PART II. OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR LORD'S MORAL CHARACTER. PROPTER AMOREM, QUOD TE IMITARI AVEO. LUCK. PART II. OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR LORD'S MORAL CHARACTER. CHAPTER I. SECTION I. OF OUR LORD'S PIETY. HAVING shewn what was the subject matter of our Lord's teaching, in what manner he delivered his instructions, what proofs he gave of his divine mission, and how he circumstanced those proofs; I go on to shew that he was not like the Jewish teachers, who said and did not, but exhibited a perfect pattern of perfect instructions. a In recounting our Lord's virtues, we shall naturally give the chief place to his piety. The first words attributed to him in the gospels contain a pious sentiment. When he was twelve years of age, he accompanied his parents to the passover; remained behind them in Jerusalem penetrated with the love of God's worship and of religious wisdom; Luke ii. 41, &c. * Matt. xxiii. 3. and was found of them in the temple, hearing the teachers of the law and asking them questions. And when his mother said, "Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing," his reply was, "How is it that ye sought me ? Knew ye not that I must needs be [found] in my Father's house ?" that the temple, dedicated to my God and Father, was naturally and necessarily the place of my resort? d e f We may observe him referring every thing to his Father, his mission, his doctrine, his mighty works, all his actions, his rection. It was the whole g i sufferings, his resurbent of his mind, his meat" and drink, “to labour and his delight, "his do the will of him that sent him." God was in all his thoughts. When he thus exhorted his disciples, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works ;" what does he subjoin? not, "and honour you your teacher;" but he shews his predominant idea by adding, " and glorify your Father who is in heaven." m It was his custom, says St. Luke, to go into the synagogue on the sabbath day. In those places of public worship, the people wondered at his gracious words, and were struck with astonishment at his • wisdom. In attending the synagogue worship, and the feast of dedication, our Lord shewed his deference to human authority in religious matters; when it is See Grotius, Wetstein, and Bishop Pearce. ἐν τοῖς τὰ Διὸς, ἀνέθηκε. Jos. contr. Ap. i. 18. eib. vii. 16. viii. 28. i ib. x. 18. ib. 22. fib. xiv. 10. Tov xguošv xícvæ, tòv d John v. 30. vii. 28. 8 ib. v. 19. hib. xiv. 31. m Luke iv. 16 |