1. On the amiable and excellent spirit of John the Baptift. His difciples, we have feen, beheld the increafing greatness of CHRIST, the number of his followers, and the fuccefs of his ministry, with concern and jealoufy. They feared that their master would fink into disrepute, and that the fame of CHRIST's preaching would tend to the injury of his character. In this, while they expreffed their affectionate attachment to the Baptift, they betrayed their ignorance and envy. Their minds were not fufficiently informed concerning the nature and defign of his miffion; and they were not generous enough to rejoice in the fuccefs with which another was forwarding the fame cause, opening the kingdom of GOD, and leading men to repentance.

But the concern, which was felt and expreffed by them, ferves to fhew how much the Baptist was their fuperior in wisdom and goodness. He had a just sense of the nature of his own miffion, and was fully fenfible that it was to give place to that of CHRIST, which it was defigned to introduce, not to fuperfede. "Ye yourselves,” says he in the

next verfe," bear me witnefs, that I faid I

am not the CHRIST, but that I am fent "before him." On this ground the appearance of CHRIST in his public character, and the fuccefs of his miniftry, were regarded by himself with pleasure and fatisfaction: and he could fee his own miniftry neglected and contemned, without complaint or grief. "He "must increase, but I must decrease." Satisfied himself, he endeavoured to bring the minds of his difciples into an acquiefcence in the rifing honours of CHRIST's ministry; with this view, explaining the defign of his own, and reminding them of the general and avowed principle of truth and piety advanced in the text, "A man can receive nothing, except "it be given him from heaven." As if he had faid, if CHRIST be refpected, followed, and honoured, God hath exalted him to his rank of authority and influence. GOD favours his preaching, and difpofeth the hearts of the people towards him.

There is something amiable and great in these sentiments and this deportment. The fingular importance of the miniftry which

› Ver. 30.

the Baptist had fulfilled-the admiration, which his life and doctrine had raised-the crowds in which the people had flocked after him, and received his baptifm-were circumftances highly flattering to the pride of the human heart, highly gratifying to the love of popularity and the defire of a name. But in whatever degree these paffions might have been felt by the Baptift, they were subdued and fuppreffed by principles of piety, by a fense of duty, and by his high and friendly regards to JESUS. He beheld the abilities and character, that would eclipse his own, with complacency. He himself had risen upon the world as a burning and shining light; but he knew how to fet with dignity, and the ferenity of a calm and contented mind. Jerufalem and Judea had, for a feason, rejoiced in his light; but he faw, with pleasure, the tide of their affection turned; and his joy, fo far from being at all impaired, was by it heightened and completed.. Thus fubmiffive was his foul to the counfels of heaven! Thus generous and difinterested his friendship to CHRIST! Can we otherwise than admire the good man, thus ready to be forgotten, and

even glad to be forfaken? What an amiable piccture of a mind not corrupted by popularity, free from jealousy and envy!

Secondly. This fubject fhews the folly and wickedness of an envious temper. "The spirit that naturally dwelleth

in us,

"lufteth to heaven.' We are difpofed to confider the advantages poffeffed by others as loft from ourselves, and their fuperiority as ftanding in the way of our own happiness and enjoyment. Thus the difciples of John were tempted to think that the reputation and fuccefs of CHRIST's miniftry were derogatory from the honour and authority of their master. Invidious comparisons were made between the two preachers of righteousness: and the adherents to the latter beheld with envious jealoufy the increafing glory of the former. To correct their fentiments and temper, John fuggefts to them that the fuperior influence and weight which accompanied the ministry of JESUS, were to be ascribed to the will of GOD; and that CHRIST had not excelled himfelf, except he had received it from heaven.

envy

The fame confideration, if applied to any advantages in which we are outdone by others, is, in all cafes, a remedy against the restlefs paffion of envy. What if my neighbour be more beautiful, more rich, more wife, more respected than myself; what if he can make a greater figure and shew in life, and I be neglected, while others pay their court to him; what hath he, which he hath not received? Is he not, with all his fuperiority, in the fight of men, equally a dependent, with the lowest and meanest about him, on the divine bounty and pleasure? He did not make himself. He did not choose the time and circumstances of his exiftence. The benevolent Maker of all formed him, fixed his rank in life, made him what he is, and gave him what he hath.

If God be pleased thus to dispose of his good and perfect gifts, who am I, that I should be displeased? Infinite wisdom certainly knoweth how to regulate the diftribution of his favours and fhall I deem it partial and unjust, because others enjoy fome which I want? Who or what am I, that every excellence fhould meet in me, that I cannot