vv. ^ '€: i:^ 5:i lio s^ .^^ i^ "^2- OF THE AT PRINCETON, N. J. x» cj >r -■VTI t> >l t> li- SAMUEL AONEW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA. h CasCf Diviyon '*>'*<^'/' Sectt«fV7rrT--...-^ f| Bookf I.M. PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY ILLUSTRATED, IN THIRTY SERMONS, ON VARIOUS DOCTRINES, ORDINANCES, AND DUTIES, TAUGHT AND ENJOINED BY BY WILLIAM JONES, ELDKR OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH; AND AUTHOR OF THE " HISTORY OF THE WALDENSKS," "BIBLICAL CYCLOPiEDIA," 'lectures on ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY," "LECTURES ON THE APOCALYrSE, AND LDITOR OF THE "MILLENNIAL HARBINGER," ETC. ETC. " And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of Speech or of Wisdom, declaring iinto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified," — 1 Cor. ii. 1, 2. LONDON: G. WIGHTMAN, 24, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCXXXVII. T. BABJETTE, PRINTER, CRAVEN BUILDINGS, DRCBT lANE, 8TBAND. PRIITCETO.i THEOLOGIOilli/f* PREFACE. The design of the present volume is to furnish some illustration of those Doctrines and Duties by which Christianity was charac- terized in the days of the Apostles, and the belief and practice of which are essential to a just exhibition of the Kingdom of Christ in this world. It is readily granted, that productions of a profess- edly similar tendency are sufficiently abundant in our day, when the press teems with volumes of Discourses, Sermons, Lectures, &c.; but as the Author has not been so fortimate as to meet with any one work which embodies the whole of his plan, and which he could therefore consider as superseding that, which he now pre- sumes to oft'er for public acceptance, he trusts that candid readers will be content with this apology, for adding one volume more to the stock on hand. Should, however, the plea now tendered, be considered inad- missible by any, he might possibly strengthen it by urging, that a long, and somewhat intimate, acquaintance, with the professing world, has led him to see, or at least to fancy, that, among the preachers of the present day, an omission or defect is observable, in regard to the subjects on which their Discourses are founded. To him they appear to be almost exclusively restricted to, what is called, personal religion, to the neglect of the laws, principles, in- junctions, ordinances, and approved customs, of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The effects of this are mani- fold and glaring. Multitudes assume the Christian name, and would take it much amiss not to be regarded as the subjects of Christ's kingdom, and heirs of the heavenly inheritance, who still content themselves with calling Jesus, "Lord, Lord," while they "do not the things which he says." Such persons have no ear to give to "what the Spirit saith unto the churches;" they are mere hearers of the word, and nof doers of it; whereas, if there be any truth in the Bible, all sucli religion is vain. IV PREFACE. The attempt to detach the genuine profession of the religion of Christ from an unreserved obedience to the laws of his kingdom, — whatever self-denial and present suffering that obedience may oc- casion,— is utterly futile and self-deceptive, and will, eventually, be found a miserable delusion. Yet, in this delusion, how many, alas, are encouraged and supported by their religious guides : but the great Prophet of the church taught a different lesson. "Ye are my friends," said the Saviour, in the days of his public minis- try, "if ye do tvhatsoever I command you." Hence it follows, that obedience to all things, whatsoever Christ has commanded, is the surest test of our discipleship. But it is not only in the subjects of discourse, which occupy the pulpits and the press of the present day, that the Author finds a source of lamentation. He thinks that in what regards the charac- ter of the professed preachers of Christ's Gospel, there is a lament^ able " falling away" from the primitive pattern, as well as from the Apostolic method of obtaining pastors. In primitive times, the Gospel was not, — as is now almost universally the case, — preached for hire; neither were the churches corrupted by worldly fellow- ship;— two manifest evils, which act upon and strengthen each other; to which a third may be added, that of confining the pas- torship of a church to a single person. It was one part of the system of Antichrist, to make the office of Overseer to a Christian church a regular means of subsistence, in the same way as the respective callings of a tent-maker, a fisher- man, or a taxgatherer. This, like many other popish errors, which most protestants have too faithfully copied, is a perversion of the apostolic plan. Considering human depravity, and tlie great in- fluence of the love of money, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit is very striking in requiring that Bishops, or Elders, should not be " greedy of filthy lucre." For while the injunction implies, that they are entitled to an allowance, it clearly shews also, that it ought not to be the motive to their acceptance of the office, which, except in a very special case, it must be, if they had no other means of li^ang. But there is a veiy wide difference between a man's getting his livelihood as a preacher, either by receiving an annual salary, or being paid so much for the sermon or the day, and merely accept- ing what his brethren may give him, as, in their judgment, the worth of his labour. PREFACE. V When, however, the office of President to a company of disci- ples is converted into\a "profession," and young men are pur- posely educated for it, at Colleges and Academies, as for the Bar, or the practice of Medicine, one necessary result (to say nothing of many others) is, — that his education will be mainly conducted on the principle of learning how to give the most complete satisfac- tion to that audience before which his knowledge and eloquence are to be displayed. Now, it requires no great insight of human nature to see, that the wisest and most experienced man, and still more a very young one, must, under such circumstances, be sur- rounded by the strongest temptations to corrupt, or at least to mu- tilate, the word of God, whenever the perfection of its precepts shall clash with the imperfections of his hearers. For, if he faith- fully persist in "declaring to them the whole counsel of God," he may expect that, at no very distant day, some " perverse disputers of corrupt minds" will charge him with unsoundness in the faith, and find means to " cast him out of the church," in order that a "minister" maybe found of equal gifts,and a more accommodating conscience. Such a system, therefore, is sure to produce a very numerous class of " menpleasers," whose ministry will consist of " ear-&evy\ce" instead of proceeding from "singleness of heart, as unto Christ;" and such, accordingly, in the present day, we find to be the case, to a lamentable extent. The eflfect of such a state of things on hearers, is what might be expected. People in general, among whom may be many of the disciples of Christ, are in the habit of indulging themselves in those excited feelings produced by eloquent displays of evange- lical truth, in which the Gospel, in a state of greater or less pu- rity, is exhibited with that very "wisdom of words," which Paul studiously shunned, " lest," as he says, "the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." Whereas, the pulpit orators of the pre- sent day, wiser by far, in their own conceit, than the inspired Apostle, however much their doctrine may safoiir of "Jesus Christ and him crucified," take especial care that their preach- ing shall not be deficient in "the enticing words of man's wisdom," which glitter in every sentence of the brilliant composition, and justly entitle it to be considered, as inflated, if not inspired. Whether this course be pursued with the express design, that their hearers' " faith should stand in tlie wisdom of men, and not VI PREFACE. in the power of God," and that, — to use a phrase of which some "ministers" are very fond, — they may " magnify their office," we will not undertake to say ; but whatever the design, such is, un- doubtedly, the effect. This is manifest from the almost popish veneration with which most " Reverend" gentlemen, of the sacred profession, are regarded, and the weight which their opinions al- ways have, on theological points. Nor can we wonder at this, when we consider, that they have gained a smattering of Greek and Latin, and adopted a chaos of opinions, called Divinity, at a place termed a College, and have, perhaps, been since clad in a black gown, and dizened with bands! From mortals so well qualified to enlighten others, who could withhold implicit cre- dence; or doubt that they were successors of the Apostles, who certainly preceded them above eighteen hundred years?* Such absurdities would be ridiculous, if they were not pitiable; but when the prevalence of the Antichristian principle is daily found to blind believers to the plainest truths of Scripture, and to lead both them and unbelievers to " professional teachers," either forthe knowledge of duty, or of the way of salvation, — asif the word of God were not of itself sufficient to teach both, or as if preach- ers had some peculiar faculty for understanding and explaining what is already conveyed in words "which the Holy Spirit teach- eth," and which the Apostle distinctly represents, as better than • The author is well aware that any recommendation of a book, coming from so obscure an individual as himself, can obtain but little notice in this age of "great names," otherwise he should be tempted to bespeak the reader's atten- tion to a little volume which has lately issued from the press, entitled, " Let- ters on the present state of the visible Church of Christ; addressed to John Angel James, minister of the Gospel in Birmingham, by R. M. Beverley, sold by Dinnis, Paternoster Row. He is a total stranger to Mr. Beverley, whom he has never seen ; but he has read his book with considerable satisfaction ; and rejoices to think, he has so able an ally in pleading the much despised cause of Primitive Christianity. There are points, no doubt, on which their opinions differ; and one of these is the subject of Baptism. Mr. B. is evidently a stran- ger to the Baptismal controversy ; he does not understand the main gist of the argument, or see its importance as regards the visible church; otherwise, he never would have >«/A-represented the principles of the Baptists as he has done. —Letter XVII. p. 129, 130. Should this note, at any time, come under his obser\ ation, he is respectfully requested to look into a little tract, of which a third edition has just made its appearance, entitled, "Personal Religion Vindicated, in relation to Christian Baptism." Bv Isaiah Birt. Sold by Wightman. — Price Is. PREFACE. Vll "the words which man's wisdom teacheth;" — when we see an evil of such magnitude daily spreading itself and taking deeper root, both in the National Church, and out of it, every well instructed mind must bewail the fact, and wish to see the evil counteracted . A further consequence of the foregoing evil, and which is also in part the effect of it, is, that the church and the world are mixed together, partly in church-fellowship, and partly through the cus- tom of seat-letting. Both of these arise from the system of " hired preachers." The salaries must be paid, and to accomplish that, the hearers must be sufficiently numerous. Hence a want of cau- tion, perhaps even of care, in admitting members; hence, also, the necessity of letting the seats, and constituting a body, called the "congregation," as distinguished from the "church," though both words have the same meaning. But this is one way of cheating conscience; to admit a manifest unbeliever, or person of no religion, as a member, would be " too bad ;" but as his money is very good, and would be very convenient, it is thought there can be no harm in letting him a seat, and thus giving him a pecuniary interest in the hired preacher, whose opinions he has therefore as much right to control, as the orthodox member has. Let the details of this mat- ter, however, for the present, have the veil of secrecy; and the Lord grant that, ere long, the whole system may be consumed by " the Spirit of his mouth." But as connected with the present subject, it must be manifest, that so long as people go to hear preachers, more with a view to amusement, or something like it, than the sal- vation of their souls, or their growth in grace, so long preachers will be found, who by the exhibition of intellectual power, and skill in language, will attract congregations sufficiently large to warrant them, upon the principles of Political Economy, to carry their talents to such a market, with full assurance of a profitable return. Infinite was the Wisdom which declared, that "the children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light." Had this not been the case, the attempts which, for above a century past, have been made