AND DISCUSSIONS.

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are severe and searching tests by which to try greatness and ex-cellence of character. But we may subject the character of theSaviour of mankind to tests vastly, nay, infinitely more severe,searching, and comprehensive, than those put forth by therich and cultivated imagination of this greatest master of allantiquity, and it will not be found wanting.

1. We may reflect on the moral sublimity of the design ofhis coming ; which was to bring life and immortality to light ;*to overthrow the dominion of Satan, sin, and misery ; and to es-tablish an empire of peace, knowledge, and righteousness, whichshould embrace all the nations of the earth within its amplebounds.

2. We may reflect on the nature of the means which

HE EMPLOYED TO ACCOMPLISH HIS SUBLIME AND BENEFICENT

design ; which were, the exclusive devotion of himself toevery labor of benevolence ; to the working of miracles, whichwere to be, in every country and in all succeeding time, thestanding and overwhelming proofs of the divinity of his mission ;to the instruction of all men without discrimination of rank, asoccasion was given him, and of a select band of disciples in par-ticular, to whom was to be intrusted a portion of his miraculouspower; the instructing of all mankind in his religion, and theorganization of a society (the church),f designed to be a uni-versal commonwealth of peace, intelligence, and holiness ; and,to crown all, the voluntary sacrifice of himself on the cross, tomake an atonement by which the pardon of sin might be ren-dered possible, and repentance might become effectual to salvation.

all earthly things. The first particular, too, is itself made up of two parts,—

1. An opinion, that nothing is truly and really good, but what is honorable,

2 . Freedom from every kind and degree of passion or disturbance of mind.For, what can more discover a man of a brave and heroic spirit, than to makeno account of those things which seem so glorious and dazzling to the gener-ality of mankind, but entirely to disregard them; not from any vain caprice andhumor, but from solid and firm principles of reason and judgment. Or what

^ can more show strength of mind and unshaken constancy, than to bear those

. heavy and numerous calamities, which are incident to mankind in this life,with such firmness and consistency of temper, and fixedness of soul, as neverto transgress against nature and right reason, or do any thing unworthy of thedignity and character of a wise man.” — De Officiis, Lib. I. c. 20.

* 2 Tim. i. 10. t See Bishop Butler’s Works, p. 159. London, 1828.

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