с When the didrachm for the service of the temple was required of him under the authority of the Jewish rulers, though he might have pleaded an exemption as the lineal descendant of king David, yet not to offend them, as irreverent towards the temple, either by this plea or by that of poverty and his want of a settled habitation, he wrought a miracle to pay the accustomed tribute money. On another occasion, when he was questioned about the lawfulness of paying tribute to Cesar, he raised the wonder of those who asked him by the fitness of his reply: "Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to God the things that are God's." With respect to religious teachers, though as a prophet he very freely reproved those among the Jews who were unworthy of that character, yet he enforced the proper kind of repect due even to such : "The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' chair: All things therefore whatsoever they command you to observe, [meaning such things as were agreeable to the law of Moses,] those things observe and do." e But though our Lord's conduct was reverent to all in authority, it was not slavish. While he was in Galilee, a province under Herod's jurisdiction, some Pharisees said to him, "Depart and go hence; for Herod seeketh to kill thee. And he said unto them, crafty and cruel prince,] Go and tell that fox, [that Behold I cast out demons, and I do cures, to day and to morrow; and the third day I shall be perfected." с Matt. xvii. 24. dib. xxii. 21. e ib. xxiii. 2. Luke xiii. 31, 2 When "the high priest asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine; Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I always taught in the syna. gogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me ? ask them who heard me what I spake unto them; behold they know what I have said." This is the language of prophetic authority, of conscious innocence, and of just wonder that his judge made no regular appeal to the testimony of witnesses and throughout the whole of his trial we must bear in mind that, agreeably to the singular circumstances in which he was placed, he had previously determined not to use the natural means of averting death. When he was afterwards adjured by the living God to say whether he were the Christ or not; he answered with dignity as a prophet, " If I tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also ask you [such questions, as should lead you to a conviction of my Messiahship,] ye will not answer me nor release me." He then added, in deference to the high priest's adjuration, “I am: and hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the powerful God, and coming in the clouds of heaven." When Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? conscious that the most vigilant governor could not have discovered any thing seditious in his conduct, he first observed that the suggestion came from his accusers, and that his kingdom was of a spiritual nature he then confessed that he was a King, and John xviii. 19, 20, 21. John xviii. 34-7. h Luke xxii. 67, 8, 9. and p. p. k added with great dignity, "For this end was I born, and for this end came I into the world, that I might bear witness unto the truth: every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." Again: when Herod "* questioned him in many words, he answered him nothing;" he entered not into a history of his conduct, or a defence against his enemies, like one intent on obtaining a powerful interposition in his favour; much less did he gratify Herod's expectation by working a miracle before him: but he appeared at his tribunal with the majesty of a judge, and not with the abjectness of a blasphemer and mover of sedition. We are next to observe what our Lord's conduct was towards his country. His miracles and instructions, during the course of a laborious ministry, were almost all of them dispensed to the Jews. Considering the great number of his useful lessons and mighty works, the exceptions are very few. As he passed through Samaria in his way to Galilee, he 'instructed and converted many of the Samaritans. He wrought miracles on the servant of a Roman Centurion, on a "Samaritan leper, and on the daughter of a Syrophenician woman. However, when he commissioned the twelve, he gave them this injunction, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not but go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This was the affectionate language of the good Shepherd, who cared * Luke xxiii. 8-11. in Matt, viii. 5. and p. p. Matt. x. 5, 6. r n Luke xvii. 16. OUR LORD'S MORAL CHARACTER. for the sheep, and laid down his life for them. Jesus conducted himself as "a minister of the circumcision, to confirm the promises made to the fathers:" he preached first and chiefly to the 'heirs of the Abrahamic covenant: but as it was originally designed that the gospel should also be preached to the Gentiles, he incidentally afforded them a specimen of his future benevolence. Our Lord repeatedly forewarned his disciples of their impending danger from the Romans, and * taught the serious and attentive among them in what manner to avoid destruction. But "there was W nothing covered, that was not to be revealed; nor hidden, that was not to be known. What Jesus said to them in darkness, they were to speak in the light; and what they heard in the ear, that were they to preach on the house tops." He likewise prophesied of the same event to the Jews, both by parable and in direct terms. He twice addressed the following affectionate and pathetic words to the Jews; "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings and ye would not!" And when from the surrounding hills he beheld that once holy and favoured city, and in spirit foresaw her desolation he lamented and wept over her with great emotion ; Rom. xv. 8. Acts iii. 25. " Luke xvii. 31. Matt. xxiv. 16, 17, 18. and p. p. w Matt. x. 26, 27. The parallelism, like that in the Hebrew poetry, should here be observed. * See part i. c. iii. sect. i. p. 200. y Luke xiii. 34. Matt. xxiii. 37. and the abrupt manner in which he expressed himself was an indication of genuine sorrow in his heart: "If even thou hadst known, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hidden from thine eyes." b Christ's love for his country most eminently appeared in his dying for it. He died for the Jewish e nation; and not for that nation only, but for all the true sons of God wherever dispersed throughout the world. SECTION XIII. OF OUR LORD'S PRUDENCE. THE great and singular assemblage of virtues in our Lord's character was ever guided by consummate prudence; which presided over his conduct, and gave a peculiar aptness and force to his words. and actions. In his discourses there are express and implied precepts on the subject of this virtue. His disciples were not to lavish and hazard instruction and reproof on the obstinate and incorrigible. When he sent forth the twelve, he recommended to them the "wisdom of the serpent. He taught his hearers to resemble the wise man who built his house on a rock. z Luke xix. 42. See p. 49. a Even thou who hast so often offended, and abused such means of knowledge and reformation. At length, however, in this thy awful and final day of trial. See on this passage part ii. c. i. sect. 3, p. 373. John xi. 51, 52. a Matt. vii. 6. bib. x. 16. с ib. vii. 24. |