executed the commiffion which was given him by his Father. Prompted by this principle he had come into this world. 'He came to feek

and fave that which was loft: to minifter ' and give his life a ransom for many to fave his people from their fins: that whofoever 'believeth on him might not perish, but have everlasting life' and having been determined by this motive, to come into the world, he was directed by its influence in every instance of his conduct. This we fhall find was his distinguishing and peculiar character, by which we must explain all the particular tranfactions of his life, and place them in their proper light.

Before we attempt to trace the influence of this principle, in the measures of his conduct, it may be proper to obferve with relation to the principle itself; that it equally referred to the will of God, and the happiness of men; and that Jefus by an equal attention and regard to each of thefe, was directed in the whole proน ceedings of his life. In all thofe compaffionate and generous endeavours to promote the virtue and immortal happiness of men, in which he fpent his life; we shall find him conftantly expreffing a devout attention to the will of God, and doing good with a peculiar chearfulness and zeal, because it was the work which his heavenly Father had given him to do. The

truth of this remark fufficiently appears from the records of the gofpel. It is needless to adduce particular paffages in proof of it. The reader may only be put in mind of the manner in which he began his public miniftry, and in which he reflected on it, towards the conclufion of his life. When he made his first attempt to inftruct the people of Jerufalem, he informed his friends, *That he was then a

bout his Father's bufinefs.' When near the close of life, he reflected on his former conduct, he addreffed his heavenly Father in this manner; I have glorified thee on earth, I

have finished the work which thou gaveft me

to do.' Thus, was the fpirit of devotion and humanity, equally expreffed in the character and life of Jefus Chrift.-He was indeed the moft devout perfon that ever lived upon the earth. An affectionate and ferious fenfe of God, and a reverend attention to his providence and will, were expreffed in every word that proceeded from his mouth, and in every action of his life. ‡ His frequent retirements from the world, to converfe with God in prayer. § The devout addreffes which he made to him by prayer, in the prefence of his friends. **The exhortations which he gave them to

• Luke ii. 49. + John xvii. 4. Mat. xiv. 23. Mark i. 35. Luke v. 16. vi. 12. § Mat. xi. 25. John xi. 41. xii. 27. xvii. 1, ** Mat. vii. 7. Luke xi. 1. xviii. I.

*

be frequent and importunate in prayer. His directions to make God the fupreme object of their. love, their + fear, their trust, § his perfections the pattern of their imitation; and his approbation ** the ultimate and highest aim of all their actions: above all, his patient and perfect refignation to the will of God, when he fuffered by the order of his providence; these fufficiently difcover the devotion of his character.-Jefus was at the fame time a person of the most benevolent and active fpirit; for he spent his life in offices of mercy, and went about continually doing ' good.'

6

This remarkable coalition of devotion and humanity, proceeded from thofe amiable and joyful views which he always entertained of the goodness of his heavenly Father. His devotion towards him, was all of it an exercife of love, proceeding from the knowledge of his goodness, and directing him to ferve him, under the delightful apprehenfion of a merciful and loving Father. From this idea, he perceived that nothing could be fo grateful an expreffion of his piety to God, as his doing offices of mercy towards men, whom he confidered as his family and children. By this means,

Mat. xxii. 37. + Luke xii. 4.

§ Mat. v. 44.

** Mat. vi. 1.

Mat, vi. 25.

his piety was equally removed from a monkifh, fanatical retirement from the world, and a weak fuperftitious attachment to external forms. Devotion and humanity, coinciding in their dictates and demands, directed him with equal influence, in every action of his life: and by that fame tenor of conduct, by which he did the will of God, he promoted the immortal interefts of men. In this light he himfelf puts his character, and the motive of his life. I came down from heaven, not to do

mine own will, but the will of him that fent me. And this is the Father's will which fent me, that of all which he hath given me, I 'fhould lofe nothing, but fhould raise it up again at the laft day. And that every one which feeth the Son, and believeth on him,

may have everlafting life.' This great circumftance compleated the merit of his character, and gave the virtue of his life, an elevation and ftability which no opposition was able to control.

In confidering the influence of this important principle on the particular transactions of Jefus' life, we are chiefly to attend to his deportment, during the courfe of his public miniftry. His character was not fully manifefted, till he entered on this period of his life.

There were however, a few incidents in his hiftory prior to this period, which may merit our attention.

*

ift, When Jefus was but a child about twelve years of age, he went into the temple, and placing himself among the doctors of the church, discourfed in fuch a manner on the doctrines of religion, as raised the admiration and furprise of all who heard him. From this circumstance it appears; 1ft, That Jefus even in the earlier years of his life, poffeffed the fame extraordinary wisdom, which he afterwards more fully manifested in his riper years. 2dly, That, had it been his choice he might, even at that early period of his life, have appeared publickly in the world, with diftinguished honour and applause.

2dly, About the fame time † when his parents reprehended him for leaving them without their knowledge; though he afferted his prerogative as the Son of God, yet he fubmitted to their authority, and lived with them in obfcurity and fervile labour, till he was about thirty years of age.

This part of his history gives an opening to his character, which merits our attention. In that early and active period of life, it was extremely fingular in Jefus, to retire into obfcu