graces and virtues the most opposite to each other, without the proximate failings, or any decay in vigour and consistency. And in this respect our Lord surpassed all human examples of virtue. It is a common remark, that a principle of opposition, and as it were compensation, runs through the works of the Almighty. The stronger virtues are seldom found without an alliance of austerity, nor the softer without weakness and feebleness. Still more uncommon is it to find the stronger and softer qualities in due proportion. Whilst no example is to be found, except in the blessed Jesus, of all these being, not only united, but carried to the utmost height and preserved in one uniform tenor. Yet such was the case in our Lord.

His virtues were UNALLOYED WITH THE KINDRED FAILINGS. His temperance was unaccompanied with severity, his fortitude was without rashness, his constancy without obstinacy, his self-denial without moroseness, his devotion and piety without indifference to the affairs of life. And so, on the other hand, his benevolence never sunk into weakness, his humility into fear of man, his love of retirement into inactivity, his tenderness into compliance with sin.

Bowdler.

Not only so; THE OPPOSITE, AND TO US

APPARENTLY CONTRADICTORY, GRACES WERE FOUND IN HIM IN EQUAL PROPORTION. His elevation of mind, and sublimity in the conception of divine things, were connected with the utmost facility and simplicity. His superiority to the world, and spirituality of affection, were equalled by his affability and freedom in conversing with mankind. His temperance and fortitude were adorned with the opposite graces of meekness and forbearance; his love and benignity with courage and decision of character; his compassion for sinners with the most pointed rebukes of the incorrigible and hypocritical. His condescension in consorting with publicans and sinners, was united with the utmost purity and dignity; his incessant diligence with suavity; his zeal in the service of God, and in prosecuting his mission, with prudence and discretion. The active were thus allied with the contemplative virtues, the strong with the tender, the heroical with the retired. Each virtue was free from the proximate defect, and accompanied with the opposite excellency.

Further than this, all was CARRIED TO THE UTMOST HEIGHT, AND CONTINUED IN ONE

EVEN TENOR. Christ had uniformity and consistency of virtue, in the strictest sense; he

had strength of character. Power of every kind is less exhibited by violent efforts of short duration, than by a steady, unyielding agency and progression.' It was not at one time, but at every time; not in one situation, but in every kind of situation; not at the beginning of his ministry merely, but throughout it; not in one or two respects, but in all, that the virtues of Christ were manifested. And this at the greatest height of which the human nature is susceptible, and which the law of God requires. There is no flaw, no stain in our Lord's character; not a single defect, much less any crime. It was a perfect model for our imitation. Christ had never occasion to retract any statement, to qualify any expression, to undo any thing he ever said or did. No omission, no slip, no error, no misapprehension, no gap or interruption in the circle of human excellencies, appeared in our blessed Saviour.

The result was, that there was a PECULIAR HARMONY, loveliness, and moral symmetry in our Saviour's personal character; that beauty of holiness which arises from the combination and just proportion of all the various elements

St. Paul had to acknowledge, I wist not, brethren, that it was the high priest:-Acts xxiii. 5.-but never thus the holy Jesus.

of which it is composed. Every thing was of a piece; every thing was most becoming; every thing was as it should be.

And this completes the picture. This shows that we have in our Lord the perfect model of every virtue for his disciples, both as it regards the separate graces of his character, and the union and combination of them in all their proportions, strength, and consistency.

But this leads us to consider the conduct and deportment of Christ, as compared with his pretensions.

III. IN HIS PUBLIC AND EXALTED CHA

RACTER AS THE FOUNDER OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

For all these separate parts of the life of Christ were subservient to one great purpose, the founding of the gospel Revelation; and each part prepared and qualified him for that great undertaking.

In order, then, to catch a view of the excellencies of this result, we may notice the public character of Christ, in its suitableness to man; in its surprising novelty and sublimity; in its correspondence with the doctrines and precepts of his religion; and in the united impression and effect of the whole;-all heightened by the artless manner in which the narration is written.

1. To begin with the topics which we have just been considering, it is impossible not to observe THE SUITABLENESS TO THE NECESSITIES OF MAN which appears in the founder of Christianity thus becoming our example. Man is led by example rather than by precept. He needed a Saviour, not only to rescue him from guilt and death by his merits and grace, but to render virtue lovely and practicable, by his human and personal excellencies. In the life of Christ, morality is set forth in action; it is embodied, it is made visible to the mortal eye, and addressed to the mortal heart, in the most attractive and engaging form.

And how exactly was the CLASS OF CHARACTER and station which Christ occupied, adapted to our case! He might have chosen any other, and been a perfect model of virtue :—he might have appeared-except perhaps as his character as the Saviour of the world was concerned -as a prince, a noble, a teacher of human or divine science; but such a life would not have been so easily imitable by the great mass of mankind. Our Lord, therefore, became like one of ourselves; his life was spent in common affairs and duties. His is a most holy, but an ordinary, familiar, every-day life, passed in humble scenes and usual occurrences.' This

"The imitation of the life of Jesus is a duty of that ex