be meek and lowly, riding on an ass. By this means, he got the common
and necessary foundation for a new revelation, which is to be built and
founded on a precedent revelation.

To carry on this design, he made choice of twelve men of no
fortunes or education, and of such understandings, as gave no jealousy
that they would discover the plot. And, what is most wonderful, and
shews their ability, while the master was preaching the kingdom of
heaven, these poor men, not weaned from the prejudices of their
country, expected every day that he would declare himself a king, and
were quarreling who should be his first minister. This expectation had
a good effect on the service; for it kept them constant to their
master.

I must observe further, that the Jews were under strange
apprehensions of supernatural powers: and as their own religion was
founded on the belief of certain miracles said to be wrought by their
lawgiver Moses; so were they ever running after wonders and miracles,
and ready to take up with any stories of this kind. Now, as something
extraordinary was necessary to support the pretensions of Jesus, he
dextrously laid hold of this weakness of the people, and set up to be a
wonder-worker. His disciples were well qualified to receive this
impression: they saw, or thought they saw many strange things, and
were able to spread the fame and report of them abroad.

This conduct had the desired success. The whole country was
alarmed, and full of the news of a great Prophet's being come among
them. They were too full of their own imagination, to attend to the
notion of a kingdom of heaven. Here was one mighty in deed and in
word; and they concluded that he was the very prince their nation