for Himself and His disciples; yet, where do we behold one covetous act which would lead us to believe that He desired the things of this world? or when do we hear the expression of one repining thought, or one sigh, even, on account of His low and abject state?

Behold how His doctrine is disputed, and His motives are assailed by the proud doctors of the law, and the hypocritical Pharisees; yet, how patiently does He listen to their calumnies, and meekly, though promptly, answer their sophistries. See Him in the presence of sinners-a holy and pure Being in contact with the vile of the earth, yet, look we in vain for any signs of disgust; or hear we any other expressions, than those of gentle reproof.

Behold the forbearance and patience which He exercised towards His disciples, when their ignorance and unbelief might have provoked a less gentle spirit.

Witness His tenderness, when called to reprove the woman who was taken in adultery; and behold how beautiful the kindness of His manner appears, when contrasted with that of her accusers.

See Him in converse with the woman of Samaria; or with the timid inquirer Nicodemus, and nothing can be discovered, but the marks of that tender love, and merciful regard for the spiritual welfare of man, which bears with his ignorance, and is unprovoked by his folly.

Regard Him on the eve of His betrayal, in the very

presence of Judas; see Him conveyed into the hands of His enemies by the traitor; watch His conduct when brought to Pilate's bar, and when delivered over to an insolent mob to be scourged, and mocked, and spit upon and behold how meekly he submitted to the accumulated taunts and revilings which were heaped upon Him, without uttering one word of reproach, or impatience.

Thus did the sinless perfection, which Christ brought with Him into the world, continue to characterize His humanity to the last. From infancy He grew up through childhood and youth to manhood; and passed through a life of suffering, to the grave, without one violation of the will of God in thought, or word, or deed; and nothing can be found in the history of His life to invalidate the testimony of God, who tells us that He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners," (Heb. vii. 26.); that "He pleased not Himself," (Rom. xv. 3.) but, was "meek, and lowly in heart," (Matt. xi. 29.): that He did "no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth," (Is. liii. 9.); that "when He was reviled, reviled not again: when He suffered He threatened not," (1 Pet. ii. 23.); and, though oppressed and afflicted; despised and rejected of men; though wounded, and bruised, and insulted, and brought as a lamb to the slaughter, "He opened not His mouth" (Is. liii. 7) to utter words of reproach or complaint.

It was not, however, only in His conduct that our beloved Lord exhibited the marks of unsullied purity of

soul, but so did He, likewise, in His moral precepts. If we look, for example, into His sermon on the mount, there we find principles of the purest morality and sublimest wisdom inculcated. Humility, purity, and meekness are pressed upon our attention, as qualities blessed by God. The merciful and peaceable are commended; while anger, cruelty, evil-speaking, covetousness, revenge, hatred, malice, implacability, uncleanness, perjury,uncharitableness, pride, vain glory, hypocrisy, inordinate worldliness, carefulness of spirit, censoriousness, and unjust judgment of others, are, with many other vices and heart sins, condemned; and held up to view as evils to be avoided by all who seek for the sanctification of the Spirit, and that purity of heart, which will make them in some small measure, approach unto the likeness of Christ. O what a lovely character must that have been, which, free from the vices condemned, was formed on the principles here commended; and such a pure Being was Christ. What He urges others to do, He did. The virtues He extols, He practiced; and the vices He condemns, He knew nothing of, but from His observation of their evil working in others. In short, to use the language of an avowed infidel, whose testimony to the character of Jesus is more valuable on that account, we may say, that "In Christ we have an example of a quiet and peaceful spirit, of a becoming modesty and sobriety; just, honest, upright, and sincere; and, above all, of a most gracious and benevolent temper and behaviour. One who did no

wrong, no injury to any man; in whose mouth was no guile; who went about doing good, not only by His ministry, but also in curing all manner of diseases among the people. His life was a beautiful picture of human nature, in its native purity and simplicity, and showed at once what excellent creatures men would be, when under the influence and power of that Gospel, which He preached unto them."*

* Chubb's True Gospel of Jesus Christ

CHAPTER XIV.

OUR COVENANT REDEEMER IN HIS WORK OF

OBEDIENCE.

"Almighty God, who madest Thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that our hearts and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey Thy blessed will, through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

Circumcision.

In the former chapter I considered, partially, the moral character of Christ, in order to show how admirably He fulfilled the conditions of that covenant by which our salvation is secured. I observed upon the unsullied and undeviating purity of His nature, and pointed out, as clearly as a frail creature can, the extent of His holiness. Judging from the absence, in His moral character, of those evil passions, habits, and propensities, which we observe in ourselves, and in the very best of men, I considered that we are justified in presuming, that the particulars in which Christ chiefly differed from us, were His holiness and righteousness.

Now, this truth, which I say may be presumed from a consideration of the negative character of Christ, is made clear and certain by an examination of His mind

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