extraordinary testimony which he bore to him.

John having this divine commission and office from God, he had been diligent to fulfil it, in calling his countrymen to repentance and reformation of life, to prepare them to receive and profit by that heavenly instructor and Saviour, when he should make his appearance; and many had adjoined themselves to him as his disciples with this intent.

To these he now judged it reasonable to declare, that there was another prophet of God much superior to himself, on whom they were now to attend; for he had no views to himself, to have a party to follow him; but only to the truth, to do the will of God, and serve mankind.

The sacred historian therefore tells us, (ver. 35, 36.) "Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the lamb of God!" q. d.-Behold yonder is that holy and innocent person, of whom I have so often spoke to you, of whom you are to learn to become holy and perfect like himself,

(Ver. 37.) " And the two disciples heard him speak, and followed Jesus." . e. Upon hear

ing what their master John said, they immediately went after Jesus; not presuming to speak to him, but desirous to observe whither he went, that they might afterward find some opportunity of being acquainted with him.

(Ver. 38.) "Then Jesus turned, saw them following, and saith unto them; What seek ye?" From having observed them, perhaps, to be in the company of John the Baptist, and probably from that divine foreknowledge of the characters of those he conversed with which was given to him, our Saviour knowing their errand, and seeing their modesty and bashfulness, asked them, what they desired of him.

"They said unto him; Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master!) where dwellest thou ?”

Addressing him Rabbi, was a term of high reverence; and, perhaps, at the same time they signified to him their acknowledgement of him as their prophet and teacher sent from God: such as their master, John the Baptist, had declared him to be; and they desire to know where he lived, that they might come and be instructed by him.

He,

He, who was ever desirous to serve and benefit all men, and would never put off any good work to a future time which could be done at the present, straightway (ver. 39.) "saith unto them, Come and see."-He courteously desires them immediately to go along with him.

"They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." i. e. four o'clock in the after

noon.

"One of the two which heard John speak was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother;" who the other was, is not said. But it has been conjectured that it was our evangelist, it being agreeable to his usual style and modesty; as of all the apostles, in their writings, never to name their own names, unless where it was absolutely necessary.

It showed a pious mind, and earnest zeal for the truth in these two persons, to be so desirous to converse with Jesus, that they might from his own mouth be informed of his doctrines, and gain further satisfaction of his authority from God. And they became fully satisfied and convinced of it. For Andrew,

drew, we read, immediately went and told his brother, Simon Peter, that they had found the Messiah.

There is an air of great sincerity and frankness in our Lord's reception of these two persons, who first offered themselves to become his disciples. We discern in it an instance of the same conduct which he uniformly observed afterwards, never to admit any to be his follower, without first bidding him examine the grounds he went upon, and what it was to which he engaged himself.

And it is applicable to us, who profess ourselves his disciples, as well as to those who in person resorted to him during his lifetime upon earth. What he said to them, he still speaks to us; that we are to "come and see." Take nothing upon trust which you can know of yourself: but examine whether I really came from God, and act as you see best, and as the truth shall lead you.

As our Lord now speaks to us in the Scriptures, and bids us there "come and see and learn of him;" I would point out to you how easily this may be done by all.

I.

We may be assured that our Lord's instructions were intended for general use, and for all Christians of whatever rank, because they were delivered by himself at first to persons who for the greater part were not bred up to learning, and who earned a livelihood by their bodily labour. And we never find, in general, that they complained of any obscurity in his discourses, or that they were not intelligible to them. The Jews, indeed, at that time, were commonly brought up to read their sacred writings, even those of the lowest rank amongst them; as they continue to this day.

And, if Christians were now taught to read, as all ought to be, (and they who have the fortunes and means ought to see to this in their several districts, and according to their abilities,) they might be made to understand the Scriptures in a competent degree, as those to whom they were first spoken.

Nor is it any objection to this, that now in general, Christians are strangers to the original Hebrew and Greek, in which the Scriptures were first written. For, in all our own, and in all protestant countries, there are translations of the Scriptures into their respective languages,