was their petition vain. They were inftantly reftored to fight; and, though charged with fecrefy, probably from emotions of the warmest gratitude they published abroad the kindness of their Benefactor.

Immediately afterward, a dumb perfon under a demoniacal poffeffion was brought to him, and received a perfect cure at his hands. Well might the people, overwhelmed with aftonishment, confefs, " It was never so seen in Ifrael." What, then, prevented him from being univerfally acknowledged in his proper character, as the promised Redeemer? The Pharifees exerted their influence against him, and, though they difputed not the facts, blafphemously afcribed. them to the agency of Satan. Their malicious cavils had been fully refuted before, and yet they continued to urge the fame abfurd charges. Juft fo, in the prefent day, the weak and profane objections of infi-dels, which have been repeatedly anfwered, are produced afresh, and with as much petulance and acrimony as ever. But shall not we conclude, from the ftupendous miracles of Jefus, that he is "mighty to fave?" And, fince his power and grace have fuffered no diminution, may we not encourage the childre of affliction, in all their various diftreffes, to com mend their cafes to him, and expect feafonable and effectual relief from him?

After the above-mentioned occurrences, Jefus returned to Nazareth, the place of his education *.. The inhabitants of this city had bafely rejected him already, and even attempted to deftroy him; yet he paid them another vifit, and again delivered his folemn inftructions to them in their fynagogue on the fabbath day. Many of them felt a powerful impref fion from his preaching. They were aitonished at his words but no good effect enfued; for they took. offence. Various objections were raifed, chiefly from

* Mat..xiii. 54, &c. ix. 35, &c. Mark vi, 1-6.

loft, for want of proper affiftance to collect it. what fervent prayer fhould you present to God on this account! Pray, that He himfelf would fend forth his fervants, endued with all fuitable abilities to do his work. He muft ordain them to their high function; and He alone can affift and profper them in it. Thoufands, alas! among us, are "fcattered abroad, as fheep having no fhepherd." If fuch be your wretched cafe, be thankful that there are any, who are "moved with compaffion on you," and who "watch for your fouls." They defire to recover you from your wandering ftate, to bring you back to the fold of Christ,. and to lead you into his "green pastures," where you will find fafety and refreshment. Be willing to follow their directions; and, whatever difficulties they may fuffer from other quarters, let them meet with. no oppofition from you, fince it is your falvation for which they labour inceffantly. You have been "as fheep going aftray;" O "return unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your fouls *!"

* 1 Pet, ii. 25.

JESUS

JESUS CHRIST.

SECT. 19.

Fefus fent forth his twelve Apostles, with miraculous powers, and gave them a folemn charge, for their di rection and encouragement.

ONE principal purpose of our Lord's miniftry was to propagate divine truth, and, in particular, to declare and explain the appointed way of accefs unto God. But, as his public life was fo fhort, and his labours met with fo many obftructions, it became expedient to felect fome faithful men, furnished with proper inftructions, to affift him in the work. He had already feparated twelve perfons out of his conftant attendants, who were to obferve his directions, and to be employed as chief officers in his Church.. He had gradually prepared and fitted them for the apoftolic function: but hitherto they had acted only under his immediate notice; and now, for the firft time, he proceeded to fend them out upon a circuit by themselves*.

"No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God +." The chofen witnesses of Jefus did not obtrude themselves upon him, but waited his fummons. He, the great Lord of the harvest, appoints his labourers to their respective

* Mat. x. 1, &c. xi. 1. Mark 6. 7—13.. Luke ix. 1—6.

Heb. v. 4.

po

pofts. When he had affembled them together, in order to deliver their facred commiffion to them, he endowed them with miraculous powers, by which, as unquestionable credentials, they might recommend their doctrine, and demonftrate its truth. They were enabled, with a word, to caft out devils, and to cure the most inveterate diseases.

We offer no remarks, in this place, on the names, characters, and connections of the Apostles, obferving only in general, that we need not enquire any other reafon for their felection, than the fovereign will and pleafure of the Lord himself. "Ye have not chofen me," faid he, "but I have chosen you *.” And therefore, to the most eminent of them the queltion might be put, "Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what haft thou, that thou didst not receive +?"

Before their departure from him, like a tender father concerned for the welfare of his children, whom he is fending out into the world, forefeeing the difficulties, fnares, and dangers awaiting them, he inftructed, he warned, he encouraged them, with much folemnity and affection. He directed them to go in pairs,

by two and two," that they might afford mutual fupport and comfort to each other. At first, their commiffion was fubject to certain limitations. They were to addrefs themselves only to the house of Ifrael; nor were they empowered to offer falvation to any other people, till his final feparation from them. This was a peculiar honour and favour bestowed upon the Jews: but alas! how little were they fenfible of he privilege!" They knew not the time of their

Do you ask the reason of this marked or accufe the Saviour of partiality in the of his bleffings? He is not accountable y of his matters. He has an indubit

. XV. 16.

† 1 Cor. iv. 7.

able

le right to do what He will with his own; and herefore to fend, or to withhold, his Gospel, as He leafeth.

But what was the grand object of the embaffy of ne Apoftles? Hear the inftructions, which they reeived from their divine Mafter: "As heralds, prolaim with a loud voice, and with all the zeal and courage, which fuch a caufe demands, that God is how vifiting his people in mercy, and about to set up the promised kingdom of the Redeemer. In atteftation of your facred commiffion, and of the truth of your doctrine, to prove also that your ministry is defigned to answer the most gracious and benevolent purposes, exert the miraculous powers now intrusted to you, as opportunity fhall be given, for the relief of the diftreffed, and not for your own private emolument, which you must cheerfully renounce."

From this part of the charge, how excellent does the religion of Jefus appear! It brings the most reviving intelligence, as it "proclaims the acceptable year of the Lord." It propofes bleffings the most valuable, represented by thofe fupernatural cures which the Apoftles wrought, and difpenfed, as thofe allo were, freely," without money and without price," where no recompence can be expected. Shall we not rejoice, that "the kingdom of heaven" is come unto us? Or fhall we hesitate to receive the gracious declarations of these primitive heralds, who exhibited incontestable evidence, that they were no other than ambassadors from God? We are afsured, that in crediting their meffage we "follow not cunningly devised fables," while we perceive, that "God bore them witness both with figns and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghoft, according to his own will *." We are thankful, that their commiffion, at firft fo circumfcribed, was afterwards

*Heb. ii. 4.

enlarged