the character in which he is revealed to us, as the Saviour, the Redeemer.

2. God, however, was well pleased with Christ, not only as a propitiation for sin, but also as a pattern of righteousness. And he will be pleased with the disciples of Christ, in proportion as they follow that pattern. They were redeemed for this especial purpose, that they might become "a peculiar people, zealous of good works:" might imitate him, whose "meat and drink it was to do the will of his hea

venly Father. As he," for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame," so must we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," and "set our affections on things above."

He who declared himself well pleased with his beloved Son, has also declared himself well pleased with those who thus receive him: receive him as their Priest to atone, and as their King to rule. For he says of them, "I will receive you, and be a Father unto you; and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

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23. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,*

3 The Jewish priests did not commence their ministry till they had attained this age.

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4 St. Matthew (ch. i.) had given the genealogy of Jesus in the line of Joseph St. Luke gives it in the line of Mary: but describes him as the son of Joseph, because the names of the husbands only, and not of the wives, were inserted in the registers, from which it is believed that these genealogies were copied. The object appears to be, to show that Jesus was indeed the "seed of the woman," as Matthew had shown that he was descended from Abraham.

24. Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,

25. Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,

26. Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,

27. Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,

28. Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,

29. Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,

30. Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,

31. Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,

32. Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,

33. Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,

34. Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,

35. Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,

36. Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son

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of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,

37. Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,

38. Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Thus the line of Mary's genealogy is traced up to the beginning, when "God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." So Adam became the Son of God.

How has sin corrupted that divine nature, and defaced the Father's image! Christ Jesus, the ETERNAL SON OF GOD, appeared to restore that nature, and to renew the soul" after the image of him that created him." For "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." 5

5 John i. 12, 13.

LECTURE XIII.

TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

LUKE iv. 1-13.

(Matt. iv. 1-11. Mark i. 12, 13.)

1. And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

The case of our Lord, in this temptation, is too peculiar to be closely urged in the way of example. But this much should be observed. The temptation was foreseen. And he prepared himself for it by fasting. This may admonish every one to "keep under the body, and bring it into subjection:" and so accustom it to self-denial, that it may not be brought under the power " of any gratification.1

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3. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

4. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.2

5. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

1 See 1 Cor. vi. 12.

2 Deut. viii. 3.

6. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.s

9. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

10. For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

11. And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

12. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.4

Observe, from this account, the arts of that adversary with whom we have to contend: how he suits his different temptations to the different circumstances of those whom he endeavours to withdraw from God. In the present instance, he persuades our Lord to use his divine power for a personal object, to gratify his own wants: Command this stone, that it may be made bread. Or to establish an earthly kingdom: All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them. Or to yield to presumption and vanity, by casting himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, that all the people might be astonished at his miraculous preservation.

Satan employs the same devices, when he lays wait for every age and condition of life with its peculiar snare: when he tempts the poor man to better his condition by dishonesty: when he tempts the rich man to selfish luxury: when he tempts the 3 Exod. xx. 3, 4.

4 Ps. xci. 11.