23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

be

Jesus, though born at Bethlehem, was generally considered as belonging to Nazareth ; cause that being the residence of Joseph, his Hence his followers youth was passed there. were termed Nazarenes. Paul is accused by the orator Tertullus (Acts xxiv. 5) as a "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." Now Nazareth was a place held in general contempt, as we learn from the first question of Bartholomew to Philip: (John i. 46:) "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" And the prophets had spoken concerning Christ, that he should be " despised and rejected of men." The Psalmist says of him, (Ps. lxix. 7, 8,) "For thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien Therefore Joseph unto my mother's children." was directed in a dream to this contemptible place, that he for whom God hath designed a "name that shall be above every name," might, in his earthly condition, accomplish the prophecy, "He was despised and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah liii. 3.)1 "For thy

This leads to a natural reflection. sake I have borne reproach," says the Lord of

1 The reason may be seen in Whitby for adopting this interpretation, instead of referring the allusion to Judges xiii. 5. where it is said of Sampson, he shall be a Nazarite (separated, hallowed, yaouevoc) to God from the womb.

glory. Certainly for our sake he did undergo reproach, who, "being in the form of God, yet made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil. ii. 6—8.) Should we then hesitate to endure reproach for him, if we should be put to such a trial? If our zeal to serve what we believe to be his cause, or if our strict conformity to the spirit of his laws, should be unpopular, or lead to misrepresentation, shall we be disturbed, as if some strange thing had happened to us? Still less should we decline from. the strait path of duty, through a vague apprehension of any such consequence, which probably may never arise.

The lesson to be learnt is, that both worldly honour and worldly reproach are as nothing in the sight of God; and that we should endeavour to think them nothing, but seek "the honour which cometh from God" only. It often happens that those who do seek that honour simply and consistently, are unexpectedly rewarded, in the end, by the good opinion of men. For "when a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.""

Enable us, O Lord, through "honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report," to lead the life which is approved by thee, and to "keep ourselves unspotted from the world."

3 Prov. xvi. 7.

LECTURE IV.

PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

MATT. iii. 1-12.

1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

2. And saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'

4. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

These habits of John are mentioned to show that he was a plain and austere man, mortified to this world and its delights and vanities. He " came neither eating nor drinking:" (xi. 18:) he lived apart from the society and usual habits of his countrymen. This agreed with the business assigned to him, and the doctrine which he preached. All should be consistent. Exhortations to self-denial would come with little force from one who was

1 Is. xl. 3.

2 Such seems to have been the dress of prophets. Elijah is described (2 Kings i. 8) as a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And Zechariah (xiii. 4) speaks of false prophets, who wear a rough garment to deceive.

Mark i. 2.
Luke iii. 2.
John i. 18.

C

evidently himself attached to earthly things. Those who "seek first" the kingdom of heaven which the Baptist proclaimed, will strive to imitate him in his indifference to outward comforts and advantages, though they are not required to observe a like singularity.

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.

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? 8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

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.

10. And now also the axe 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.

11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than 1, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

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

Such was the substance of John the Baptist's

3 "In eastern countries, on occasion of visits to great men, the sandals or slippers are usually pulled off at the door, and either left there, or given to a servant to bear: therefore, to bear the shoes of another, was to be his attendant, his inferior."

4 With the Holy Ghost, (Mark i. 8,) whose operation shall be quick, powerful, and purifying as fire.

preaching by which he awakened men to a sense of their danger and a concern for their souls, that the Saviour might be welcome to them, when, a few months afterwards, he entered upon his ministry. "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

But the word of the preacher never profits unless we take it to ourselves; and Satan is always ready to satisfy our corrupt hearts with a reason why we should not take it to ourselves. The Jews trusted to the favour of God towards their nation; and had a common saying, that no descendant of Abraham should finally perish. They are warned accordingly, Think not to say among yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. If he had need of a people to serve him, he could find or make one any where.

Christians too must beware lest they trust in their Christian name, their outward advantages, their pure church and its sacraments, and so take a comfort to their hearts to which they have no scriptural claim.

The Jews were descended from Abraham : were "a chosen nation, a peculiar people." Yet unless they "did the works of Abraham," and lived as a holy nation, they had no exemption from the wrath to come. WE are called by the name of Christ, we belong to a Christian church; but unless we have more than this; unless the faith and the Spirit of Christ reside in our hearts, he "profiteth us nothing; we are yet in our sins.”

Success attended John's preaching, even beyond