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the glory of God and the mystery of redemption: and now he could better defcribe the exceliency of the holy Jerufalem," in which is "the throne of God and of the Lamb*.' That exalted flate is prepared, not for the Apoftles only, but, as we truft, for many among ourselves. Do you afpire to that high honour? You must poffefs a meetnefs for it: you must have the feal of God in your foreheads; you must wash your robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lambt. Like St. John, cultivate an intercourfe with Jefus, and apply for fresh communications out" of his fulness," even " grace for grace." Be willing to labour and to fuffer for him, till you finish your courfe on earth, and then you shall shortly join with Prophets and Apoftles in that elevated fong,

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Bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever §." Amen.

Rev. xxii. 3. vii. 3, 14. John i. 16. § Rev. v. 13.

HEROD

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Herod Antipas, his rank and character-his incestuous marriage-imprisoned John Baptift for his reproofs —yet revered him-heard him gladly—and made a partial reformation-was refrained from deftroying him, through fear of the people—at length beheaded him-afraid of his being raised from the deadthreatened Jefus-examined and infulted him—died in exile.

HUMAN

UMAN nature will be found the fame, under all the variety of circumftances, in which it can be placed. If, therefore, we compare paft and prefent times, or take a view of different fituations in life, we may expect that fimilar characters will occur to our obfervation. But, while we remark, in what respects others have failed, or by what temptations they have been overcome, may we be warned from their examples, and avoid those fnares, which have already proved fo fatal!

One of exalted rank is now introduced to our notice; yet, poffibly, a near refemblance of him may be traced in perfons of a lower condition. It is Herod, furnamed Antipas, of whom certain particulars are related by the Evangelifts. He was the fon of that Herod, called the Great, who fought the deftruction of the infant Saviour, and maffacred the children at Bethlehem. This man poffeffed only a part of his father's dominions, over which he prefided merely as the vicegerent of the Roman Emperor, with the title

of Tetrarch or King of Galilee. Hiftorians are agreed, that he was a prince of licentious and abandoned conduct, of which, indeed, fufficient proofs are given. We fhall confine ourselves to thofe circumstances, which the fcriptures have recorded: and, agreeably to this fhort account, he will appear to have opposed the most folemn warnings and ftrong convictions, and facrificed every principle to the gratification of his luft. May we be aware of our own danger, and learn to restrain those fenfual defires, "which war against the foul!"

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Herod had divorced his own wife, and joined himfelf to another by an adulterous and inceftuous connection he had married the wife of his brother Philip, after having bafely feduced her from her hufband. This led to various enormities, and produced complicated troubles. John the Baptift, being fent for, probably from motives of curiofity, to court, perceived, and dared not connive at, the finful prac tices of the king. The preacher fought not his favour, and feared not his difpleafure. As a bold advocate for God, not "having refpect to perfons," he brought a heavy charge of guilt against the royal hearer, and reprehended him with fidelity and plainness," for all the evils which he had done*." This was not a general invective against his immoralities: a particular application was made to his confcience, for the continued commiffion of adultery and inceft. John declared his connection with Herodias to be highly criminal, and called upon him to put away the woman, with whom the laws both of God and man forbad him to cohabit.

What was the effect of this honeft addrefs? Alas!· reproofs are seldom well received. Do not most perfons rife with anger against him, who is fo much their friend as to tell them of their faults? What, then,

• Matt. xiv. 3---5. Mar. vi, 17---20. Luke iii. 19, 30.

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could be expected from an imperious and licentious prince? There are few, who dare to rebuke fin in a palace it is the unhappy prerogative of dignity, to be confidered as above control. Thofe, therefore, who poffefs an exalted station, are apt to fpurn with indignation at any reftraint, which an inferior, and efpecially a preacher, may attempt to impofe. But refentment, on fuch occafions, is not confined to kings: we perceive that many in lower life are incapable of bearing any fharp reprehenfion. Have we not been difpleafed with the faithful admonitions of a companion or minifter? Have we not defired to hear no more of fuch unpleasant fubjects, and, inftead of profiting by the ferious counfel, meditated revenge against its author? But, furely, we are our own enemies, when we quarrel with thofe, who from pure benevolence point out to us "all the evils which we have done," and charge us to relinquish, what we cannot lawfully retain.

Herod was enraged, and his officers were immediately commiffioned to bind and imprifon the Baptift. It is remarked, that he "added yet this above all,” as if it were the greatest enormity," that he fhut up John in prifon." The perfecution of God's fervants, for the upright and zealous performance of their duty, is an offence peculiarly heinous : and He, whofe caufe they plead, will avenge the injury. The oppofition, as in the cafe before us, generally arifes from the uneafinefs, which finners feel, upon a bold and unreferved reprefentation of their guilt and danger. O that their anger were turned against themselves, and not against their reprover; that they would endeavour, not to filence him, but to reform their own evil conduct! If Herod had understood his true happiness or intereft, he would have embraced John as his best friend; and the miniftry of that good man might have been continued for a much longer period.

Yet there were fome favourable appearances in Herod;

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Herod; and it may feem a matter of wonder, that the ftrong convictions, which he felt, were fo tranfient or inefficacious. His adulterous queen was more incenfed than he, and, from the firft, wifhed to deftroy the Baptift. Probably, the apprchended, that, through the preacher's admonitions, the fhould lofe her influence, and be difmiffed with difgrace. She, therefore, urged the king not merely to imprifon but difpatch him, that they might no longer be troubled with his infolence. To this proposal, however, Herod would not yield an immediate compliance: he was reftrained by a powerful impreffion upon his mind. "He feared John, knowing that he was a juft man, and an holy." This circumstance demands our attention. The Lord God put an honour upon his faithful fervant, and made him refpectable in chains, even before the most enraged enemies. Such a power very frequently accompanies eminent examples of godlinefs. It keeps in awe, and often terrifies, the perfons, who are disposed to perfecute. Herod was ftruck with reverence for the man, whom he had caft into a dungeon, and, under the view of his fingular holiness, probably perceived his own basenefs, fo as to be diftreffed with painful apprehenfions.

The prisoner, it should feem, was not afraid of the king. What have thofe to dread, who have the Lord Jehovah on their fide? They poffefs a never-failing fource of confidence and joy, and may, therefore, exult in defiance of their most violent oppofers, though racks and tortures be prepared for their deftruction. Be of good courage, you who follow the Lamb, and be “not terrified by your adverfaries," whatever ftrength or authority they may boaft of They themselves, perhaps, may be inwardly difmayed, at the very time when they-appear moft formidable. That furious prince and perfecutor, "Saul, was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him*.'

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* 3 Sam. xviii. 12.

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