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St. Luke, in chap. v. 5, and five other places, useth. the word 'Emisάrns for Jesus Christ: and in its ! sense it signifieth one who hath the charge, ga direction, and command of others; and har suitable to Jesus Christ's concern for his disciples.

CHAP. XLIII.

Christ's great diligence in his ministry.

AFTER Jesus Christ had been baptized by John, authorised by the descent of the Holy Ghost, and had overcome his temptation in the wilderness, he entered upon his public ministry.

Mat. iv. 17, Mark i, 14, 15. He began to preach, saying, Repent, (μETAVOITE, change your minds) and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' And he sent out his apostles with the same divine message,' vi. 12.

Did any of the great philosophers attempt the like glorious embassy to mankind?

Mat. iv. 23, 24, ix. 35, Jesus Christ goeth about all Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and diseases, so that his fame went through all Syria.'

Mat. v. vi. vii.

Multitudes attending him, he preached his divine sermon on a mountain, which St. Matthew has recorded at large.

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viii. He cleanseth a leper. Healeth the centurion's servant. Cureth St. Peter's mother-in-law of a fever. Casteth out devils. Cureth the sick. Stilleth the tempest.

ix. He cureth a paralytic. Raiseth Jairus's daughter from the dead. Giveth sight to two blind Casteth out a devil from the dumb man.

men.

x. In compassion to the multitude-sendeth out the twelve apostles to preach, and to work miracles, and to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.'

Mat. xi. 25, 27, Jesus giveth thanks to God the Father, Lord of heaven and earth-for the revelation of the gospel-ascribing it to his good pleasure and acknowledging that all things had been delivered to him from his Father. See also Luke x. 22.

xii. Jesus defended his disciples against the Pharisees, who wrongfully charged them with breaking the sabbath-casteth a devil out of a person blind and dumb.

xiii. xiv. To great multitudes he spake several parables. Upon the death of John the Baptist, he departs into the desert-whither he was followed by multitudes (above five thousand) whom he feeds miraculously with five loaves and two fishes.

xv. He came to the coast of Tyre and Sidon, and thence to the sea of Galilee, whither multitudes followed him (above four thousand) whom he fed with seven loaves and a few little fishes.

xvi. Jesus, being opposed by the Pharisees and Sadducees, leaveth them; and reproveth his disciples, who were unmindful of his late great miracles

Tells St, Peter, he should have power to declare to the church what laws should, and should not be binding-and rebukes St. Peter sharply, though he had commended him for acknowledging his character as the Christ of God; yet Peter took upon him too much freedom in rebuking Christ, who foretold his death, with which Peter, much disturbed, prayed it might not be.

xvii. xviii. After his transfiguration, he taught his disciples (who yet wanted his further instruction) to be humble, harmless, inoffensive, very forgiving.

xix. After this, Jesus left Galilee, and came into the coast of Judea beyond Jordan, and being followed by multitudes, he healed them'gives a greater sanction to marriage, and condemus slight divorces. He shews a tender regard for children, whose innocence he recommends as a qualification for those who would be subjects of God's kingdom-Bids the young man keep the commandments, and sell all, and give to the poor-to convince him that he was not yet perfect in

the love of his neighbour-Shews how difficult for the rich to become subjects of God's kingdom→→→ But they who forsake all for God and his cause shall be rewarded abundantly.

CHAP. XLIV.

Of the miracles of Jesus Christ, and his apostles. JESUS CHRIST wrought not the miracles, mentioned in the gospels, by his own, inuate, or natural power, John v. 19, 20, and xiv. 10, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of [or from] himself. But the Father who dwelleth in him, he himself doeth the works. For Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands.' John xiii. 3, And that he came from God.' And St. Peter saith, in his speech to an assembly, Acts x. 37, 38, that God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and power; who went about healing, casting out devils for God was with him (Jesus)."

Christ himself owns, that he cast out devils by the finger of God,' Luke xi. 20. And the blind man whom Christ cured, argued rightly, If this person (Christ) were not from God, he could do nothing,' John ix. 31, 33.

