Vol. 2

CHAPTER III. 321ancient prophecies. When the Christian churchwas once formed by preaching and miracles, the divineauthority of theGospels was then made manifestto Christians, the church being in a conditionto settle her canon of Scripture, and to attest theauthenticity thereof.'* 2. Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias,in the wilderness."It is a rule, not to forsake retirement in order toinstruct others, except at the call of God; not toanticipate it ; not to put it off. Happy is that person,who has perfectly learned in retirement to besatisfied with God, and to live without the world,to the end that he may not know itbut only in referenceto God, and may have respect to him alonewhen he delivers his truths to it. How great isthe difference, betwixt a preacher formed graduallyby the hand of God in retirement, fasting, and prayer,and those ordained in haste, who have no otherschool but the world, no other masters besides themselves,and no other preparation than human studies,interrupted by worldly conversations, diversions, play,good cheer, &c." 3. And he came into all the country about Jordan,preaching the baptism of repentance for the remissionof sins;"Men ought to preach repentance, more than anyother thing whatever, it being the foundation, ofChristian piety. This is what the world does notat all love : but its wants, not its taste, must be consulted.We see abundance of persons do all theycan to make themselves sick, and nothing in ordero3