cious words which proceeded out of his mouth;' so that the officers sent to apprehend him did confess, Never man spake like this man.'

Wherein an invincible fortitude and gallantry, expressed in his most constant profession and undaunted maintenance of truth and goodness; in his encountering the prejudices, detecting the frauds, reproving the vices of the age, though upheld by the greatest persons and by prevalent factions; in his plain dealing and free speaking with all sincerity and all authority, in his zealous checking and chastising profane abuses; in his disregarding the rash and fond opinions of men, their spiteful obloquies, harsh censures, slanderous imputations, and unjust reproaches; in his foreseeing the greatest of dangers and worst of mischiefs that could arrive to man, yet cheerfully encountering and firmly sustaining them; sustaining all the violent oppositions and assaults which the most virulent malice and envy inflamed with superstition and blind zeal could set against him.

Wherein a most quiet and peaceable disposition, apparent from his never attempting any resistance, or any revenge on provocation of frequent great affronts and injuries; from his never raising any tumults, nor fomenting any quarrels, nor meddling with any litigious matters, nor encroaching on any man's right or office; by his ready compliance with received customs, by his paying tribute, although not due from him, to prevent offence; by his frequent instructions and exhortations to peace, to innocence, to patience, to due obedience, to performing due respect to superiors, and paying customs to governors; to the yielding a docile ear, and an observance to those who sat in Moses's chair.'

Wherein an exceeding meekness and gentleness, demonstrated in all his conversation; in resenting very moderately, or rather not resenting at all, most unjust hatreds, outrageous calumnies, bitter reproaches and contumelies from his adversaries; very perverse neglects and ingratitudes from multitudes of people; many infirmities, stupidities, distrusts, basenesses and treacheries from his own nearest friends and followers. In his passing over and easily pardoning the greatest offences

committed against him, yea sometime extenuating and excusing them. In the mildness of his censures, expostulations, and reproofs; in his tempering the fierce zeal, hard censure, and rigorous proceeding against persons unhappy, or faulty; in his tender pity of all persons in any want, distress, or trouble; in his earnest commiseration and bewailing the vengeance he foresaw impendent on his persecutors, and in his praying for their pardon.

Wherein a marvellous humility and lowliness of mind expressed by his not seeking honor or applause from men, but shunning and rejecting it; his not assuming to himself, but ascribing all to God, and referring all to his glory, by his making no ostentation of his miraculous power and high endowments, but, so far as would comport with the prosecution of his main purpose, (the glory and service of God, the good and welfare of men,) carefully suppressing and concealing them; in his without dissatisfaction or discouragement bearing scorn, and contempt, and obloquy; in his willing condescension to the meanest offices and employments; in his free and familiar conversation with all sorts of people, with the lowest and most despicable, with the worst and most odious, for their good; he not despising the poorest or vilest wretch, who seemed capable of receiving any benefit from him; in his easiness to be intreated, and readiness to comply with the desires of any man imploring succor or relief from him; in his being ready, not only to oblige, but to be obliged and receive courtesies from any man; to answer the invitation of a pharisee or of a publican; to accept favorably the well-intended respect of a poor woman; in the softness and sweetness of his language to all men, particularly to his disciples; Be of good courage, daughter;''Son, be of good cheer;' I say unto you, my friends; Little children, I am a little while with you.' Such was his style and conversation toward his inferiors.

Wherein an unparalleled patience is contentedly and cheerfully, through all the course of his life, undertaking and undergoing whatever by God's will and providence was imposed on him, how grievous and distasteful soever to human apprehension or sense; the extremest penury, the hardest toil, the vilest disgraces, the most bitter pains and anguishes incident to body

or mind, the most horrid and most sorrowful of deaths, all these aggravated by the conscience of his own clearest innocence, by the extreme ingratitude of those who misused him, by the sense of God's displeasure for the sin of man, by all the embittering considerations which a most lively piety and tender charity suggested; in submitting to all this most freely and most calmly without any regret, any disturbance.

Wherein an unexpressible and unconceivable charity, ('a charity indeed which surpasseth knowlege,' as St. Paul speaketh,) evidenced in the constant strain and tenor of his whole life, passing through all his designs, all his words, and all his actions; for dinλ0ev eveрyer@v, as St. Peter says in the Acts, he did nothing else, but go about doing good,' and benefiting men; curing their diseases, relieving their wants, instructing their minds, reforming their manners, drawing them to God and goodness, disposing them to the attainment of everlasting bliss and salvation. It is love, we may observe, which was the soul that animated and actuated him in all things; which carried him with unwearied resolution and alacrity through all the cruel hardships and toils, through all the dismal crosses and ignominies he endured: his life was in effect but one continual expression of charity, (differently exerting itself according to various opportunities, and circumstances, and needs of men,) the which was consummated, and sealed by his death; the highest instance of charity that could be; for, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.'

Wherein, finally, (in which life, I say, of Jesus,) all holiness, all virtue, all goodness (suitable to him, who was to be not only the teacher and the persuader of the best life, but a living standard and pattern thereof; who was to merit of God in man's behalf, to conciliate God's favor towards us, and appease his anger against us) do shine and sparkle with a beauty and a lustre transcending all expression. All which particulars might, were it now proper and seasonable, be thoroughly declared by instances extant in the evangelical history. So that the characteristical qualities of the Messias do clearly and abundantly agree to Jesus our Lord.

His performances should next be considered and compared ;

but the time doth not admit that we should now proceed any farther.

Now, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.' Amen.

SUMMARY OF SERMON XVIII.

ACTS, CHAP. IX.-VERSE 22.

THE five particulars proposed for explanation repeated. The first and second of these having been dispatched, we entered into the third, which is of the highest consequence, beginning to declare that Jesus, our Lord, is the Christ, from the circumstances of his advent, and from his personal qualifications: we now proceed to declare the same from the exact correspondence of his undertakings, &c. to those which were predicted of the Messias; together with the consequences of what the Messias was to do, and what Jesus did answerably effect.

1. One great performance of the Messias was, by inspiration and in the name of God, to make a complete discovery of divine truth; to publish a law of perpetual obligation; to institute a religion perfect in all respects, &c. The doctrine which Jesus taught is shown to have done this in the completest manner, with regard to the character of God himself; concerning our own nature, origin, and end, &c,; also with regard to the most accurate rule of life, suitable to our nature and our welfare it is also shown that no religion can be purer from superstitious alloys and useless incumbrances; none can have the like advantage of setting before us a living copy and visible standard of good practice; none can build our duty on more solid grounds, and direct it to better ends; no doctrine can afford more and greater encouragements to the practice of it; none can, in a more sure or kindly manner, appease and satisfy the conscience. Such is the doctrine, law, and religion of