to heaven here, the reward of the peaceful, (Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God) and put you in the poffeffion hereafter.

O my God! give me thy holy grace, that I may never defpair of thy mercy, nor prefume on my own force. St. Peter has left the world a fad demonstration, that whofoever relies on his own ftrength, stands within an ace of his ruin. Our only fecurity is confidence in thy goodness, and fear of our own weakness: that will give us the victory over the greateft temptations, and this will afford us an eafy conqueft over the leffer. Give me therefore thy holy fpirit, that I may fulfil all thy commands, and fo either carry innocence, or at least repentance, to the grave.

GOSPEL of St. Matthew, Chap. xi. Verse

2. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Chrift, he fent two of his difciples,

3. And faid unto him, Art thou be that should come, or do we look for another?

4. Jefus answered, and faid unto them, Go, and Shew John again thofe things which ye do hear and See:

5. The blind receive their fight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleanfed, and the deaf bear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them:

6. And blessed is he, whofoever shall not be offended

in me.

7. And as they departed, Jefus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, what went ye out. into the wilderness to fee? A reed fhaken with the wind?

8. But what went ye out for to fee? A man cloathed in foft raiment? Behold, they that wear foft cloathing are in kings boufes.

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9. But

9. But what went ye out for to fee? A prophet? yea, I fay unto you, and more than a prophet.

10. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

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The MORAL REFLECTION,

HRIST (about the thirtieth year of his age) entered upon the function of his miffion, and confirmed his doctrine by a cloud of miracles: the fame of the precepts he gave, and of the strange prodigies he wrought, pofted through the kingdom, and every one defcanted on the matter, as paffion, prejudice, or inclination moved him. St. John was under reftraint; yet the noise entered the dungeon; John beard in prison the works of Chrift, and immediately sent an embaffy, to know from his own mouth, if he were the long expected Meffias. Sending two of his difciples, be faid to him, art thou be that should come, or do we look for another?

This holy man almost step'd out of the cradle into the defart, and left the converfation of men for that of angels. However, he was more in love with his duty than folitude, and abandoned at laft the innocent pleasure of retirement, to enter upon the labour of preaching: the publick inceft of the prince called him to court: he forefaw the danger, but zeal raised his foul above fear: he could not reprehend the king without offence, nor hold his peace without a crime: he therefore told Herod, it was not lawful for him to have his brother's wife. Herod esteemed his perfon, tho' he blamed his liberty; but in fine, he rewarded his charity with a dungeon.

This is the common practice of debauched Chriftians, as well as of an inceftuous Jew: they run the high way to hell, and take it ill to be warned of the danger: they will fin without controul, as well

as

as without remorfe. Poor creatures! like wounded men, they are fore, and dread to be touched; or like children, fcream at the fight of a lancet, and rather fuffer the infection of an ulcer, than the pain of a cure. But pastors must not neglect their duty, tho' Christians overlook theirs: they maft practise all the pious fubtilties of zeal and prudence, to recal a ftrayed finner; they must mingle their exhortations with all the marks of concern, and sweeten reproof with all the gentle ingredients of affection. Men may be perfwaded, but not hectored, into repentance; and that paftor, who pretends to ftorm and chide his flock into regularity, may excite their anger, but not forrow: his care muft ftoop to the loweft, and his courage (when charity requires it) muft not startle at the higheft. As their vices are more exposed to view, fo they are more contagious; they scatter the infection, and, like the plague, fweep away whole cities, whilft the faults of particulars are merely perfonal, and, like an apoplexy, stop at the death of one man. Tho' therefore he refpects the perfons of the nobility, he must not compliment their fins: this would be to carry deference and ceremony too far; for tho' their ftation exacts regard, their failings challenge none; and because figure may recommend lewdness, he should with more care remove the occafion.

St. John, tho' bred in a defart, was not such a stranger to the court, as not to know, there is but one remove from a prison to the scaffold, and that, if Herod (who esteemed him) recompenfed his charity with chains, the adulterefs, who hated him, would push on cruelty a ftep further. Certain therefore of his death, he difpatched two of his disciples to our Saviour, to learn from his own mouth, if he was the Meffias, Art thou be that should come, or do we look for another ?

What! Did John doubt whether Chrift was the C 4 long

long promised, and as long expected Saviour of mankind? he, who confeffed he was unworthy to unloofe his fooe? that he was the Lamb of God, who takes away the fins of the world? who leaped for joy in his mother's womb by revelation, and paid homage before he faw him? No, no; he moved not like a reed at the impulfe of every wind, but was conftant in principles and practice.

This admirable man forefaw his end draw near, and he had a mind to place his difciples in our Saviour's fervice: he would not leave them to their own choice, which oftener is made by the counsel of paffion, than the advice of reason, and confiders more the advantages of the body than those of the foul.

Now, had he difmiffed them his company, and commanded them to follow Chrift, perchance, fear to offend him, or at least, love and esteem for his perfon, might have with-held them: to plain these difficulties, he fends them on an errand, in appearance for his own instruction, but in reality for theirs not doubting but the sweet and majestick air of Chrift's divine perfon would foon charm their eyes, the fanctity of his doctrine fubdue their hearts, and the strangeness of his miracles captivate their understanding. In fine, he expected his Dimittimus from the cruelty of Herod, and the rage of an exasperated woman, whose fury was as boundlefs as her criminal amours: and therefore, he would provide for the falvation of his difciples betimes; that, breaking off all commerce with this world, he might with more freedom place all his thoughts upon the other.

Would Chriftians follow this conduct of the Forerunner, they might live better and die more fecure. With what ease would they quit the world, did they not leave their hearts behind? But alas! we are wedded to earth, and the contract runs generally for life when we enjoy health, 'tis death to think of a will: both eftate and foul too must be disposed of in

Qur

our last sickness; as if we were then most fit for a bufinefs of fuch concern, when pain ftuns reason, and the disease has almoft robbed us of the very faculty of feeling.

Difpofe therefore your temporal affairs betimes; the last moments of your life are only due to eternity as St. John placed his beloved difciples in the fchool of virtue, provide ftations for your children, that rather lead to piety than lewdnefs. He, who raises his designs to the purchase of heaven, is better provided for, than he who conquers an empire; and those parents, whose prime care aims at their childrens fpiritual good, feldom want the fatisfaction of feeing them great. Force them not into the licentious court of an inceftuous Herod: tho' they raise great fortunes, the building ftands upon great crimes, which God himself declares to be a weak foundation: the Babel must fall, and probably will ftifle the builders under its ruins. But if you deliver them up to Chrift's difcipline, you may with St. John die in peace: for thofe cannot be miserable, who practife virtue here, and, if they perfevere, will certainly be happy hereafter.

Our Saviour thought not fit to return a direct anfwer to St. John's question, but fent the difciples back with this meffage. Go and fhew John again thofe things, which ye do hear and fee: the blind receive their fight, and the lame walk: the lepers are cleansed, &c.

By the text it appears, Chrift preached before thefe deputies, and then gave force to his words by wonders: he knew, an ill man may speak well, and an impoftor preach up morals; but it is above his power to work true miracles: intereft, hypocrify, or faction, may vent found principles; God alone can reverse the standing and fettled laws of nature. When the disciples were withdrawn, Chrift began St. John's panegyrick. In all probability, the mul

titude