to restore Primitive Christianity, could hardly have been attended with so little comparative suc- cess, assisted as the labourers were in their work, by the directions of an infallible guide. But they, like Christians of other commu- nions, have been too much like the disciples at Corinth, — " carnal. Vlll PREFACE. and walking as men;" hence their strifes and divisions; hence their neglect of the apostle's injunction, that they should be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment;" and hence the little fruit arising from their attempts to establish churches, similar to those " which in Judea were in Christ Jesus." These attempts, however, have by no means altogether failed. Many such churches have been formed in different parts of Eng- land, a still greater number in Scotland, and some in Ireland. There are also many in America, which externally bear a resem- blance to those in Apostolic times; but how far, in other respects, may be doubted, for the reasons given in the Appendix. The worship of such churches is conducted, not by persons educated for the purpose, but by members whom their brethren have chosen as possessing, in some reasonable degree, the qualifi- cations specified by Paul, in writing to Timothy and Titus, without regard to what the trades may be, by which they " provide things honourable in the sight of all men." Such an individual, in the common discharge of his duty, has prepared the Discourses which form this volume; and as well from that consideration, as from the preceding remarks, it will readily be supposed, that he does not enter into competition with those Masters of Logic and Rhe- toric, who adorn the pulpits of so many Churches and Chapels in this land of Sermons, where hours are spent in hearing volmnin- ous comments, often darker than deep, on a plain and concise text, consisting of " a pure river of the water of life, clear as crys- tal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." Having long passed the age of three score years and ten, and feeling that his departure cannot be far distant, he leaves this Vo- lume as a legacy to those believere, his connexion with whom has given it existence; with a feiTent prayer to the God of all grace, — that it may still benefit them, when he is no more; — that it may furnish some assistance to those, who seek to preach Apostolical doctrines with primitive simplicity ; — that it may tend to correct many prevalent errors in various sects; — and, above all, that, un- der the divine influence of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures it con- tains may be the means of making many a stout hearted and re- bellious sinner, " wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus;" to whom "be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen." CONTENTS. SERMON I. THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL AND METHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. [PAGE 1.] Now when Ihey had passed throuffh Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner teas, tcent in unto them, and three Sahhath-days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead ; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them beliered, and consorted icith Paul and Silas ; and of the de- vout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. ACTS XVII. 1—1. SERMON II. THE DEATH OF CHRIST. [PAfiE 10.] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also xje have received, and wherein ye stand : by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory ivhat I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in rain. For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. 1 COR. XV. 1—3. X CONTENTS. SERMON III. THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. [PAGE 34.] Atid I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. JOHN XII. 32. SERMON IV. THE TRUTH AS IT IS IN JESUS. [PAGE 52.] But ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the Truth is in Jesus. EPH. IV. 20, 2}. SERMON V. THE VISION ON THE HOLY MOUNT. [PAGE 72.] For tve have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the poiver and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but tvere eye witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, tvhen we were with him in the holy mount. i2.PET. I. 16—18. SERMON VI. THE INVITATIONS OF THE GOSPEL. [PAGE 88.] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I ivill give you rest. MAT. XI. 28. CONTENTS. XI SERMON VII. THE CHRISTIAN NAME AND CHARACTER. [PAGE 106.] And the disciples ivere called Christians Jirst in Antioch. ACTS XI. 26. SERMON VIII. THE CONSTRAINING INFLUENCE OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST. [PAGE 122.] For the love of Christ const raineth us; because tve thus judge, that if one died for all, then tvere all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 COE. V. 14, 15. SERMON IX. JESUS CHRIST THE FOUNDATION OF HIS CHURCH. [PAGE 138.] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 COK. III. U. SERMON X. THE BELIEVER'S PERFECTION IN CHRIST. [PAGE 1.52.] And ye are complete in Him, ivho is the Head of all Princi- pality and Poiver. COL. II. 10. SERMON XL CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL. [PAGE IGO.] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncir- cumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. COL. III. 11. Xa CONTENTS. SERMON XII. THE CHRISTIAN'S RESOURCE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH, [PAGE 184.] / will go in the Strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy Righteousness, even of thine only. PSALM LXXI. 16. SERMON XIII. THE LAW AND THE TESTIMONY. [PAGE 199.] To the Law and to the Testimony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. ISAIAH VIII. 20. SERMON XIV. CHRISTIANS HEAR GOD SPEAKING IN HIS WORD. [PAGE 214.] He that is of God, heareth God's words. JOHN VIII. 47. SERMON XV. THE SETTING UP OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. [PAGE 228.] Then they that gladly received his word tvere baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, S^'c. ACTS II. 41—47. CONTENTS. Xm SERMON XVI. THE NATURE, THE GROUNDS, AND THE ADVANTAGES OF CHRISTIAN UNITY. [PAGE 246.] Behold, how good and how pleasant if is for brethren to dwell together in nnitij ! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments : as the dew of Herman, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. I'SALM ex XXIII. SERMON XVII. THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST, AND THE MEANS OF THEIR EDIFICATION. [PAGE 261.] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified ; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. ACTS. IX. 31. SERMON XVIII. ON BROTHERLY LOVE. [PAGE 277.] Let brotherly love continue. HEB. XIII. 1. SERMON XIX. THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE LORD'S REFLECTED GLORY. [PAGE 20.3.] But ive all, ivith open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glon/, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 con. III. 18. XIV CONTENTS. SEEMON XX. ON SELF-DENIAL, AND TAKING UP THE CROSS. [ PAGE 312.] And when he had called the people unto him, with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever tvill come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. MARK: VIII- 34. SERMON XXL DIVINE INFLUENCE NECESSARY TO GIVE THE GOSPEL EFFECT. [PAGE 327.] But the natural man receiveih not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 COR. II. 14. SERMON XXII. THE APOSTOLIC WARFARE, AND ITS WEAPONS OF AGGRESSION. [PAGE 344.] For thotigh we umlk in the flesh, ive do not war after the flesh: for the iveapons of our ivarfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling douui of strong holds ; casting down imagina- tions, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the know- ledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 COR. X. 3—6. SERMON XXIII. THE DIVINE GLORY MANIFESTED IN THE BUILDING UP OF ZION. [PAGE 359.] JVJien the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory : He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. PSALM CXI. 16, 17. CONTENTS. XV SERMON XXIV. THE CHILDREN OF ZION REJOICING IN THEIR KING. [PAGE 376.] Let the children of Z ion he joyful in their King. PSALM CXLIX. 2. SERMON XXV. THE CHRISTIAN'S ESTIMATE OF HIS SAVIOUR. [PAGE 396.] Hut zvhat things tvere gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ : yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knoivledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for xvhom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may ivin Christ, and be found in him. PHIL. III. 7, 8. SERMON XXVI. ON SPIRITUALITY OF MIND. [PAGE 4n.] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in gloru. ^ ' COL. III. 1-4. SERMON XXVIL THE LORD'S SUPPER. [PAGE 423.] This do in remembrance of me. LUKE XXII. 10. XVI COMTENTS. SERMON XXVIIL THE WORD OF LIFE, AND ITS EXHIBITION IN THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST. [PAGE 437.] Holding forfh the nwrd of life. PHILIP. II. ii;. SERMON XXIX. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, THE GROUND OF HOPE. [PAGE 4.51.] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according/ to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesits Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. I PET. I. 3, 4. SERMON XXX. ON REGENERATION. [PAGE 4G7.] Of his own will begat he us ivith the word of truth. JAMES I. 18. APPENDIX TO SERMON XXX. [PAGE 485.] SERMON T. THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL AND METHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. Noiv when they had passed throtigh Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews : and Paul, as his manner was, uwnt in unto them, and three Sabbath-days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead ; and that this Jesus, tvhom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. Acts xvii. 1 — 4, When the apostles, and their associates in the work of the ministry, first went abroad throughout the nations, to testify the g-ospel of the grace of God, they were careful to apj)rise their hearers, that they brought with them no new doctrine : they said " none other things than those which the i)rophets and Moses did say should come: namely, that Christ," the promised seed, the exj)ccted Messiah, " should suffer, and that he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, (of Israel,) and to the Gentiles." —Acts xxvi. 22, 23. The Lord Jesus himself, before his ascension into heaven, had instnicted his ambassadors how he would have them to conduct themselves in one im^iortant particular. They were to "tarry at Jerusalem, until they were endued with power from on high ;" and in that city, where the Prince of Life was crucified, the glad tidings of pardon and reconciliation were li 2 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL to he Jirsf proclaimed.* Accordingly, we find, that, on the day of Pentecost, the promise of the Father was fulfilled — the Holy Spirit descended upon them in all his enlightening-, quickening, and life-giving influences — and they preached the Gospel with wonderful success. Three thousand gladly received the word of salvation as preached hy the apostle Peter ; and, on the same day, they were baptized and added to the church. — Acts ii. 41. An attentive reader of the Acts of the Apostles will per- ceive the same regard to order, priority, or jireference, as resj^ects the publication of the Gospel, marking the conduct of the first ministers of the word. Thus, we find the aj)ostle Peter, t on a subsequent occasion, impressing upon the minds of his Jewish brethren a consideration of this interesting fact : " Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, 'And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.' Unto yon first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." We find the same order observed by the apostle Paul and his companions, when executing the commission which they had received, to make the gosj^el known among the Gentiles. Into whatsoever city the providence of God directed their steps, their first enquiry seems to have been, whether there was a synagogue of Jews in it; in which case, they attended its worshij) on the Sabbath-day, and testified among them, that the Messiah had appeared, and that Jesus of Nazareth was He ; (see Acts xiii. 14 — 26 ; ch. xiv. 1 ; ch. xvi. 13; — ) pointing them to the writings of their own prophets for the evidence of the truth of what they said, and showing the accomplishment of their predictions in his suf- ferings, death, resurrection, and subsequent glory. The sacred historian, in the words of our text, in narrating the proceedings of Paul and Silas on their arrival at Thessalo- nicu, is careful to show us, that they in no respect deviated • Luke xxiv. 47-49. t Aits iii. 2,';, 2G. AND METHOD OF PUBLI8H[NG IT. 3 from tlieir ordinary course of proceeding : for, " Paul, as fits manner tvaf;, went into the synagogue of the Jews, and three Sahhath-days reasoned with them out of the Scrij)- tures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead ; and