Mk. i. 9. Nazareth-the city where Mary the mother of Jesus lived, Lu. i. 26, .7, § 2, p. 9-Mary returned to her own house at, 56, § 2, p. 14-Joseph and Mary went from, ii. 4, § 4, p. 19-returned from Egypt to, 39, § 5, p. 35-Philip said to Nathanael, We have found... Jesus of Nazareth,' &c., Jno. i. 45, § 10 -his superscription, Jno. xix. 19, § 91-by the disciples going to Emmaus, Lu. xxiv. 19, § 94.

Mt. iii. 13. Jordan-to the plain of which, Lot departed, eastward, from Abram, Ge. xiii. 11-where the judgment of God was signally manifested on the cities of the plain, xix. 23-.9-east border of the land of Canaan, Nu. xxxiv. 12-between the two and a half and nine and a half tribes, Jos. xxii. 25-its waters divided for Israel to pass through, Jos. iii. 17see iv. 22, .3; for Elijah, 2 Ki. ii. 8; for Elisha, 13, 4 -Naaman to wash in Jordan seven times for the leprosy, 2 Ki. v. 10-for which disease there was to be a sprinkling seven times, Le. xiv. 7.

Jordan means, River of Judgment.' The waters of judgment were to be brought up over Israel, Is. viii. 7, 8; xvii. 12; xviii. 2, 7; Ps. xlii. 7-their sins to be left in the depths, Mi. vii. 19-the waters of judgment went over Jesus, as having taken upon him the case of his people, Ps. Ixix. 1, 2, 14, .5; lxxxviii. 6, 7-twelve stones, representing the twelve

LUKE iii. 21-.3.

tribes, taken out of Jordan by Joshua, and set up for a sign at Gilgal, Jos. iv. 8, 20-4-multitudes baptized in, Mk. i. 5, § 7, p. 52-after the feast of dedication, Jesus went beyond Jordan, Jno. x. 40, § 57. 14. baptized of thee-the Lord was to baptize with the Holy Ghost-see Mt. iii. 11, § 7, p. 54. 15. suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh, &c.that is, not as having need of it for himself, but as one doing service for others, who through him should receive the better baptism. It was thus he washed his disciples' feet, Jno. xiii. 4-17, § 87-thus he gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,' Ep. v. 25-.7-thus, though Lord of all, and needing not to be a servant, he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,' Ph. ii. 6-8so it had been written of him, Ps. xl. 7, 8-' and the Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake,' Is. xlii. 21-he esteemed it his meat to do his Father's will, Jno. iv. 31, § 13-he did always those things that pleased the Father, viii. 29, § 55-he kept his Father's commandments, and abode in his love, xv. 10, § 87such an High Priest,' &c., He. vii. 26-he offered himself without spot,' &c., ix. 14-by one offering he bath perfected for ever them that are sanctified," x. 14.

Mt. iii. 14. Forbad him. Was hindering; would have hindered.'-See ADDENDA, p. 62. I have need. I am very far inferior to thee, so as rather to need thy baptism-the Holy Ghost; than thou mine-in water; and yet dost thou come to me, as to a superior?' I am a sinner, and unworthy to administer this to the Messiah.

15. Suffer it to be so now. For the present.' The meaning is, that John must suffer him, for the present, to be baptized with the baptism of water, for that baptism of His with the Spirit was yet to be. It becometh us. Jesus was about to procure for his people that of which John's baptism was a sign. To fulfil. To complete or make perfect the law

ordained of God. Christ was the fulfiller of the law. All righteousness. Some think here is an allusion to the priests washing previously to inauguration: Ex. xxix. 4, And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. To fulfil the law as the great High Priest, he must needs be washed. Jesus had no sin. But he was about to enter on his work. It was proper that he should be set apart by his forerunner, and shew his connection with him, and give his approbation to what John had done. Also, he was baptized, that occasion might be taken, at the commencement of his work, for God publicly to declare his approbation of him, and his solemn appointment as the Messiah.

Mk. i. 9. We should be willing to go far, like Him whose steps we are to follow, for the purpose of witnessing to the truth, and strengthening the Lord's servants in their work. [Mt. iii. 14. The condescension of Christ in seeking out his people may well be to us, as it was to John, the subject of admiring gratitude-as when he said, Comest thou to me?']

John's baptism could not be for the washing away of sin, seeing it was performed upon Jesus, who was himself the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world;' and this was to be done by Him years afterwards, when he bare our sins in his own body on [John's baptism could not be for the giving of the new birth, for Jesus, upon whom that baptism was performed, did not require regeneration-He was the Holy One, the only-begotten of the Father.]

the tree.

After the example of Christ, let Christians learn to submit to the ministry of their less qualified or less honourable brethren, submitting in all things unto God.

The most eminent saints are, like John, ready to feel and to express their unworthiness of the honour put upon them, as being employed in the service of God. 15 ver. The defective views of our brethren should be met, as Jesus met those of John, with kindness and persuasion.

sign, as looking forward to his fulfilling all righte Jesus, in the time then present, submitted to the in the baptism of the Holy Ghost. ousness, when also he was to give the thing signified

We ought, like John, to give up our former opinions or prejudices when they are shewn to be wrong. [John allowed Jesus to be baptized of him, not as being less worthy than himself, but as being the fulfiller of all righteousness-who, in procuring the baptism of his mystical body, accomplishes the filling up of all ceremonial observances.]

