JESUS CHRIST.

SECT. 28.

Jefus, attending at the feaft of dedication, gave fight to a man born blind-revealed himself to him, when excommunicated-defcribed himself as the door, and the good Shepherd-declared his union with the Father, and miraculously escaped from being stoned.

JESUS had now taken his leave of Galilee, and arrived at Jerufalem. There he attended at the celebration of a certain festival, which is supposed to have been kept in remembrance of the purification of the temple by Judas Maccabeus *. This was an infti

tution only of human authority; but he did not on that account neglect it, and he has taught us by his example to pay a ferious respect to thofe obfervances, which tend to the advancement of religion, even though they be not established by the divine command.

In fuch a world as this, objects of wretchedness present themselves on every fide: but we may learn from Jefus, not to look on the diftreffed without feeling the tendereft emotions of compaffion. As he paffed through the streets of Jerufalem, he beheld with merciful regard a poor beggar, who had been blind from his birth +. The difciples taking notice

* John x. 22. 1 Macc. iv. 59. Jofeph. Antiq. book xii, chap.11. † John ix. 1, &c.

of the unhappy cafe, propofed a question of curious fpeculation. They afked, whether the calamity was not to be confidered as a particular judgment from God, for fome heinous tranfgreffion committed either by the man or his parents. Probably, they entertained the idea of a pre-exiftent ftate, and fuppofed, according to the abfurd doctrine of certain heathen philofophers, that the sufferings of this life are punishments for former fins.

Jefus, however, without entering into an examination of the vifionary fyftem, declared, that the affliction was appointed, not as a judicial vifitation för any remarkable offence, but that the mighty power of God might be difplayed by a miraculous removal of it. He further obferved, that his time of service in this world, which he knew to be very fhort, must be diligently improved, in order to promote the great end of his miffion, and that he fhould continue, during his abode here, to give light to them, that were in darkness. How forcibly does this apply to ourfelves! It becomes us not to censure those, who are oppreffed by the heavieft calamities, as finners above others, or as bearing peculiar marks of the divine in&ignation; and it should reconcile us to the fevereft

penfations, that, in various respects, God may glorify himself by them. Remembering alfo, how foon cur day of labour and of usefulness will be clofed, we Bould exert ourselves with vigour, for the benefit of ecters, especially by " fhining as lights in the world," hit we may not depart from life, before we have anered any good purpose in it. If we would imitate he Saviour, we must not trifle away the few remainfenfuality or fupinenefs, or omit any

rendering affiftance to our fellow

tended to the cries of the diftreffs granted relief, where it was not ftance before us. We obferve,

too,

too, that, though all his miracles were illuftrious, they were performed in different ways. In fome, a word or a touch fufficed; in others, certain means were made ufe of, but fuch means as magnified his mighty power. He anointed the man's eyes with clay: but this, it must be allowed, feemed more likely to take away than communicate fight. He then commanded him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and inftantly the cure was accomplished. But let not the efficacy be afcribed to any peculiar virtue in those waters, but to Him, whom by their fignificant name they typified "the fent" of God. He alone, who ordered this fingular expedient, could render it fuccessful. Thus likewife, the ordinances of his appointment are weak in themselves, and unable to impart any bleffing to the foul. But he is pleased to confer grace upon those, who frequent them in obedience to his directions, and in dependence on his promife. Instead, therefore, of entering into any fubtle enquiries, let us conform to his inftitutions with all the fimplicity of an unfeigned faith, and his power will be therein difplayed, for the relief of all our fpiritual neceffities.

The miracle was manifeft, and it could not but engage the public notice, as the man, whofe fight was restored, was generally known. All were altonished, but some were enraged; in confequence of which pains were taken to difprove the fact, or by fome means to caft an odium upon Jefus. This malignant oppofition, however, tended to confirm the evidence, and publifh it the more extensively. In like manner, modern infidels, by their hatred of the Gofpel and affiduous attempts to invalidate its teftimony, do really advance the caufe which they mean to injure; and the more they refift God, the more they confound themselves.

The man was fummoned before the Sanhedrim, and clofely examined concerning the change he had experienced, which he described with the mott artless fimplicity,

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vale be fffered under the fevere The Lord will adminifter the war confolation to thofe, who seek

id he will felect the moft fuitable

that purpose. Fear not, theredevoted to him, what

p. you in his fervice. We need the protine world turn away from you hen your dearest friends caft sice, he will prevent you from mobe, and perhaps he may then a difcoveries of his falvation. Elm & triumphed, "When my fase me, then the Lord will

queen be prop fed to us indivibere on the Son of God?" mud we return? Are not many, who Car linn profetion, as far from the faith they had never heard his name? If, a teachable difpofition we afk, how we #eve of him, or what regard is due to him, Je umefy intruct us.

2ng the man whom he had given sight, berton and encouragement,

pearance was, to comall, who feel and lament But he added, that he well as mercy, to expose eir own understanding, rance, who were too wife Certain of the Pharifees, it nt at the latter part of this ring themselves as charged, ith fpiritual blindness, they Indeed, be otherwise than

ii. 10.

offenfive

offenfive to the pride of thofe, who have acquired a reputation for learning and difcernment, to be treated as intellectually dark, and having the fame need of divine illumination, as the most illiterate. Jefus, therefore, warned them, that they could not plead in excufe for themselves the want of information, and that a conceit of their own knowledge chiefly kept them in unbelief, and greatly aggravated their guilt and condemnation. This, furely, may furnish a forcible exhortation to us, that we "lean not unto our own understanding," and that we pray earnestly, not to be given over to a judicial blindnefs, but, being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, to discover" the truth as it is in Jefus."

Our Lord continued his addrefs, with a particular view to thofe falfe teachers, who rejected him *. Speaking in parabolical language, he declared, by a folemn affeveration, that whofoever enters into the fold any other way than by the apppointed door, is to be confidered as an injurious and deftructive intruder. He defcribed the real fhepherd, as approaching by the regular accefs, which alone can be allowed, and gaining immediate admiffion. To fuch an one the care of the sheep is intrufted: he watches over them with a tender regard to their different cafes and neceffities; and they acknowledge him as their guide, fupporter, and defender. But they will not pay fame respect to him, who is not thus connected with them, and yields not a due attention to them. This was indeed an awful reproof of the Pharifees, who pretended to inftruct the people, and yet understood not the only inftituted method of falvation; and it was an intimation to them, that, whatever character' ey affumed, the true members of the Church would t fubmit to them, but turn away from them with guft. Yet they faw not the drift of the parable; * John x. 1, &c.

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