DISCOURSEX.

St. JOHN, CHAP. ii. VER. 23, 24, 25

"NOW WHEN HE WAS AT JERUSA

LEM AT THE PASSOVER, IN THE "FEAST-DAY,

MANY BELIEVED

" IN HIS NAME, WHEN THEY SAW

THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID. "BUT JESUS DID NOT COMMIT

HIMSELF UNTO THEM, BECAUSE HE KNEW ALL MEN: AND NEED"ED NOT THAT ANY SHOULD "TESTIFY OF MAN; FOR HE "KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN."

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O fooner had the SON OF GOD, with infinite condescension, fub

mitted to the baptifm of his illustrious Fore-runner, and had thereby been in

augurated,

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augurated, as it were, into his prophetic office; no fooner had he received the Testimony of his Father, by a Voice from Heaven, declaring, that " this "was his BELOVED SON, in whom he " was well pleased," than he entered upon his Public Ministry, and, by an unexampled series of figns and wonders, made it abundantly manifest, that the Arm of Omnipotence was engaged in the support of those awful interesting truths, which he delivered.

The Evangelift tells us, in the 11th verse of this chapter, that this "be"ginning of miracles JESUS did in "Cana of Galilee, and manifested " forth his Glory, and his disciples be"lieved on him." From whence we may conclude, that the first public miracle which he wrought, was at the marriage in Cana; that the design of his miracles was to manifeft his Glory, to declare and prove the truth of his Meffiahship;

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Meffiahship, the glorious errand on which he came into this world; and that the accomplishment of this began to appear in the conviction of his disciples who believed on him.

In order, therefore, to accomplish "the “work which his Heavenly Father had

given him to do," he foon afterwards haftened up to Jerufalem, to attend the first passover that was celebrated after he had made his public appearance. His design herein, was doubtless to teftify his veneration for his Father's ordinances; and as at this great folemnity, the whole nation of the Jews were assembled at Jerufalem, it afforded him a glorious opportunity of opening his Heavenly Commiffion, by some display of the powers with which he was invested.

Accordingly, we read, that he no fooner entered into the Temple, and beVOL. II. held

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held one of its facred courts prostituted to bafe and mercenary purposes, than, by an act of zeal, which alarmed and confounded the surrounding multitude, he authoritatively chastised and turned out the impious wretches, who were guilty of the prophanation. And when the Jews asked him for some sign, whereby they might be convinced of his authority to act as he had done, he gave them no other than a parabolical prediction of his future and glorious refurrection from the dead; for he knew they asked from no other motive, than to fatisfy an idle curiosity, and without any design to accept of his doctrine, even though they might be convinced of the Divinity of his Mission. That this was really the cafe, we may conclude from the conduct of our BLESSED LORD, mentioned in my text: "Now when " he was at Jerufalem at the passover, " in the feaft-day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles " which

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"which he did. But JESUs did not "commit himself unto them, because "he knew all men, and needed not "that any should testify of man; for "he knew what was in man."

In speaking from which words, I shall, in the first place, point out the reasons of our SAVIOUR's conduct towards those persons, of whom it is said here, that they "believed on his name:" and secondly, I shall shew in what sense they may be applicable to many of those who now live under the Light of the Gospel.

And First, It is faid, that "JESUS " did not commit himself unto them;" that is to say, he did not chuse to trust himself to them, to put himself in their power. He did not chuse to associate with them, to enroll them in the number of his disciples, to make them his bosom companions; and for this reason,