were entirely destitute of learning and judgment, or of fuch improve ments as were neceffary to qualify them for the discharge of their glorious function. Though their difcourfes are commonly expreffed in a plain and familiar manner, yet you may frequently discover in them fuch eloquence and fublimity, as could not have proceeded from men of no education: Though they are sometimes guilty of failings, as unbelief, ambition, presumption, and the like; yet it may be faid in their behalf, that it proceeded not fo much from their own, as the general temper of their nation. Nor let it be thought a difparagement to the Apostles, that fome of them had learned and followed handy-crafts; for it may reasonably be inferred from the inftance of Jofeph, who, though he was defcended from the royal family of David, was yet a carpenter; and from that of St. Paul, who, notwithstanding his being a Rabbi, and a citizen of Rome, had learnt tent-making (b); that mechanical employments were not inconfiftent with learning, or accounted a difparagement (c). Though St. John was a fisherman, yet there are several paffages in his gofpel, whereby we may be convinced that he was versed in the mystical writings of the Jews; and had even fome tincture of the Grecian philofophy. Which laft will appear the more probable, if it be confidered, that this Apoftle lived for a confiderable time in Afia. The office of a Publican, which was that of St. Matthew, was indeed looked upon as fcandalous among the Jews, who were extremely jealous and tender of their liberty; but it was in fuch high esteem and repute among the Romans, that, according to Cicero (d), The order of the Publicans confifted of the choiceft of the Roman Knights, was the ornament of the city, and the fupport of the commonwealth. Hence it is evident, that though St. Matthew, in all appearance, was a few; yet he could not be of the meanest of the people, fince he had been admitted to fo confiderable a poft. These few reflections and inftances may ferve to fhew, how falfe and groundlefs the objections are, that were urged by the Heathens against the Apoftles, as if they had been a parcel of weak and filly men. Hence alfo, on the other hand, it is manifeft, that they had neither learning nor authority enough, as that the wonderful propagation of the gospel throughout the world, could be afcribed merely to their own power and wisdom. However this be, in reading the New Teftament, we must have always in our minds, That the gospel was at first preached by the Jews, (b) Acts xviii. 3. and (c)"It was a cuftom among the Jews, of what rank or quality foever, to "teach their children fome ingenious craft or art, not only as a remedy. against idleness, but as a referve in time of want. -We have a memo"rable inftance of this cuftom in those two brothers, Chafinai and Chanilai, "whofe ftory Jofepbus relates at large: - though they were perfons of note, "they were neverthelefs put with a weaver to learn the trade, which, fays "the hiftorian, was no difparagement to them, (worns & Cotos anę TOTS "iπixwalois, &c.) Rabbi Jofe was a currier, or a leather dreffer; Rabbi Jochanan was a fhoe-maker, and from thence firnamed Sandalar, &c.” Mr. "Falle's Sermon on A&s xviii. 3. p. 12, &c. (d) - Flos equitum Romanorum, ornamentum civitatis, firmamentum reipublicæ, Publicanorum ordine continetur. Orat. pro Plancio. and in Judea, the Evangelifts and Apostles having been all of that nation; (excepting St. Luke, who was born at Antioch in Syria, and concerning whom it is not well known whether he was a Jew, or a Heathen, when he embraced the Chriftian Religion. It is very likely that he was a Heathen by birth, but a Jewish Profelyte, as we have obferved in our preface on his gofpel, and in St. Paul's epiftle to the Coloffians.) For this reason, we meet, in the New Teftament, with frequent allufions to the Jewish cuftoms and ceremonies. Their proverbs and moral fayings are often made ufe of; and for want of being acquainted with the style of the inspired writers, we are apt to be at a lofs, and look for mysteries where there are none, by understanding literally what is only an allufion to some custom or faying of the Old Teftament. The author of the new covenant proceeded in the fame manner as the legiflator of the old had done before. God's defign in giving the children of Ifrael a law, being to diftinguish them from the reft of the world by a particular kind of worship; he adapted, in the best manner that can be conceived, the ordinances he gave that people, to their state and circumftances. Whatever might lead them into idolatry, that he forbid upon the fevereft penalties. But left they should, at the fame time, have an averfion for the religion he inftituted, he was therefore pleafed to appropriate to his worship, fome of the harmless customs and ceremo¬ nies that were received among thofe nations, whom the Ifraelites had converfed with. The fame method was observed by JESUS CHRIST in his establishment of the religion which he revealed to mankind. Though circumcifion was a feal and token of the ancient covenant, yet the mediator of the new was circumcifed, that the Jews might have no manner of pretence for rejecting him: and, for the fame reason, all other things relating to him were performed according to the law of Moses. The baptifm of John affured men of pardon, provided they repented of their iniquities. The Son of God had undoubtedly no need of it; yet we find that he defired to be baptized, not only that he might thereby authorize the miniftry of his forerunner, but more