PART Zacharias's heavenly vifion. Upon what then IV. could two fuch predictions be grounded, that were fo aftonishing and inprobable, and were nevertheless advanced fo pofitively, and in fo plain and precife terms? did not the event justify them? and could this event have been foreseen by human conjectures? therefore the apparition of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias, muft neceffarily be acknowledged, and then the whole is granted. Chrift is the moft High, whofe prophet is John the Baptift: he is the Day-fpring, whofe Aurora is John: he is the Saviour who remits the fins of mankind, and John prepares the way for him by repent ance. ARTICLE IV. John being concealed in the defart until the hour of his manifeftation, and proclaiming when he appeared, that the Meffiah was come, tho' he had no diftinct knowledge of him, was certainly infpired with a divine light. A FTER fo wonderful an event, which rendered the whole world attentive to the extraordinary graces God had bestowed on the first years of a child* deftined to a facred function, John difappears, and God conceals him *The child grew,' and waxed ftrong in fpirit, and was in "the defarts till the day of his fhewing unto Ifrael," Luke i. 80, 2 him in the defart till the time he refolved to CHAP. fhew him to all Ifrael. We know This fact cannot be contefted. nothing of John from his birth, till he comes preaching repentance upon the banks of Jordan, being then about thirty years of age; and the astonishment which the world was in on account of his manner of life, of his zeal, and of his discourse, proves that he was unknown till that time. God, by feparating him thus from human converfe, intended to exempt him from the flighteft faults, which in this converfe are inevitable even to the jufteft of men; to prepare him, by a great fanctity, to be the fore-runner of the Holy of Holies; and to gain him a great respect and authority by fo long a retreat, when he should come out publishing, "that "the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and "that the Meffiah was come." But befides thefe motives, God defigned to prevent all our doubts, and to diveft us of every pretext for our diftrufts, by taking away the prophet of the Meffiah in his most tender infancy; and concealing him in the defart till he fhould command him to prepare the way before him, and proclaim to Ifrael, that he was come, altho' he was yet unknown. For there could not be the leaft room for fufpicion, to behold a man coming out of a defart, whose nativity had been attended with fo many mira cles, "John the Baptift came preaching in the wilderness of Ju"dea, faying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at "hand." V. PART.cles, and of whom they knew nothing till IV. that time; to fee him, I fay, coming out of a defart, and declaring at his firft appearance, that the promises were accomplished; that the kingdom of heaven was at hand; that the Deliverer, fo long expected, was coming to manifeft himself, and that he must haften to make the ways plain, by removing all obftacles to his coming by repentance. Let us examine this extraordinary man, and hear what he fays. From whence has he his information? of whom has he taken counsel ? what authority has he for what he afferts? who would have expected fuch news a moment before his manifeftation? can it be doubtful whether it was the Spirit of God which fent and inftructed him? But let us ask him, where is the Meffiah? I know, fays he, that he is certainly come, and that he is in the midft of his people. But I know him not, I never beheld him: I could not distinguish him from amongst the reft without a fign given me by God, and I have not as yet remarked him who agrees with that fign; when he shall exhibit him to me with this diftinction, I will declare him to the world: but till that time I cannot. Could "There ftandeth one among you whom ye know not. I knew Could a prudent man hear this with indif-CHAP. ference, if he had been present? could he de- V. spise news of fuch importance, affirmed by a man fo vifibly infpired? could he fufpect this prophet without giving up his reafon? a prophet who actually came out of the defart, and had been invifible till that moment to all Ifrael? could he fufpect him, I fay, of having concerted every thing he fays with fome pretended Meffiah, with whofe vifage and name he affects to be unacquainted? would not incredulity, in that cafe, be folly and weaknefs? and would a fenfible man be willing to risk his falvation upon fo irrational a fuppofition? and yet we must either fall into this excess, or acknowledge John Baptift to be a prophet, and Chrift the Meffiah and promised Saviour; which contains and decides the whole. ARTICLE V. The perfonal character of Saint John, and the idea which he entertained of the Meffiah and of true juftice, prove his miffion to be divine. L ET us, however, patiently bear with the timidity and irrefolution of a man, who would not refufe to believe, but would only take all poffible precaution not to be deceived; and let us examine with him, the prophet who proclaims the coming of the Meffiah. 3 If PART If he is an impoftor, he has doubtlefs the fame IV. ideas in common with the Jews. He would have him reign, and win the minds of the people, he would represent him as a man zealous for the glory of his nation, and its liberty, and afterwards partake with him the credit, authority, and other advantages attending the fupreme command. But here 'tis the reverfe: for this prophet not only carries the love of poverty and aufterity even to an excefs, but fpeaks of the Meffiah only as a fevere judge of confciences, an enemy to false virtue, or pretended juftice, and entirely oppofite to the prejudiced notions of the Jews; yet entirely agreeable to the true idea which the ancient prophets had of him: "O generation of vipers, he said to the pharifees and to all people who came to his baptifm, "who hath warned you to flee from "the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore "fruits meet for repentance.-And think not "to fay within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I fay unto you, that God is "able of these ftones to raise up children unto "Abraham. And now alfo the ax is laid un"to the root of the trees: therefore every tree, which bringeth not forth good fruit, " is hewn down and caft into the fire. I in"deed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, the latchet of whofe fhoes "I am not worthy to unloofe. He fhall bap"tize you with the Holy Ghoft, and with "fire. |