seen him going into the heaven, or with the same splendour and glory in the clouds, Acts i. 10, 11.

Then they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. And they went forth and preached every where, THE LORD co-operating and confirming the word, by means of the signal miracles accompanying it, Acts i. 12; Luke xxiv. 52, 53; Mark xvi. 20.

CHARACTER OF CHRIST.

Having now finished the foregoing survey, and comparison of the FOUR GOSPELS, humbly endeavouring to establish the credibility and consistency of these incomparable MEMOIRS throughout, by a close examination and critical harmony of their contents; we are naturally led to enquire, what was the concurrent design of the Evangelists in writing their respective Gospels? and this we learn from the conclusion of the last :

"These are written that ye might believe that JESUS is THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; and that believing, ye might have [eternal] life in his name, [or religion,"] John xx. 31.

This benevolent design, so signified, and addressed to the Asiatic churches, at whose entreaty John wrote his Gospel, is to be extended to the world at large, who are invited to the perusal of these memoirs of the life and ministry of the GREAT AUTHOR and FINISHER of OUR FAITH, and the CAPTAIN of OUR SALVATION; proving him, by the most unexceptionable testimony, divine and human, to be THE CHRIST, or KING OF ISRAEL, THE SON OF GOD, in his human and divine prophetic character; and also THE AUTHOR of eternal life and happiness to all those that believe in and obey him, as peculiarly THEIR LORD and THEIR GOD.

That these memoirs, indeed, were "written" for the benefit of the whole world we learn, 1. From the incidental observation of our Lord, foretelling that the circumstance of anointing his head preparatory to his embalmment, should be recorded to the woman's honour, wheresoever this Gospel should be preached in the whole world, Matt. xxvi. 13. 2. From his general commission to his Apostles," to discipline all the nations of the world," &c. Matt. xxviii. 19. And 3. From his prophecy, that "the

end," or destruction of Jerusalem, should not "come, until this Gospel of the kingdom [of Christ] should be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all the nations," Matt. xxiv. 14. And accordingly, THE GOSPEL was published, in writing, as well as orally, by Matthew, Luke, and Mark, by Peter, James, and Paul, some years before that event. And we may conclude, in obedience to OUR LORD's injunctions, under the guidance and assistance of his HOLY SPIRIT, for an everlasting possession to future ages, in order to supply the place of their transient preaching, most perfectly, Luke i. 4; 2 Pet. i. 13—15; 2 Tim. iv. 5, 6.

I. If we recapitulate the evangelical evidences of CHRIST'S character, they may be reduced to the following heads, as appealed to by OUR LORD himself, in his debates with the Jewish teachers, and discourses with his disciples.

1. The first, upon which he plainly lays the greatest stress, was taken from the stupendous miracles which he wrought, exceeding in number, variety, and magnitude, those of all his predecessors, the prophets. "The works which I do, bear witness of me, that THE FATHER hath sent me." "If I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they had not incurred sin." And this was confessed by the astonished multitudes,-" It was never so seen in Israel!"- "When THE CHRIST cometh, will he do greater miracles than these?"

2. The second was taken from the wondrous chain of prophecies, of which he was the subject, both in his Divine and human nature, as THE SON OF GOD, and THE SON OF MAN conjointly; his mission, his sufferings, and his glories, which were all together fulfilled in him, and in no other person. "Search the Scriptures, for they testify of Me." "If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed ME, for he wrote of Me."-" O inconsiderate and slow-hearted to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not THE CHRIST to suffer such things, and afterwards to enter into his glory?"

This prophetic argument is justly considered as “firmer” than the argument from miracles, by Peter; because it is a growing evidence to believers, as it shall be better understood in all its branches*.

See the first and second classes of Prophecies respecting CHRIST, in the Appendix to this volume.

3. The third, particularly addressed to his disciples, was his exact and minute foreknowledge of future events, respecting himself and them; and also his astonishing Scheme of Historical Prophecy, reaching to the end of the world, and consummation of all things, and stretching even into eternity; with a clearness and precision infinitely surpassing those of Moses and the Prophets, which he came to complete, unfold, and explain to future ages, both in those delivered personally by HIMSELF, and afterwards by his Apostles, and finally, in the Apocalypse *.

"Now I tell you, before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I AM [THE CHRIST."]" And they remembered his sayings." This also is a growing evidence, becoming, daily, clearer and brighter with the fulfilment, until the end.

4. The fourth was peculiarly addressed to the Jewish unbelievers, as an argumentum ad hominem, calculated to silence and confound such; namely, the testimony of John the Baptist, whom the multitude reverenced as a Prophet, and the Scribes and Pharisees durst not deny, or dispute his claim. "If I bear witness of myself, without further evidence of my Divine mission than my own assertion, my witness is not true, and deserves no credit; but there is another, that beareth witness of me, namely, John the Baptist; for ye sent unto John, and he bare witness of THE TRUTH. He was, by your own acknowledgment, a burning and shining lamp, and, for a season, ye were willing to rejoice in his light. I therefore insist upon his testimony, as that of a Prophet and a righteous man; hoping it will not be rejected by you, to your shame, and because it is founded upon the ancient prophecies concerning THE MESSIAH, or CHRIST +.