that this Jesus, whom he preached unto them, was the Christ, or Messiah." The verses first read, present us with a most interesting view of the suhject-matter, and also of the manner, or aposto- lic method, of preaching the Gospel, A consideration of the words will lead us to attend to each of these particulars, and suggest various things which, under the blessing of God, may be profitable to us for instruction. We are here taught, that the Messiah must, of necessity, be a suffering person — that he must die and rise again. This will lead to an important enquiry — what rendered his sufferings necessary ? Ha^dng considered this point, we shall attend to the apostle's method of proving, that Jesus of Nazareth, Avhom he preached, was the promised seed — the Christ or Messiah. — We shall then notice the effects produced, by the ajiostlc's preaching, among the people of Thessalonica ; — and conclude by shewing the use we should make of the subject. I. We are plainly taught, in the words of the text, that the Messiah, whoever he were, must, of necessity, be a suffering person. This was a very unpalateable doctrine, at all times, to Jewish ears, though plainly taught in their own Scriptures. Accustomed to associate in their minds, the Messiah's advent with ideas of magnificence and glory, the carnality of their hearts led them to secidarize all the grand things that the prophets had written on this most interesting subject ; so that, instead of looking for the " man of sorrows, and one whose companion was grief," the whole nation, at the time of Christ's appearing, were fondly dreaming of a temporal kingdom for the Messiah ; and not finding any thing in the character of Jesus, at all answerable to this master preju- dice, they rejected all his claims to the Messiahshij), and ]iut him to death as an impostor. Nor were his immediate 4 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL apostles, at the time of his death, altogether exempt from the influence of this leaven ; the veil was still, in some degree, upon their hearts, and they were, in a great measure, blind to the true meaning of the writings of their own prophets. Hence our Lord's cutting reproof to two of them, who were stumbled at the circumstances of his crucifixion. " O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory } And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself." And he further added, " These are the words which I S23ake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me" — " Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to sujffer, and to rise from the dead the third day ; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." — Luke xxiv. 25 — 27, 44 — 47. Here we see our Lord classes the proj)hetical writings under three divisions — the Law of Moses — the Prophets — and the Psalms : and he teaches us, that, in each of them, the Messiah was held forth as a suffering person — one whose sufferings were to issue in his death — and his death to be followed by his resurrection on the third day. Let us now briefly examine each of them, in the order here laid down. 1. With regard to the law of Moses ; — we are here taught, that not only did Moses write of Christ, but also that his writings exhibit him as a suffering person. It may, how- ever, be interrogated — in what chapter or verse does the Jewish lawgiver speak of the Messiah under this character .? It is granted that he foretells him as "a Prophet, whom the Lord would raise up unto the children of Israel, like unto himself, and whom they should hear in all things"* — but where is he described as a Priest ? Perhaps no where, in so many words; and yet intimations of his priestly character * Deut. xviii. 18. AND METHOD OF PUIiLISIIlNG IT. 5 and office, of his sulTcrings and death — of the shedding- of his blood, and the laying down of his life — prophetical or tyj^i- cal allusions to these arc found, more or less, in alinostevery page of the law of Moses. What, in fact, was the whole of the legal dispensation, but " a shadow of good things to come," the body or substance of which is found only in Christ.'* Consider, for a moment, what the apostle Paul teaches the Hebrews, concerning those typical institutions which are classed under the general designation of the law of Moses, namely, the temple, the altar, the priests — the various sacrifices and oblations that were continually offered, day by day, and year by year, and say, what was the import of all? The whole was designed by infinite wisdom to adumbrate the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow ; and, divested of their typical relation to Him, the whole texture and frame-work of the Levitical Economy dwindles into insignificance. Unless we admit the apostolic interpretation of this matter, as given us in the Epistle to the Hebrews, we are involved in perjjlexity the moment we open the ritual of Moses: we see no end to be answered by its innumerable requirements ; they seem as useless as they were numerous, and as oppressive as they were useless ; and we feel ourselves harassed by the suggestion, that such an establishment was derogatory to the honour of God. But admit the alleged correspondence, and they are justified by the importance of their design ; they instruct and delight us by the harmony of their combination with other things, and they throw a grandeur around the economy of grace, which conlirms our fiiith in the Gospel, and elevates our hopes of the eternal inheritance. 2. From the law of Moses, that system of types and shadows, and ritual observances, let us now direct our at- tention to the writings of the prophets, which are also said to exhibit the Messiah asj a suffering person ; and, on this head, two or three selections may suffice. To begin with Isaiah — thus he wrote of Him : " He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief — surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our s mows; yet we did 6 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transg-ressions, bruised for our iniqui- ties ; the cliastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His strijjes we are healed — He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a himb to the slaughter — He was cut off out of the land of the living — He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death."* Hear again the prophet Daniel on the subject: " Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, (or restrain the offering of sacrifices for sin) and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness — and after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself."t We may hear the prophet Zechariah also, on this subject: "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered ; and I will turn mine hand ujjon the little ones.";!: But enough, as respects the testimony of the prophets to the character of the Messiah as a suffering person. Let us now glance at, 3. The Book of Psalms: and if you turn to the twenty- second psalm, you find it comprises one clear and entire prophecy of the sufferings of Christ. The manner and cir- cumstances of his death, the insults and mockery of his enemies, and the very words which he uttered upon the cross, are here particularly foretold. This psalm exhibits him as "offering up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death." " I am poured out like water," says the Holy Suf- ferer, "and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax ; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd ; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death." — ver. 14, 15. Much to the same effect is the sixty -ninth psalm, which we know is also a prophecy of the Messiah. " Save • Isa. liii. 3—9. f Dan. ix. 24-20. t Zocli. xiii. 7. AND METHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. 7 me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into deej) waters, where the floods overflow me : I am weary of my ciying; my throat is dried; mine eyes fail while I wait for my God." — " Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." — Psalm xxii. 7?rts-.«;;?, and Ixix. 1 — 3; 13 — 21, &c. Such are the deeply affecting strains in which the pro- phetic pen had portrayed Messiah's suff"ering state ; and we have only to turn our attention to the scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary, to find the whole realized. But the prophets not only foretold his humiliation, as is- suing in his death : they also predicted his rising again, and entering into his glory. Hence, in the sixteenth Psalm, we find the Messiah, in prophecy, thus addressing his heavenly Father, in the immediate prospect of his death. — " My flesh shall rest in hope: for thou wilt not leave- my soul in hell ; neither wilt thou suff'er thine Holy One to see corrup- tion. Thou wilt show mc the path of life ; in thy presence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there are j)lcasures for evermore," — ver. 9 — 11. His royal installation, when, by the the right hand of God, he was not only raised from the dead, but advanced to his throne in the heavens, is thus beauti- fully and eloquently described : — " The King shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice ! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. For thou proven test him with the blessings of goodness : thou settesta crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever; thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance."* His triumphal entry into the highest heavens is also thus described: — "Lift up your • P.salm xxi. 8 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL hea(k, O ye gates ; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."* Again, " Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom ; thou loves t righteousness and hatest iniquity ; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. I will make thy name to be remem- bered in all generations ; therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."t So also the prophet Isaiah not only predicts the sufferings of the Messiah, but also his resurrection from the dead, and the glory and honour which awaited him, as the reward of his obedience : " When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall j)rosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied." — "I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong ; because he hath poured out his soul unto death." — Isaiah liii. 10 — 12. See also Psalm ex. From what hath been said on this first head of discourse, we may surely infer the truth of the apostle's proposition, that the Messiah must, of necessity, be a suffering person, or, in other words, none but a suffering person could be the Messiah — that he must die, and rise again, and enter into his glory : which brings us to the second enquiry, viz.'j II. Wherein consisted the necessity of the Messiah's sufferings ? And here several things offer themselves for consideration. 1. It is manifest, that his sufferings were unavoidable, if the Scriptures were to be fulfilled; for the Scriptures cannot be broken. The Lord Jesus himself reasoned with his apostles upon this principle: "All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me." And having • Psalm xxiv. 7—9. t Psalm xlv, 6, 7, 17 ; Hob. i. 8, !>. AND METJHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. 9 opened their understanding, that they mig-ht understand the Scriptures, he said unto them, " Tims it is wrliten^ and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day."* We know that the Scriptures were given by insj)iration of God; they are his word, which can- not possibly fail of its accomplishment; for sooner shall heaven and earth pass away, than one iota of what he hath spoken, — either in the way of testimony, promise, prediction, or threatening, not come to pass. In foretelling the suffer- ings of Christ, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Sj)irit." But then another enquiry naturally arises upon this, — 2. Wiry were these things predicted or foretold concern- ing the Messiah .? The answer to this is — because God had fore-ordained or pre-determined, that these things should take place. We must not imagine, that any of the events that happened to the Lord Jesus Christ, occurred by chance, as it is termed ; such a thought would be highly blasiDhe- mous. The whole train of events, even to the minutest circumstance, was arranged in tlie divine mind from eternity ; and, consequently, " when the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord, and against his anointed," they only did "whatsoever God's hand and counsel determined before to be done.^''\ All came to pass according to an eternal purpose, which Jehovah purposed in himself from everlasting. Still, the question recurs — Why did the blessed God, of his own self-moved good pleasure, determine to subject the Son of his love to such a state of unparalleled suffering as that which the pro- phets foretold, and which the evangelists and apostles have recorded, in their respective writings ? We answer, 3. Because the whole was necessary to the salvation of guilty rebels. Here our enquiries must rest; for it is utterly in vain to seek for any reason independent of this. Jehovah detennined, from eternity, to glorify his perfections in the salvation of myriads of the human race; and this • Luke xxiv. 44— 46, + Acts iv. 24— 28. 