As a Prophet, he has inftructed the World in the Knowledge of the Mind and Will of God.

As a Priest, he offered his own Body a Sacrifice for Sin, and now in Heaven is making Interceffion for Tranfgreffors.

As a King, he guides, protects, and rules his myftical Body, the Church.

over,

In the Difcourfe before us, he acts in the Capacity of a Prophet. And the Converfation itself is perhaps one of the most memorable and important any where to be met with upon Record.

The Occafion of it was this.

Jefus Chrift had now arrived at 30 Years of Age, and entered upon his publick Ministry. He taught the People the Gospel of the Kingdom, and wrought an amazing Variety of Miracles in Confirmation of his Doctrine and Miffion. He healed the Sick, fed the Hungry, cured the Blind, restored the Lame, and raised the Dead. These wonderful Works wrought by his Hands, together with his fublime and pathetic Manner of Preaching, raifed and ex

cited the Curiosity and Attention of the Populous. The common People, we are told, heard him gladly, and followed him in Multitudes from Place to Place.

At length his Fame reached the Ears of the Rulers of the Jewish Nation. They knew, from the Prophecies in the Old Testament, that the Time was near at Hand, when the Meffiah fhould appear, and therefore were very attentive to the Things, which were told them. His mean Appearance, Conduct and Behaviour however, not fuiting with thofe Notions of Power, Conqueft, and Grandeur, which they had formed, they almost universally rejected him as an Impoftor and Deceiver. - Nicodemus, more ferious, more candid, and more in Earnest about the Favor of GOD and the Salvation of his Soul, than his Brethren, was not willing to reft fatisfied with the Reports brought him by others: He therefore refolves upon a perfonal Interview. Like a Man of Senfe and Discernment he would hear both Sides of the Question, and then judge for himself. But knowing at the fame Time the inveterate

inveterate Prejudices of the Pharifees, and in what Contempt Jefus was held by the Rich, the Learned, and the Rulers of the Nation, he was ashamed and afraid to come in an open, generous Manner; and therefore determined to visit him in the Night, when no Man might fee him.

Our Text is a Part of the Converfation which paffed between them. Confider, my Brethren, more particularly the Circumstances attending it.

Here is Jefus Chrift, the only-begotten Son of God, the Judge of Quick and Dead, fent into the World upon the Errand of Man's Salvation. While He is bufily engaged in making known his benevolent and God-like Defign, here is a Ruler of the Jewish Nation, Nicodemus by Name; an aged, learned, seriousthinking Man, comes to converfe with him concerning the Nature of his Doctrine, Miffion, and Kingdom. The Discourse, which pasfed between them, is recorded for our Instruction, and for the Inftruction and Edification of all future Ages of the Church.

Methinks

Methinks I fee the Redeemer retired in the House of one of his pious Followers: Digni ty, Majefty, and Serious-Thoughtfulness; Meeknefs, Goodness, Humility and Benevolence, fhine confpicuous in his facred Perfon.

Methinks I fee too the Ruler of the Jewish Nation. His Phylacteries are broad; the Bor ders of his Garments enlarged. With much Form and Ceremony he is introduced, and thus addreffes the Redee mer:

Rabbi, we know that thou art a Teacher come from GOD: For no Man can do those Miracles that thou doeft, except God be with him".

Without standing to pay him a Variety of unmeaning Compliments, the Saviour of the World replies:

Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, Except a Man be born again, he cannot fee the Kingdom of GOD".

Nicodemus, ftruck with Surprize at the Expreffion, Being born again, with fome Degree of Emotion made Anfwer, "How can a Man be born when he is old? Can he enter the fe

cond

cond Time into his Mother's Womb and be born?"

Jefus Chrift, finding that Nicodemus did not understand the Meaning of the Expreffion, informs him that he did not intend by it any Thing outward, or natural; but an inward, holy Change, wrought in the Mind by the gen tle Influences of the Divine Spirit.

Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, Except a Man be born of Water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I faid unto thee, Ye must be born a gain".

Having infifted upon the Doctrine, explain: ed its Meaning, and fhewn its Reasonablenefs, he proceeds to illustrate what he had said by a Similitude:

"The Wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou hearest the Sound thereof, but can'ft not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth: So is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus, not understanding what he aim

ed