heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother." It must be well observed, that immediately before this and the preceding transaction, when from unremitted attention which Jesus paid to his ministry, he and his disciples had not time even to partake of such refreshments as nature required; his' kinsmen went out to restrain him: for they said, He is beside himself; he neglects his health, exposes himself to danger, and assumes a prophetic character to which he is not entitled, with a degree of zeal bordering on insanity. "For 2 neither did his brethren believe in him." And it is probable that his mother's tenderness was alarmed by his unwearied labours, and by his free rebukes of the Jewish rulers: and she might design to interpose her request, that he would pay more regard to his ease and safety in the future course of his ministry. Our Lord therefore meant to shew his relations that, in the discharge of his high office, he was sole and sufficient judge, and laid no stress on their interference; but should consider every hearer and doer of God's word as standing in the nearest relation to him, treating them with that very personal affection which he owed and paid to such as were most closely connected with him by the ties of affinity and blood. And we may well suppose that our Lord more readily embraced these proper occasions of disparaging his relationship to his mother, on account of the extravagant honours which he foreknew would be paid to her for that very reason by a corrupt part of his church: ? See Syr.

* Matt. xii. 45--50. and p. p. * John vii. 3.

y Mark iii 20.

b

diminishing, as Dr. Clarke observes, expressly and in particular, "that which is the whole foundation of the Romish superstition and will worship" to this great object of them.

When one of Jesus's disciples, whom he called to be his immediate follower, said to him, "Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father; meaning that, after the death of his aged father, he should have leisure from his secular affairs to give Jesus constant attendance; our Lord answered, Let the spiritually

dead, thy kinsfolk, perform this office: "do thou go and preach the kingdom of God," as I now call thee. This present opportunity is the fit one for that purpose, while I continue on earth to afford thee instruction and support, and to prepare thee for the times of persecution which will soon follow. Let therefore the superior duty take place of the subordinate.

When another disciple and occasional follower was called to a strict personal attendance, he answered, I d will follow thee, Lord, but suffer me first to employ some space of time in bidding farewell to those of my house. Jesus answered, No man who has engaged in the ministry, as thou hast, and again desires to pursue his secular concerns, is a fit instrument for propagating my gospel. The present season requires that my followers should detach themselves from worldly and domestic objects, if they aim at perfection. Whoever among them casts a longing eye on these, is like one who puts his hand to the plough

b Serm. cxxxv. See also Tillotson on 1 Pet. ii. 21. Serm. cxxxvii. vol. ii. fol. 240. Luke ix. 59, 60. and p. p. djb. 61, 62,

and looks back, neglecting the work on which he should be intent.

When our Lord commissioned the twelve to preach, he foretold that his doctrine would create divisions, and that these divisions would subsist even among the nearest relations. Upon which he added, "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." He mentions these as naturally entitled to our affection in the highest degree; and observes that even these must yield to love of him, to zeal for his gospel, and to the hope of the heavenly reward which was set before his disciples.

The same sentiment is more strongly expressed by him in another place. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also; he cannot be my disciple." If any man hazard not the loss of these, postpone not the consideration of them, love them not in a less degree than the favour of God and the interests of my religion; let him not be one of my followers, who are the salt of the earth,

• See Hesiod, opera & dies, 443, 4, 5, who says that a good plough. man is one

"Ος κ' ἔργο μελετῶν ἐθείαν ἄυλακ ̓ ἐλαύνοι,

Μηκέτι παπλαίνων μεθ ̓ ὁμήλικος, ἀλλ ̓ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ
Θυμὸν ἔχων.

Who, careful of his work, draws a straight furrow;
Nor looks around among his friends, but keeps

His mind upon his work.

See Bos, Elsner, Le Clerc.

f Matt. x. 37.

h Luke xiv. 34

Luke xiv. 26. See p. i. c. i. sect. 9. p. 39.

who must benefit others by their instruction and example, and who, if they are offended in the approaching time of trial, will fall away to perdition. In this passage life alone is supposed to be dearer than the closest human relations.

Though our Lord was a prophet mighty in word and deed, he was not ashamed of his mean kinsfolk at Nazareth and though his fellow citizens rejected him, and even compelled him to preserve his life by miracle, yet he a second time attempted their conversion such attention did he shew not only to the great object of his ministry in general, but to the ties of consanguinity in particular.

When Jesus declined attending the feast of tabernacles in company with his brethren, no part of the transaction shews want of mutual love. Though his kinsmen withheld their belief from him, they acknowledged his miraculous power, and exhorted him to display it still more publicly at Jerusalem. But in the work of his ministry, he disregarded their suggestion, acted as prudence required, and mildly assigned the reasons of his conduct.

The last act of natural affection in Jesus's life is the most striking. While he hung on the cross, his mother in company with some other women stood near it, and fulfilled Simeon's prophecy that a sword should pierce through her soul. At this time, when his injunction would be most deeply impressed, he shewed true filial piety by saying to the disciple whom he loved for his peculiar sweetness and benignity of Luke iv. 16, &c. Matt. xiii. 54, &c. * John vii. 2-10..

'Luke ii. 35.

m

disposition, "Behold thy mother;" one whom thou art to treat with the same honour and tenderness, as if she really stood in that relation to thee.

SECTION XI.

OF OUR LORD'S FRIENDSHIPS.

IN such a disposition as our Lord possessed, we may naturally expect to find a readiness to approve and love the amiable and excellent qualities of others. A heart in which there was so much sensibility and affection could not but be susceptible of friendship.

Every man is more or less inclined to this pleasing and generous attachment, which many moralists have placed in the number of virtuous habits. And it is very observable throughout our Lord's discourses, that he always supposes human nature to be what we actually find it. In the following words a love of preference is mentioned as common among mankind.

* If you love them who love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your friends only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so ?" "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend,

in John xix. 27. 1. p. 268. Du Val.

a pinía ndinú ris is done eival. Arist. Eudem. viii, b Matt. v. 46, 47. pixx, which explains v. 46. is the true reading and not adexx's, which seems a correction from the Vulgate. Cod. Brix. in Blanchini has amicos.

See also c. xv. 6, 9, 29.

d Luke xi. 5, 6.