We must not allow the private opinions of even those we recognise in office under God to prevent us from doing what we know to be his will.

Lu. iii. 21. AND PRAYING.-See page opposite.

in the same earnest supplication-Is. Ixii. 6, 7. 6, I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.'-Je. xxxi. 7, For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.'-Eze. xxxvi. 37, Thus saith the Lord Gop; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.'-Ho. xiv. 2, 3. 2, 'Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3, Asahur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'-Joel ii. 15-32, &c.-see ch. ii. p. (57).

Mt. iii. 16. THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED.

so unto Stephen:-Ac. vii. 56, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

let us be found:-He. xii. 2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." thence he shall come to receive up his redeemed:-Is. lxiv. 1,4. (Ver. 1-4). 1, Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, 2, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! 3, When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. 4, For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.'Jno. xiv. 2, 3, § 87.-See also ch. i. 51, § 10, p. 73.

Lu. iii. 22. AND THE HOLY GHOST DESCENDED. this as predicted:-Ps. xlv. 7, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.'-Is. xi. 2, And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.'-xlii. 1, Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.'-lxi. 1, The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.'

the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace 6 offerings of oxen unto the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of 7 the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people and they said, All that the LORD hath said 8 will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

9

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, 10 and seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the 11 body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have 13 written; that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up 14 into the mount of God. And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man 15 have any matters to do, let him come unto them. And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered 16 the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst 17 of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in 18 the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

EZEKIEL XXXI. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, 2 that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?

3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. 4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the 5 field. Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of 6 waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, 7 & under his shadow dwelt all great nations. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches : 8 for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was 9 like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up 11 lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out 12 for his wickedness. And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone 13 down from his shadow, and have left him. Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all 14 the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in down to the pit. Thus saith the Lord GoD; In the day the midst of the children of men, with them that go when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field

15

16

fainted for him. I made the nations to shake at the

sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the Continued-see next page.]

my beloved Son-the true David or Beloved, chosen to stand in the room of the people, and to approach the Father for them, Je. xxx. 9, 21; Ps. lxxxix. 19, 20: as Mt xii. 18, § 26; Jno. iii. 35, § 13; v. 20, § 23hath made us accepted in the Beloved, Ep. i. 6translated into the kingdom of his dear Son, Col. i. 13-of which kingdom the law is LovE,' Ja. ii. 8-of obedience to which law, the Christ, the Beloved, the King, is himself the great example, Ep. v. 2.

in whom I am well pleased-the Father accepted him as fulfilling all righteousness substitutionally for his people, Jno. iii. 13.6, 12; He. x. 14-22

Lu. ii. 23. thirty years the age at which the priests entered upon their office, Nu. iv., where it is mentioned seven times, ver. 3, 23, 30, .5, .9, 43, .7—see, as to the priesthood of Christ, He. ix.

My beloved Son. This is the title which God himself gave to Jesus. It denotes the nearness of his relation to the Father, and the love of God for him; He. i. 1, 2, God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.' It implies that he was equal with God: He. 1. 5-8, For unto chich of the angels said he at any time. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Jno. x. 29-33, § 56, My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck,' &c.-xix. 7, § 90, The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.'

In whom I am well pleased. By this voice and overshadowing of the Spirit, the mission of Christ was publicly and solemnly accredited: God intimating that he had before delighted in him; the law, in all its ordinances, having pointed him out; for they

came.

could not be pleasing to God, but as they were fulfilled in, and shewed forth the Son of man, till he completed his thirtieth year. Lu. iii. 23. And Jesus himself, &c., i.e., he had nearly The baptism of Jesus has usually been considered. a striking manifestation of the doctrine of the Trinity, or the doctrine that there are three persons in the Divine nature. - 1. There is the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, baptized in the Jordan, elsewhere declared to be equal with God; Jno. x. 30, § 56, I and my Father are one.'-2. The Holy Spirit, descended in a bodily form upon the Saviour. The Holy Spirit is also equal with the Father, or is also God; Ac. v. 3, 4, But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.'-3. The Father, addressing the Son, and declaring that he was well pleased with him. It is impossible to explain this transaction consistently in any other way than by supposing that there are three equal Persons in the Divine nature, or essence, and that each of these sustain important parts in the work of redeeming

man.

22 ver. (Mt. iii. 17.) Let us acknowledge Him, of whom the Father said emphatically, This is,' &c., Thou art,' &c. We were dead in trespasses and sins, and were worthy of eternal death, but Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Let us acknowledge Christ as our true David, the Beloved-who is not only David's son, but David's Lord, the Son of the Highest, unto whom his Father in heaven will give the throne of his father David.

[In John we have an example of humility. Blessed with great success; attended by the great and noble, and with nothing but principle to keep him from turning it to his advantage; he still kept himself out of view, and pointed to a far greater personage at hand.]

Everything about the work of Jesus was wonderful. No person had before come into the world under such circumstances. God would not have attended the commencement of his life with such wonderful events, if it had not been of the greatest moment to our race, and if he had not possessed a dignity above all prophets, kings, and priests. He was the Redeemer of men, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace. -see Is. ix. 6, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. And it was proper that a voice from heaven should declare it, that the angels should attend him, and the Holy Spirit signalize his baptisin by his personal presence.

60]

NOTICES.

Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan' The man of God smote the waters-see 2 Ki. ii. 8, 13, And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.' Elisha took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smate the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over." In JORDAN the Syrian captain was cleansed, 2 Ki. v. 14, Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.'