of, that he was alfo qualified to be the Saviour of their fouls; and was equally difpofed, and able, to enfure their everlafting interefts beyond the grave. That all power was given · to him in heaven, and in earth: and that he ⚫ had the words of everlafting life.'

6

SECTION III.

Chrift's moral and religious character more particularly confidered and explained from the conduct of his life.

HAVING confidered the miracles of

Chrift, as the firft difcovery which he

gave of his character and office, as the meffenger of God, we are in the next place, to confider the more ordinary incidents, and tranfactions of his life. In this part of the effay, it is propofed to enquire more particuFarly into his moral and religious character, and with this view, to trace through the conduct of his life, the influence of that important principle, which, as was obferved before, gave the peculiar colour, and diftinction to his character.

Jefus having afferted his commiffion as the meffenger of God, began his public teaching with a folemn exhortation to repentance, or that change of mind, without which, he knew, impure and finful creatures, fuch as men, would not be able to attain that happinefs, and immortality, which it was the purpofe of his miffron to this world, to bring

them to. * Jefus began to fay, repent, for 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Soon after he had thus opened his commiffion, we are informed, + that when he went about preaching the gofpel of the kingdom, 'He saw the multitudes, and was moved with 'compaffion on them, because they fainted, ' and were fcattered abroad, as sheep having no fhepherd. They fainted,' i. e. they were ignorant of, and unfupported by thofe truths of God, which give nourishment and ftrength, and comfort to the foul of man; They were fcattered abroad, as fheep having no fhepherd,' i. e. they had no fufficient inftrucctor, to lead them in the way to happiness and immortality. That this was the fenfe of thefe expreffions, appears from the gofpel of St. Mark, where we are informed, that being thus moved with compaffion, because the people were as fheep having no shepherd,

He therefore taught them many things.' This circumftance at the beginning of our Saviour's public miniftry, naturally fuggefts the following remarks.

ift, That the first and strongest point of light in which he viewed mankind was that, of their being rational and immortal crea

* Mat. iv. 17.

+ Mat. ix. 36.

‡ Mark vi. 34.

tures, capable of moral and religious inftructions, and of attaining by their influence, to everlasting life.

2dly, That viewing them in this point of light, the first emotion which he felt concerning them, was pity to their fouls; because for want of moral and religious instructions, they were wandering from that rational, virtuous and immortal happiness, for which their nature was defigned.

3dly, That as this compaffion to the fouls. of men, discovered a difpofition that was excellent and amiable, in its own nature, fo.it fuited with a very great propriety, the purpose of his coming to this world, and gave a most agreeable indication of what was to be the ruling principle and motive of his after life. The Evangelift informs us, * that immediately before he had expreffed his compaffion on the multitude, he had been healing all manner of difeafe and fickness among them: and very probably the people as they stood around him, were expreffing their gratitude and joy, on the occafion. This, to any other perfon, would have given compleat fatisfaction and delight. Jefus however had too deep an infight into the interests of human nature, to be fatisfied with these events. He knew that

Mat, ix. 35.

the difeafes of the body, and all the vifible calamities of life, were but trifling, when compared with thofe unfeen and everlasting miferies, which arife from ignorance and guilt, or, what he calls the lofs of the immortal foul.

He knew that the people whom he faw around him, rejoicing in the effects of his be neficent and mighty works, and acknowledg, ing their obligations to their benefactor, were created for enjoyments of a different, and more important nature; that he himself had come from heaven to lead them to thefe nobler enjoyments; but that they were so unfortunate as not to know, either the nature of that happiness for which they were defigned, or the method of attaining it; nor had hither. to met with any wife or faithful teacher, to conduct them to it.-Jefus beholding the multitudes in this uncommon, but affecting light, had compaffion on them, fays the Evangelift, (alluding to the tenderness and care of a faith, ful fhepherd). Because they were as fheep * •

* This image would convey a stronger apprehension of the flate of Jesus' mind to the Jews who lived in the days of the Evangelift, than it does to us. The pastoral life was then in great honour and efteem; the riches of their greatest men confifted chiefly in their flocks, and they placed their honour and delight in attending them, and preparing proper nourishment and pasture for them. Whatever therefore concerned the in