while the generality paid little regard to that extensive holinefs, which is indifpenfably required. Upon this point, therefore, the Scribe appealed to Jefus, and obtained a decifive anfwer. The Saviour difcovered at once a complete understanding of the facred law in its full import, while he declared, that its grand demand is love; love the moft ardent, of which we are capable, to the one fupreme Jehovah, and love for the whole human fpecies, as fincere as that which we feel for ourselves. The Jewish doctor perceived and acknowledged the excellence of this reply, and joined in afferting, that the principle of obedience, which our Lord laid down, was far more valuable and acceptable to God, than all ceremonial obfervances or expenfive facrifices. It appeared, then, that the Scribe, though he had come with an improper temper, poffeffed more confiftent fentiments of divine truth, than were ufually found among the Pharifees, and fuch as might have led him to an unfeigned acceptance of the Gofpel. On this ground, Jefus commended the folidity of his judgment, and confidered him as promifing fair for the kingdom of God. What the event was, we are not told.

The fubject, here propofed, is highly interefting: have we attended to it? Do we understand, what is of the main importance in religion? Are we aware of the extensive and fpiritual nature of God's moral law? Do we approve and admire its precepts, as "holy, and juft, and good?" Do we live under the influence of that facred principle of love, which is required in preference to every thing befides, and without which nothing can be pleafing to God? It is, indeed, the fum and fubftance of all thofe duties, which the infpired writers have inculcated, and is properly called "the fulfilling of the law." For every tranfgreffion fhews a defect of this difpofition;

*Rom. xiii. 10.

and

and love, if it maintained an entire and conftant afcendancy, would certainly lead to the full perfection of obedience. But we fail moft lamentably and continually. Our defires and affections, if examined by this teft, will every day convict us of guilt. We come far fhort of that regard, which we owe both to God and man; and nothing which we can poffibly plead, will compenfate the want of it.

The Pharifees ftill furrounded our Lord, and probably meditated a fresh attack. But he, the more completely to baffle and confound them, proposed a queftion, and called upon them to declare their opi-nion of the extraction of Meffiah, whom they profeffed to look for. He started a difficulty from their own fcriptures, which they could not refolve. They were agreed, that the Chrift, the promised Saviour, must be the Son of David," and they could not deny, that David, under the influence of the Holy Ghoft, fpeaks of him as his Lord. When urged, therefore, to explain, in what fenfe he could be the Son, and yet the Lord, of David, they could not reply. They felt themfelves overpowered, and relinquished their vain difputations, though they ftill retained all their malevolence.

To us, alfo, the enquiry may be addressed, and an important one it is, "What think ye of Christ ?” Have you formed confiftent and fcriptural-fentiments of his perfon and defcent? Or, how do you remove the difficulty, as it is here stated? If it be admitted, that Chrift is very God, as well as very man, the feeming abfurdity and contradiction is done away. Inhis human nature, he is "the Son of David, according to the flesh;" but, by a divine nature only, he is "David's Lord." Thus he ftyles himfelf" The root and the offspring of David +." But if we re

*Pfalm cx. I.

B 5

Rev. xxii. 16.

prefent him as no more than a creature like ourselves, and as having no higher original than earthly parents, the whole is ftrange and incongruous. The question will ftill recur, and cannot be answered, "How doth David in Spirit call him Lord ?" If we abide by the plain and exprefs declarations of the Bible, we fhallreadily allow, that Jefus is "Immanuel," "God manifefted in the flesh:" no other doctrine will reconcile the various paffages, which relate to him. This important pofition being eftablished, we may rejoice and triumph, as it lays a fecure and immovable foundation for our hope towards God.

