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DISC. These are fubjects, on which a man can

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never meditate, but with infinite profit and advantage. By afcending the holy mount, and there viewing, in the transfiguration of Jefus, the glory of his person, and an enfample of that glory which he fhall beftow on his faints, at the refurrection, he is armed against the pain and fhame of the crofs, and ftrengthened to undergo his portion of fufferings in the world. By attending his Redeemer in the garden, during his agony, he learns the intolerable punishments due to fin, and the amazing love of him who would defcend from Tabor to Gethsemane, to bear them for finners; he is prepared to take up his crofs, and to be conformed to Chrift in fufferings, from thence looking back to the glory which the Son of God left for a time, that he might bestow it on his beloved disciples for ever. Whofoever hath fo digefted in his heart these two fubjects, as to be able to reduce the confiderations, on them to practice, hath attended his Master, with St. John, on the mount, and in the garden. Three

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Three times we hear in the Gospels the DISC. beloved Disciple reproved by his Master, to fhew us that whom the Lord loveth he chafteneth and purgeth, till, like the branch of a well dreffed vine, he bring forth more and better fruit. Once, a fpark of ambition, lighting upon the fpirits of the two brothers, James and John, had fuddenly inflamed them with a vehement defire of pre-eminence above their colleagues in the ministry: they wanted to "fit, one on his

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right hand, and the other on his left, "in his kingdom." Our Lord gave them to understand, that they, who were called to be his disciples and apoftles, were called to do his work, to labour and to fuffer for the fervice of the church, and the falvation of fouls, and fhould efteem it fufficient to be exalted, like their bleffed Mafter, in heaven, after the work was done. Thus the two young candidates for promotion stood reproved. Made wiser by the instructions of their Lord, and the descent of the Holy Ghoft upon them at the day of Pentecoft, they thought no more of preceding

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DISC. ceding their brethren, except in diligence

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and patience: they renounced self, preached the Gospel, fuffered perfecution, were crowned indeed, but it was with thorns: and thus, at length, in a far better fenfe, ́they obtained their wifh, of fitting upon thrones with Chrift, in his kingdom.

At another time the two difciples James and John, not bearing to fee their Lord rejected by the fchifmatical Samaritans, were for calling fire from heaven to confume them, after the example of the prophet Elijah. But Chrift rebuked them, telling them," they knew not what man"ner of Spirit they were of; for the fon of man was come to fave the lives of "men, not to deftroy them." The prefent is the day of grace and mercy, long fuffering and forbearance, with Chrift, and it ought to be fo with his difciples. The hour is coming, when, like Elijah, who represented him in his judicial capacity, he fhall execute the vengeance written, and burn up his enemies on every fide. But the time is not yet.

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The third reproof St. John met with DISC. from his Mafter was likewife for an inftance of indifcreet zeal, in forbidding a person to caft out devils in Christ's name, because he followed not them. "Forbid "him not (fays Chrift); for there is no "man which fhall do a miracle in my "name, that can lightly speak evil of me. "For he that is not against us, is on our

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part. For whoever shall give you a cup "of water to drink in my name, because

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ye belong to Chrift, he fhall not lose his "reward"." No emulation or jealousy should prevent our encouraging every man to do good, though not in all points as we are, or could with him to be. Whatever real good he does, it is God who does it in him, and in time that God may reveal all other things to him; towards which, we ourselves, by treating him with tendernefs and kindness, may be made inftru

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But thefe offences, upon Chrift's admoni

b Mark ix.

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tions,

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DISC. tions, having been repented of and forfaken, they deprived not our Apoftle of the place he had obtained in his Lord's favour. For at the last supper we find him fitting next to Jefus, and, as the manner then was, reclining on his breaft: as it is the privilege of the beloved disciple, when admitted to the fupper of the Lamb, to pour all his prayers and complaints into the bofom of his Redeemer, who is always ready to hear, always mighty to fave.

At the apprehenfion of Jefus, John fled with the rest, but, quickly returning again, entered into the High Prieft's palace, and attended his bleffed Mafter through every ftage of his paffion, till we behold him. taking his ftation at the foot of the cross, where he is ufually drawn in pictures of the crucifixion, with a countenance full of grief and love unutterable. From the cross Jefus commended his holy mother to the care of St. John, who from thenceforth, happy in an opportunity of fhewing his love to his Lord, as well as of entertain

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