But, What was the work, which called him so early from his bed, and so constantly employed his wakeful hours?-Was it the acquisition of wealth, honour or dominion?-Was it the destruction, or subjugation of hostile nations? Was it settling the form and establishing the foundation of a temporal kingdom?-These things were remote from his thoughts. He had neither houses, nor lands, nor any kind of worldly property; nor sought he any. More destitute than the birds of the wood, and the foxes of the mountain, he had not where to lay his head. So distant was he from all ambitious views, that when the people, struck with admiration of his power, would have taken him by force and made him their king, he refused the offer, and hid himself from their search. What work was it then, which so mightily urged his diligence?It was the salvation of fallen men. The present occasion seemed exceedingly favourable to this great design. There was a most encouraging appearance, which he would by all means improve. His preaching and miracles, on the preceding day, had spread the fame of his wisdom and power, and awakened a general inquiry after him. When he arose and went out, his disciples followed him, and as soon as they had found him, they said to him—All men seek for thee. He answered-Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth. And he preached in the syna, gogues throughout all Galilee. The circumstances eff mankind called for his instructions. The present attentive disposition of the people promised an opportunity to do them much good. The time allotted for his ministry was but short; no more than three or four years. He therefore resolved to fill up his time with diligence, and to improve with particular attention, a season so inviting as the present. He would not waste in useless slumber the VOL. I.

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morning of a day, which was opening with so fine a prospect.

Shall not his example awaken us from our slumbers, and call up all our powers to diligence and activity in the work of our own salvation? When we see him rising so early, and labouring so diligently in our cause, Shall we sink away into indolence? He judged the time precious, which might be employed to the benefit of mankind: Shall we waste our time in vanity and vice?

He taught on the sabbath, that men might learn the truths, which concern their salvation: How inexcusable then is our neglect of the appointed means of religious instruction! He improved those favourable opportunities, when men appeared most serious, inquisitive and thoughtful: How attentive then should we be to those soft and tender seasons, when our own hearts are sensibly impressed with the importance of religion!

By the zeal and activity of the Redeemer in the work of men's salvation, How many stand reproved and condemned? In their worldly designs they are warmly engaged; but on the one thing needful they scarcely bestow a thought. They rise up early, and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, that they may obtain the meat which perishes; but for that meat which endures to eternal life they discover little concern. How preposterous is their conduct! How contrary to the example of Jesus Christ! His labours were directed, not to make us rich in this world; but rich in knowledge, faith, and good works. If we pursue the interests of this world, in the neglect of the greater interest of the future, we contradict the will of our Redeemer, declared, not only by his doctrines, but more emphatically by his works and sufferings.

There are certain seasons, which demand uncommon diligence. Seed time and harvest are the most

On these

busy and important parts of the year. principally depends the life of man. He who will not plough by reason of the cold, shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. He who sleeps in harvest, is a son that causeth shame. We all condemn the man, who, in these seasons, will yield to sloth, or give himself to pleasure. But let us remember, that our whole life is seed time. And according to our sowing will be our harvest. He who soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; and he who soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. The seed time allowed us is short and uncertain. The season, once past, cannot be recalled. What our hands find to do, let us do it with our might.

Worldly diligence, however commendable, must never be allowed to exclude the concerns of futurity. These demand our attention every day, amidst the most urgent calls of our secular business. If in our immoderate labour and carefulness for the world, we deny ourselves leisure, or deprive ourselves of capacity, for the daily exercises of piety, and for an attendance on the publick institutions of religion, we invert the order of things, and make our greater concerns give way to the smaller.

The Christian is to fill up his time in a useful manner. Worldly business justly claims its proper place; but claims no more. It must ever leave room for the vaster concerns of immortality. Whatever thought we may take for the body, we must seek first the kingdom of God.

We may remark,

II. That no crowd of company, or calls of business, could divert Jesus from his daily, stated devotions. He rose up before day, and retired to a solitary place for prayer.

While Christ dwelt on earth, his thoughts were much in heaven. He maintained a constant inter

course with the world above; and God heard him always. As a man he was, like others, dependent on God. As a man of sorrow and affliction, he had more occasion than others for that relief which comes by prayer. The Apostle says, that Christ, in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him who was able to save him from death; and was heard in that he feared. And though he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suf fered.

One end of his appearing in the flesh, was, that he might exhibit to mortals a complete axample of that religion which is adapted to their nature and condition. He was made in all things like unto us, that he might in all things shew us what we ought to be, and how we ought to walk. He became a man, that he might teach men how to glorify God; and he was placed in a state of affliction, that he might teach the afflicted how to draw consolation from the fountain of mercy.

By withdrawing with his disciples from the multitude for social devotion, he has recommended family prayer. By retiring to solitude for his own personal devotion, he has recommended secret prayer. On some occasions, he spent whole nights in pray. er to God; on others, he retired often, in a short time, to repeat the same petitions. In our text it is said, that he rose up a great while before day, and departed to a solitary place, and prayed.

The circumstances of his retirement, on this particular morning, shew that secret prayer was a stated morning exercise; an exercise which he was careful never to omit. It does not appear, that he always rose so early for prayer; but his rising so early this morning, shews that he made morning prayer his daily practice.

The transactions of the preceding day had drawn together a vast concourse around the house where he lodged. The evening he had spent in healing the sick, who had been brought to him in great num bers. When he retired to rest, the multitude were waiting in the neighbourhood to see him in the morning. The disciples observe to him, that all men were seeking him. He knew, that, by morning light, he should again be thronged by the admiring multitude, whose close attendance would prevent his retirement. Lest, therefore, he should find himself under a necessity of omitting the secret devotions of the morning, he rose earlier than usual, and before the people could have time to collect. Had secret prayer been only an occasional, not a daily exercise, he would not have taken this precaution to prevent the omission of it. If he had thought proper to dispense with it at any time, he would doubtless have excused himself from it at such a time as this, when he could not attend it without the selfdenial of rising long before day, and the labour of retiring to a solitary place.

His example then clearly instructs us, that secret converse with God, is a duty which we should daily attend, and from which we should not be easily diverted. Jesus could find a time and place for retirement, even when the duties of his ministry were most urgent, and when the multitude were impatiently waiting to hear him. That he might not omit his retirement, nor disappoint his hearers, he rose the earlier. Shall we then excuse ourselves from secret prayer, or run it over with precipitancy and indevotion, because our worldly affairs solicit our attention, or company is waiting around us?-Can we not suspend our secular cares, or our ordinary pleasures and amusements, long enough to converse with God, and implore his favour and blessing? How different is our spirit from the mind which was in Christ! I will not say, there is no oc