measure to dispel the darkness of the night. According to the grace given unto me, I have declared the kingdom of heaven to be at hand, but when Meffiah fpeaks of that kingdom, he fpeaks from his own knowlege; "what he hath feen and "heard, that he teftifieth;" and yet, though I have faid fo much of him, and fo many go to hear him, "na "man receiveth his teftimony," as he ought to do. Think not this a flight matter, for no one can disbe lieve him, without giving God the

lie; timony, hath fet to his feal, that "God is true," by allowing the credentials of his Son, and acknowledg ing in him the accomplishment of what was foretold by the law, by the prophets,

"he that hath received his tef

I

"For he,"

prophets, and by myself.

the Meffiah," whom God hath fent, fpeaketh the words of God," and that in a different fenfe from all others, who, from time to time, have been endued with fuch a portion of the divine influence as was meet for them; but "God giveth not the "Spirit by measure unto him," having decreed, that in him fhould all fulness dwell. "For the Father "loveth the Son," not as he loveth any of his faithful fervants, but fo as that "he hath put all things into "his hand," difpenfing glory, honour, and immortality to mankind, through him alone. Be no longer envious and jealous, then, of his greatnefs, which is your falvation. you would honour me, and at the

If

fame time ferve your own eternal intereft, receive, in few words, the fum and fubftance of this my laft teftimony" He that believeth on "the Son, hath everlafting life: and "he that believeth not the Son, fhall "not fee life; but the wrath of God "abideth on him."

By this part of St. John's charac ter and conduct, in how pleafing á manner are the ministers of Chrift inftructed, that they are to bear teftimony to HIM, not to themfelves; to feek His glory, not their own; that they should take pleasure in the fuccefs of their brethren's labours, by which the caufe of their common Mafter is promoted; that the rifing lights of the church fhould do hònour to thofe who have gone before

them,

them, and the setting ones rejoice to be outfhone by those who are coming after them; that envy and jealoufy, in fhort, ought to have no place among the difciples of the Lamb of God, on whom defcended and abode the celeftial Dove.

SECTION VII.

Confiderations on the imprisonment of St. John, the meffage fent by him to Chrift, and the anfwer returned to it.

ADMIRABLE is the advice of

Set

the fon of Sirach to every one who is about to ftand forth in the cause of true religion. "My fon, if "thou come to ferve the Lord, prepare thy foul for temptation. "thy heart aright, and conftantly endure, and make not haste in time "of trouble. Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be

"patient