Luke xix. 37. And the multitude of Christ's disciples, who followed him going to Jerusalem, well understood by whom the miracles were wrought, and therefore they praised God for all the mighty works they had seen.'

Luke v. 25, 26. And the paralytic, and the people too, praised God, when they saw Jesus had cured the paralytic.

Acts iv. 21. And the people all praised God for the cure of the lame person. And, ver. 29, 30, the disciples prayed to God to stretch forth his hand to heal, and that signs and wonders might be done by his servant Jesus,'

Acts ii. 22, St. Peter, in his sermon, expressly tells his hearers, that Jesus of Nazareth was a man recommended to them by God, by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God wrought by him-as they all knew. N. B. This text is so strong a proof of the point, that the most subtle critics cannot with all their art elude the force of it. God alone is the efficient cause of those miracles, 1 Cor. xii. 6: Christ In appearance only, the instrumental cause of the miracles, &c. by which God recommended him to the people, as his apostle and teacher. St. Paul had the like recommendation, by signs and wonders, and mighty deeds,' i. e. miracles; which he calls the signs or marks of his being an apostle; and Christ, Mat. x. 1, Mark iii. 13, Luke ix. 1, 2, 41, 42, sends out the twelve apostles to cast out devils, to heal the sick, &c. which they performed but in part, and not in all cases. Matt. xvii. 16, and 19, Mark ix. 18, 28, Jesus Christ himself had not that general and constant assistance from God the Father.* Mark vi. 5, Christ was not able to work one miracle except healing a few sick persons.

Mark xiii. 32, Christ himself declares expressly in these words: But of that day, and that hour, knoweth no person; no, not the angels-nor the Son, but the Father only,' or alone (as some copies have it). Martha, John xi. 22, was well informed that Christ's power to work miracles was from God-and she saith to Christ I know that whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will grant it to thee.' And Jesus, ver. 40, 41, lifted up his eyes and said, O Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me.'--And thus Lazarus was raised.

Acts xix. 6, 11, God wrought special miracles

*Our author is mistaken in making this conclusion from the remark of the evangelist that he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands &c For the words of St. Mark are more justly rendered, that he did not judge proper. or, was not willing to do any miracle, &c. Dr. Symonds's Observ. upon the Expediency of revising the present English Version of the Four Gospels, &c. p. 127. See also Bishop Pearce upon the passage, &c. EDITOR (of 2nd EDIT.)

by the hands of Paul. Also by Barnabas and Paul, Acts xv. 12. And St. Stephen, full of faith and power, wrought great wonders and miracles among the people, vi. 8, and so did the other apostles, ii. 43, For many wonders and signs were done by the apostles; and they cast out devils, and healed the sick.' See Acts iii. v. 12, vi. 1, xiv. 3, xv. 12, Rom. xv. 19. All which was according to Christ's promise, John xiv. 12, where Christ tells his disciples, that he who be lieved on him should do the like works and greater.'

This truth (viz. that God wrought the miracles, and not Christ) is confirmed by St. Mark and St. Paul.

The doctrine of salvation was first preached by our master (Christ). And God confirmed it, or attested it, by signs, wonders, and divers miracles, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost.' Heb. ii. 3, 4, Mark xvi. 20.

Christ's disciples, from his miracles, inferred his mission from God, and that God was present with him; but did not, like our moderns, once infer his divinity.

John iii. 2. From the miracles of Christ, which were really and truly not wrought by him, but by God alone, as appears by the foregoing texts, Nicodemus rightly concludes, that God was with him.' And his followers, vi. 14, That he was the prophet that should come.' And his disciples praised God at the sight of his miracles, Luke vii. 16, xix. 37, and pronounced Christ blessed, who came in his name;' that is, by the authority of God. And St. Peter infers, from Christ's miracles, that he was a man approved, or recommended by God,' who wrought the miracles, &c. and that God was with him' (Christ), Acts ii. 22,

X. 38.

But they did not conclude, from, the miracles, that Christ was very and true God; though the moderns make the miracles of Christ one certain topic, from whence they would prove his Godhead, as is seen in all their systems and bodies of divinity!

Remarkable are the words of St. John, towards the