AN

ESSAY

ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε

CHARACTER AND OFFICE

O F

JESUS CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION.

T must be evident at first view to every one

IT.

who looks into the writings of the four Evangelifts, that they have given to the world the history of a very extraordinary perfonage. Jefus Chrift whose life and actions they have left upon record, was in their apprehenfion, the Son of God; Had been in the begin'ning with God,' and was fent into this world by the special appointment of his Father, on a very important and extraordinary defign: and Jefus Chrift himself so soon as he appeared publickly amongst mankind affumed this high and facred character, declaring that what he taught and did was by his immediate commiffion and authority. Hence we are naturally led to enquire, what is to be found in the hiftory of his life, that is equal to the dignity A

and importance of this character; and we unavoidably expect to meet with some peculiar marks of excellence and merit in the life of a perfon whom we are taught to honour as the meffenger and Son of God. We fhall find accordingly in the hiftory of his life, fuch a series of extraordinary events, as fully anfwers this natural expectation, and marks his character in a very ftriking and diftinguished manner.

These extraordinary events were of two kinds,

ift, Such as proceeded more immediately from the providence of God, and were the effects of an extraordinary interpofition of his power.

2dly, Such as proceeded more immediately from Chrift himfelf, and were the confequences of his own extraordinary wisdom, power and goodnefs.

To thefe two different atteftations of his character, Jefus appears to have referred, when he told the Jews, *I am one that bear ' witness of myself, and the Father that fent 'me, beareth witnefs of me," i. e. I atteft the truth of my commiffion from the Father, by the purity and goodnefs of my life, by the wisdom and importance of the doctrines which

I teach, and by the mighty works which I perform. The Father alfo beareth witness of me by the marvellous interpofitions of his power and providence in my behalf.

It is chiefly proposed in the following effay, to confider thofe events in the history of the gofpel by which Jefus Chrift bore witness of himself, and manifefted the peculiar dignity and importance of his character: as thefe however were accompanied with fome extraordinary interpofitions of providence, by which his heavenly Father alfo bore witnefs of him, it may not be improper to prefix a fhort account of them from the records of the gospel.

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SECTION I.

Of the extraordinary interpofitions of divine Providence recorded in the hiftory of Jefus Chrift.

WHEN

7HEN God fent his Son into the world, he judged it proper to atteft his divine commiffion, and announce the dignity and importance of his character by fome very extraordinary appearances of providence. He did not indeed diftinguish him, or announce his dignity by any of thofe outward honours and advantages of life, which are the great objects of human ambition, and by which the pride of man makes him fond to be distinguished. Jefus was fo far from being honour'd and diftinguished in this manner by his heavenly Father, that he lived entirely destitute of all the honours and advantages of this world. He had not, as he says himself, Where to ⚫ lay his head;' as his prophet hath expreffed it, He had no form nor comelinefs; when men faw him, there was no beauty that they fhould defire him, and therefore he was rejected and defpifed.

This circumftance however was with great propriety adapted to the facred office which he was to bear, and the purposes for which