10 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL is the plan or method which infinite wisdom devised, for accomplishing- this gracious design. And it is a scheme of salvation every way worthy of himself, as the apostle tells the Hebrews : — " It became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto gloiy, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.*" These " many sons" are termed the heirs of salva- tion— they were chosen in Christ before the world began — they were predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will;t they Avere given to Christ, to be redeemed by his blood — they are the sheep for whom he laid doAvn his life, and on whom he will bestow eternal life.| To procure their salvation, it was necessary that he should become their substitute, having their sins so charged to his account, as that the punishment, due to them, was exacted of him, and he was made answerable. He bare their sins in his own body on the tree ; and, by dying in their stead, the just for the unjust, he rendered full satisfaction to the law and jus- tice of God, and procured their pardon and acceptance. In no other possible way could mercy be extended to the guilty, consistently with the claims of justice — the holiness and purity of the divine nature — the honour of the divine government — and the harmony of the divine perfections. And this explains to us the necessity there was for the sufferings of the Messiah. III. We now proceed to consider the apostle's method of proving, that Jesus of Nazareth, whom he preached unto them, was the Christ, or true Messiah. It is said, " He reasoned with them out of the Scrij)tures" — namely, of the Old Testament, which was all that was then committed to writing — " opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead ; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ," or the Messiah. The evidence for the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth, • Heb. ii, ID. fEpli.i. 4, 5. + Johux. 28 ; cli. xvii. 6. AND METHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. 11 which arises from a careful comparison of the predictions of the prophets, with the facts recorded concerning him by the evang-elists and apostles, is abundantly sufficient to justify all his claims, and prove him to be the promised seed — the Saviour of the world. Of this mode of proof, the apostles appear to have always availed themselves, when arguing with the unbelieving Jews, in the most unqualified manner. These predictions are very numerous, pervading, as we have already seen, a great j)art of the Old Testament — the par- ticulars foretold are so many and extraordinary — so minute and circumstantial — and, though delivered by a succession of prophets, they are all so j^erfcctly hannonious and con- sistent with each other — and all so exactly fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, and in him alone, to whom they are constantly applied throughout the New Testament, — that the evidence, arising from this source, has all the force of a miracle. We can only take a rapid glance of it in this place. For instance — It is plainly taught in the Old Testament, that the Messiah should come of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David.* And this was precisely the case with Jesus of Nazareth, as the whole New Testament bears witness. The word that was in the beginning with God, and was God, " took on him (he took hold of) the seed of Abraham," as Paul tells the Hebrews. And, again, "it is evident our Lord sprang out of Judah:" and, with regard to the particular family from which he descended, we read, that " God hath raised up an horn of sal- tion in the house of his servant David " — " Jesus Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. "f The place of his birth was pointed out by the prophet Micah — viz., Bethlehem Ephratah ; and the evangelist Matthew informs us, that " Jesus was bom in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of King Herod."! Isaiah had predicted, that " a virgin should conceive, and bear a son, whose name should be called Immanuel."|| And the evangelists show, the • Gen.xxii. 18 ; ch. xlix. 10. 2 Sara. vii. 12, 16. Isa. xi. 1. t Heb. ii. 16 ; ch. vii. 14. Luke i. 69. Rom. i. 3. J Micah V. 2 ; with Mat. ii. 1-8. |1 Isa. vii. 14. 12 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL accomplishment of this, in the birth of Jesus Christ * The prophets had foretokl, that their Messiah's public advent should be preceded by a forerunner, in the spirit and power of Elijah, preparing his way; and we see the fulfilment of this, in the mission and ministry of John the Baptist.f The Messiah was to confirm his mission and doctrine by miracles, according to Isaiah xxxv. 5, 6 ; and, to this source of evidence, we find the Lord Jesus constantly referring men, in justifica- tion of his claims,! — a source of evidence, which his enemies were compelled, at times, to allow. The Messiah was to be rejected of his countrymen the Jews, according to many pro- phetical intimations, II — and we find the writers of the New Testament adducing these predictions, and showing their exact accomplishment, in the history of Jesus of Nazareth.§ He was to be treacherously betrayed by one of his disciples, and even the sum, which the traitor should receive, is speci- fied ; and, in the conduct of Judas Iscariot, we have the circumstantial fulfilment of all this, — Psalm xli, 9, Zech, xi. 12; with John xiii. 18. Matthew xxvi. 14,15; xxvii, 3, 10. A great variety of particidars are mentioned in ancient pro- phecy concerning the treatment Messiah should receive from his enemies : — such as, that, " He should be numbered with transgressors" — that he should be mocked and reviled amidst his bitterest sufferings — that they should give him gall and vinegar to drink — that they should part his garments among them, and cast lots for his vesture — that he should be cut off from the land of the living by a violent death, yet that not a bone of him shoidd be broken. He was to make his grave with the rich, but his flesh was not to see corruption ; for he was to rise again from the dead, and ascend into the highest heavens, from whence he would distribute blessings, in rich abundance, upon the children of men. These are only a few of the many particulars, foretold by the holy * Mat. i, 20—24, Lukei. 35. t Isa. xl. 3, 4. Mai, iii. 1 ; and iv, 5 ; with Mat. iii. 1—4 ; ch. xvii, 10—14 ; Luke i. 17- I Mat.xi.3— 7; John v. 36. || Isa. viii. 14, 15 ; ch.liii.3; Psalm cxviii. 22, § Mat. xii. 42-45. John i. 10, 1 1. AND METHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. 13 ptopliets, conceniing the Messiah ; and the evangelists and apostles direct vis to their accomplishment, in the things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth. In Him, they were circum- stantially fulfilled, but in no other individual ; and hence the certainty of the conclusion, which the apostle enforced upon the Thessalonians,— " this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is THE Christ ;" — which brings us to notice, — IV. The effects which were produced by the preaching of the aj)ostle among the Thessalonians. We are told that " some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas ; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few." They received the apostle's testimony as true ; were fully persuaded that Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews had taken, and by wicked hands had cru- cified and slain, was no other than the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners, the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King of his church — and believing these things, let us see what line of conduct it led them to pursue. 1. They consorted with Paul and Silas. They separated themselves from all religious intercourse with their unbe- lieving neighbours and former associates, and became com- panions with the apostles in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. On this part of our subject, we shall find much light thrown by means of the epistles which Paul wrote to the church of the Thessalonians. Adverting to the success of his ministry among them, he says, " our Gos- pel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance ; — and ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit; so that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia."* Now they began to experience the world's hatred towards Christ and his cause, and to see something of the enmity, which has existed from the beginning, between the two seeds. No sooner had they "put on Christ," arranged themselves under the banner of the cross, and owned alle- • I Thess. i. 5-7. 14 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL giance to " the Captain of Salvation," than " the Jews which believed not, moved with enmj, gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar." — Acts xvii. 5. This brought their faith and confidence to the test ; but the apostle " thanked God without ceasing, because, when they received his doc- trine, they received it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the word of God," and so it wrought effectually in those that believed it; for they became followers of the churches of God, which in Judaea were in Christ Jesus, suf- fering like things of their own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews.* 2. Another effect produced by their reception of the apostle's testimony, or, in other words, believing Jesus of Nazareth to be the true Messiah, was this — " it turned them to God from idols, to serve the living and the true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to c6me."t This effect must appear very strange, perhaps unaccount- able, to many professed Christians in our day, who are taught to think, that men may understand and believe this scripture jDroposition, namely, that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God," without deriving the least saving benefit there- from ! — a pretty clear proof, how much the current theology of the present day needs to be rectified by the scripture standard. We hear the insjDired writers declaring, that " the things concerning Jesus were written, that we might believe him to be the Christ, the Son of God ; and that, believing, we might have life through his name." J They declare, that " whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God" — and that the faith, or belief, " that Jesus is the Son of God, overcomes the world." \\ The apostle Paul was sent among the Gentiles, " to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inhe- ritance among them which are sanctified ;"§ but he made known among them nothing else than Jesus Christ and • 1 Thess. ii. 13, 14. + 1 Thess. i. 9, 10. J John XX. 31. II 1 John v. 1 — 5. § Acts xxvi. 18. AND METHOD OF PUBLISHING IT. 15 him crucified. This was the sum and substance of all his preaching ; and he needed nothing- more, for this doc- trine was the wisdom and the power of God to salvation, to every one that believed it. At the time the apostle first brought this doctrine among the Thessalonians, he found them, as he found the Athenians, carried away to the wor- ship of dumb idols, " imagining that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device, Acts xvii. 29 ; but the reception of the simple truth into the mind, revolutionized all their sentiments — it turned them from " the worship of dumb idols, to serve the living and the true God." And it was well calculated to produce such a change in them : for, in this doctrine, they learnt the true character of the living God, as the just God, and yet the Saviour : as so loving a guilty world, as to send his only begotten Son into it, " that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." It is in giving his Son to cUe for the ungodly — for sinners — for his enemies — for such as are without strength to deliver themselves — that the love of the Father comes commended towards us — it shines with peculiar lustre ; and the belief of this doctrine works by love to the divine character — to the Saviour — to the doctrine of the cross, in which the believer finds all his salvation and all his desire. It attaches him to the service of the living and the true God, and promotes obedience to every part of his revealed will. " We love him, because he first loved us ; and this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." It was so with the Thessalonians. The doctrine which they believed, led them to rejoice in hope of the glory of God ; and even to gloiy in tribulations also, for these wrought patience, while j^atience wrought expe- rience, and experience, hope. Thus they were led to wait for the second coming of Christ from heaven, " looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."* • Titus ii. 13, 14. 