OUR LORD, however, intimates the inferiority of John's testimony, compared with his own miracles. "But I have greater witness than John; for the works which THE FATHER hath given me to finish, and which I do, bear witness of me, that THE FATHER hath sent me."

5. The fifth was the legislative capacity, in which he came, "not to destroy the law and the prophets," as the Scribes and Pharisees idly imagined, but " to fulfil," to complete them by

See the third and fourth classes of Historical Prophecies, in the Appendix. The amount of John's testimony to JESUS as the CHRIST, is considerable, as may be seen under the foregoing article respecting him.

more refined and spiritual precepts and ordinances, and to sanction them, not by temporal, but by eternal rewards and punishments; as in his divine Sermon on the Mount; in which he enlarged and spiritualized the commandments of the Decalogue. Intimately connected therewith, was

6. His conscious dignity, and commanding authority; delivering his divine precepts and ordinances in his own name, and not like Moses and the Prophets, subordinately, in the name of God, "Thus saith the Lord;" whereas his usual style was, "Verily, verily, I say unto you." Insomuch, that the multitudes were struck with astonishment at his doctrine; for he taught them as having authority, and not as "the Scribes," servilely adhering to the corrupt traditions of the elders; as he repeatedly and publicly reproached them. And he failed not frequently to rebuke and to censure these "blind guides," and "whited sepulchres," "hypocrites," with all frankness, and without reserve.

7. The pure sanctity of his life, and uniform propriety of his conduct, affording the finest illustration of his doctrines, and the most perfect example of perfect and unerring obedience, in fulfilling all righteousness, and doing always what was well pleasing to his HEAVENLY FATHER-who therefore loved Him, is surely the most decisive and unequivocal proof of genuine DIVINE NATURE. The most highly gifted Prophets, and workers of miracles, were not exempt from the frailties and infirmities of human nature, and some were even guilty of crying sins; of which Noah, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Balaam, David, Solomon, &c. furnish striking and instructive instances.

"THE

But in this respect, OUR LORD, with all the boldness of conscious innocence and native worth, set his enemies at defiance. Which of you convicteth me of sin? He was, indeed, preeminently, "the HOLY ONE," and THE JUST," RIGHTEOUS," "THE SAINT OF SAINTS," to whose spotless innocence, and transcendent virtue, even his inveterate foes bore witness, his treacherous disciple, and his pusillanimous judge. Though tempted in all respects as other men, yet was he without sin. He overcame the world, the flesh, and the Devil; neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, but answered nothing, and commended his spirit to Him that judgeth righteously. Neither popular applause, of which, at times, he had an abundant share, lifted

him up, nor popular insult, or persecution, cast him down; nothing disturbed the even tenor of his mind. He led a life of trouble and of rebuke, and of blasphemy, still he went about doing good to the souls and bodies of men, by instructing their ignorance, correcting their prejudices and vices, improving their hearts, and healing their diseases. All his miracles, two excepted, the possession of the swine, and the cursing the barren fig tree, were beneficent; and even for these satisfactory reasons have been assigned, as intended for correction and for admonition. The imaginary "wise man" of the Stoics, and the “Just man" of the Platonists, possessed of all possible virtues, were more than realized in JESUS CHRIST, who left his followers a real pattern of consummate piety, virtue, and temperance, in all things. No wonder then, that such unparalleled excellence extorted the admiration and applause of his most prejudiced enemies: Never man spake as this man spake! He doeth all things well! This was truly THE SON OF GOD! This was really THE JUST ONE!

2. To this ancient homage of contemporaries, we cannot refrain from adding a curious and valuable eulogy on his transcendant moral character, by the inconsistent and eccentric Sceptic, Rousseau; literally translated from one of the most mischievous of his eloquent publications +.

"I confess to you also, that the majesty of the Scriptures, and the holiness of the Gospel, touches my heart. View the books of the philosophers, with all their pomp; how little do they appear placed beside this! Is it possible, that a Book at once so sublime and simple, can be the work of men? Is it possible, that He whose history it records, can be but a mere man? Does he speak in the tone of an enthusiast, or of an ambitious sectary? What mildness, what purity in his manners! what persuasive grace in his instructions! what elevation in his maxims! what profound wisdom in his discourses! what presence of mind, what ingenuity and what justness in his answers!

• The necessity of a perfect standard, or pattern of virtue, in their imaginary wise man, was well explained by Cicero, declaring that the reputed wise, such as the seven Sages, Cato, Lælius, &c. only bore some similitude and appearance of the truly wise, who alone observed the perfect duties. That such a standard was necessary to maintain a progressive improvement in virtue. De Offic. II. 4. + Emile, Tom. II. p. 85. This same with acrimony and rancour !

work inveighs against the Christian religion