especially, that he might by this means fulfill all righteousness; i. e. omit no custom that was practifed by the Jews (e). JESUS CHRIST being the accomplishment of the law, it confequently ceafed to be in force at his coming: But as it was not then a proper time to reveal this mystery, our Saviour therefore obferved the law with great exactnefs, and even constantly went up to Jerufalem at the folemn feafts. If he is fometimes accufed of breaking the fabbath, he answers all objections of that kind, with fuch reafons and inftances as ought to have convinced at once those that made them, that they were guilty both of calumny and fuperftition. From these several particulars it appears, how neceffary it is, for the right understanding of the New Teftament, to be furnished with fuch parts of learning, as have been mentioned above. II. The condition mankind was in, at the time of JESUS CHRIST'S appearance in the world, may very fitly be reprefented under the Idea of a person afflicted with a deadly diftemper; and the coming of our bleffed Redeemer be confidered as the critical time, which was to () Matth. iii, 15. The state of mankind, and ticular, at the time of our of the Jewish nation in parSaviour's appearance. decide decide either the death or cure of that difeafed perfon. What therefore John the Baptift faid of the Jewish nation, that the ax was laid unto the root of the tree (f), hath, in other words, been faid by St. Paul (g), of all the inhabitants of the world. The best part of the universe was without God (b); idolatry, which then generally prevailed, being the moft inexcufable fort of atheif (i), because not content with not acknowledging the true God, it rendered to creatures a worship that was only due to the Almighty Creator of all things. It is indeed no wonder, that fince the heathen worshipped for their gods monsters of uncleanness, and of all kinds of injuftice, they fhould give themselves up to the most enormous vices, as we are told by St. Paul they did (k). But, on the other hand, the Jewish nation, that had been fo highly favoured by Almighty God, was neither more holy, nor lefs vicious than the reft of the world, as the fame Apostle obferves in feveral parts of his epiftles (1). We do not find indeed that they were ever guilty of idolatry after their return from the Babylonish captivity. But they had fallen into feveral other heinous crimes, whereby they no lefs deferved the wrath of God, or the compaffion of the great lover and phyfician of fouls. Though God had, by a very special favour, committed his holy oracles to them, yet they had been fo ungrateful as to flight and neglect fo valuable a treasure. For after the gift of prophecy ceafed among them, and their Rabbins and Scribes came to interpret and comment on the facred writings, they adulterated them to that degree, that they rendered them of none effect by their falfe gloffes, and foolish traditions (m). They made the effence of their religion to confift in ceremonies, while they trod under foot the weightier matters of the law, and their worship was refolved into a fet of formal fhews and hypocritical pageantry. Puffed up moreover with arrogancy and pride at this their fpecious outfide, and for having a law, which would indeed have promoted their glory and happinefs, if they had ftuck to the true fenfe of it; they fancied they had a right to hate and defpife the rest of mankind, with whom they agreed in no one point, but in an extreme corruption of manners. Those authors that are moft jealous of the glory of the Jewish nation, for instance, Jofephus, have given a moft fhocking defcription of it, in this refpect. a forerunner. The account we have here given of the moral state The neceffity of of the Jews, affords us an occafion of admiring the excellent method God was pleased to follow, when he fent his Son into the world. For hence it is evident, that it was abfolutely neceffary the Meffiab should have fuch a forerunner, as John the Baptift was. Before any precepts can be inftilled into men's minds, it is proper that the errors and prejudices which they labour under, should be removed; to the end that the obedience, which they render to God, may be the effect of deliberation and choice: but when their corruption is come to an exorbitant height, and their understandings are clouded with a thick U) Matth. iii. 10. (g) Rom. i. 18. (b) Eph. ii. 12. (k) Rom. i. 21, &C. (1) Ibid. ii. 17, 24. iii. 9. Ephef. ii. 3. Titus iii, 3. (m) Matt, xv. 3, 4, 5. &c. thick darkness, we must create in them a new heart, and difperfe all the obftacles, which prevent them from admitting the light of the truth. Before our lands are fown, they must be grubbed, cleared and plowed. Above all, the doctrines of the gofpel were of that nature, that they could not be received but by perfons well difpofed, because they were contrary to all the paffions and prejudices of men, and especially to the pride and fenfuality of the Jews. This made JESUS CHRIST fay to them (n), Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. And in another place, How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another (o)? It was then fuitable to the dignity of the Son of God, and expedient for the intereft of the Jews, that JESUS CHRIST fhould have a forerunner, that might go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to prepare the way of the Lord. For, if notwithstanding all this, our bleffed Saviour met with fo much obftinacy among the greatest part of the Jewish nation, is it not very probable that it would have been univerfal, had it not been