and this was fully exemplified in the difciples: most of the parables which our bleffed Saviour spake to the multitude, he explained in private to them: they were to publifh the gospel of peace; therefore every thing was made as clear to them by their master, whilft he continued with them, as poffible. He tells them, it was expedient for them that he should leave them; but confoles them with the promise that he will fend them another comforter, which fhould abide and continue with them in all their troubles and perfecu tions. "23. Now when he was at Jerufalem "at the paffover, on the feast day, many believed in his name, when they faw the "miracles which he did. 66 24. But Jefus did not commit him"felf unto them, because he knew all men, 66 25. And needed not that any fhould "testify of man: for he knew what was " in man." Our Our Saviour did not judge of men as we are obliged to judge of them, from appearances, which are often deceitful: he had a much furer means, the knowledge of every thought of their hearts: knowing, therefore, the fickleness even of those who profeffed to believe in him, he did not commit himself unto them. We ought not to truft fo entirely to appearances, however fair, as to build our actions upon them alone. Thus the Lord warns Samuel, (Book I. ch. xvi. ver. 7.) “Look 66 not on his countenance, or on the height of his ftature: because I have refused "him for the Lord feeth not as man feeth for man looketh on the outward 66 66 appearance, but the Lord looketh on "the heart." May the Father of all Mercies fo purify our hearts, by the Holy Ghoft, that we may be acceptable in his fight, through Jefus Chrift, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. CHAPTER CHAPTER THE SEVENTH. ST. JOHN, CHAP. III. "1. THE HERE was a man of the Pharifees, named Nicodemus, a ruler " of the Jews: 66 2. The fame came to Jefus, by night, " and faid unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doeft, except God be with him.” Although Nicodemus believed in our blessed Saviour and honored him, in private, yet he did not choose it fhould be known that he had any reverence for him, for fear of the Jews, who would probably have degraded him from the rank he held amongst them his faith, therefore, was Q 2 not not of fo zealous a nature as to lead him, for the fake of it, to give up all his temporal advantages. Under fuch circumftances, how gracious and condescending was it in our Lord, to give him a kind reception at fuch an unfeasonable hour! This fhould be a lesson to us, to bear with each other's follies and imperfections, never refusing through pride or prejudice, to help or give instruction to those of our fellow-creatures who ftand in need of it. 66 3. Jefus answered and faid unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a "man be born again, he cannot fee the kingdom of God. 66 66 4. Nicodemus faith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? "can he enter the fecond time into his "mother's womb and be born?" It seems rather extraordinary that a man in fo high a station could have fuppofed that our Saviour fpake literally. As a ruler of the Jews and an expounder of the Mofaic law, he knew that God was merciful and gracious to finners, and that their fins were pardoned and themselves accepted in the great day of atonement, if they were fincere in their addreffes to God: he might therefore have been affured that our Lord spake figuratively. 5. Jefus answered, Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, except a man be born of "water and of the fpirit, he cannot enter " into the kingdom of God." The gospel which our Saviour was about to publish, is frequently styled by him, the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven. Baptism is the introduction into this kingdom. Such glorious advantages may well be called the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of Heaven; but let us always keep in mind, that "where much "is given, much is required;" and that, in proportion to the bleffings held out to us, will be our condemnation, if we neglect to improve them. The mere pro feffion |