3,

he was the Christ, which he knew, confidering their Temper and Notions of Things, could fcarce fail of raifing Tumults and Infurrections. In Answer to the Inquiries that were made concerning him, he referred them to his wonderful Works, to the Testimony of John the Baptist, to the illuftrious Atteftations that were given him, from which they might conclude that he was the promised Meffiah. John v. 33, 36, 37, 39, X. 24, 25, 38. Matt. xi. 4, 5, 6. But he did not directly and in exprefs Terms declare himself to be fo. But, towards the End of his perfonal Miniftry, he more plainly difcovered himself: And, when he was adjured by the High Prieft, in the Name of the living God, to declare whether he was the Chrift, the Son of the Bleed, he expreflly avowed it, though he was fenfible they would make Ufe of this as a Pretence for condemning him.

The

And, as with Regard to his being the Meffiab or Chrift, fo, with Regard to the Nature of his Kingdom, he dispensed his Inftructions with great Prudence. Prejudices the Jews had entertained, concerning the temporal Glory and Grandeur of the Meffiab's Kingdom, were fo deeply rooted, that it was scarce poffible to remove them at once: And accordingly our Sa

viour,

viour, with admirable Wisdom and Condefcenfion, took all proper Occafions gradually to heal and difpel thofe Prejudices, and to turn their Views from a temporal Deliverance, and the worldly Advantages they expected by the Meffiah, to a fpiritual Salvation, He declared it, as the End of his Coming, to call Sinners to Repentance, and to Seek and to fave that which was loft; that he was fent to preach the Gospel to the Poor, to heal the Broken-hearted, to preach Deliverance to the Captives, and fet at Liberty them that were bruifed; that this was the Will of him that fent him, that whosoever believeth in him Should have everlasting Life. He invited thofe that were weary and heavy-laden to come unto him, and to take his Yoke upon them, and learn of him, who was meek and lowly in Heart, and they should find Reft unto their Souls. He all along difclaimed every Thing that had the Appearance of affecting a fecular Power and Dominion, or that might lead them to think, that his Kingdom was of this World: And, when he drew near his last Sufferings, he plainly let the Jews know that, inftead of being raised to a mighty fecular Dominion by the Mef fiah's Coming, as they vainly flattered themfelves, their Nation would be exposed to the greatest Miseries and Calamities. Luke xix. 42, 43, 44. xx. 9-16. And as his

own

own immediate Difciples, that conftantly attended him, were under the Power of the fame Prejudices with the rest of the Jews concerning the Nature of the Meffiah's Kingdom, he, with great Patience and Tenderness, endeavoured to bring them by Degrees to jufter Sentiments of Things. To this End he fet before them the felfdenying Terms upon which they were to be his Difciples, and that, inftead of pleafing themselves with the Hopes of great worldly Advantages, they were to look for Sufferings, Reproaches, and Perfecutions. It was fome Time before he told them of his own approaching Paffion, because they were not as yet prepared for fuch a Difcovery: But, when they were fully perfuaded of his being the Mefiab, and had made that noble Confeffion of it, by the Mouth of Peter, Thou art Chrift the Son of the living God; from that Time he began to fpeak to them in the most express Terms of the Sufferings he was to undergo, and that he should be killed, and rife again on the third Day. Matt. xvi. 21, &c. And, when three of them had been Witneffes of his Transfiguration, left this fhould raise in them high Expectations of his intending to erect a Kingdom with great outward Pomp and Splendor here on Earth, he, as they came down from that glorious Sight, VOL. IV. inftructed

instructed them concerning his deep Humiliation, and his glorious approaching Sufferings and Death; fo admirably did he time his Inftructions, and obferve the propereft Season for every Thing.

One Defign of our Lord's Coming was to introduce a new and fpiritual Dispenfation, which was to fuperfede the Obligation of the Mofaical Law and Ceremo nies, and to erect an univerfal Church, confifting of all that fhould believe in him, both Jews and Gentiles. But as the proper Seafon was not yet come for clearly publishing this to the World, till after his Refurrection and Afcenfion, and the extraordinary Effufion of the Holy Ghost, when the Evidences for Chriftianity should be completed, and his Kingdom openly erected and establifhed; fo he did not, during his perfonal Ministry, in direct and exprefs Terms, open this Part of the Gofpel Scheme. But yet with great Wisdom he laid down Principles which really implied it; and which, if duly impreffed upon their Minds, would gradually prepare them for receiving that fpiritual Difpenfation which he intended to establish. Of this Kind is that remarkable Maxim or Principle, Not that which goeth into the Mouth defileth a Man, but that which goeth out of the Mouth, i. e. as he himself ex

plaineth

plaineth it, the Evil which proceeds from the Heart, this defileth a Man. Matt. xv. 11. This Maxim tended to prepare them for that Time when the Diftinction of Meats, which contributed very much to the keeping up the Separation between Jews and Gentiles, fhould be abolished. In his Discourse to the Woman of Samaria he fignified, that the Time was coming, when the most folemn Acts of religious Worship should no longer be confined to one Temple and one Altar; which inferred an Abrogation of the Mofaical Polity: The Hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this Mountain, viz. Mount Gerizim, nor yet at Jerufalem, worship the Father: But the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. John iv. 21, 23. Though it was not yet feasonable for him expreffly to declare, that the believing Gentiles fhould be incorporated into his Church on an equal Footing with the believing Jews, and that the unbelieving Jews fhould be rejected; he said several Things, from Time to Time, from which this might be inferred. Thus, upon Occafion of the Centurion's Faith he declares, I fay unto you, that many shall come from the East and West, and shall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven: But the Children of the Kingdom shall be caft out into outer

O 2

Darkness