and he will take, and make it better at its worst, than all the gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, of all those rich countries where they abound, and will purify, rectify, and make it quite another thing than it is, and it shall never repent thee to have made a gift of it to him. He shall frame it to his own likeness, and in return will give thee himself, and be thine for ever.

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CHAP. III.
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LTHOUGH the enemies of Jesus Christ, and,

for a time, even his friends and followers, mistook the nature of his kingdom, yet he is a king. This being questioned, he himself avowed it before the Roman judge; and even in his low estate on earth, yet were there intermixed signs and characters of royalty. To instance here no more, the former chapter hath the history of one of them, and this of another. In that was the homage done to him a little after his entering into the world by birth. In this, we have his harbinger preparing his way a little before his coming forth into the world, to manifest himself in his words and works.

The Chapter you see contains the history of John Baptist. 1st. The nature of his office. 2dly. The exercise of his office, and that both generally to the multitude of the Jews that resorted to his baptism; and particularly to some of more eminent note amongst them, the Pharisees and Sadduces, and singularly on the person of Jesus Christ.

In those days. That relates not to the history that goes before, but to that which follows to be recorded, as the usual style of the Hebrew bears. It is clear that many years fell betwixt even the greatest part both of Christ's life, and of John Baptist's. In both which, from the birth to the coming forth to preach, all the intercedent time is past in

silence, not only here but in all the other evangelists, saving one act of Christ's appearing in public about the age of twelve years, recorded by St. Luke, which was but a glance of this jewel, that lay locked up a long time alter.

Ver. 1.-John the Baptist, an extraordinary person in his birth and calling; holy from the womb; A prophet, and more than a prophet; and Jesus Christ himself far more than he, his Lord and Master, the Prince of Prophets, and yet neither of them come abroad in their ministry till about the age of thirty years, the time specified in the law for the service of the house of God. But our ignorance makes us bold and fool-hardy, we rush forward not knowing ourselves nor this calling, its excellency and holiness, and our own meanness and unholiness. This I say, not that I think measure doth punctually and literally tie us, especially the necessity of some times, and the scarcity of faithful labourers being considered, upon which some may lawfully, yea, ought to be drawn forth, if unwilling and yet able.

But sure the consideration of these examples, should give a due check aud curb to our usual precipitate hearts, which in these times had need of some restraint, even in some, that possibly have some competency both of abilities and true piety. Good fruit may be plucked too green, which, let alone awhile to ripen, would prove much more pleasant and profitable.

In these two, their long lying hid is so much the more remarkable, that besides their singular fitness for appearing much sooner, they had so short a time allotted for their course. The forerunner but about one year, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself but about three years and a half. But this was the assigned time in the divine wisdom, found sufficient. for the work committed to them; and what needs more, let not any grudge for themselves or for any other, their speedy removal upon this conceit, that they might, in nature's course, continue much lon

ger; and in appearance, through their labour, be still more serviceable. Let each rather study for themselves, and wish unto others that they may be diligent in their work while their day lasts, be it short or long, faithful and fruitful in their generation, and the shorter their day is like to be, work the faster; for certainly the good of life is not the length of it, but in the use of it.

There are betwixt our Saviour and this his messenger or forerunner, divers notable agreements; near of kindred; their births one year, and both foretold by an angel; and as Christ the son of a virgin, John the son of aged parents, and a mother so long barren; little odds in the time of both their appearing to the world, and abiding in it; both sealing their doctrine with their blood. But as in these, in all the Lord hath the pre-eminence beyond his servant, so this faithful servant did always most willingly acknowledge it, yea his very business was to abase himself and exalt his master, and this he did as we find throughout his history. And those of the servants of Christ that are most honoured to be nearest him, are always the greatest abasers of themselves, most desirous to have him honoured.

John's office we have briefly expressed in the first verse, partly in his name John Baptist, a minister of baptism, and partly in the word joined with preaching. Preaching of the word joined with baptism. John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness.

I will not here speak of the nature of baptism, the combinement of preaching with it, their aspect each to the other, and concurrence to one excellent end; the word unfolding the sacrament, and the sacrament sealing the word. The word, as a light informing and clearing the sense of the seal, and it again as a seal confirming and ratifying the truth of the word; as you see some significant seals or signets engraven, have a word about them expressing their sense.

But truly the word is a light, and the sacraments

have in them of the same light illuminating them. And this of baptism, the ancients do particularly express by light, yet are they both nothing, but darkness to us, till the same light shine in our hearts, for till then we are nothing but darkness ourselves, and therefore the most luminous things are so to us: noonday as midnight to a blind man. And we use these ordinances, word, and sacrament, without profit and comfort for the most part, because we have not of that divine light within us; and we have it not, because we ask it not, are not often there where it is to be had, nor earnest suiters for it; for we have his word that cannot fail, that our heavenly father will give even his choice gift, this light (for that is it) his Holy Spirit to them that ask it. Then would word and sacrament be sweet to us, which now are so lifeless and unsavory.

Ver. 2. We have in the following words the sum of his doctrine. Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In the point of time and the way of his ministry, he was indeed singular, yet the substance of his doctrine is the same with those that went before, and those that came after him. All the prophets preached repentance, and joined in the prediction of this kingdom of God; and our Saviour himself, and his disciples, as you will after find, preached not only this same doctrine, but even in the same words; only this he had particular, that he stood betwixt the two as it were, the link of law and gospel, as one calls him, and was the first that said, The kingdom of God is at hand, and pointed it out as come while he was speaking.

Repent. This is the main purport and end of God's messages to man in all times, by all that he hath sent (as has been already said) prophets, apostles, Jesus Christ and his forerunner; and still all his ministers under the gospel, have no other in effect to say, but to call men to repentance, to bring them home to God. Man is naturally turned away from God, and is still further running away and hasten,

ing to the pit, and God is calling after him, Do not destroy yourselves, I will receive and pardon you, Oh! return, why will you die? And yet men will not hearken, but run to their ruin. This word daily preached; and yet who almost is persuaded so much as to stop his course a little and consider what is propounded to him, much less to break off his course and return. Oh! the bountifulness and graciousness of God, that thus intreats, and still intreats base worms, whom he might tread on and crush in a moment! Oh! the wretchedness and madness of man that refuses, and still refuses those gracious intreaties! You have been called to in these terms, and where are they that return? Where are hearts breaking for their iniquities, and breaking away from them, mourning after the Lord, and longing for a look of his countenance, and desiring thing else? Oh! that some soul might now be stirred up, and set but upon thoughts of repenting, serious, real thoughts that would not die. The Lord will reach forth his hand and draw it to himself, though it find it cannot stir, yea in that very desire of returning to him, he hath prevented it and touched it, and will not lose it, will not suffer it and his begun work in it to perish.

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For the kingdom of heaven.] Aye, this is the attractive, that which puts life and hope into the soul, Jesus Christ, peace and reconcilement in him in God. This is the kingdom of heaven, and here it was at hand, and came, and was published through the world; and throughout all ages of it the gospel is at hand, in the gracious offers of it to all that hear the word, and is brought into the souls that believingly receive the word, and Jesus Christ revealed in it. This gives both hope to the sinner, and stirs up desires. Were there not a way of receiving, it were in vain to call men to return; but seeing there is a ransom found; seeing the way is opened up, who is there that have eyes opened to behold that mercy, that will delay any longer, that will not hasten into it, and lay hold upon it.