AND SMOKI1\G FLAX . 35 to be laid open to the view of all. - When it is most naked, it is most lovely and powerful. Our blessed Saviour as he took our nature upon him, so he took upon him our familiar manner of speech, which was part of his voluntary abasement. Saint Paul was a profound man, yet became as a nurse to the weaker sort. 1 Thess. ii. 7 . That spirit of mercy which was in Christ, should move his servants to be content to abase themselves for the good of the meanest. What made the kingdom of heaven suffer violence after John the Baptist's time, but that comfortable truths were laid open with such plainness and evidence, that the people were so affected with them, that they offered a holy violence to them? Christ chose those to preach 1nercy, who had received most mercy, as St. Peter and St. Paul, that they might be ex-. amples of what they taught. St. Paul became " all things to all men," 1 Cor. ix. 22. stooping unto then1 for their good. Christ came down from heaven, and ernpiied himself of majesty, in tender love to souls. Shall not w:e come down from D2
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