134 PATTERN FOR A DISSENTING PREACHER. must do, because their hearts were not in their work. But our blessed Lord, had doubtless a solemn and awful air of unfeigned religion on his face, and piety and goodness sat on his counte- nance, while the words of truth and salvation were poured out from his lips. Ile taught the things of God to the people, as one that had zeal for God, and a tender and compassionate concern for the souls ofmen ; his zeal appears sufficiently in the actions of his life ; John ii. 17. The zeal of thy house bath eaten me up, it wasted his natural spirits. How warm was he in reproving sin, even the sins of the rulers and priests of the church in that day ! How kind and melting was his language, in inviting sin- ners to repent and return to God ! How largehis promises of pardon, in the name of God his Father, All manner ofsin and blasphemy shall beforgiven to men ! Mat. xii. 31. How mov- ing are his exhortations to faith and hope in himself ! Mat. xi. 28. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heaven laden, and I will give you rest. Come and take uponyou my yoke and any burden, for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.' Come and learn ofme, practise what I preach, and imitate what I do. The scribes taught by way of exposition, and poor expositors they were of divine revelation ; and probably they never enforced holiness on the conscience with solemn and pathetic words ; Christ spake with authority, as one that came from God, clothed with power. Mat. vii. 28. The people were astonished at his doctrine, for hetaught as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 3. Not only in the matter and in the manner of Christ's preaching, there was some difference from that of the doctors of the age ; but thirdly, there was more difference between his preaching and theirs, in the power that attended his serinons, for God was with him. But the Jewish church was grown so degenerate, that though God himself did once establish it, yet now he had almost left and forsaken their priests and their teachers. There was an evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, that attended the Words of Christ inwardly to the hearts and consciences of men. Therefore Christ could say concern- ing his preaching, the words that I speak unto you, they are spi- rit, and they are life ; John vi. 63. The Spirit of God was givenhimwithout measure, as John the baptist confessed con- cerning him. John iii. 34. The Spirit ofthe Lord was upon him, the Lord 'had anointed him to preach the glad tidings of salvation to men, to unbind the captives, and to bind up those that were wounded and broken in heart, as in Luke iv. 18. 'which he himself cites from the prophecy of Isaiah, which was spoken of old concerning him. TheSpirit ofthe Lordwas upon him and went with his words, that made the officers acknow- ledge, never man spoke like him; for they had been usedbefore
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