gross ignorance and error, of sottish folly, of heinous wickedness and impiety: they were to sustain all the slanders, reproaches, and persecutions which the resolute opposing so many interests, humors, and opinions inevitably would produce: they were beside vigorously to assault Satan and all his complices; to beat down his worship, and overturn his domination; to baffle all his craft and might, to stop his mouth, to bind his hands, to tread on his neck,

All these great exploits they were to achieve in a most quiet and peaceable manner, in a way most plain and simple, without any terror or tumult, any sleight or artifice, any plausibility of language, or subtilty of reasoning; without applying either any rude violence or sly allurement: they were indeed little more than barely to report a story, and to affirm it true of their own knowlege, adjoining in connexion with that story some plain honest rules of life here in this world, and denouncing some consequences on the belief of their story and the practice of their rules in another world hereafter. These things it was their business to tell simply, and to aver confidently, charging men at their utmost peril to believe them; boldly condemning whatever thing and what person soever should oppose their report or doctrine: they were not to assay the persuading this or dissuading from the contrary by fine strains of speech, or with acute enthymemes; but to propose it without care or circumstance, in such a homely dress and naked plainness of speech, that even children and idiots might easily comprehend the main of their sense and drift: all the strength, the ornament, the charm of their discourse consisted in the clear sincerity shining through it; joined with a constant adherence to their doctrine, an earnest diligence in promoting it, an admirable patience in joyfully suffering all contumelies and adversities incident to them for its sake; accompanied also with a blameless innocence and integrity of life, a sweet calmness of mind and meekness of behavior, together with a kind and charitable disposition toward all men these were all the human or natural weapons of their warfare;' with which alone, God's help concurring, they did (to use St. Paul's words) pull down strong holds, and cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowlege of God; bringing into captivity

every thought to the obedience of Christ' in this strange manner did they maintain their cause :

A cause indeed, which of itself did not seem likely to prosper in the world, having in itself so little of plausibility, and affording to the embracers thereof so very small encouragement: which injoined to its followers the worship and imitation of a person lying under extreme disadvantages in the eye of man; who had lived in a very mean condition, and had suffered a most ignominious death; whom therefore to be obliged to adore. and obey could not but to the ordinary sense of men appear very offensive: which again recommended a doctrine little grateful, or rather very cross, to the natural propensions, to the current principles, to the secular advantages of men; which indulged men in nothing that they were apt to like, but greatly curbed and checked them in the use of their liberties, gratification of their fancies, and enjoyment of their pleasures; which much disparaged all the pleasing goods, and all the flattering glories of the world; charging men never much to affect or seek them, sometimes utterly to quit and renounce them; freely choosing in their stead to undertake a cross with all its pains and disgraces, which propounded it as an essential ingredient of itself, or a condition necessary for all that should avow it, to circumcise the heart,' to mortify the deeds of the body,' to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts;' 'to cut off right hands,' and 'pull out right eyes;' to part with all their fortunes, to hate their relations, to sacrifice their lives, if they were thereto called, for its sake; which rendered men, as it were, dead to all present fruitions, and unconcerned in all hopes here; engaging them intirely to place their contents and happiness in a reversion of things invisible and future they, in fine, Idid hold forth a doctrine to the sense of flesh and blood full of most rigid laws, severe rules, harsh conditions, and hard sayings, apt to choke the faith of men, and to obstruct its entertainment with them.

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Now that a handful of such persons, against such obstacles, in ways so preposterous, and different from the course of human proceedings, were able to render so unlikely a cause so absolutely victorious; so that suddenly all the might, wit, and eloquence of men did stoop unto it, and serve under it; that the

majesty of the greatest princes gladly veiled thereto, that the prudence of statesmen cordially did approve it, that all the learning of the world yielded itself up captive and tributary thereto, that! all superstition vanished before it, and all the force of hell sunk under it; is it not a huge argument that God himself did in favor thereof interpose his omnipotent arm; that to the Lord of hosts (unto whom,' as king Asa said, it is nothing to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power;' to whom it is indifferent to save by many or by few') this glorious victory is to be ascribed, who thereby pleased to accomplish his ancient promises, to maintain his holy truth, to further the salvation of his creatures, to promote his own glory, and especially to magnify the name of his only beloved Son Jesus, our ever blessed Lord? to whom for ever and ever be all praise.' Amen.

