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SERMON I

St. JOHN i. 45.

Philip findeth Nathaniel, and faith unto him; We have found Him, of whom Mofes in the Law, and the Prophets did write, Jefus of Nazareth, the Son

of Jofeph.

T

HE general Expectation, which the Jews had of the Meffiah's Coming; and the ample Declaration which St. John the Baptift gave

of the Bleffed Jefus's appearing under that Character, had already convinced fome Perfons, that He was the true Meffiah; even before by his Doctrine and Miracles He himself.confirm'd the Truth of it,

VOL. II.

A

PHILIP,

PHILIP, who with others was receiv'd into our LORD's Attendance, labours to fpread the joyful News; and in the Words of the Text informs his Friend Nathaniel, that Jefus of Nazareth, the Son of Jofeph, was the promised Meffiah: Nathaniel likewife becomes a Disciple; and in all probability, afterwards an Apoftle; there being the highest Reason to believe, that Nathaniel and Bartholomew were only different Names for the fame Perfon.

THE Manner of Nathaniel's embracing the Faith is fomewhat particular; and though it be fet forth here in fhort and plain Terms, yet if we attend to it more clofely, we fhall find it a noble and beautiful Relation. Nathaniel was, what our modern Free-thinkers pretend to be, a ferious and diligent Enquirer after Truth, not what they really are, an obstinate Stander-qut againft it: Philip acquaints him that the Meffiah was come; and certainly if any thing cou'd, thofe glad Tydings muft, have raised in him the warmcft Emotions of Joy: But Paffion did not deftroy Thought; the Circumftance mention'd of Jefus's being of Nazareth broke

in upon the Readiness of his Affent; a Prejudice against the Place, founded upon Tradition, and exprefs'd in thefe Words; Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? kept him in Suspense, and obliged Philip to refer him for further Conviction to our Bleffed Lord himself: Philip faith unto him; Come, and fee. Neither was his Prejudice fo ftrong, as to preclude farther Enquiries; he was going, as his Friend directed; and Jefus faw Nathaniel coming to him; and as he knew what was in Man, faith of him; Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no Guile. Nathaniel, who was fincere in himself, loved Sincerity likewife in others; and imagining that this conciliating Expreffion proceeded from Compliment rather than real Efteem, returns a Rebuke inftead of a Civility He faith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? The Bleffed Jefus could not but approve his Honefty, and in his Reply gives him entire Satisfaction: He faith unto him; Before that Philip called thee, when thou waft under the Fig-tree, I faw thee. All his Doubts were fwallow'd up in the Brightness of this Evidence; the

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