Consider 2dly, how our Lord Jesus, having thus humbled himself, to fulfill all justice, was presently exalted by His heavenly Father; when being baptized and praying, heaven was opened: and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven: "Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased", (Luke ii. 21, 22). Learn from hence, my soul, that humility opens heaven, and conducts us to God, and to all good. But see, also, how upon this occasion of the baptism of Christ, the chief mysteries of religion are displayed: see how the whole Blessed Trinity manifests itself; the Father by His voice from heaven; the Son in His human nature, assumed for us; and the Holy Ghost by descending in the shape of a dove. See how the mission, and the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ, is here solemnly authorized, with a formal declaration of the dignity of His person, and of His unction and consecration by the Spirit of God: see how the Son of God, descending into the waters, sanctifies them, in order to those great effects of regeneration and renovation of the soul, in the laver of baptism: see how He buries, as it were, the old Adam here, under the waters, and brings Him forth a new man; opening Heaven in His favor, and imparting to Him both His Holy Spirit, and the title and dignity of Son of God. O let us venerate these heavenly mysteries! Let us here embrace our humble Savior, the source of all our good.

Consider 3dly, how our Lord began the functions of His mission, and the preaching of His Gospel, from this time of His being baptized; and His being here solemnly recommended to the world; not only by the repeated testimonies of St. John Baptist, but by the voice of His Heavenly Father, and by the visible descent of the Holy Ghost. But first, for our instruction, He was pleased, by way of preparation, to withdraw Himself from the conversation of men, into a lonesome wilderness, and there to employ forty days in fasting and prayer; at the end of which time He suffered three different assaults of temptation from Satan; and after overcoming this wicked enemy, was visited and served by Angels. Christians, let us learn from this great example, in all our spiritual undertakings, to seek first the assistance and blessing of Heaven, by retirement, fasting, and prayer: let us learn, that these same are also the best arms against all the temptations of the enemy: that we are not to expect, how much soever we are retired from the world, to live without temptations, since Christ Himself was tempted, and tempted in the desert; but that we must, by His example, fight and overcome; and that this is the way to heavenly comforts here, and to an immortal crown hereafter.