themselves, instead of preaching Jefus Chrift. "All men come to him!" Great hath been the power of this argument to kindle the flames of emulation and diffention in the church; and the difciples of John did not doubt but that the confide`ration would excite in him thofe paffions, which they felt working within themfelves.

BUT he was not framed of materials liable to take fire from fuch a fpark. On the contrary, a perufal of the difcourfe which this addrefs procured from him, is enough at any time to extinguish it, where it may have fallen. He made use of the incident, to bear his laft and moft noble teftimony to the power and majefty of his Lord. So far was he from

from being offended, or chagrined, because all men reforted to Jefus, that he triumphed in it, as his glory and his joy, as the very end for which he was fent into the world, to preach and to baptize. As if he had faid

WHY are ye jealous, and why do envious thoughts arife in your hearts? Look not to me, or to any thing that is in me, but to God, who made me what I'am, placed me in the ftation, and called me to the office defigned for me; a man can receive," or take to himself, "nothing, except it "be given him from above." And ye know the character in which I have ever acted; "Ye yourselves "bear me witnefs, that I faid, I am

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not the Chrift, but that I am fent "before him," as his meffenger and minifter,

minifter, not to affemble difciples in mine own name, but to prepare men. for him, and direct men to him. If therefore ye fet fo much by my authority, why do ye not credit my teftimony?. To Meffiah, not to me, the church is to be gathered and united; and he that hath the bride is the "bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom," who hath been honoured with a fhare in bringing. about fo happy an event, and who, when it is brought about, "ftandeth "and. heareth him" converfing with his spouse, cannot therefore be grieved and vexed; he cannot envy the felicity of the bridegroom, or defire to take the bride from him; but most affuredly congratulates with him, and "rejoiceth greatly because of the "bride

bridegroom's voice," finding that he hath fo well fucceeded in the work in which he was employed. This is my very cafe, when you come and tell me, that all men refort to the perfon, of whom I have fo often teftified, that he is the Chrift; "this "my joy therefore is fulfilled." I have no greater pleasure than to hear," that difciples go from me to him." As the morning ftar, I only those to proclaim the approach of the fun. Now he is rifen, I go down; "he "muft increase, but I muft decrease;" he will fine more and more unto the perfect day, while I fall fet and difappear. And reafon good why it fhould be fo. That which is prepa-. ratory muft give place to that which: is perfective; a baptifin of water

muft

muft yield to a baptifm of fire; an human inftructor muft cede to one "He that is of the

that is divine.

"earth is earthly, and fpeaketh of "the earth;" in fpite of his best endeavours, he will favour of his original, and there will be an alloy of duft and afhes in all he faith; whereas "he that cometh from heaven," I mean the bleffed perfon of whom ye are fo jealous," is above all" the children of Adam, When this fun fhineth in his ftrength, every ftar is obfcured; and the world will perceive the difference between the difcourses of the Mafter and thofe of the fervant, as readily as it diftin-' guifheth the glories of the day from the pale luftre and faint glimmering of thofe orbs, which ferve in fome,

measure