power of making what alterations they pleased in the form of worship, but none elfe; therefore, they demanded of John the Baptist, by what authority he baptized, or prefumed to introduce any innovation into their religious ceremonies, fince he confeffed himself to be neither of thofe exalted characters.

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"26. John answered them faying, I “ baptize with water; but there ftandeth 65 one among you, whom ye

know not;

27. He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whose fhoe's latchet "I am not worthy to unloose.

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"28. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John "was baptizing."

Great respect was paid to John the Bap. tift; he was held in high estimation, and looked up to as a very extraordinary perfon: yet he tells the meffenger fent to make enquiries of him, that the distance between

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between his mafter and himself was fo great, that the most menial offices were too high an honor for him to perform for so divine a person.

This is a striking lesson to all religious perfons, not to fuffer themselves to be puffed up with an idea of their superior excellency, nor to admit of any great or unbecoming honors to be paid them on fuch account, but to present them to the Author of every good gift.

All those who are in a fituation to receive respect and attention from their fellow-creatures, fhould keep a ftrict watch over themselves, left they encourage the ignorant and unthinking in a flavish and despicable adulation, as improper for the one to receive as the other to give.

Flattery is in itself fo bewitching to the generality of mankind, that we cannot too watchfully guard against it, as it equally degrades the giver and the receiver.

"29. The next day John feeth Jefus *** coming unto him, and faith, Behold the

"Lamb of God which taketh away the "fins of the world.

30. This is he of whom I faid, after me cometh a man which is preferred "before me: for he was before me.

"31. And I knew him not: but that "he fhould be made manifeft to Ifrael,

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32. And John bare record, saying, I "faw the spirit defcending from heaven "like a dove, and it abode upon him ;

33. And I knew him not: but he "that fent me to baptize with water, the "same said unto me, Upon whom thou fhalt see the spirit defcending and remaining on him, the fame is he which "baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

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34. And I faw, and bare record that "this is the Son of God.

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35. And again, the next day after, "John flood and two of his difciples:

36. And looking upon Jefus, as he walked, he faith, Behold the Lamb of "God."

Immediately

Immediately after the baptifm of our bleffed Saviour, he was tempted by the devil, that grand foe of mankind. This circumstance is related by the other three evangelifts, but omitted by St. John; probably for this reason, that, as his gospel was written long after theirs, he thought it unnecessary to mention this, and many other circumstances, which every Christian who read the scriptures must have been well acquainted with.

The wilderness was the spot chofen for this trial; a folitary desert, in which our Lord could receive no comfort or confolation from any human being. He alone could conquer and fubdue fuch a foe.

We may trace a great refemblance, in many particulars, between our Saviour and Mofes, who himself fays, (Deuteronomy, chap. xviii. ver. 15.) "The Lord thy God "will raise up to thee a prophet from the "midst of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him fhall ye hearken."

The Acts of the Apostles (chap. v. ver. 23.) adds, "And it fhall come to pafs "that

that every foul which will not hear that prophet, fhall be destroyed from among "the people."

In Exodus, (chap. xxxiv. ver. 28.) we read, that Mofes was with the Lord forty days and forty nights, during which time he did neither eat bread nor drink water. Our Saviour was the fame length of time without food, (St. Matthew, ch. iv. ver. 2.) “And when he had fafted forty days and "forty nights, he was an hungred.”

This is one of the many inftances which may be brought to prove that our blessed Saviour, in taking upon himself our nature, took it with all its inconveniences: he did not spare himself; but that he might the better judge of our fufferings, and of the force of temptation under them, he made himself subject to hunger, thirst, cold, and to all the weakneffes of the body; nay, even to death itself, the most painful death of the crofs; nor was he more exempt from the fufferings of the mind, as I fhall have occafion hereafter more fully to fhew, when we view him

ihedding