Having thus largely endeavored to show that Jesus our Lord is the Messias, and consequently supposing the truth of the Christian doctrine; let us now briefly recapitulate and explain in what manner and in what respects the New Testament represents him as Christ; how, according to that, Jesus was signally chosen and consecrated by God, in a manner supereminent, to all the offices denoted by the title Christ, (the office prophetical, regal, and sacerdotal,) and how he effectually doth execute them.

Him, saith St. Peter in general, God anointed with the Holy Spirit and power: God anointed him, not with an external affusion of material oil, (as neither were the patriarchs, nor king Cyrus, who are yet called the Christs of God;') that was only a ritual and symbolical business; but with a real infusion of divine grace and power, qualifying and enabling him perfectly to execute all those great and extraordinary functions. With this gladsome oil he was thoroughly anointed and replenished above measure: with this he was sanctified from the womb;' when the power of the Highest did overshadow him' at his conception: with this at his baptism he was solemnly and visibly inaugurated; when the heavens were opened' unto him, and the Spirit of God descended on him as a dove, and came on him' with this in all the course of his life and ministry he was continually accompanied; the virtue of it being

discovered and diffused in most sensible effects of wise and gracious discourse, holy and blameless conversation, wonderful and glorious performances, for the honor of God and the benefit of mankind, to the delight and consolation of all welldisposed minds: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth,' saith St. Peter in the Acts, with the Holy Ghost; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.' He was by this spiritual unction constituted in right and in effect a Prophet, a King, a Priest.

1. First, a Prophet: for they were not mistaken, who, on his raising the widow's child, were 'amazed, and glorified God, saying, That a great prophet was raised up among them,' and that God had visited his people.' Nor they (in St. John's Gospel) who, reflecting on another great miracle, (feeding multitudes with five loaves and two little pickled fishes), brake into this confession; This is in truth that Prophet who was to come into the world.'

And the disciples well described him, who styled him, ‘a Prophet mighty in word and deed, before God and all the people.' He was so, as having an extraordinary commission from God, declared by vocal attestation of God himself from heaven, by express testimony of St. John the Baptist, ('the person of most remarkable sanctity and greatest authority in his time,') by the performance of innumerable and incomparable signs and works miraculous; (arguments in the highest degree and to the utmost possibility sufficient to assert and confirm it.) He was also in greatest perfection qualified for the exercise of that function, by inspiration complete and unlimited; by disposition of mind altogether pure and holy; (expressed in a continual practice of life void of all sin and guile; by an insuperable courage and constancy, a transcendent wisdom and discretion, an incomparable meekness and patience, a most winning sweetness and goodness, a most powerful awfulness and majesty, shining in all his discourse and demeanor.)

Suitable also to the authority of his commission and the qualifications of his person, were the weight and the extent of the doctrine he in God's name revealed; it concerning no less than the salvation of mankind, and reconciliation of the world to God; the intire will of God, and whole duty of man; with all

the laws and precepts, the covenants and conditions, the promisings and threatenings, relating to our future state. He did not (as other prophets have done) prophesy about the constitution of one particular law, religion, or covenant; about the reproof or reformation of one state, the judgment or fate determined to one nation; but his design reached to the instruction and conversion of all people, in all places, through all times, to the settling of a law and covenant absolutely universal and perpetual: mysteries he brought forth never before revealed, and decrees never to be reversed; to the final doom of all the world did his prophetical denunciations extend. So is he a Prophet. Such he was in his temporal appearance and administrations on earth; and such he continues for ever in heaven ; from thence on all occasions by his Holy Spirit imparting to his faithful people all needful instruction in truth, direction in practice, admonition to duty, and comfort in trouble. He is also such by the ministry of his servants, whom he hath appointed, and whom he assists, to instruct and guide us.

2. He is also a king, by many unquestionable titles, of a great and extensive authority, exercising it to the best effects and purposes. He is a king by nature and birth; as the only Son of God, partaker of his eternal power and majesty; for therefore to him it was said, 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre :' and as the Son of David; for of him the angel said, 'The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his Father, and he shall

reign over the house of David for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.' He is also a king by divine designation and appointment. For, 'Let all the house of Israel,' saith St. Peter, know assuredly, that God hath made him Lord and Christ; and, The Father hath given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man' (or as such.) He is also king by merit and purchase; for, he for the suffering of death was crowned with glory and honor; he was obedient to death, even the death of the cross; therefore God super-exalted him, and bestowed on him a name above every name.' To this end he both died and rose again, that he might lord it over both the dead and living.' He is king also by conquest; having delivered us out of the power of darkness, and freed us from