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deemed sufficient to remove every impediment to the accomplishment of the most aspiring designs. His enemies also were aware of this, and industriously sought to ensnare him into conduct which might create suspicions of such sinister views. They accused him of intending to destroy the temple, and overthrow the Roman government; they charged him with "perverting the nation"," and endeavouring to usurp the regal power. The accusation expressly alleged against him before Pilate was that of "making himself a king;" and the inscription upon his cross denoted that this was the offence for which he suffered death.

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The charge, however, was declared to be unfounded, even by the judge who delivered him over to punishment; and it is disproved in every page of his history. His whole conduct manifested an entire disregard of secular views; a disregard, not only of worldly honours and emoluments, but even of the ordinary enjoyments which ease and affluence afford. Every discourse he delivered to the multitude, every conversation he held with his disciples, tended to shew that his “ "king"dom was not of this world," and to repress in his followers a worldly spirit. His beneh Luke xxiii. 2. i John xix. 12. k John xviii. 36.

dictions were pronounced upon dispositions the most opposite to such a spirit; his denunciations were uttered against those in whom it was most prevalent. None of his reproofs are more poignant than those with which he checked his disciples when they offended him in this respect. They who were most eager to press into his service were admonished to "take up the cross," and follow him; and were warned what they were to expect, if they resolved to become the disciples of a Master who "had not where to lay " his head."

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In all, then, that related to worldly temptations, our Lord "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth," Yet in any enterprise of this description, what could have obstructed HIM "who had all power in hea"ven and in earth';" whom "the winds and "the sea obeyed";" in whose service legions of angels were ready to come forth; who knew the thoughts and the hearts of men; at whose disposal were both the material and the spiritual world? Who besides himself, had ever such agents for effecting such designs? Yet who ever bore so patiently scorn and contumely; who less sought his

1 Matt. xxviii. 18.

m Matt. viii. 27.

own good, or coveted popular admiration? who more resolutely reproved those whom worldly interest would have led him to court and flatter, whether Jewish high-priest or Roman governor ?

2. Respecting another class of temptations, those which are administered by the sensual appetites and affections, little need be said to prove that our Lord was also "without sin.” Yet even on this head his accusers were not silent. They reviled him as "a man gluttonous "and a wine-bibber, the friend of publicans " and sinners"." They laid snares for him in his public conversation, that they might discover, either in his lenity towards offenders of such a description, or in his interpretations of the Jewish Law, somewhat to depreciate his reputation among the people. But what was the result? Let his own dignified rebukes be confronted with these unworthy accusations. "Which of you convinceth me of "sin"?" "They that be whole need not a

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physician, but they that are sick : I came not "to call the righteous, but sinners to repent"ance"." "Verily, I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the king"dom of God before you." With these re

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n Matt. xi. 19.

。 John viii. 46.

P Luke v. 31, 32.

9 Matt. xxi. 31.

proofs he silenced his adversaries, and we hear no more of such accusations. Strange, indeed, must have been that perverseness which could cast imputations so unworthy upon ONE whose doctrine and demeanour discountenanced every approach to impurity in word or thought, and surpassed even the rigour of the Jewish Law in restraining these evil propensities of our nature.

3. But a higher class of temptations is yet to be considered, such as assail the intellectual and spiritual faculties; and which too often are successful in overpowering minds of a superior cast, comparatively inaccessible to the seductions of sensuality or worldly grandeur.

Here again his adversaries vainly endeavoured to substantiate any charge against him. They accused him of arrogance in bearing witness of himself; of impiety in profaning the sabbath; of blasphemy in making himself equal with God. But mark his refutation of these charges. "If I do "not the works of my Father, believe me "not. But if I do, though ye believe not 66 me, believe the works; that ye may know " and believe that the Father is in me, and "I in Him." And again; "Though I bear "record of myself, yet my record is true: for I John x. 37, 38.

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"I know whence I came and whither I go; "but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whi"ther I gos;" referring still to those works which bore testimony to his union with the Father, but which testimony his adversaries stubbornly rejected. By the same evidence he proved himself to be "Lord also of the "sabbath," and that he was fully justified in requiring all men to "honour the Son even as they honour the Father"." By similar reasoning he repelled the charge of his "cast'ing out devils by the power of Beelzebub." His authority over evil spirits was destructive of the power of the Evil One; and "if Satan "cast out Satan, how shall his kingdom "stand?" No power, indeed, of any kind was exercised by him, but that which manifested the great purpose of his mission, glory to God and good-will towards men. We meet with no superfluous, no ostentatious display of it, to excite wonder or terror. He withdrew from the gaze of the multitude; he refused the homage they were willing to pay him. He frequently enjoined the persons upon whom a miracle of mercy had been performed, to forbear from spreading abroad his fame. He veiled, as far as might be, the Di

s John viii. 14.

x Matt. xii. 26.

t Mark ii. 28.

u John v. 23.

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