while to take another view of this subject, in a more distinct and connected manner.

Carry your eye, then, along the delightful stream of the New Testament narrative, from the moment when you discover, in the wilderness of Judea," the waters break out, and streams in the desert." On either side you will see Family connexions and Family groups bestirred and changed, and the parental heart especially, vibrating in all its tenderness.

But we have been urging the importance of a right commencement; let us try it here. On looking back to the origin of the triumph of Christianity, at once we are introduced to two Parents, and are carried home to the very bosom of a Family. It was fit that the man alluded to by the last of the Prophets, and who was first to be so employed, should himself be the Child of such Parents. His Father and Mother, "Zacharias and Elizabeth, were both righteous before God, and were walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless," when, in answer to their supplications, Jehovah promised them such a Son. In fixing on the man who was to accomplish such a prophecy, we see the Lord himself regard the Parents first. To turn the hearts of such Parents to such a Child of Promise was not necessary; but how great were the benefits which, on entering into existence, he must have enjoyed in such a Father and Mother! The little Child " grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the desert till the day of his shewing unto Israel." Receiving no education from the Jewish Scribes, nor attending on any sacerdotal services of the sanctuary, with his Parents' example before him, and under their tuition, he was

prepared for his great undertaking. At last, John being about thirty years of age, quitting the hill country, and coming down by the wilderness of Judea to the plains of Jordan, the nation is found in the precise state glanced at by the last of the prophets. Like "the barren fig-tree," to which our Lord afterwards compared it, it is "nigh unto cursing:" and in the ministry of John, we see the last remedy applied, before smiting the land with a curse.” Out of this nation, far gone as it was, he was to turn many unto the Lord their God,—to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, the heart of the children to the fathers, and make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

In his manner of proceeding there is something at once noble and awful; something which draws at once on our fear and love. To the hardened or hypocritical character of man, fully formed, he at once addressed himself, and, grappling with the vain refuge of the day, he says, "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. And now also the axe is laid to the root of the tree; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire"-is to be changed into fuel. Nor, as though he had said, think me severe, for there cometh one after me, who will be severer still: "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.”

This extraordinary man was cut off by a violent death, but not in the midst of his usefulness, as is often erroneously said by us; for no good man is ever so

cut off; his work was certainly done, though we be surprised and justly grieved at his unexpected call. Before John died, however, nay, long before he was cast into prison, he knew that he had not laboured in vain. One day the Jews informed him, not with amiable intentions; "Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." This to the harbinger was glad tidings indeed, as appears by his reply, though they could not see its meaning. "He must increase," said John, "but I decrease;" and so his ministry at last merged in that of his Lord and Master.

of

In describing the ministry of the Messiah and his harbinger, though both were to be employed in the conversion of men, it is worthy of notice, that neither Malachi nor the other Prophets describe them in the same terms. The merciful severity, and the grace their respective ministries, were, in one sense, addressed to all. But that of John had to do with the common people-the mass-the publicans and harlotsthe dregs of the nation. And here was the sink"the rock and the hole of the pit," from whence the church, the temple of Jehovah, was to be raised. But then, these were led astray, and beguiled by another class; the sons of Levi-the Scribes-the Pharisees, the Sadducees of the day. These were in reserve for Jesus; and over them he sat down in judgment, as a refiner and purifier of silver does over his furnace. The day of vengeance was in his heart, and the year of his redeemed was come. To these parties he drew near, and was a swift witness against them, after John, like another woodman in the forest, had laid his axe to

the root of every tree. The day was come, when the proud, and all that did wickedly, were like stubble: and the day had come, too, when bitter animosities and cursed selfishness were to give way before the mighty agency of God's own word. Yes, the day when, though the springs of social and domestic life were poisoned, the tender ties of blood and affinity violated, all should yield to the irresistible energy, the "fire and the hammer" of divine truth. Law and the Prophets," said Jesus, 66 were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every one presseth into it." Oh, my reader, how could it be otherwise, under preaching where the sense of danger was so produced, where the sense of obligation was so enforced, and the sense of advantage so held up to all?

"The

Full well, indeed, did the Saviour know the degenerate state of that nation at this melancholy period. So, when he sent out the twelve, he represents them as sent out to the human eye, defenceless, and more likely to be devoured by their countrymen, than instrumental in their conversion. "Behold," said he, "I send you forth, as sheep in the midst of wolves.” Yet did this not prevent him from addressing himself, through them, in the first instance, and in the most solemn manner, to the heads of families. The language is too remarkable not to be quoted. "And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house salute it: and if the house be worthy, let your peace rest upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you." When He sent out seventy others, after the apostles,

the same method is pursued. "Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house: and if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give; for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house."

Read the whole passage in both cases, and then say what could be the design of these minute directions, so pointedly delivered. Was not all this just saying, in effect, "In this nation apostacy hath intervened, but an interest in it, for God, I will raise up notwithstanding? Yes, my object is to raise up, within every city or town where you go in some one family, at least, an interest for myself. A welcome, and nothing more, I ask. There, shake yourself free of every encumbrance, exercise self-denial,-change not your abode on account of any personal inconvenience whatever,— interest, if possible, at least the whole of that one family in my approach, and shew to all that you have one, and but this one, object at heart: and as you are going into every city and place, to which I myself will follow, secure for me an entrance at least into some one solitary family, and even in a city, at first, I ask no more! Thither I myself will come, and finding your peace resting upon it; that peace assuredly shall not decline."

These, no doubt, were only preparatory measures; but the line of operation is in perfect harmony with all that has been advanced; and as preparatory, they shew how he proposed to pierce into the corruption of a nation, and take out of it, a people for his name.

Here, however, let us pause a moment, and observe