lated, Luke ii. 25, Acts ii. 5, viii. 2, by our interpre

ters.

From the texts before mentioned and also from the very famous passage last recited, it is most evident, 1. That Jesus Christ was exceedingly terrified, at the foresight of his passion or death.

2. That he earnestly prayed, and intreated God for deliverance from it; which prayer he by no means had offered to God, if he knew, that by his death he was to make satisfaction to his Father's justice for the sins of the world; without which satisfaction, some vainly imagine, God could not be appeased, nor the elect saved, nor the eternal damnation of all mankind prevented.

3. That God heard his prayers, because of his piety or devotion.' And this is a clear demonstration of his duty to, and dependence upon his God; or that he was a pious and devout person.

ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΕΩ, ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΟΜΑΙ. But I shall yet subjoin some other passages, which shew his distinction from God, and his certain persuasion who was his God, and whom he addressed as the sole object of his adoration.

2653 Mat. Christ went up into a mountain apart to pray.' Mark vi. 46, Luke vi. 12, 'He continued all night in prayer to God.' Luke iii. 21, v. 16, ix. 18, 28, 29, xi. 1, xxii. 41.

Mat. xiv. 23, Thinkest thou (Peter) that I cannot now pray to my Father,' &c.

ENTYTXANÓ. The author of the epistle to the Romans, and of that to the Hebrews, uses this word twice of Christ applying to God for us.

Rom. viii. 34, Christ who at the right hand of God maketh intercession for us'—that is, to his God and Father.'

Heb. vii. 25, Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us.'

This intercession, literally understood, doth necessarily include the following truths, viz.

1. That the intercessor, and he to whom the intercession is made, are two different and distinct beings.

!

2. That the intercessor hath not in his own power to bestow what he asks of another for a third person.

3. That the intercession of Christ for his people, is his prayer to his and to our God for them; even now when he is exalted, and sitting at God's right-hand : which evidently demonstrates, not only his inferiority, but his continuing in a state of dependence on God, to whom he applies for favour to his people.

- CHAP. XLVI.

The piety of Jesus Christ, who praised or blessed God, and gave him thanks.

ΕΥΛΟΓΕΩ, with its derivatives. ΕΥΛΟΓΗΤΟΣ is used as a proper name of God, as distinguished from Christ, Mark xiv. 61, and used seven times more in blessing or praising God; but never applied to Christ, who is not styled the Blessed, but the Son of the Blessed.

Mat. xiv. 19, xxvi. 26, Christ looking up to hea ven blessed God,' when he fed the five thousand. And at the institution of his last supper he blessed Gody> or, as in many copies, he praised God,' not as we translate it, Mark xiv. 22, 23.

Mark viii. 7, 8. Christ having taken the seven loaves, and given thanks;' and after, when the few fishes were brought, he blessed God.' And Mark xiv. 22, he blessed (God), &c.

&c.

Luke xxiv. 30, Taking bread, he blessed (God),'

Mat. xv. 36. Christ, having taken the seven loaves and two fishes, gave thanks. And again, xxvi. 27, ⚫having taken the cup-he gave thanks.' Mark viii. 6,

Christ, taking the seven loaves, gave

Christ, having taken the cup, gave

Christ, having taken the cup, gave

Luke xxii. 19, Having taken the bread, and given thanks, he brake it.'

he

John vi. 11, 23, After Christ had taken the loaves, gave thanks. After the Lord had given thanks." John xi. 41, And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, O Father, I give thanks unto thee, because thou hast heard me.'

N. B. He prayed to God for Lazarus, and God heard Christ's prayer.

1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, Jesus having taken bread, and given thanks, he brake it.'

ETAABEIA. Heb. v. 7. The author of this epistle represents Christ addressing Almighty God, in the most earnest and devout manner, in these words: 'who when he had (or having) offered up prayers and supplications, Ayres, with strong crying and tears, unto him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard for his piety.'

AEOMAI. Luke xxii. 32, Christ tells Peter, he had prayed for him, that his faith might not fail.' EZOMOAOFEQ. Mat. xi. 25. Jesus said-I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth.'

Luke x. 21, Jesus said-I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth.'

N. B. It ought to be very much observed, from all the foregoing texts, that our master Jesus Christ had deeply fixed in his mind the great principle of all true religion, which he himself mentions, Mat. iv. 10, Thou shalt worship (Jehovah) the Lord thy God, and him only thou shalt serve. "Happy had it been for the Christian church, if this divine rule had always been strictly observed.

Christ's humble gestures in his devotions.

As Jesus Christ always addressed himself to God the Father in prayer and thanksgiving, in the most dutiful and resigning language; so also it is remarkable, that he used the most humble gestures at the time of his prayer. For St. Luke says, Luke xxii. 41, "That Christ being withdrawn, kneeled down and

prayed, saying, O Father, if thou wilt, take this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done,' ver. 44, and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly.'

St. Matthew says, Mat. xxvi. 39, That Christ fell upon his face, and praying, said, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.'

Rev. vii. 11, xi. 16. This gesture of adoration is ascribed to the angels Who all standing about the throne (of God) fell on their faces, and worshipped God-and the twenty-four elders fell on their faces, and worshipped God.'

The posture of kneeling in the worship of God was used by St. Stephen, Acts vii. 60; by St. Peter, Acts ix. 40; by St. Paul and his attendants, Acts xx. 36. Again, xxi. 5, they kneeled down on the shore,' and prayed. And St. Paul, Ephes. iii. 14, tells us his practice, I bow my knees to the Father.'Christ and his disciples had learned these religious gestures from the practice of their ancestors the Jews. Psalm xcv. 6, O come, let us worship, and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker.'

CHAP. XLVII.

Jesus Christ taught his disciples and others to keep the commandments of God, and he himself kept and obeyed the commandments of God.

Mat. xxii. 36-40, JESUS being asked by a lawyer,. which is the great commandment in the law, answered, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; this is the first and great commandment: and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'

Mark xii. 28-33, With little variation, the evan

gelist St. Mark represents the like answer of Christ. And these words also, Jesus answered, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord,' or one Jehovah, &c.

Luke x. 25-28. The lawyer asks Christ, what he should do to inherit eternal life? Christ asks him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? The lawyer answers, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,' &c. and thy neighbour as thyself. To which Christ said, Thou hast anwered rightly; this do, and thou shalt live."

xviii. 18, 20. Jesus said to the ruler, who asked him what he should do to inherit eternal life, Thou knowest the commandments,' &c.

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John xv. 8, Jesus saith to his disciples, Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples.' Ver. 14, Ye are my friends, if do whatsoever I command you.'

ye

Thus Christ taught. Now observe how Christ practised, and paid obedience to his God and our God.

......... iv. 4, Christ says, 'I must work the works of him that sent me.'

......... xii. 49, 50, I have not spoken from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak.As the Father said unto me, so I speak.'

xix. 31, As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.'

........ xv. 10, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.'

Mat. v. vi. vii. contain Christ's sermon on the mount, wherein he enlarges upon, and reinforces all the commandments of God. chap. v. 19, Whoever shall break (or dispense with) one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: And whosoever shall do or teach them, the same (or that person) shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.' Chap. vii.

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