ON THE
HARACTER AND OFFICE

OF

||ESUS CHRIST.

TINTRODUCTION.

must be evident at first view to every or
Fho looks into the writings of the four
myelits, that they have given to the wo
pa mitory of a very extraordinary persona
sus Christ whose life and actions they h
s upon record, was in their appreheni

Son of God; Had been in the be
Jag with God, and was sent into this v
y lue ipecial appointment of his Fathe
lery important and extraordinary d

Jesus Christ himself so soon as he a
a publickly amongst mankind affum
nga and sacred character, declaring th

taught and did was by his immedia
tion and authority. Hence we are

a to enquire, what is to be foui
story of his life, that is equal to th

htled to enquire

AN .
E S S A Y .

ON THE CHARACTER AND OFFICE

OF . .. JESUS CHRIST. INTRODUCTION.

I

TT must be evident at first view to every one I who looks into the writings of the four Evangelists, that they have given to the world the history of a very extraordinary personage. Jesus Christ whose life and actions they have left upon record, was in their apprehension, the Son of God; ‘Had been in the begin'ning with God,' and was sent into this world by the special appointment of his Father, on a very important and extraordinary design: and Jesus Christ himself so soon as he appeared publickly amongst mankind assumed this high and sacred character, declaring that what he taught and did was by his immediate commission and authority. Hence we are naturally led to enquire, what is to be found in the history of his life, that is equal to the dignity

OF JESUS CHRIST. 3 pa and by the mighty works which I per

The Father also beareth witness of me wa marelous interpofitions of his power

unidence in my behalf.

life. wchiety proposed in the following effay,

sider those events in the history of the

y which Jesus Christ bore witness of no N, and manifested the peculiar dignity

aportance of his character: as theft how: iwo phete accompanied with some extraordi

paterpofitions of providence, by which his ediately poly Father also bore witness of him, it

De improper to prefix a short account him from the records of the gospel.

and importance of this character; and wę un-
avoidably expect to meet with some peculiar
marks of excellence and merit in the life
of a person whom we are taught to honour
as the messenger and Son of God. We shall nomidence in my ben
find accordingly in the history of his life, achety proposed i
such a series of extraordinary events, as fully
answers this natural expectation, and marks
his character in a very striking and distin-
guished manner.

These extraordinary events were of two file accompani
kinds,

ist, Such as proceeded more immediately y Father alco
from the providence of God, and were the ef- or be improve
fects of an extraordinary interposition of his
power.

2dly, Such as proceeded more immediately
from Chrift himself, and were the consequen-
ces of his own extraordinary wisdom, power
and goodness.
To these two different attestations of his

A 2
character, Jefus appears to have referred,
when he told the Jews, *I am one that bear
• witness of myself, and the Father that sent
• me, beareth witness of me,” i, e. I attest the
truth of my commisfion from the Father, by
the purity and goodness of my life, by the
wisdom and importance of the doctrines which

* Joho viii. .

bow I teach, and by the mighty works which I perEpicy form. The Father alfo bearerh witness of me = 104 by the marvellous interpositions of his power

and providence in my behalf.

It is chiefly proposed in the following effay, to consider those events in the history of the gospel by which Jesus Christ bore witness of himself, and manifested the peculiar dignity and importance of his character: as thefe however were accompanied with some extraordinary interpositions of providence, by which his heavenly Father also bore witness of him, it

may not be improper to prefix a short account ether of them from the records of the gospel. of be

E CHARACTER AND OFFICE

ECTION I.

-ordinary interpositions of divine and to raise the

recorded in the history of Jesus ay enjoyments of

ced it proper the dignity astraor

chofe out are the ich the phed

OF JESUS CHRIST. 5 zi from God. He was sent into this - rib a view to plant the principles of

w and religious wisdom in the hearts of of divine u tad to raise them from the sensible and Felus puy enjoyments of this life, to the pur

pic those enjoyments which are of a spi.

religious and immortal nature. But world, incipal obstruction which Jesus had to is divine venter in the execution of this design, was ind im- fi trong attachment to the interests and di

ktons of this world, which is deeply root

Nathe heart of man. It behoved him there.
idige p when he came into this world, to set the

pemificance of all its interests and enjoy.
psis in a proper light. This he did in a

as and striking manner by the doctrine

fah he taught; and still more strongly nd di- deftitute and low state of life in which avenly pale to make his progress through ť of all ord. Jesus hereby taught his friends of I

al account the enjoyments and distinct sve to do this world were in his esteem; and from

jan example shewed them, " That the 15 when ban confifteth not in the abundance at they lings which he poffeffeth. To this

The added, that the distinctions of this

are of too little importance in the great bod to be chosen by him as the prop

ut his regard, or the means by which or which will the honour of his Son. The w

A 3

God sent his Son into the world,
Iged it proper to attest his divine
and announce the dignity and im- pitong attachm
Es character by some very extraor-pions of this are

ances of providence. He did not guish him, or announce his dig

those outward honours and ad- snificance of ife, which are the great objects is in a nm bition, and by which the pride s him fond to be distinguished. ar from being honour'd and di- deftitute

this manner by his heavenly Me to maba he lived entirely destitute of all good. Tefore ? and advantages of this world. All accomo as he says himself, - Where to do this won ;' as his prophet hath exprefsed: 10 forin nor comeliness; when I had confitta , there was no beauty that they things whic nim, and therefore he was re

paid he taught; and an

ised.

istance however was with great! God to be
ted to the facred office which
; and the purposes for which aktet the