16 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL 3. Once more. — The powerful effect of the belief ofjthis doctrine, however much it may be slighted and setat nought by many in our day, appears in this, that it led the Thessa- lonians to abound "in the work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father."* Having, through grace, believed the testimony which God had given of his Son, their faith was not a dormant, inac- tive, inoperative principle ; it wrought effectually, and pro- duced the labour of love, and the patience of hope ; and so conspicuous were these fruits of the Gospel in them, that the apostle confidently inferred from them " their election of God," — 1 Thess. i. 4. In particular, it led them to abound in love one toward another, and even toward all men. The apostles make great account of this fruit of the Spirit in all their writings. Nor can we wonder at it ; for it is the Saviour's new command, delivered just before he suffered, and en- forced upon his disciples by the all-powerful motive of his own love in dying for them.f It is that by which he would have them distinguished from the world around them ; and obedience to it is made essential to the Christian character. In vain do we profess to love God, if we are destitute of love to the brethren ; for " every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him." "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar ; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen VX Such is the doctrine of the apostles on this subject ; and it appeared conspicuously among the brethren at Thessalonica; for it is a remarkable commendation, which the apostle Paul bears to them, when he says : " But, as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And, indeed, ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia ; but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more."|| • 1 Thess. i. 3. t John xiii. 34. } 1 John V. 1 ; ch. iv. 20. || 1 Thess. iv. 9, 10. AND METHOD OF PUBLISHINCx IT. 17 The highest advances which the disciples of Christ can make in this dut)^, will always leave them at an immense distance from the perfect pattern, which they are called to imitate, namely, the love of the Saviour, in laying down his life for them : this is a love that passeth knowledge ; it is, nevertheless, their duty to aim at it, and to be satisfied with nothing less than a perfect conformity to it. We learn from this subject, in what consisted the primi- tive apostolic gospel, and how the Lord's ambassadors held it forth in their preaching. Their leading object was, to make known the divine faithfulness and truth, in the accom- plishment of the promises which God made vmto the fathers, by the prophets: that he had now "visited and redeemed his people, and raised up a horn of salvation for them, in the house of his servant David." In this way, they testified the gospel of the grace of God ; calling the attention of their hearers to the person, character, and work of the Lord Jesus; his suff"erings, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, in which were fulfilled all that the prophets had spoken : and they proclaimed the promise of salvation to all, who received their testimony concerning " Him, who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification." In doing this, they made no account of the different shades of character, which may be found among apostate beings, all of whom have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. They exhibited Jesus, in all the glory of his character, as the image of the invisible God — an eternally divine person, God manifest in the flesh, the Son of the Highest coming into this world to do his Father's will, and for that purpose becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, and, by this act of obedience, working out the justifying righteousness, in which all the seed of Israel shall be justi- fied, and make their boast. They declared that, in this righte- ousness, God is ^vell pleased ; and that, as a demonstration thereof, he raised his Son from the dead, and rewarded him with the highest honours at his own right hand in the hea- vens, where all power and authority are committed into his D 18 THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL, ETC. hands, — angels, principalities, and powers being made sub- ject unto him. And, to this doctrine, God bore witness, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. The hand and power of the Lord everywhere accompanied the word spoken, so that many believed, and turned unto the Lord. Thus they made disciples, whom they afterwards taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ had commanded. Let the preachers of the present day take a lesson from this pri- mitive model, saying, with the great apostle of the Gentiles, " I am determined to make known among you, nothing else than Jesus Christ, and him crucified," and leave it to God to make converts. They will thus deliver their own souls, and be a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish ! And let all, who either hear or read of these things, put the interesting question to their own souls, " Dost thou be- lieve on the Son of God .?" What influence has the belief of this truth had upon thy heart and life ? Has it commu- nicated peace to thy guilty conscience — inspired thee with hope of the glory of God — and led thee to count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord ? There cannot be a more fatal delusion than to suppose, that the truth concerning Jesus can be understood and believed, without the subject of it deriving from it any saving benefit, or while remaining in a state of alienation of heart from God and his ways. It is faith in this grand truth, that justifies the sinner — that reconciles his heart to God — that works by love, and influences to all holy obedience — that sanctifies the soul — and gives the victory over the world. Let all who hear these things, beware of contenting themselves with orthodox notions, instead of true faith — let them endeavour to realize the importance of this doctrine ; and remember, that " it is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." SERMON II. THE DEATH OF CHRIST. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, lohich also ye have received, and tvherein ye stand : by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. 1 Cor. XV. 1—3. The State of the church at Corinth, at the time the apostle wrote this epistle to them, furnishes an affecting instance of the proneness there is, even in real Christians, to swerve from their first principles, and to corrupt the hest institutions. Paul had himself preached the Gospel in that renowned city, in all its genuine simplicity, and had gathered a nu- merous church, as we are informed by the writer of the Acts of the Apostles, in ch. xviii. On his first arrival there, he met with Aquila and Pjiscilla, who had lately come from Italy, two converts from Judaism to the Christian faith ; and at- taching himself to them, they resorted in company to the Jewish synagogue every Sabbath, where the apostle reasoned with his unbelieving hearers, and " persuaded the Jews and the Greeks — testifying that Jesus of Nazareth, was the Christ, the true Messiah." Though many opposed his doc- trine, and blasphemed, yet some received the apostle's testi- mony, among whom was " Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, who believed on the Lord, with all his house :" ''and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized." — Acts xviii. 8. 20 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. Here commenced the Christian church at Corinth — a church which was inferior to none in those days, in respect of the number and the variety of its gifts, of which they appear to have become proud and vain, but greatly inferior to most other churches in the grand essential of Christianity, namely, Charity. Their teachers multiplied in abundance, and, in point of eloquence, they far outstript Paul, who had only one plain subject to dwell upon — " Jesus Christ and him cruci- fied,"— and as to "his speech and his preaching, these were not with the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in de- monstration of the Spirit, and of power." But this the apostle did purposely, "that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." At the time of writing this epistle, through the influence of cornipt teachers, and the natural depravity of their own hearts, some very pernicious enors in doctrine were cur- rent among them ; such as a denial of the resurrection of the body at the last day : and the church had also fallen into such unbecoming practices, in conducting their public wor- ship, especially in their manner of commemorating the Lord's death, that the apostle found it necessary to recal their attention to Jirst principles — to the truth he had formerly preached, which they had professed to believe, and with which their eternal salvation Avas connected. In several of the preceding chapters, the apostle had been correcting the things that were amiss among them, particu- larly their abuse of the Lord's supper — ch. xi. 17 — 29; — the exercise of their spiritual gifts — ch. xii. and xiv — in the midst of which, he introduces an episode in praise of Charity, or Love, ch. xiii ; and in the chapter from Avhich the words of the text are taken, he proceeds to refute their notion regarding the resurrection of the dead, the subject of which occupies the whole chapter. To lay a proper foundation for this, he begins with recalling to their recollection, what that Gospel was, which he, at first, preached unto them, which they had received, and wherein they stood; by which also they were saved, if they kept it in memory, and so were not moved away from the hope of the gospel. My design, in the THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 21 present discourse, is to attempt an illustration of one leading' and essential branch of the gospel, namely, tJie death of Christy and in doing so, we shall — Consider Christ's death as a fact; — then enquire, a little more particularly, into the nature and properties of that fact; — next, examine what the Scrip- tures teach us, respecting the end or design of that stu- pendous event ; — and, lastly, apply the subject. I. The death of Christ is one of the most important facts comprised in the gospel testimony ; insomuch, that the gospel is denominated preaching, Christ crucified. Thus the apostle tells these same Corinthians : " The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom ; but we preach Christ cruci- fied."* And, again, he terms it, the" preaching of the cross."t It was the subject of prophecy under the Old Testament, as is manifest from various parts of the prophetical writings ; particularly the twenty-second Psalm, which is almost wholly taken up with a description of Messiah's suiferings, by means of which, he was to be brought unto the dust of death. | Thvis, also the prophets Isaiah and Daniel testified beforehand of his sufferings and death. The former says : " He was wounded for our transgressions, ixndihruised ior our iniquities — he was oppressed and afflicted — brought as a lamb to the slaughter, taken off" by an oppressive judgment — cutoff from the land of the living — for the transgression of my people was he smitten to death — that his grave was appointed with the wicked||." x\nd the latter prophet tells us, that "Messiah shall be cut off", but not for himself. § The Lord Jesus, after his resunection, called the attention of his apostles to these projjhecies concerning himself, and upbraided them with slowness of heart to believe all that the prophets had written concerning him. " Ought not Christ," said he, " to have suff"ered these things, and to enter into his glory ?"1[ Thus it was, that the Spirit of Christ, which was in the jsrophets, testified beforehand of his sufferings,** and so his death was • 1 Cor. i. 22. tver. 18. J Psalm xxii. 15, &c. II Isa. liii. 6 — 9. Loirtk's translation. § Dan. ix. 26. H Luke xxiv. 26. " 1 Pet. i. 11. 22 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. according to the Scripture, as is here affirmed. Every circumstance regarding it was minutely foretold; conse- quently, he in whom these predicted circumstances were accomplished, must be the true Messiah. Now, it is an incontestable fact, that, Jesus Christ was crucified at Jerusalem, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judsea. This fact is acknow- ledged both by friends and foes — by Christians and Infidels : by the fonner, as the ground of their hope and rejoicing ; by the latter, as the reason or matter of their reproach and contempt. When the Jews were charged with his death, they never denied the fact ; but, on the contrary, considered it as an act of justice, which had fully determined the controversy in their favour. Indeed, they took all possible care to make his death certain ; for though they were not permitted to break a bone of him, as they did to the two thieves, yet they pierced his side with a spear, from whence issued blood and water,* which shows, that, not only the peri- cardium, which encloses the heart and contains water, was pierced, but also the heart itself, and its vessels, from whence the blood (which is the life) takes its spring and is propelled through the whole body : and this, although he had been alive till then, would have caused instant death. Theirpains, however, were unnecessary, and might have been spared, for he was already dead. Nevertheless, the circumstance evinced the reality of his death, and " he that saw it bare record, that we might believe."t The death of Jesus, there- fore, is a well attested fact, admitted both by friends and foes ; and as the circumstances attending it agree most exactly with what had been foretold, the inference seems just, that Jesus must be the promised Messiah. We now proceed — II. To enquire, a little more particularly, into the nature and properties of his death. And , here, several things present themselves as deserving of our consideration. 