about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite." He had his spirit and power also, that they might know him to be the person spoken of by the prophet Malachi iv. 5.

"And his meat was locusts and wild honey:" what the desert afforded. Doubtless this was intended to be observed, as a proof of his austere, mortified life.

5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Baptism was an usual ceremony among the Jews; and great numbers, from Jerusalem and all parts of Judæa, now received it from John as a token of their desire to be washed from the defilement of sin, and to enter upon a new course of life. So far all was well; but John will presently refer them to another baptism, without which they must come short of salvation. It is not enough to confess sin, without confessing and believing in Christ, for remission and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

He admonishes them that they did not well know for what they came to him, were still vipers in their hearts, and not inwardly warned, by any true knowledge of themselves, to flee from the wrath to come. Laying the emphasis on the word you will give another and something different interpretation. As if he had said, This is strange indeed! To see you here, you learned doctors, who are so full of yourselves! Who could have thought that you, of all men, would ever have come to my baptism? And then he admonishes them to make full proof of their repentance.

8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Whoever you are, think of these fruits.

9. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham

to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

They thought Abraham was their father, to the neglect of their own personal holiness; they valued themselves upon their descent from him, as if by it they were secure of God's favour. Let us make the application for ourselves; let us not trust in our baptism, christian name, and profession, without a christian faith and holy life. God is able to raise up men of other nations, though strangers from the covenants of promise, and how dead soever in themselves, to be children of Abraham. And even us, if we will be God's children.

10. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Now, if it be God's will, now hear; now pray that the ax may be laid to the root of all sin in you.

In this verse the sentence upon every unfruitful soul is declared, and will certainly be put in execution. Therefore let us hear and understand. Judge and be in fear for ourselves; come to Christ, and learn of him how to bring forth good fruit.

11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance." That was all he could do; he could not make that repentance available to salvation: he preached it as the way to Christ."But he that cometh after me is mightier than I." To him, therefore, we must go, who alone is mighty to save, to give effect to all ordinances, and to the preaching of all his ministers. "Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear." O Jesus, we are none of us worthy to be thy servants, in the meanest offices; but thou sendest to man by man, and canst perfect praise out of the mouths of babes.

"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Not with water only, washing from the guilt of sin; but with the Holy Ghost, revealing Christ as the Lord our righteousness; and also as with fire, cleansing the soul, consuming its dross, and renewing it to the image of God in holiness. This was remarkably fulfilled at the day of Pentecost, is always fulfilling in the world, and must be fulfilled in every one of us.

12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

John speaks of Christ's office from the beginning to the end of it, as setting up his kingdom in the world, ruling in it by his Spirit, and at last separating the bad from the good, and casting the unworthy out of it into fire unquenchable.

SECTION IV.

Chap. iii. ver. 13—17.

JOHN BAPTIZETH CHRIST IN JORDAN.

13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

What! should he who did no sin, knew no sin, come to John's baptism for repentance? Was not this rather counterfeit humility, and a denial of the truth, than matter of righteousness? Yes, as considered in his own person, but

not as taking upon himself the sins of the whole human nature. One thing farther must be remarked. If he thought it just and right to come to John's baptism, surely it must be dangerous presumption in others to despise the baptism of Christ himself.

16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon. him:

This took place in the sight of John and all the people. In these circumstances of the heavens opening, and the Spirit descending, we see, as it were, heaven opened to us with all its blessings; and always standing open to receive all who are cleansed by Christ's baptism; that is, those on whom the Spirit descends, and must descend, as it did on him; for he was our pattern in all things. Let not the dove be overlooked. If we have not the innocence and meekness signified by it, our baptism is void; the Holy Ghost is not in it.

17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The voice from heaven came from a different person to the Spirit descending, and Jesus on whom he descended. This is such a full proof of a distinction of persons in the Trinity, as cannot be shaken.

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Saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Observe, the voice of attestation came not till after the descent of the Holy Spirit; and that not for Christ's sake, for in him the Father was always well pleased; but for ours, to show what we must be, and who are the sons of God; that is to say, not for anything we are or do in our very best estate, but in and through the beloved Son, into whom we are ingrafted by faith, and in whom alone he is well pleased. "Such trust have we through Christ to Godward." And blessed be God for the good

hope he has given us of acceptance in the beloved, and for sending down the Holy Ghost to establish us in faith; and be the dove in us, as he was in Jesus.

SECTION V.

Chap. iv. 1-25.

THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST-HE CALLS HIS DISCIPLES.

1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

He who was to fulfil all righteousness, must pass through all states, and undergo the severest trials. Trial is necessary for us, it is God's chosen means for our purification and establishment; and the same Spirit prepares us for it, and is then most with us, when we think we are most deserted. Here is also a warning given us of an invisible and most dangerous enemy. Look well at this scripture, that you may know the great benefit of all the scriptures, and how we must be armed against Satan's assaults. He is a master of his trade; and, if we may judge from his three several attempts upon our Saviour, he both knows the weak sides of our nature, and what sins will be most likely to undo us. You will observe, that the devil's aim was to draw Christ from his dependence upon God, and his allegiance to him; for all other sins find an easy entrance where the way is not guarded by these principles.

2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

The call of nature was strong, and the cunning adversary spied his advantage. Take notice, that you need not put