the Gentile world. Christ was also tried, resisted, shewed himself to be the beloved Son of God, in whom he was well pleased; and he purchased the honour of becoming the Saviour of mankind.

It is our earnest desire to avoid controversy upon subjects of inferior importance. We endeavour to collect and arrange facts generally admitted, without drawing any other inferences than those which are of practical importance; or may in any respect serve to elucidate the plan of God in the salvation of Man. We shall not therefore attempt to explain the precise manner in which our Saviour was tried, when it is. said that "he was led by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil." We shall leave it to others to solve the difficulties surrounding. the scenery, which is here represented as having taken place; and confine our attention to the characteristic peculiarities of the temptations, or trials themselves.

It appears, from the history given us of all the miracles wrought by our Saviour, that their important objects were, to publish and confirm the truth of his mission from the Father of Mercies, by relieving the distresses of others; for they were all, without exception, of a beneficial nature. After fasting forty days and forty nights, devoting that time to meditation

the

and devout intercourse with his heavenly Father, powers of nature were exhausted. He was an hungered in the wilderness, without the possibility of receiving a supply of food, by any natural means. He was therefore strongly induced to work a miracle, solely for his own. relief, that he might receive an instantaneous supply to his wants. We are told, that the

tempter came to him and said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that this stone be made bread." Since thou art endowed with the power of working miracles, commence by converting this power to thine own relief. A suggestion socontrary to the nature of his mission, and to the object in possessing this endowment, he rejected with disdain. He was convinced that the God, whose instrument and agent he was appointed to become, was able to support him, without such a perversion of his power to a purpose personal and selfish. He answered, " Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." A dependence upon the promises of God is the firmest support, and it will be more acceptable to him than this perversion of my power.

The next temptation was of a presumptuous nature. It was suggested to him, that a convincing proof of his being of a truth the

Son of God, and probably the most striking and expeditious method of establishing the divinity of his mission, in the eyes of the populace, would be to cast himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, amidst the numerous worshippers; applying to himself, and to the present occasion, those assurances of divine support given to the Godly, which were expressed by the Psalmist in such animated language. It is written, "he shall give his angels charge over thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." This miracle, had it been performed, would have been destitute of the character inscribed upon every other, that of Beneficence. It would have appeared vain and ostentatious. It would have been an attempt to introduce his acceptance, as the promised Messiah, in a hasty and unauthorised manner; and it was a presumptuous application of a general promise. The suggestion was silenced by adverting to the 'admonition, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." It were an abuse of the consoling promise of protection, for the Son of God to have exposed himself to dangers, neither commanded nor authorised by his heavenly Father.

A third temptation presented itself on the

submit of a high mountain; whence there was an extensive view of the land of Palestine and its vicinities. Here the suggestions of Ambition made a momentary impression. If, like others, he would consent to worship the god of this world, and bow the knee to Mammon, their was every prospect of his rising to the summit of worldly grandeur. The eager expectations of the people were directed towards him. Thousands were in hourly expectation of a deliverer from the Roman Yoke; tens of thousands would have joined him, had he openly assumed that character; and he would have been hailed as the Saviour of his country.

This flattering prospect was also rejected with disdain. "Get thee behind me, Satan," was the an swer; and the effectual check to this ambitious project. "It is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." "My kingdom is not of this world." I am appointed to sway the sceptre of righteousness, and to obtain an immortal crown, by being faithful unto death, in the execution of the commission with which I am charged. It is added, that "when satan had left him, angels came and ministered unto him." His conquest was complete, and he enjoyed consolations from above,

We may recall several circumstances which have a tendency to corroborate the above statement. The acceptance of the commission from heaven could not be compulsive. It was optional. "He freely gave himself for us." He declares, that he had "power to lay down his life, and power to take it up." When Peter, in his precipitate zeal, drew his sword in defence of his master, Jesus said unto him, "Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of Angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

The general survey we have been taking of the character and conduct of our Saviour, as a model for our imitation, manifests his infinite superiority to every other moral and religious character upon record. He has fulfilled all righteousness; and he alone. Noah, in consequence of his ready obedience to the divine command, in building the ark, found favour with God. Abraham, for his more exemplary obedience, was more highly honoured. Moses was the chief of the ancient prophets. But still they were surrounded by moral imperfections, and their obedience was limited and par