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his disciples, and which is fully recorded by 

 St. John, you will find it very distinctly stated. 



" A being of that transcendent dignity who 

 could say, * All power is given to me in heaven 

 and in earth,' would scarcely have been sent 

 for the mere purpose of communicating a clearer 

 knowledge to mankind of their duty, or of setting 

 before them an example of practical holiness. 

 These, no doubt, were among the objects for 

 which the Son of God became man ; but they 

 were only collateral objects. In order to appre- 

 ciate the importance of his mission, we must com- 

 pare it with the modes adopted on former occa- 

 sions. When the corruption of mankind drew 

 down the dreadful chastisement of the deluge; 

 and when, after that catastrophe, the patriarchal 

 covenant was renewed, and fresh blessings and 

 privileges were offered to the posterity of the 

 second father of mankind, the only communi- 

 cation of these signal events was announced 

 through Noah. When God vouchsafed the 

 second covenant, and established the Jewish re- 

 ligion by direct revelation, a mere human agent, 

 Moses, was employed. And when the idolatries 

 and wickedness of the Israelites induced the 

 merciful Governor of the universe to interfere, 

 Elijah and other mere prophets were sent to 

 reclaim them. 



" If therefore, when Christianity was revealed, 



