4. They were attended with expense. So great an establishment could not be supported without it. The maintenance of the Priests, Levites, Nethanims, and their families, was chiefly from the people. They must also bear the expenses of their frequent travels, the numerous sacrifices with their respective preparations, the repairs of their magnificent temple and its extensive buildings; which, for riches, beauty, and grandeur, exceeded all that were in the world. When the people were numbered, they paid so much per head; when spoil was taken in war, a part was given to God; when they came to worship, it was expected they should cast, according to their abilities, into the treasury. By this we see, that as our all comes from God, he expects our acknowledgment by suitable returns. He is not pleased with a service which costs us nothing. He expects the proof of our love, not in words, but deeds. He expects from such as profess to believe and receive the gospel, that they will use their endeavours to support and spread it for the general benefit of mankind. Oh, if a thousandth part of the money expended in our cruel and bloody wars had been employed for the purposes of instruction, in opening a way for the spread of divine truth, and in the support of its zealous ministers, who could calculate the good which might have been done among the nations of the world? We must not, however, despair; better times may come, when men shall not murmur at themselves or others for what is expended on a religious account; but rejoice at the opportunity of returning the Lord back his own. CHAP. IV. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. Description of Christ's character.-Remarks on our reconciliation with God. CHRIST'S CHARACTER. Ir was represented that the Messiah should be placed in such circumstances as should not attract the notice or flattery of men in general. He was to be as "a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground, he hath no form or comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty, that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men." And David, in the spirit of prophecy, represents him as saying, "I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." We see this fulfilled in the circumstances of his birth, though of the royal line of David, it was much reduced; or as his virgin mother expressed it, in a "low estate." When she brought him forth, she wrapped him in swaddling bands, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." A few poor shepherds were informed of the circumstances, by an angel, and believing, became his first heralds to the world. Afterwards, the wants of the family were providentially supplied by the eastern philosophers, who having discovered him, opened their treasures, and presented him with gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh." In about five weeks after his birth, at his presentation in the temple, his mother, had she been in opulent circumstances, must have brought a lamb,according to the law, for her purification, whereas she offered only two doves, or pigeons; which makes it probable that the visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have been subsequent to that event. His reputed father is called a carpenter, and he followed the same business, which gave offence to his townsmen, when they saw that he took upon him to teach and instruct others: and through all his public ministry he subsisted on the bounty of others; making himself poor for our sakes, that through his poverty we might be made rich. "The foxes (said he) have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." And when once at Capernaum he was called upon for the temple tribute-money, he had it not to pay; but, after an observation on his being the Son of Ilim to whom the temple belonged, and being free from taxation, according to general usages, he sent Peter as a proof of it, and of his unwillingness to give offence; and bid him cast his hook into the sea, and take up the first coming fish, and he should find a piece of money, (a stater, 2s. 6d. just the sum wanted) "that take, (said he) and give it to them (the collectors) for me and thee." It was the same at his death; he had nothing to dispose of but his garments and had even to leave his apparently indigent mother to the care of his beloved disciple. He was indebted to the liberality of others for his tomb and funeral rites; and thus, from first to last, it might be said, that he came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Yet there were those who saw his worth through all his poverty; and to them he appeared "beautiful, glorious, excellent, and comely." Thus, to those who did not take him for their sanctuary, he appeared without honour, and "became a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; and he and his became signs and wonders in Israel, from the Lord of Hosts." It was declared of him, that he should discover great wisdom in all his ways. There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse-and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord and shall make him of quick understand, ing in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the : sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears." How fully our Lord answered this description, the New Testament abundantly testifies. In his childhood, it says, "he was filled with wisdom." Though he had not been taught in the ordinary way, yet at twelve years of age he was found in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Wisdom and grace adorned all his discourses and conversation. His friends were delighted, and his adversaries confounded. Though he would not gratify the curiosity of individuals, or of the public, yet he readily, kindly, and satisfactorily answered any question of importance that was put to him on any occasion or at any time. He detected the most subtle hypocrisy, exposed the most plausible errors, and gave the true meaning to the written word, in opposition to all the false glosses and superstitious traditions put upon it or added to it. He saw into the hearts of men, and knew them perfectly; and every sentence from his lips was just and true. He spoke of God, and the things of his kingdom, as one quite familiar with the subjects of which he treats. "In him were hid (as says the apostle) all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ;" and that remark was perfectly just, that "never man spake like unto this man.' The spirit of wisdom rested unmeasurably upon him, without the smallest degree of vanity; and in perfect agreement, as the prophet speaks, with the fear of the Lord. He was to discover great meekness and humility." He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth." And again, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass." All this appeared in every part of our Lord's conduct, both in private and public. Though Lord of all, he was among his disciples as one that serveth; making allowance for their weak nesses; informing their judgment and understanding; bearing with their infirmities; combating and removing their prejudices; encouraging and comforting them; and giving the most unequivocal proofs of the purest and most exalted friendship and to teach them the more effectually the lessons of humility and love when he should be removed from them, he condescended to wash their feet, and, spiritualizing the act, left them a never-to-be-forgotten lesson of what he was and what they ought to be. There was nothing haughty, clamorous, or disdainful in his public discourses, debates, or manner towards any man. He never sought the honour or praise of men; charged many not to make him known; refused to be made king, though the throne belonged to him; interfered not with politics or matters of state; submitted to fulfil the righteousness of the legal dispensation: when reviled by his persecutors, he threatened not, avoiding upon all occasions the appearance of a vindictive spirit; sought not the company of the wise and great; reproved them when invited to their tables; was found among immoral persons, striving to reclaim them, though censured for it by others; endured contradiction from the wicked; bore with patience all the reproaches and indignities offered him by his enemies; and suffered himself at last to be "led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." The apostle, exhorting against strife and vain-glory, and to promote their opposites, lowliness of mind, and liberality of sentiment, adds, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus-who made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant-and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." And Jesus himself, knowing from his own blessed state of mind, the happiness resulting from it, invites the distressed to come and learn of him, being meek, and lowly in heart, as the true way to peace and happiness. Thus, we see how fully our Lord answered the description of character in his amiable |