ven to be at hand, but when Messiah speaks of that kingdom, he speaks from his own knowledge; "what "he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth;" and yet, though I have said so much of him, and so many go to hear him, "no man receiveth his testi- ' "mony" as he ought to do. Think not this a slight matter, for no one can disbelieve him, without giving God the lie; "he that hath received his testimony, "hath set to his seal, that God is true," by allowing the credentials of his Son, and acknowledging in him the accomplishment of what was foretold by the law, by the prophets, and by myself. "For he," the Messiah," whom God had sent, speaketh the "words of God," and that in a different sense from all others, who, from time to time, have been endued with such a portion of the divine influence as was meet for them; but "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him," having decreed, that in him should all fulness dwell. "For the Father loveth "the Son," not as he loveth any of his faithful servants, but so as that he hath put all things into "his hand," dispensing glory, honour, and immortality to mankind, through him alone. Be no longer envious and jealous, then, of his greatness, which

is

your salvation. If you would honour me, and at the same time serve your own eternal interest, receive in few words, the sum and substance of this my last testimony--" He that believeth on the

Son, hath everlasting life and he that believeth "not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of "God abideth on him."

By this part of St. John's character and conduct,

in how pleasing a manner are the ministers of Christ instructed, that they are to bear testimony to HIM, not to themselves; to seek His glory, not their own; that they should take pleasure in the success of their brethren's labours, by which the cause of their common Master is promoted; that the rising lights of the church should do honour to those who have gone before them, and the setting ones rejoice to be outshone by those who are coming after them; that envy and jealousy, in short, ought to have no place among the disciples of the Lamb of God, on whom descended and abode the celestial Dove.

SECTION VII.

Considerations on the Imprisonment of St. John, the Message sent by him to Christ, and the Answer returned to it.

ADMIRABLE is the advice of the son of Sirach to every one who is about to stand forth in the cause of true religion: My son, if thou come to serve "the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. Set

thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make "not haste in time of trouble. Whatsoever is "brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient "when thou art changed to a low estate. For gold "is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the fur"nace of adversity"." The reformer will proceed

Ecclus. ii. 1.

but a little way in his work, whose zeal is not backed with fortitude. The apprehension of danger, or even the frown of power, will alter his sentiments; he will see things in a different point of view, and turn with every blast of fashion or interest, till he himself believes every thing, and his hearers, offended and confounded, believe nothing.

Not so the Baptist. "What went ye out into the "wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind".' No: a column firm and immoveable, against which winds might blow, and waves beat, in vain: one who had fixed his principles, and considered well, before he entered upon action; one who began not to build, till he had first counted the costs; but who, when once he did begin, would be sure to finish.

A person unacquainted with the world, and the tempers of its children, might, perhaps, be surprised upon hearing, that a prophet like St. John, who spent his time in calling his fellow-creatures to happiness and salvation, and who coveted no man's gold, or silver, or apparel, was cast into prison. But, as the wise man observeth, "The thing which "hath been is that which shall be; and there is "nothing new under the sun." Ahab, at the instigation of Jezebel, again thirsts after the blood of Elijah.

Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, had put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, and had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom,

contrary to the laws of hospitality as well as religion, he had seduced, while a guest in her husband's house". The sanctity and integrity of the Baptist had begotten, even in Herod, a great veneration and reverence for his character. "Herod feared John, "knowing that he was a just man, and a holy, and "observed him; and when he heard him, he did

many things, and heard him gladly 9." But the matter of Herodias was a tender point, on which the tetrarch was not disposed to hear the law, because he was not disposed to do it. He was determined to persevere in what was wrong, and his monitor to persist in telling him of it without reserve. "John "said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have

thy brother's wife."

He was

John, who had overcome the world, could not, either by promises or threatenings, be induced to recede from his duty, through hope of temporal good or fear of temporal evil. therefore soon convinced, by being carried to prison, that Herod had no farther occasion for his service. And who doth not rather wish to have been imprisoned with him, than to have glittered in all the glories of the throne of Herod? Happy John, sequestered once more from a troublesome world, to converse with God, and to meditate on that blessed place, and that blessed company, to which he was now hastening!

In this situation we find the thoughts of the Baptist employed, not upon his own sufferings, but upon

P See Josephus--Antiq. Lib. xviii. Cap. 6.

9 Mark, vi. 20.

the interests of his great Master, the fame of whose miracles had reached the prison, and sounded in his ears. "When John had heard in prison the works "of Jesus, he sent two of his disciples'-." Thus the afflictions and tribulations which a Christian must endure for a little season in the world, should serve only to quicken his desires after his Redeemer, of whose works, wrought in mercy for the children of men, he will often hear; and the contemplation of them should afford him continual delight in the time of his captivity, until the day of his enlargement shall come. With Paul and Silas, let him declare the glad tidings of salvation, and sing the praises of God in the prison-house. Let him inquire diligently, and take every opportunity of hearing more particulars concerning his Saviour, as also of placing others in the way of information. So will he copy the example of him, who, "when he heard "in prison the works of Jesus, sent two of his dis"ciples," that they might be more fully instructed, as to his person and mission.

For that this must have been St. John's intention in sending them, is plain from the question which they were enjoined to ask; "Art thou he that "should come, or do we look for another?" The Baptist could not propose this question for his own information, but evidently for that of his disciples, whose prejudices in favour of himself, their first master, he found it so difficult to conquer. What he had hitherto said having proved insufficient for

Matt. xi. 2, &c.