1, It was ashame/if I a.nd i(/nominious death. Crucifixion was, at that time, throughout the Roman empire, far more • John xix. 34. t ver. 35. THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 23 disgraceful than any kind of death, known among us, is at this day. No citizen of Rome, however atrocious his guilt, or however mean his Station in life, though the humblest mechanic, or the poorest peasant, could he subjected to it. If a man were not a slave, as well as a criminal, it was not in the power of any magistrate so far to dishonour him, as to consign him to so ignominious a punishment. Yet this was the kind of death to which the Lord of life and glory sub- mitted ; and, hence, we may see the force of the apostle's words when, pointing to the deatli of Christ, he says, " ho endured the cross, despisimj the shame.'''' — Hebrews xii. 2. 2. The death of Christ was a most painful death. The person sentenced to crucifixion was first scourged with cords ; after Avhich, he must bear his cross to the place of execution. There, his clothes being stripped off, his body was stretched upon the timber — his hands nailed to the cross-beam — and his feet to the lower part. The cross was then raised, and fixed in the ground; nails were driven through the most sensible parts of the body ; and thus sustaining its own weight, the pain was rendered exquisite beyond expression; yet it was sometimes two or three days before the criminal expired. All this, however, was trifling, in comparison of what Jesus endured, in his soul, in the garden of Gethsemane, ere there was any visible hand upon him, when he prayed, that the cup might pass from him : and afterwards, on the cross when he cried, " My God ! my God ! why hast thou forsaken me ?" How shall we account for this, when many of his followers have faced death with the most undaunted resolution ? But further: 3. Crucifixion was an accursed death. The law of Moses pronounces the man accursed that hangeth on a tree !* and Christ, in his sufferings, bore this curse: for so runs the apostle's declaration to the Galatians — " Christ hath re- deemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for it is written. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."t So that, though he was perfectly innocent, " holy, • Teut. xxi.22 23. t Gal. iii. \3. 24 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. harmless, and undefiled by sin, yet his death was the curse and punishment due to sin. Moreover, 4. It was a xiolmitary death, — an act of obedience to the will of his heavenly Father. So we hear him telling the Jews: " No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself."* " Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire ; then said I, Lo, I come: I delight to do thy will, O my God ; yea, thy law is within my heart."t But, 5. It was a vicarious, or suhstitutioiial, death ; in which point of view, it is uniformly held forth in the prophetical and other writings : " Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself.'" X " He suffered, the just for the unjust." || " For the iniqviities of God's people was he stricken,"§ which agrees with the account that he gives of his own death, when he says; "I lay down my life for the sheep."^ — "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us aU. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." So, in the New Testament, we are told, that he " died for us," — " died for our sins," which is the express language of our text. To which I add, 6. That it was an active death, or, to speak more properly, the death of Christ was not purely passive suffering, but an expression of obedience to the will of his heavenly Father, who sanctified, or set him apart in his eternal counsels ; in due time, sent him into the world, and gave him a command- ment to lay down his life for the sheep. Now, to illustrate this position, let it be observed, that The Lord Jesus Christ, in his death, acted as a priest, offering up himself vmto God, a victim to appease divine justice. Observe how express the language of Scrij)ture is on this point. The aj^ostle declares : " He offered up him- self"— " Christ, through the Eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot unto God."** " This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of • John X. 18. t Psalm xl. 6—8 \ Dan. ix. 26. || 1 Pet. iii. 18. § l.sa. Hii. 5. fT John x. 15. ** Heb. vii. 17 ; ch. ix. 14. THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 25 God ;" and this one sacrifice is explained to be " the offer- ing of the body of Jesus Christ," once, in place of all the sacrifices that were offered under the law. And hence we may see, that though " he was taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain ;" though the Jews and Romans were his murderers, yet they did not herein act as priests or sacrificers, for " he gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savour ;" and in all this he was actively obedient, even unto death. Further, it ought to be carefully remarked on this subject, that it is the laying down of his life, which, by way of eminence, is called his obedience, in scripture style, as will appear by consulting the various places where that expres- sion is used. It was by the things which he suffered that he learned obedience, though he were a Son.* — " It was unto death that he became obedient, having taken upon him the form of a servant."t The will of God which he came to do, and by which his people are sanctified, was the offering up of his body once.:]: This is that obedience by which they are made righteous, or justified, and which is contrasted with the disobedience of Adam whereby we are made sinners, and so exposed to condemnation; and it is expressed l)y the apostle when treating on the subject, by his dying for the ungodly — dying for us — reconciling us to God by Ms death — making atone ment,QXi(\. so forth. Now all these are only different forms or modes of speech denoting one and the same thing, namely, the one righteousness, oj^posed to the one offence^. This was the great commandment he received of the Father, and for his obedience unto which the Father loved him — and most highly rewarded him.§ It was in giving up the ghost that he finished the work which the Father gave him to do.H It was for this cause he came into the world, even to minister, and give his life a ransom for many. He took part in flesh and blood that, through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death,** and then, • Heb. V. 6—8. t Phil. ii. 7, 8. 1 Heb. x. 9, 10. II Rom. V. 6, 8, 10, 1!, 18, 19. § John x. 17, 18. Phil. ii. 9. *J John xix. 30. " Heb. ii. 1-1, 15. E 26 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. being made perfect through sufferings^ he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.* The divine law requires perfect love to God and our neighbour ; and in this one act of obedience, Jesus exercised both, to the highest possible perfection, and thus the law was perfectly fulfilled, yea, it was magnified and made honourable by the surety's obedience. It is not intended, however, by what has now been said, to exclude the holy obedience of the Saviour's life, which partly consisted in acts of divine power confirming his mission — partly in acts of piety towards God, and mercy and goodness towards men — and all from the purest jirinciples. These were absolutely necessary ; but the Scripture directs us to look upon the holiness of his heart and life in a light subservient to that act of obedience which he finished on the cross ; and as fitting and qualifying him to be a proper high priest — an acceptable sacrifice — a lamb without spot or blemish. t All the holiness of heart and life, all the dignity and worth of that divine person, was, as it were, concentered and ofi"ered up to God in that one act of obe- dience— the laying down of his precious life as the ransom price of our redemption. And hence, I add, 7. That it was a meritorious death. It was fidly adequate to all the demands of the law and justice of God — to every claim upon the sinner in the way of satisfaction for sin, or as the ground of acceptance with God. It was a sacrifice of infinite value — well pleasing to God — and in which he rests for ever satisfied, and demands no more off"ering for sin — " for by this one off'ering up of himself, Christ hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified " It is upon the ground of this infinitely perfect sacrifice, that the Lord hath pro- mised to remember the sins and iniquities of his people no more — and where remission of those is, there is no more offering for sin. J This obedience of the divine substitute was worthy of the highest reward, both to himself and his people. Accordingly he was most highly exalted on •Heb.ii. 10; ch. v. 8, 9. +Heb. vii.26; ch.ix. 14; 1 Pet. i. 19. J Heb.x. 14— 18. THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 27 account of it, and rewarded according to his righteousness ; and of that reward his people are made partakers.* I proceed, III. To examine what the Scriptures teach us respecting the end and design of the death of Christ. And on this point they are abundantly explicit. To instance in a few particulars. 1. We are expressly taught, that the design of Christ, in laying down his life for the guilty, was to make satisfaction to God, the moral governor of the universe, and atone for the sins of man : — " Now, once in the end of the world, hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself — he was once offered to bear the sins of many." " Christ our passover was sacrificed for us." " For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinfid fiesh, and by his becoming a sin-offering, hath condemned sin in the flesh;" for " Christ hath loved us, and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling savour ."f So also in the words of our text, Christ is said to have died for our sins, that is, as an atoning sacrifice, to expiate them; which agrees with the Saviour's own account of the matter, when he says, that the shedding of his blood was for the remission of sins.J Considering his death in this specific view, we see that he was the truth of all the sacrifices that were offered under the law, and that he came to consummate them : " Lo, I come to do thy will, O God;" he taketh away the legal sacrifices, that he may establish his own. Of these sacri- fices it is declared, that they could never take away sins ; but upon the offering of this sacrifice, God declares that he will remember the sins and iniquities of his people no more. Some of the sacrifices under the law Avere eucharistical, and are called peace-offerings; others expiatory, and are • Pldl. ii. 9. t Heb. ix.26; 1 Cor. v. 7; Rom. viii, 3; Eph. v. 2. t Matt. xxvi. 28. 28 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. termed sin-ofFerings. The sacrifice of Christ answers to both. Hence he is denominated, "our j)eace," that is, our peace-offering ; and he is also said to he " made sin," that is, "a sin-offering" for us.* God is represented as being of- fended with us on account of our sins, and the death of Christ is represented as pacifying him, by bearing the punishment which we deserved. In this sense our sins were laid upon, him — in this sense he hore them, and so procured our absolution, and reconciled us unto God.f 2. We are represented as, by nature, in bondage and captiritii to sin and Satan; yea, as arrested and in the hands of justice. Answerable to which, the death of Christ is held forth as a ransom price ; redeeming us, and procuring our liberty. " The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give his life a ransom for many." There is one mediator, who gave himself a ransom for all. And with this agrees the song of the general assembly and church of the first-born, "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood."J 3. We are represented in scripture as jwlluted and abominable, by reason of sin. Answerable to this, the blood of Christ is held forth as a fountain opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and un cleanness. II And in this sacrificial sense, the apostle speaks of Christ's brethren as being sanctified by his offer- ing. § In short, it is by faith in Christ's blood, that the conscience is purified from the guilt, and the heart from the love of sin. ^ 4. The death of Christ is constantly held forth in scrip- ture, as the procuring cause of all spiritual and eternal blessings. It was the ratification, or confirmation, of the new covenant, which was made upon his sacrifice, and dedicated with water and blood from his pierced side.