for the preaching of John the Baptift? This method was, in fhort, abfolutely neceffary either to bring about the converfion of the Jews, or that they might be entirely with-. out excufe, if they perfifted in impenitence and unbelief. The extreme corruption of that people, and the great care God was pleased to take, of removing all the obftacles that might any way prevent their converfion, help us moreover to discover the reason why: JESUS CHRIST made ufe fometimes of very harth expreffions, when he addreffed himself to them, and particularly to the Pharifees. It is fome-" what fhocking to find, at the entrance of a dispensation full of grace and mercy, the bleffed Author of it, who was certainly the meekeft perfon upon earth, ufing very hard, and feemingly injurious words; as when he calls the Jews, an evil and adulterous nation (p), and ftiles the Pharifees, hypocrites, a generation of vipers, that prefumed to fet their traditions and maxims above the law of God. But our wonder ceafes, when we confider that the last stroke was now to be given, and no more measures were to be taken with a people, that had fo thamefully flighted. and abused all the means which God had used for their converfion. For, 1. They had the predictions of the prophets, wherein were set: down the characters of the Meffiah; and that the greatest part of them. agreed to Jefus of Nazareth, is what they did not deny. 2. John the Baptift was come with the fame spirit and power, as had been foretold by the fame prophets; he had exhorted them to repentance, and warned them that the Meffiah was at hand. 3. JESUS CHRIST came at the very time the Jews profeffed to be in expectation of their Meffiab, and appeared with all the external and internal marks, wherewith he had been defcribed. But they rejected him, as they had done before John the Baptift, and made them both alike the objects of their derifion and calumnies. So far certainly ought we' to be from wondering at the heavy cenfures which JESUS CHRIST paffes upon a people fo wickedly inclined; that, on the contrary, we fhall, upon a due examination, find his language to them had an equal mixture of kindness and severity. Thefe (n) John iii. 19. VOL. III. (0) Ibid. v. 44. () Matt. xii. 34. 39. Thefe few reflections may ferve to clear up feveral paffages in the gofpel; but we must defcend to a more particular account of the Jewish nation, and go on from their manners to the confideration of their outward ftate and polity. Of the political and reli III. We may confider the Jews with regard both to their civil and ecclefiaftical state. The gious flate of the Jews. Jewish nation in general was the pofterity of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob. This the fcripture often takes notice of, to diftinguish the people of God from the pofterity of Ishmael, who was alfo the fon of Abraham by Hagan. The Jews were alfo named Ifraelites, or the children of Ifrael, which was the firname of Jacob; that they might not be confounded with the defcendants of Efau the brother of Jacob, and fon of Ifaac. They were moreover called Hebrews, either from Heber one of Abraham's ancestors, or from a Hebrew word of the fame found, that fignifies paffing or crofing over (9); because Abraham paffed over the river Euphrates, when in obedience to God's command, he came from Ur of the Chaldees into the land of Canaan. After the carrying away of the ten tribes into captivity, the two, remaining tribes were most commonly known by the name of Jews, [Judæi] fo called from the tribe of Judah, which remained in poffeflion of the regal authority, and out of which the Meffiah was to be born: Perhaps this name was not given them till after their return from the Babylonish captivity. Never did any nation receive more extraordinary favours from the hand of God, and never did any one render itself more unworthy of them. God had no fooner brought them out of Egypt, with a frong band, and a stretched out arm, but their ingratitude appeared by their idolatry and continual murmurings in the defert. When the defcendants of thefe rebels were put in poffeffion of the land of promife, they followed the steps of their forefathers, turned idolaters, and proceeded to that unbridled licentioufnefs, as to prefer anarchy before the government of God's own establishing. God delivered them up frequently to the fury of their enemies, as a punishment for their crimes, and to make them fee the error of their ways. He raised up from time to time deliverers, which were fo many forerunners of the great Redeemer of mankind. Uneafy at having God for their King, and weary at being governed by his judges, they demanded a king to judge them like other nations; fulfilling thereby, though undefignedly, the purposes of the Almighty, who had ordained that the Meffiah fhould be born of a Royal Family. They obtained their request, and yet made an ill use of that favour. After the death of David, who was a type of the Meffiah, and to whofe family God, had annexed the regal authority, because out of it was the Chrift to be born, ten tribes revolted against Rehoboam, and chofe for their king Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim; a revolt permitted by God as a punishment for Solomon's idolatry. The captivity of the ten tribes. This fchifm, which lafted above two hundred years, ended at laft in the captivity of the ten tribes (r) which were carried away by Shalmanefer into Affyria and Media whereby were executed the judgments of God against that nation. It (2) Tranfitus, trajectus. (r) 2 Kings xvii. 6, 7. doth |