must declare, "Except ye repent, ye shall all perifh *." Yes; it is indifpenfably requifite, that the most regular and decent perfons fhould be converted, as well as open and grofs offenders. This

* Luke xiii. 3.

mortifies

mortifies your pride, and alarms your fears; and therefore you are ready to quarrel with thofe, who bring fuch unwelcome truths to your ears. You

cannot bear to be told of " fleeing from the wrath to come," or of being " burned up with fire unquenchable:" how, then, would you have been reconciled to the preaching of the Baptist?

But it is not enough, that the terrors of the law be denounced; thofe "who watch for your fouls," will testify of Chrift, will endeavour to display His glory, grace, and fufficiency, and exhort you to receive him, who comes to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities *." They will direct you to the Cross, and entreat you, if you be under painful convictions of guilt, to "behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the fin of the world.” Your attendance, approbation, and esteem will be only fo far pleafing to them, as they may thereby have the better opportunity of recommending the Saviour to your regard. Instead, therefore, of aiming at popular applaufe, they will be most folicitous for His exaltation, and will rejoice when He is magnified, whatever may become of them. But, from the fame principle, they will also warn you, that contempt and rejection of the Son of God will inevitably expofe you to the wrath of God, and that throughout eternity.

Do you profefs a ferious concern for falvation? Your teachers, like John, will require you to evince your fincerity by your holy conduct, and will earnestly exhort you not to deceive yourfelves by vain pretences to religion. They will therefore call upon you to discharge with fidelity the particular duties of your refpective places, and to beware of thofe fins, which moft eafily befet you. Are you willing to liften to ch inftructions, and to yield a cheerful obedience?

*Acts iii. 26,

The

The moft glorious effects may be expected from the miniftry, which is exercised, like that of the Baptift, with wifdom, courage, impartiality, and faithfulness. Doubtlefs, he laboured to good purpose, among the men of that generation, and "many of the children of Ifrael did he turn to the Lord their God," according to the prophecy. It appears, too, that his teftimony was recollected after his death, in confequence of which, probably, many were disposed to believe on the Saviour +. But it must not be concealed, that his excellence of character did not fecure him from contempt and ridicule. Among fome, efpecially of the higher ranks, he was accounted no better than a madman, or a demoniac. "He hath a devil," was the fcornful reproach caft upon him . The cafe is fomewhat fimilar among ourselves; "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness:" the most exemplary conduct in ministers will not filence the gainfayers: and if John were to rife from the dead, and to preach as before, it is not likely that he would meet with any better treatment. Such kind of cenfures and derifion will, indeed, appear of little confequence to thofe, who are chiefly folicitous to promote the honour of Chrift and the falvation of fouls. Whatever railing accufations are brought against them, exposed as they may be to violent oppofition or "cruel mockings," if they are the inftruments of turning any to the Lord, and refcuing them from the wrath to come, they will confider themfelves as abundantly repayed, and distinguished with peculiar favour.

We cannot help wifhing, that the valuable labours of the Baptift had been greatly prolonged for the benefit of the world. But it pleafed God, whofe ways are unfearchable, to appoint otherwife. The exercise of his public ministry was short indeed; for he was ‡ Luke vii. 33.

* Luke i. 16. + John x. 41.

n

ve cir

Join, we have fem. as led a gi stimation among the common people, mu mis excited the nohoz, é at the jou? me more, or the Great. Accorbagy he was lent for, bertaps from motives of evolty, to the court of Herod, the Tetrarch of Cover, before whom he had an ecccrarity of bearmga kumflory. This prince was of an inwmon charazen, and was then being in adultery with Herod as the wife of his ows brother Philip: yet he appeared to be much affected by the folemn admonitions of John, litened to him with pleafure, and, in compliance with his expostulations, reformed many parts of his conduct +. A worldly prudence would we figgefted, that the preacher must be filent on the particular fins, and especially the incestuous commerce, of the king. But the honeft zeal of the Baptift could not refrain; and therefore, without fearing the confequences, he boldly reproved him, as for his other offences, fo for his criminal connection with that base woman, declaring to him without referve," It is not lawful for thee to have her." So plain an address could not be relished: Herod immediately conceived the warmeft refentment against him, apprehended him, bound him, and caft him into prifon. The adulterefs in her rage meditated further revenge; for fhe would have killed him. To this propofal, however, Herod would not at firft confent; as he ftill retained a high. reverence for John, from a conviction of his peculiar nélity. Afterwards, indeed, that regard loft its inence, and he would have put him to death, but he

wiv. 1. Me. Mark vi. 17, &c.

e character of this Herod illuftrated in the next volume.

was