** Every new covenant blessing flows to us through this • Eph. ii. 14; 2 Cor. v. 21. t Rom. v. 10, 11 ; Heb. ii. 17. I Matt. XX. 28 ; 1 Tim. ii. 6 ; Rev. v. 9. || Zecli. xiii. 1 ; Rev. i. 5. § Hel). xiii. 12. % Heb. x. 2; ch. ix. 14. •• Heb, x. 14-18- THE DEATH OF CIIRISX- 29 source. The forgiveness of sins — adoption into the family of God — the gift of the Holy Spirit — and the enjoyment of the eternal inheritance, are all made sure to the heirs of salvation by the blood of the everlasting covenant,* and are all the purchase of the Saviour's death. 5. The death of Christ presents us w^ith the highest manifestation of God's opposition to sin, and at the same time of his love to the sinner. The blessed God has, in various ways, marked his dis- pleasure against sin and the workers of iniquity. His wrath has been revealed from heaven against all un- righteousness, by the awful judgments, which, from time to time, he has inflicted both upon nations and individuals ; but none of these, nor even the whole of them collectively, present us with such a display of his infinite oj^position to sin, as the judgment inflicted upon his own Son, when he stood as the representative of the guilty, and bore the punishment of their sins in his own body on the cross. When we think of the dignity of the person who suffered — that he was God's own, his well beloved Son — and reflect upon the nature and design of his sufferings, that they were the punishment, or curse, due to the sins of his people, and necessary to make an atonement to divine justice — surely nothing can give us so striking a manifestation of the purity of the divine nature, and of God's opposition to sin, as this does. Were it possible, that any meaner sacrifice could have expiated it, we are certain Jehovah would have spared his own Son. But such was his love to a guilty world, that in order to procure their salvation, he withheld not his greatest, his best of gifts, but " delivered him up for us all." Well might an apostle say : " Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the jjropitiation for our sins."t We know, indeed, that God is by nature, good, benevolent, and kind to his creatures; but he is also holy, just, and true — he cannot look upon sin, but with abhorrence ; and it is • Hi'l). ix. 15 - KS. I Bom. viii. 32; 1 Jobii iv. 1(». 30 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. only in the death of Christ, that we can know his character as the just God, and yet the Saviour of the guilty. IV, We come now, lastly, to consider the improvement which we should make of this doctrine. 1. It may serve to convict the stout-hearted, and those who are far from righteousness, of the awfiil situation in which they stand, while in a state of enmity to God, and despising the gospel of his Son. Is it a fact, that Christ Jesus the Lord came down from heaven, to die for the sins of the guilty, according to the Scriptures ? Then take a lesson from this, of the guilt, and consequent danger, of which you are the subject. Reflect, we beseech you, how aggra- vated must the evil of sin be, which required so costly a sacrifice to atone for it : and how great must God's hatred of sin be, who inflicted such dreadful suff'erings on his own Son, in order to expiate it ? Yet you can make light of it, and treat it, as if it were a thing to be trifled with. Beware, however, how you form your notions of sin, by the opinions of the world, or the dictates of your own dej)raved judg- ments. Study it, in the death of the Son of God, and be assured, that if you reject the Saviour, you will have to bear the punishment of your own transgressions, in a world where " the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." 2. The doctrine we have been considering, affords a solid foundation of hope, to the most guilty sinner — even to him who can find nothing about himself, but what marks him out as a fit object of the divine indignation. Here is the sovereign remedy, which must give relief to the conscience oppressed with a sense of guilt, and that the moment it is understood and believed, " Christ died for our sins.'* " Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached the forgiveness of sins ; and by him, all that believe, are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses." Seek not after qualifications to recommend you to Christ ; " he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." " Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven .'' that THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 31 is, to bring Christ down from above : or who shall descend in- to the deep ? that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead:" Jesus, the true Messiah, the Christ of God, hath appeared ; he came into the world to save sinners ; he suffered, and died, and rose again the third day, according to the Scrip- tures; and now, rej^entance and the remission of sins are preached in his name, among all nations. This is the word of faith, first preached by the apostles : " That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus ; and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.*" Believe in the all sufficiency of his blood, to cleanse you from all sin. You cannot, indeed, have too deep a conviction of sin and its demerits ; but know that the blood of Christ is more than sufficient to cleanse them. Remember, that it is the blood of the Son of of God, " It is Christ that died" — it is the blood of " God manifest in the flesh, " and therefore must be of infinite efficacy and value. Consider, that God hath testified his good pleasure in the death of his Son, by raising him again from the dead, and giving him glory at his own right hand in heaven. Call to your recollection, the many enonnous sinners that have already been washed in his blood, and are now singing around his throne : " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and who hath redeemed us to God, by his blood." And never forget this fact, that unbelief, or a rejection of the divine testimony, concerning Christ, is the only bar to your participation of the same blessedness. 3. The doctrine of the text aflords the strongest mo- tives to influence all who believe it, to hate sin. It presents it to our view in its true colours — as exceeding sinful — the object of God's highest displeasure — as that Avhich his righteous soul hateth. And it also contains a powerful inducement to love God, who has manifested his love to sinful worms of the earth — to rebellious apostate creatures, so as not to spare his own Son for their sakes. — "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that • Rom. X. 6—9. 32 THE DEATH OF CHRIST. God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."* Surely there is enough in this to lead those who believe it, to " love him, because he first loved us," and to live to his praise and glory in the world. 4. Consider, further, that the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is, in fact, the brightest manifestation of the invi- sible God. In that scene of humiliation, of sorrow, and of suffering — that " great mystery of godliness," the last scene in which men would have looked for him, it pleased the Most High to lay bare his greatness. He unveiled in it the treasures of his wisdom, holiness, and goodness, and called an astonished world to behold their extent, and adore their glory. The divine character had, indeed, been partially revealed before ; men had seen something of it in the works of creation and providence, and in the partial disclosures, which the great God had thought projDcr to make, of his purposes of grace and mercy towards our guilty, fallen race ; and these had been the subject of admiration to the heavenly host ; but they burst forth on the cross, with a radiance which dazzled the angels as they gazed on it, and excited among them a wonder that has never ceased. Accustomed, from the time of their creation, to all the magnificence of their heavenly dwelling-place, the palace of the great King, and familiarized to all the scenes of splendor it contains, they yet desire to look into this exhibition of the Godhead, and see in it a vastness which they can never measure — a fulness they can never grasp. As for man, enslaved by sin and blinded by the God of this world, he can pour contempt on any thing ; but no sooner are the eyes of his understanding en- lightened, than, in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, he beholds the brightest manifestation, the highest display of the glory of the ever blessed God. It becomes at once the object of his study, the ground of his hope, the theme • 1 John iv. 9. 10. . THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 33 of his praise, and the source of his glorying. Language is inadequate to describe his feelings, as he contemplated it; they are feelings of unutterable admiration, and of more than earthly delight ; feelings that will go with him into heaven, and can only be expressed in its songs. 5. To conclude, — the doctrine of the text ought lo reach conviction to those persons, who are going about to es- tablish their own righteousness, as the ground of their acceptance with God. This is to frustrate all the ends of Christ's death ; for if justification can be obtained by the sinner's own obedience, Christ must have died in vain, which is contrary to all the doctrine of the pro- phets and apostles. If there had been a possibility of man's saving himself, why did Christ come in the flesh } The very end of his mission was to save sin- ners. He obeyed and suftered, in order that he might work out the justifying righteousness, which is unto and upon all that believe, without difl'erence. Persons of this description can have no proper view of them- selves, or of God, or of the requirements of his holy law. To them, the Saviour is without form or comeli ness ; they discern no beauty in him, wherefore they should desire him ! May that Lord, who is rich in mercy undeceive them on a point of such vital importance to their present peace and eternal welfare, direct the eyes of their minds to Calvary, and open their ears to the voice which now speaks to them from thence, in those gracious accents : — " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth, for I am God and not man." — " Incline your ear, and come unto me ; hear, and your SOUL SHALL LIVE." SERMON III. THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. And T, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John xii. 32. When the patriarch Jacob drew near the end of his pil- grimage, he called his sons around him, and foretold the advent of the Messiah in these words: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto Him shall the gather- ing of the people be."* There are many other prophecies of a similar import ; particularly Isaiah xi. 10 ; " And in that day, there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people: to Him shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious." The words of our text are much to the same effect, but with this addition, that they show us, how all this was to be accomplished. Before we enter upon the consideration of them, however, it will be proper, that we notice the occasion on which they were spoken. The miracles which the Son of God wrought, during his public ministry, occasioned his fame to spread abroad, and excited a strong desire in multitudes to see him. It was now the feast of the Passover, (ver. 1,) and Jesus, accom- panied by his disciples, had arrived at Jerusalem, to celebrate that great annual festival. The evangelist in- • G«n. xlix. 10. THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE, ETC, 35 forms us, in ver. 20, that " there were among the Pharisees, certain Greeks," proselytes, it would seem, to the Jewish religion, " who had come up to worship at this feast," and had intimated to Philip, a wish to see his Divine Master. Philip mentioned the circumstance to his brother Andrew, and they, accordingly, proceeded in company, and com- municated it to their blessed Lord, which drew from Him the words contained in ver. 23. " Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified ;" in other words, the period was arrived, when He should be vested with supreme dominion, and glorified in the conversion and salvation of Gentiles, as well as Jews, agreeably to ancient prophecy.