vine mission and priesthood of Christ? But, supposing him to mean that Melchisedec was Christ, then his whole argument is pertinent and conclusive, and we feel the meaning and emphasis of the "wherefore Christ is able to save to the uttermost,' because "Melchisedec abideth a priest continually, and seeing it is witnessed that he liveth."

Is it reasonable to suppose, that the apostle, in so lengthy and labored an argument, to illustrate and establish the Divinity of Christ's priesthood, would have set up a mere man, as a model from which to draw a perfect portrait? And then say, "Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum; we have such an high priest, precisely after the order and similitude of this human being; therefore he is Divine, and made higher than the heavens, and is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him." This would be a very poor specimen, indeed, of the profound logic of the great and learned apostle. And the Hebrews well knew, that if Melchisedec were nothing but a man, he must have had a beginning of days and an end of life; notwithstanding they had no record of it, yet they knew he must have died like those other priests, who were not suffered to continue by reason of death. How then could the apostle expect to convince them, that the priesthood of Christ was a Divine, unchangeable and everlasting priesthood-by so repeatedly asserting and confirming it by the oath of the Almighty, that it was after the order and similitude of a mortal creature?

There is another thing worthy of some consideration, in relation to this subject. We find no mention made in the Bible, but of two priesthoods, viz. the priesthood of Aaron and the priesthood of Christ. And it is said, "If the first had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second ;" and abolishing the Levitical priesthood, is said to be, "taking away the first, that he may establish the second." But if Melchisedec was a man only, a king in Salem, and a priest of the most High God, then there must have been three separate and distinct priesthoods; and abolishing the Levitical priesthood, to establish the priesthood of Christ, could not be taking away the first to establish the second, but taking away the second to establish the third. Besides, it would be making a marked and very essential difference between two human priesthoods, and drawing a perfect parallel between a human and a Divine priesthood?

From the foregoing considerations, which we have presented briefly, we are led, necessarily, it would seem, to the conclusion, that the personage who appeared to Abraham, on the signal occasion alluded to, and as God's appointed high-priest, received those tithes of him which He ever after required of His people, was none other than JESUS CHRIST, in that humanity in which He often appeared to the Old Testament saints, and in which he was ordained to make atonement for our sins, and bring in everlasting

righteousness. This was a clear and early intimation, that mankind stood in need of the services of a better and more exalted priesthood, than any mere creature could sustain; and that God had mercifully provided one, adequate to our wants, and fully equal to the service to be performed. And to convince his Hebrew brethren of this important fact; to set the priesthood of Christ before their minds in its true light, and persuade them to depend alone on His atoning sacrifice and efficacious intercession, for the pardon of sin and justification with God, is the sum and scope of this great argument of the apostle.

ARTICLE VI.

NICODEMUS.

By Rev. JAMES M. MACDONALD, Jamaica, L.I.

THE fact that Christ selected His disciples, and that a majority of His followers, were from the humbler class of mankind, has been often noticed. An inspired apostle thinks it worthy of special note, that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But the expression," not many," implies that a few of the class, or classes, which he excepts, became, in the apostle's day, the subjects of Divine grace. Paul himself must be regarded as having belonged to that class whom he styles, "wise men after the flesh." He had taken his lessons at the feet of Gamaliel, and in the schools of Grecian philosophy; and under his preaching, and that of the other apostles, there were some instances of conversion among men of rank and prominent standing. The gospel found its way even into. the palace of the Cæsars. We find a little band of believers in the household of the infamous emperor, Nero, sending Christian salutations to their brethren in Asia Minor. And there are not wanting intimations, that, in the days of Christ, a few persons of rank and inflnence were numbered among His followers. We are expressly told, that, among the chief rulers, many believed on Him; i. e. were convinced that He was the Messiah, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Joseph of Arimethea, a rich man, was one of the disciples of Christ. He did not consent to the acts of the Sanhedrim, who condemned Jesus; and when He was dead, he had the boldness to go to Pilate, and request His body, that he might bury it. The rich and virtuous young ruler, although we

have no reason to believe, he became a decided follower of Christ, displayed a degree of moral courage, remarkable at that time, and among his class, in coming opely to Christ to consult him on the great question, What he must do, that he might have eternal life?

Nicodemus was also a ruler of the Jews, and a member of their great Council. The fact that he sought an interview with our blessed Lord, by night, has been frequently interpreted to his disadvantage, as if it were conclusive evidence, that he was influenced by fear of the Jews, and paid higher regard to the praise of men than to the praise of God. A Nicodemian spirit is sometimes attributed to those who do not possess sufficient moral courage to take a bold stand in favor of religion, but still wish to put in a claim to be the disciples of Christ. That fear of the world which bringeth a snare, and by which too many are actuated, is sometimes illustrated by the very case of Nicodemus.

"We may suppose him," says Bloomfield in his notes on John 3., "to have been a proud, timid, and, in a great degree, worldly-minded man: though at the same time, it should seem, that, in his character, the good preponderated over the evil; and his motives appear, upon the whole, to have been good. Not venturing openly to avow, what he secretly believed, he resolves, like most timid and selfish men, to steer a middle course; and with the usual expedient of cowardice, seeks to do that privately, which he was afraid to do publicly; and accordingly seeks an interview by night, in order to be privately admitted to His discipleship.

