CHAP.

I.

29. And that this command to baptize had no reference to water, is plain from the words of Paul: I 1 Cor. i. thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius And I baptized also the household of Stephanus; besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

14, 16.

30. Would Paul have thanked God for not doing what Christ commanded him? In no wise. But he immediately tells what was commanded him, when he says, Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. The truth is, that in every age, and in every nation under heaven, mankind were justified and accepted of God according to the degree of their obedience to the light they were under.

31. Those who were commissioned to preach the gospel, never bound mankind to any thing beyond the conviction of their own consciences. Jesus himself Mark iv. spake the word as they were able to hear it. Hence it was, that circumcision was made use of in the days of the apostles, and such as gladly received the word, were baptized; but neither of them was the substance of the thing signified.

33.

32. Outward circumcision could never destroy the root of sin; nor could the external baptism or washing with water, ever take away the internal pollution of the soul.

33. The mission of John the Baptist, was to prepare the way for the Messiah, and was not to increase, but to decrease, whenever the ministry of the Messiah commenced. Hence, from John's mission as a witness of that light, that all men through him might believe, it is evident that Christ could not have been revealed to the world without a witness.

34. John bore testimony to a kingdom of heaven at hand. From which it is clear that he himself was not in that kingdom. And from the testimony of Jesus, it is easy to infer that those who were before John, were still more remote from the kingdom than he. Matt. xi. Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdou of heaven is greater than he.

11.

B

CHAPTER II.

The Ministry of Jesus the Christ,

II.

EFORE the first appearing of CHRIST, long ex- CHAP. perience had proved, that no redemption from the nature and effects of the fall, had yet been wrought among the human race. No law, however severe against sin, had ever yet saved the soul from its reigning power.

2. From Adam to Moses, and from Moses to Christ, the true cause of virtue and freedom was unknown. Sin through the instrumentality of Man, had continued to corrupt the world. Oppression, civil and religious, had still continued to pervade the earth, and destroy the peace and happiness of mankind.

3. As the whole posterity of fallen man, had thus continued to bring forth the fruits of unrighteousness, the produce of an evil nature, and instead of being reclaimed from the depravity of the fall, the world had waxed old in wickedness, it was necessary that the axe should be laid to the root of that corrupt tree, before the cause of sin could possibly be removed, or the effect cease.

4. As sin entered into the world by the first man's disobedience, and all his posterity, in the same nature of rebellion, continued to follow his example, by which the whole became separated and fallen from God, it required a life and example directly contrary to theirs, in order to their recovery.

5. And as the very nature of man was corrupt, and stood in direct enmity against God, it was impossible for him to find redemption, but through that mediator, the LORD JESUS, who took upon him the same nature and enmity, and thereby became united to the fallen race, that he might crucify that nature, and slay the enmity, in order to become the captain of their salvation.

6. Hence it is written, "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself Heb. ii likewise took part of the same; that through death 14,15,

II.

CHAP. he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who, through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage."

7. It is evident from the scriptures, that the man JESUS, who was ordained and anointed of God to be the Saviour of mankind, was not begotten after the Mat. 1.25. flesh; or in other words, by the works of natural Luke i generation; but he was begotten by the eternal Word of the Father, in the Holy Ghost, through the medium of a woman, who with the rest of mankind, was under the law of a corrupt nature.

Cal. iv. 4, 5.

8. Through the medium of a woman he took upon him, not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; and in this he became united to mankind in their fallen state: the Word was made or cloathed John114 with flesh, and dwelt among men, that he might redeem them from the power and dominion of sin.

Heb. ii.

16, 17, 18.

25, 10.

9. It is certain, that if CHRIST JESUS had been shapen in iniquity, and conceived in sin, as the rest of mankind were, he never could have been their redeemer and consequently, such as were counted righteous in the order of what is called natural generation, might as well have found redemption without him, as with him.

10. But before CHRIST there was no judgment in the earth-There was no man who could bring salvaFlix. tion. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore his own arm brought salvation.

11. After man had once lost the image of God, and his very nature stood at enmity against God, had his life been prolonged to succeeding millions of ages, it would have been impossible for him to have recov ered from his fallen state, without an entire new order of things, properly called the adjusting of a new age, or a new creation.

12. And from generation to generation, while man remained in the order of the first creation, as it stood after he fell, it was justly said of him, that when he multiplied, The wickedness of man was great in the earth. And instead of subduing and replenishing the

earth, he corrupted it, and brought it under a double CHAP. condemnation.

II.

13. Therefore it was, that JESUS was not begotten after the order of natural generation, according to the will of man; nor made an high priest over the Heb. vi. household of God, after the law of a carnal command- 16, 18. ment, but after the power of an endless life.-For that which was carnal, was by him, and in him, verily disannulled and made void.

Rev.

14. For if he had been begotten after the order of that creation which had waxed old in wickedness, he could not have been the beginning of a new creation, as it is testified that he was The beginning of the i creation of God. Neither could he have been the head and first born of many brethren; the first Adam, who was of the earth earthy, must still have had the pre-eminence. But CHRIST JESUS was the second In this the distinction first heads of the old

Adam, the Lord from heaven. was made plain between the and new creation.

15. It is evident from the history of JESUS, that from his infancy, he possessed that wisdom and understanding which was superior to any of the human race; when at twelve years of age, he questioned with the learned doctors, who were astonished at his un- Luke derstanding and answers; and when answering his 46–49. parents, who had sought him, Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

16. JESUS, in the first stage of his life, fulfilled the law of nature: He was subject to his parents. He fulfilled the moral law by the purity of his life and manners: His flesh saw no corruption by reason of sin. Hence he put an end to the external ceremonies of the law, and nailed them to his cross of selfdenial.

17. And when about thirty years of age, he went to John, acknowledged his mission to be of God, and fulfilled it. And being baptized with water, the heavens were opened unto him, and lo, a voice! saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. And having received an abiding power from on high, which was not given him by measure, he went forth to do the will of his Father-to teach mankind by

CHAP.
II.

Matt. v.

2-12.

precept and example, the way to the fountain of true felicity and eternal life.

18. In his public discourses, he unfolded that divine wisdom to the multitude, which he had received from God, the Father of all wisdom and goodness. By the spirit of truth and love, he found access to the hearts of the sincere, and fixed that conviction in their minds which human wisdom could never inspire nor dissolve.

19. JESUS knew by that divine wisdom which dwelt in him, that very few were disposed to hear,, and much less to obey what he was commissioned to teach; and therefore he frequently retired to the mountains and desarts, from the cabals and clamours of the chief priests and rulers, who kept the people under bondage and fear.

20. To such as wished to hear, and were honestly seeking for salvation, he taught the gospel of his kingdom, and to no others. To those who followed him, he first opened the little narrow way of selfdenial, and laid before them those characters which are truly blessed, namely: The poor in spirit, the mourner, the seeker after righteousness, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, and such like.

21. Long experience had proved, that this blessedness was not to be attained by the external rites of the law; it was therefore necessary that he should show them a more excellent way.

22. He bore a swift testimony against every kind of vice, and tyranny in every form. He manifested the truth of his testimony to the world, by his example of piety and virtue. He strictly observed and kept all the commandments of God his Father, taught others to do the same by following his example; and confirmed the truth of his divine mission by his miracles.

23. Although JESUS came to fulfil the true intent of the law, he knew that his testimony would be perveited, for he knew what was in man; and therefore Matt. v. said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For I say unto you, that except your right

27-48.