Jefus continued through the day to teach, admonifh, and reprove. Addrefling himfelf to his difciples, in the audience of all the people, he folemnly warned them to beware of the pride and hypocrify of the Scribes and Pharifees, whom he feverely condemned, as he had done in fimilar language upon a former occafion*:-" As far as they speak to you in God's name, and agreeably to his word, they demand your refpect and obedience. But their conduct is inconfiftent with their own inftructions; and therefore be afraid of being mifled by their pernicious examples. They affume an appearance of great fanctity, and fcrupuloufly practife many religious ce-remonies; but they act, throughout, from the basest principles; their only aim is to gain the notice and applaufe of men. Their oftentation and vain-glory. are deteftable, while they affect fuch diftinctions and titles, as lead the people to compliment their piety and learning. But you, my difciples, must be far different, not taking to yourfelves any ftate, or courting appellations of honour and precedency. You must live as brethren, who have but one Father and one Master, and be willing to fubmit to the

Mat. xxiii. 1, &e. Mark xii. 38-40. Luke xx. 45, &c. See Sect. 24.

meanest

meanest office," in lowlinefs of mind esteeming others better than yourselves." Such a temper is indifpenfably requifite, fince "God refifteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble *."

Have we, then, attended to the exhortation, which equally concerns all the followers of Jefus? Do we poffefs that meeknefs of Spirit, fo effential to the Christian character? Are there no proud contentions among us for fuperiority of rank? And do we cheer fully condefcend and floop to our inferiors, for their benefit? Or again, while we pay a due refpect to thofe in higher life, do we reverence God and our confci ence above all? Do we remember, as we ought, that we are accountable, not to men, but to God, who "fearcheth the heart," and that "one is our Master, even Chrift?"

When Jefus had delivered thefe cautions, he turned himself to the Scribes and Pharifees, who ftill expected, probably, to find fome ground of accufation against him. He then addreffed them with peculiar majesty, and as one invested with fovereign authority. In the capacity of their Judge, he arraigned, he convicted them, and, for their fecret iniquity, pronounced upon them the heaviest condemnation. From one sentence

to another, we hear nothing but wo, wo, wo, breaking forth from his lips. Yet we fhall not wonder, if we attend to the charges, which he brought.

They difcovered an obftinate and malevolent oppofition to the Gofpel, not only rejecting it themfelves, but, with a furious bigotry, preventing others from receiving it. They practifed the most cruel oppreffions, even upon the widow and the fatherlefs, and yet covered their injuftice with a fhew of uncommon ardour in devotion. Their pretences to religion rendered their extortion the more deteftable;. and therefore Jefus declared, that their boasted.

prayers would aggravate their damnation. They thewed great zeal to gain profelytes, not for the glory of God, but their reputation; and they were fo earneft to confirm each profelyte in their errors and hatred of the truth, as to make his cafe more deplorable and hopeless than their own. They endeavoured by fpecious arguments and curious diftinctions to juftify their profane ufe of oaths, as if they might be allowed to fwear in certain forms of speech, and contracted no great degree of guilt by falfifying their folemn affirmations. But Jefus convicted them of horrid impiety and perjury, while he afferted, that fuch appeals to the temple, and the altar, as they pleaded for, were no other than appeals to God himself.

They paid a fcrupulous attention to fome trifles, which exalted their reputation, but neglected the most important and neceffary duties. Their religious zeal was confined to external obfervances: they fought not real purity of heart. They were fatisfied with so much of the appearance of fanctity, as would procure them admiration ainong the people, while their vile affections exposed them to the contempt and indignation of that righteous God, to whom all their fecret iniquity lay open.

They pretended a high veneration for those holy men, whom their fathers had murdered. But, though they profeffed to honour deceased faints by building and adorning their fepulchres, they perfecuted living ones, and thus proved that they inherited the fame violent hatred of genuine piety, as their ancestors. Jefus, therefore, declared, that by their continued progrefs in wickedness, they would foon fill up their measure, and be ripe for deftruction. So obdurate were they, that he confidered them as on the brink of final perdition, ready to fink down into "the damnation of hell." Yet further means were to be tried with them. Apoftles and other minifters were to be sent 3

among