Whitby says: "The same came to Jesus by night, that he might not offend his colleagues." Rosenmuller, also, (NKTOS) "Ne offenderet collegas, Jesu jam male volentis." So, Kuinoel: "Accessit Nicodemus ad Jesum nocturno tempore, ut eo diutius et liberius cum ipso colloqui posset, et ne in odium collegarum incurreret, homo timidus et providus." Calmet's opinion was similar: "Il vint la nuit trouver Jesus; apparement pour la crainte des Juifs, qui haissoient deja Jesus, etc." Doddridge has no better opinion of him: "But, lest any offence should be taken at his conversing openly with him, he secretly came to Jesus by night."

The same interpretation will probably be found to have been adopted by the majority of commentators, &c., &c., &c. Now this general opinion, so unfavorable to the character of Nicodemus, is wholly founded on the expression of the evangelist, that he came to Jesus by night.

What we propose, therefore, is, A VINDICATION OF NICODEMUS; or an attempt to form a true estimate of his character. Let us

1 Whitby's Paraphrase, John 3. Kuinoel in Joann., cap. 3. 1, 2. Doddridge's

2 Rosenm. Evang. Johan., cap. 3. Calmet, Saint Jean, chap. 3. Expos. John 3.

dispassionately examine his interview with our Saviour, as recorded by John, and the other instances in which he is mentioned by this evangelist.

Let us first notice the rank and standing of this individual. We are told that he was a Pharisee. The peculiarities of that sect are well known. As a class, they were haughty and exclusive, and looked with contempt on the common people. They were ambitious to fill the principal offices. Nicodemus is said to have been a ruler of the Jews; i. e. he was a member of the Sanhedrim, a master in Israel; and as such, it was his business to instruct the people, as well as to exercise spiritual rule. He had a high reputation for learning. He is commonly supposed to have been the same person of whose wealth, liberality, piety and learning, the Rabbins give so glowing an account. He had nothing to gain in a worldly sense, but much to lose, by becoming the avowed disciple of the despised Jesus of Nazareth. Many who came to Christ, were of the lowest class in society; but this inquirer was possessed of rank, of learning and riches. He had heard of the wonderful miracles performed by our Saviour, perhaps had been himself a witness to some of them; he had listened to His discourses, and had thus been led to examine the sacred writings with reference to His doctrines and claims, and to discover that the evidence that he was the true Messiah, was irresistible; at all events, he was so fully satisfied that he was a Teacher sent from God, that he resolved to seek an interview with Him. He came to Jesus by night. It was the little circumstance which respects the time he selected for this interview, which has led so frequently to the impression, that he was actuated by fear; that, while he was secretly convinced of the Divine mission of Jesus, he was afraid to have it known to his associates of the Sanhedrim.

Let us then inquire into the justice of this opinion. Let it be distinctly noticed at the outset, that the evangelist does not, either in this narrative of his private interview with Christ, or elsewhere, attribute fear to Nicodemus, as the motive of his selecting the night, to make his application to Christ. He simply states the fact that he came by night. The opinion that fear was the motive which impelled him, is nothing more than an inference.

That it is not necessary to suppose that Nicodemus was actuated by fear, appears, first, from the fact, that, according to a tradition of the Jews, the night was the appropriate season for the study of religious subjects. The Jewish traditions, according to Lightfoot, recommended a nocturnal study of the law and theology. Nicodemus was a Rabbi, a teacher in Israel, and must, therefore, have been acquainted with this tradition, and would most naturally be influenced by it. He belonged, as already noticed, to the sect of the Pharisees, who were very exact in the

observance of traditions, to that extent that Christ made it a frequent subject of rebuke, that they made void the law by their traditions. When, therefore, the miracles of Christ had attracted the attention of Nicodemus, and he resolved to have a conference with Him, the peculiar and important nature of the act, would at once put him under the power of the tradition, that he must enter on this new field of inquiry by night. As we behold him. directing his footsteps to the Saviour, that charity which hopeth all things and believeth all things, instead of leading us to contemplate him as seeking a clandestine interview, to avoid the argus eyes of his suspicious associates, would rather lead us to regard him as acting true to his prejudices and principles as a Pharisee, and teacher in Israel.

Secondly, Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrim, and might have been occupied during the day, so that the evening was the only season left for such an interview as he desired. The business of the great Jewish Council, like other national bodies, might have been more urgent at some times than at others. It is very easy to suppose this to have been the case, at the time the astonishing miracles of Christ produced such strong convictions in Nicodemus, as it was the period of that great Festival, when a large portion of the nation were in the habit of assembling at Jerusalem. What a pleasant spectacle to behold men who are necessarily occupied with public affairs, during the day, devoting a portion of the night to religion !

Again, it may have been, as suggested by the commentator Henry, that our Lord was so incessantly occupied in public, during the day; that one filling a public station could not easily discover an opportunity to converse with him in private. It is manifest that there was considerable excitement in the community, occasioned by the miracles and teaching of Christ. We are expressly informed, near the close of the second chapter of the gospel by John, that many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which he did. There was a striking and decided movement. It is natural to suppose that crowds would surround our Lord, (it was the time of the Passover, and the city was full of people,) whenever He appeared in public, or wherever it was known that He had taken up his abode. Hence the difficulty of enjoying a private interview with Him by day.

We see how easy it is, to account for the fact, that Nicodemus eame to Jesus by night, instead of by day, without attributing his conduct to fear. And Christian charity requires we should do this. There is nothing in relation to which we are under stronger obligations to act in accordance with the principles of Christian charity, than in the judgment we form of the motives of We think we have shown sufficient grounds for strongly doubting, whether the commonly received opinion, that Nicode

men.