PART II.

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR

LORD'S MORAL CHARACTER.

PROPTER AMOREM,

QUOD TE IMITARI AVEO.

LUCR.

PART II.

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR

LORD'S MORAL CHARACTER.

CHAPTER I.

SECTION 1.

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;

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

bent of his mind his

We may observe him referring every thing to his Father, his mission, his doctrine, his mighty works, all his actions, his sufferings, his resurrection. It was the whole labour and his delight, "his meat" and drink, "to 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 P of dedication, our Lord shewed his deference to human authority in religious matters; when it is

See Grotius, Wetstein, and Bishop Pearce. ¡v Taïs To Aids, dvibana. Jos. contr. Ap. i. 18.

Tov xguošv níora, Tór

d John v. 30. vii. 28.

g ib, v. 19.

I Matt. v. 16.

P John x, 22.

hib. xiv. 31.

Luke iv. 16

г

S

wisely exercised in the modification of God's ordinances, or in new appointments consistent with the divine law, and of a manifest tendency to promote piety and virtue. For though Moses required a diligent teaching of the law, yet he did not enjoin a public reading and explanation of it on the sabbath. Christians indeed have apostolical authority for reading the scriptures in their religious assemblies and our Lord's example enforces a compliance with other injunctions which are orderly and edifying in the church: such as instruction of christian congregations by the minister. And the other instance as fully justifies new institutions. For it was Judas's dedication of the temple, after it had been profaned by the command of Antiochus, which gave rise to an additional solemn assembly, besides the three which Moses commanded like our present appointments of certain sacred seasons, besides the day on which we are taught to commemorate our Lord's resurrection. The principle which regulated the conduct of our divine master in this respect was inculcated by him, when he received John's baptism, in honour of that prophet and of a rite which he himself designed to institute, and also that he might set a decent example by a solemn initiation into his ministry: ""Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness;" to perform all religious duties, of a positive as well as of a moral And yet our divine Instructor well knew

nature.

9 Deut. vi. 7. r Col. iv. 16.

1 Macc. iv. 59. t ib. i. 46. iii. 51.

Ablution was used under the law, when the Priests and Levites were set apart to their office. See Exod. xxix. 4. xl. 12. Lev. viii. 6. Numb. viii. 7.

w Matt. iii. 15.