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among women. And again; Elizabeth, speaking by the Holy Spirit, called her blessed among women, and happy in that she had believed. Mary also truly prophesied of herself, that all generations should call her happy. God regarded her low "estate, and did great things to her, by giving her a son whose example and instructions were the source of abundant advantage to her; by appointing her the instrument of conveying inestimable benefits to mankind; and by distinguishing and dignifying her above all women, in her becoming, by a singular miracle, the virgin mother of a holy offspring who was the "Son of God. This kind of blessedness our Lord allowed to be real, though he could not assign it the highest rank it consisted in an external privilege: it was the natural means of that true and solid blessedness which arose from knowing and observing the divine commands.

W

At the same time, while he remained in the house at Capernaum where he cast out a demon, and where he confuted and censured the blasphemy of the Jewish rulers, his mother and his brethren came to him, and could not approach him because of the multitude. It was told him therefore, "Thy mother and thy brethren stand without desiring to speak with thec." But he answered, "who is my mother, and who are my brethren?" And he looked round on his disciples, stretched forth his hand towards them, and said, "Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, who is in

Luke i. 41, 42, 45. V, Jud. v. 24.

w v. 48, 9, 35.

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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 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 :

Matt. xii. 45--50. and p. p.

y Mark iii 20,

? See Syr.

a

Jolin vii. 5.

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 a 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. dib. 61, 62

e

OUR LORD'S MORAL CHARACTER.

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' ἔργα μελετῶν ἰθείαν αυλακ ̓ ἐλαύνοι,

Μηκέτι παπλαίνων μεθ ̓ ὁμήλικος, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ ἔργῳ
Θυμὶν 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. 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. 'Luke ii. 35.

John vii. 2-10.

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