demption, for many. Matt. xx. 28. And that his Blood was fhed for many for the Remiffion of Sins. Matt. xxvi. 28. Agreeable to this are thofe Declarations of the Apoftle, that Chrift gave bis Life a Ranfom for all. 1 Tim. ii. 6. And that he died for all, when all were dead, i. e. dead in Trefpaffes and Sins, and under a Sentence of Condemnation, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. The Greatnefs of the Divine Love, as appearing in this Inftance, is excellently reprefented, Rom. v. 6, 7, 8. When we were yet without Strength, in due Time Chrift died for the Ungodly. For fcarcely for a righteous Man will one die; yet peradventure for a good Man fome would even dare to die. But God commendeth his Love towards us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Chrift died for He loved me, faith St. Paul, and gave himfelf for me. Gal. ii. 20. The Manner of Expreffion fhews, that the Surrendering himself up to fuch grievous Sufferings was Chrift's own Act and Deed, not only in Obedience to his heavenly Father's Will, who would never have forced it upon him without his own Confent; but from a Principle of the most free and generous Benevolence towards Mankind: And it is on this Account efpecially that the Apostle reprefents the Love of Chrift towards us, as a Love that palleth Knowledge. Eph, iii. 19. What an aftonishing

us.

aftonishing Love doth it fhew, that so glorious a Perfon, the Son of God incarnate, the Divine Immanuel, fhould, for us Men and for our Salvation, submit to fuch amazing Agonies, and bitter Paffions, which had fomething in them beyond Imagination great and grievous! He should confent to be made Sin for us (as St. Paul most emphatically expreffeth it) who knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteoufness of God in him. 2 Cor. v. 21. And to be made a Curfe for us, that he might redeem us from the Curfe of God's violated Law. Gal. iii. 13. And to fuffer for Sin, the Just for the Unjuft, that he might bring us unto God. 1 Pet. iii. 18. This was an Inftance of Love beyond all Parallel, and which no Words can fufficiently exprefs. It is the Wonder of Angels, and hall be the Subject of the everlasting Praifes and Acknowledgments of the Blessed above.

The feveral Things that have been mentioned plainly fhew, that Chrift hath exhibited the most illuftrious and shining Example of difinterefted Love, Compaffion, and Benevolence towards Mankind, that ever the World faw: But I would farther obferve, that there is another Inftance of virtuous Benevolence that hath not been yet diftinctly mentioned, and which yet deferves to be taken

Y 4

taken Notice of in our Saviour's Character; and that is the Special Love and Affection he bore to his Country, which, when it is in a due Subordination to an universal Love and Benevolence to Mankind, is an excellent Difpofition of Mind. As it was of the Ifraelites that, according to the Flesh, Chrift came; fo he all along manifefted the beartieft Concern for their Welfare. During the Course of his perfonal Ministry, he applied. himself in a particular Manner to recover the loft Sheep of the House of Israel: To them were the firft Offers of the Gospel Salvation made: He came to his own, thofe of his own Country and Nation; but his own received him not. Johni. 11. And, though he well knew the unjuft, the cruel and ignominious Treatment, he was to receive from them, yet the View he had of their impending Mifery and Defolation, which they brought upon themselves by their own Obftinacy and Wickedness, made the deepeft Impreffion upon his tender and benevolent Heart: His Concern vented itself by his Tears. At his laft Coming to Jerufalem, which was but a few Days before his Paffion, he feemed to be more affected with the Profpect of the Ruin that was coming upon the fews, than with his own approaching Sufferings: We are told that, when he was come near, he beheld the City,

and

and wept over it, uttering this pathetical Lamentation, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy Day, the Things that belong unto thy Peace! But now they are bid from thine Eyes. For the Days fhall come upon thee, that thine Enemies fhall caft a Trench about thee, and compass thee around, and keep thee in on every Side, and hall lay thee even with the Ground, and thy Children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one Stone upon another, because thou kneweft not the Time of thy Vifitation. Luke xix. 41, 42, 43, 44. And, before this, he had expreffed his tender Concern for the Jews in the most affecting Manner. Who can, without being fenfibly touched, hear him thus expoftulating from an Heart grieved for their Obftinacy and approaching Miseries! O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, which killeft the Prophets, and stoneft them which are fent unto thee: How often would I have gathered thy Children together, as a Hen doth gather her Brood under her Wings, and ye would not? Behold your Houfe is left unto you defolate. Luke xiii. 34, 35. And he repeated this again, when he came to Jerufalem, a little before his laft Sufferings. Matt. xxiii. 37, 38.

Upon the Whole, never was there any Thing fo lovely as our Saviour's Character: The more we confider it, the more we

fhall

fhall find Reason to admire it. Let us look and love till we be formed into his amiable Likeness. Here we may fee Divine Love in human Flesh, living and converfing among Men, difplaying itself in a thousand kind Offices and Acts of beneficent Goodness: And fhall we not feel it's facred and powerful Attractions? If profeffed Chriftians were but duly careful to refemble their great Lord and Mafter in his Goodness and Benevolence, what Honour would it reflect upon their Profeffion! And how happy would the Church be! A lovely Type of Heaven! Those are certainly unworthy of the Name of Chriftians who do not exercise themfelves in Well-doing, much more who are implacable, unmerciful, filled with bitter Envying, Malice, and Revenge. How can fuch Perfons pretend to have the Spirit of Chrift dwelling in them, which is a Spirit of Love, Peace, and Charity? Let us therefore, as we would approve ourselves the Followers of Jefus, be kind and tender-hearted, and ready to forgive. Let us put on Bowels of Mercies, and that Charity which is the Bond of Perfectness. Cur Benevolence, like his, fhould be active and univerfal: We should be ready, as far as we have Ability and Opportunity, to do Good unto all Men, to their Bodies and to their Souls, not excepting even our Enemies themselves: But

especially