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enliven our contemplations, with a peculiar, and fometimes an almoft inftantaneous influence.

Such effects will doubtless differ greatly in different minds, and in the fame mind at different times; and it thall fometimes happen. that those parts, which shall make a moft latting and happy impreffion on fome minds, may be read over, and repeatedly too, without any particular effect, by other perfons, not inferior in fenfibility or defires of improvement. Hence we may deduce a reason, of no small weight, for the continuation of religious commentaries and discourses, although they have doubtleís been multiplied almoft without number, and fometimes with little use.

It is poffible, that the paffage above quoted may at first fight ftrike the mind of a reader, with lefs importance than it has now done the writer of these reflections. But if the following remarks fhall fail of doing all the good, which good-will would impart by them, they will at least have a serious tendency.

The

The Ethiopian eunuch, of whom, after his inftruction by Philip, it is faid "he went on "his way rejoicing," seems to have been a perfon, who, if not "an eunuch for the kingdom "of heaven's fake," was at least one who was feeking that kingdom with an earnest and true folicitude. As fuch an one he was distinguished by the notice of that Being, "who hath made "of one blood all nations to dwell on the face " of the earth," and who is the tender father of all them that feek after the knowledge of his truth.

The story is thus briefly told:

"And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch "of great authority under Candace, queen of "the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all "her treasure, and had come to Jerufalem "for to worship, was returning, and fitting in "his chariot read Efaias the prophet."

Such an employment of his time was a remarkable proof, that, notwithstanding the high office he sustained in the fplendour of an Eaftern court, he was laudably mindful of a greater good,

good, and a more exalted dignity, than human power or eminence could bestow upon him. He was, doubtlefs, ftrongly perfuaded that the grand bufinefs of his life, and that from which he was to derive folid happiness, was to "feek " first the kingdom of heaven, and the righte❝oufnefs thereof."

He was ignorant of the fublime import of that evangelical doctrine which he read; but like all those who ponder the subject of religion, with an heart reverently affected towards their Maker, he was thereby prepared for new doctrines for a new and more clear conception of the truths of revelation-for that wif dom which is from above-and that myfterious mercy which furpaffeth all natural understanding. "And the place of the fcripture which he "read was this: He was led as a sheep to the "slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his

fhearer, fo opened he not his mouth: in his "humiliation, his judgment was taken away: "and who fhall declare his generation? for his "life is taken from the earth."

VOL. II.

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This

This defcription was fo peculiar, and inapplicable to the state of human nature, both as to its meeknefs and the subjection of its will, that it is no wonder the enquirer fhould be at a lofs how, and to whom to apply it: deeply interested in the divinity of fuch a character, he queried of the apostle, "of whom speaketh "the prophet this; of himself, or of fomé "other man?" "Then Philip opened his "mouth, and began at the fame fcripture, and "preached unto him JESUS."

The doctrine of the power and offices of JESUS, like all other important doctrines, hath been variously confidered, and diverfely believed in. And till men fhall become more ftudious about feeling the power, than maintaining speculative fyftems, of religion and of christianity; they will yet have but unavailing pretences to fuperior knowledge, and fuperior light. All nations feem to have had an intellectual power of diftinction between virtue and vice; to have been furnished with the fundamental principles of a law of righteoufnefs; and to have been called upon to regard it, as that which can make them wife and

happy

happy while they live, and comfort them when they die.

"Righteousness," it is well faid, " exalteth a nation, while fin is a fhame to any people;" yet those who have learned spiritually to diftinguish between things that differ, and have been brought to the unspeakable benefits of the christian life, are beyond a doubt convinced that all their experience of the good of mere righteousness, and a general courfe of virtue, is but the outer-court knowledge, in comparifon of that which refults from the real preaching and inward reception of JESUS.

The mere name of JESUS, even confidered as the immaculate Saviour of the world, may be repeated by the profeffing chriftian, and the found of it may be confidered as a pleasant and facred folemnity. But to profit by the unparalleled scheme of falvation, influential by the nature of JESUS-the pure and benevolent nature of heaven, as manifefted in the Son of GOD; to profit by a manifeftation which was defigned to reach, to reform, and affimilate the minds of men; giving them thereby, the new N 2

nature