* Our Lord, nevertheless, intimates, that he must first die, and rise again, before he could have a seed from among the Gentiles ; and, therefore he says, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone ; but , if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit;" ver. 24. The pro- phets, who had spoken so largely of the kingdom of the Messiah, had always connected it with his sufferings and death, and unifonnly laid the latter as the foundation of it. The twenty-second Psalm, for instance, which sets before us the humiliation and deep abasement, to which the Saviour should submit in accomplishing the salvation of sinners, thus describes the glorious result of his sufferings : " All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee ;" i. e. the Messiah. — "A seed shall serve Him ; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation : they shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."! So also, the prophet Isaiah : " It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief ; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall pro- long his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." — " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.":}; * Isa. xi. 10 ; r.li. xlii. 4 ; and xlix. 6. t P^alm xxiL 27— .^J. : Isa.liii. 10,11. 36 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE There was, therefore, a necessity for the Redeemer's death, and mighty ends were to be accomplished by it. It was necessary, in order to make an atonement for sin, and there- by reconcile sinners unto God.* It was necessary, in order to abolish the old covenant, and thereby break down the middle wall of partition, which, during the continuance of that covenant, had separated the Jews and the Gentiles, blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances which was con- trary to the latter, and so taking it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, t It was necessary, in order to defeat and overturn the emj)ire of Satan, the prince of this world so that, by means of his own death, our Redeemer might de- stroy him who had the power of death, enslaving the gentile world ; J — in short, the death of Christ was necessary, in order to establish the New Covenant with the elect of all nations, consisting in the remission of sins, through faith in his blood. II Such, then, were the important ends that were to be accomplished by the death of the Son of God; and to illustrate the fruits of his death, he adopts the similitude of a grain of wheat, (ver. 24.) which, "unless it fall into the ground and die, abideth alone ; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." And so the divine Substi- tute encourages himself in the words of my text, with an anticipation of the glorious effects of his death, in the overthrow of Satan's kingdom, and drawing nume- rous converts to himself: — " And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men vuito me." With a view to illustrate these words, what I intend is — First, to explain some of the tenns contained in the text ; — then, to consider the wonderfully attractive object alluded to — Christ, the Son of God, lifted up upon the cross. We shall next examine its power and influence on the minds of such as are enlightened to behold it. And, lastly, — Improve the subject. • 2 Cor. V. 19. t Eplu ii. 14—16; Col. ii,14. I Heb. ii. 14. || Heb. viii. OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 37 T. I remark, that when the Lord Jesus speaks of himself as heing ^^ lifted iip from the earth ^'^ ho evi- dently refers to the manner of his death, which was that of crucifixion. The same expression occurs in other parts of the writings of this evangelist — as in that memorahle discourse, which Christ held with Nicode- mus, John iii. 14. — "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man he lifted vp" So also in ch. viii. 28. — "When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am He." But, indeed, the evangelist h=as not left us in any douht as to the meaning of the expression in our text; for having given our Lord's words, he immediately adds, "this he said, signifying what death he should die," ver. 33. Again, " Drawing^\ here, does not denote any compulsive, or coercive force, hy means of which violence is used to the will of man. It simply means a persuasive influence, reaching conviction to the understanding, suhduing the will, and gaining over the heart and aftections, which is the import of the tenn in many other places. Thus, the spouse, in the Canticles, for instance : " Draw me ; we will run after thee."* And thus the Lord speaks, by the mouth of the prophet Hosea: "I drew them, with cords of a man, with hands of love ;"t that is, with cords suited to the rational nature of man. And so also Christ explains the nature of this drawing, when he tells the Jews — " No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him," — adding, "It is written in the prophets : "And they shall he all tauijht of God; every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."| All which is in perfect harmony with the words of the Psalmist: "Thy people shall he willing in the day of thy power." |1 Further, — • Song i. 4. t Hos. xi. 4. I John vi. 44, 45. ll Psalm ex. 3. 38 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE The term, "aZZ men^'' does not intend all the children of men, but some men of all yiations ; in which accepta- tion the phrase frequently occurs in the New Testament, and so it stands opposed to the Jewish limitation, whereby they would exclusively restrict the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom to their own nation ; whereas, " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that wliosoever believeth in him," whether "Jew or Gentile, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free," "should not perish, but have eternal life."* The meaning of the text, therefore, may be summed up in this propo- sition:— "That the death of Christ, was not only to be the atoning sacrifice for sin, and the ransom price of man's redemption; but it was also to be the most powerful means of gaining sinners to the faith, love, and obedience, of the gospel — it was to be the grand attractive in drawing converts to Himself." We now proceed, II. To consider the wonderfully attractive object ad- verted to in the text. But, What is that object ? It is Jesus of Nazareth, lifted up from the earth, and nailed to the cross — an object of pity, disgrace, and horror, to the carnal eye ! Such, indeed, it was to the unbelieving Jews, who actually beheld him in that state ; and such has the report of " Christ crucified," been to thousands in every age, since the event took place. Never was there an object about which mankind, universally, are so much divided, as about this. The unbelieving eye can see "neither form nor comeliness in it, nor the least beauty wherefore it should be desired;" while to such as are divinely enlightened to understand its import, and behold its grandeur, nothing is more glorious. One portion of the human race is astonished to think what it is, that others can behold so wonderfully attractive in it; while the other equally wonders, how the rest * John iii. 16, OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 39 of the world are so infatuated, as not to see its excel- lency. So it was with the apostle Paul. While the scales of ignorance were upon his mind, he thought as degradingly of the Saviour as any of his unbelieving countrymen could do, or as any infidel of our own day can now do ; but when the scales dropt from his eyes, or, as he himself expresses it, "when it pleased God to reveal his Son in him," he was utterly amazed at his own former blindness — for now, no object was so honourable and glorious in his estimation. Happy for us, if the case be so with ourselves ; for " blessed is he," said the Saviour, in the days of his humiliation, " who- soever shall not be offended in me."* Let us, however, draw near to this object — let us approach to Calvary, and enquire, 1. Who is the person that is nailed to yonder tree, pouring out his soul unto death, under every cir- cumstance of the deepest humiliation, disgrace, and suffering.'' We have the answer to this question, in the Father's voice from the excellent glory: — "This is my BELOVED Son, in whom I AM WELL PLEASED." Yes, that object of scorn, derision, and contumely, though now the subject of such intense and complicated suffering is no other than "the word, who, in the beginning was with God, and was God." He, by whom "all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for hira."t He is "God over all, and blessed for ever."^ Behold, then, the Creator of the world, hanging upon a cross, and expiring as a malefactor; or, in the language of the poet, "expended Deity on human weal."|| But it may be objected, that the divine nature is immortal, and the fountain of life; the divine nature could not suffer: — and this leads me to enquire •Matth. xi, 6. t John i. 1,2 ; Col. i. 16. | Rom. ix. 5 II Night Thoughts, Night iv. 40 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE 2. How was it possible that this divine person could be lifted up, and suffer death upon the cross ? The apostle Paul has satisfactorily answered this enquiry: *' Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took uj^on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."* Thus we learn, that the Eternal Word was made flesh, or became incarnate. He was made a little while lower than the angels, by assuming human nature, in order to suffer death, or that, by the grace of God, he might taste death for every man.f And this is the " great mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory ."I This scriptural account of the matter, not only solves the difficulty respecting his capacity for suffering; but it opens uj3 to our view, a new source of admiration and wonder, in reference to the ends of Christ's suffer- ings, as we shall presently see. But before we take our leave of this branch of the subject, I would add a few words on a point connected with it. I said just now, that the divine nature being im- mortal, and the fountain of life, is incapable of either death or suffering; and that the Eternal Word assumed human nature, in order that he might become "obedient unto death." Are we, then, to view the sufferings of the Saviour, as those of a mere man } — or, to put the subject in another view — when we hear the Son of God, crying out upon the cross, " My God ! my God ! why hast thou forsaken me V Are we to consider that the divine nature had withdrawn itself, in such a sense, as to leave humanity to bear the load of human guilt, and make atonement for the sins of the world? Now, this is a question, • Phil. ii. 6, 9. t John i. 14; Heb. ii. 9. J 1 Tim.iii. 16. Of the death of christ. 41 which has perplexed the minds of many sincere Christians, and I think we must all admit, that it oug-ht to be approached by us, with great modesty and diffidence. Alas, how easy is it for us to darken counsel by words without knowledge! The hypostatical union, as it is termed in our systems of divinity — that is, the union of the divine and human natures, in the person of our Emmanuel, is a rnystery^ which the human faculties were never fitted to explore; it is a mystery into which the angels themselves stoop down to look, with adoring wonder! Like the doctrine of a Trinity of persons, in the one undivided Godhead or divine nature, it far transcends our comprehension, and we must receive the subject, just as it is delivered to us in the Holy Scriptures, without seeking to be wise above what is written. Still, some of my hearers may be disposed to ask, " What is it that the Scriptures do teach upon the subject ?" I answer, they do teach us, that lie who was crucified in weak- ness, was " God over all, and blessed for ever," — Rom. ix. 5 ; that God " purchased the church with his own blood," — Acts XX. 28; in other words, that he who laid down his life for the sheep, was truly a divine person, Emmanuel, God in our nature. But though the Lord Jesus Christ was God and man in one person ; yet it would seem to be only in that nature, in which he was one with his brethren, that he suflfered; and the apostle states this to be one great end of his taking- that nature upon him : " Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself like- wise took part of the same, that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death," &c. — Heb. ii. 14. And so he says in the same chapter, "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour," &c. — ver. 9. Observe, also, how this subject is set be. fore us, in Heb. x. 5 — 10. A body was prepared for the Eternal Word, in the womb of the virgin, which body 42 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE was offered vip upon the cross, as a sacrifice for the sins of men. Hence, it appears, that while the soul and body, or in other words, tlie whole human nature of Christ, was the offering; his divine nature was the altar on which it was offered up, and from whence it derived its efficacious virtue, agreeably to the words of the aj)ostle: "Christ, through the Eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot, unto God." — Heb, ix. 14. It was the divine dignity of his person, that gave infinite value and efficacy to his sufferings, and rendered them an adequate atonement for the sins of all his brethren; in which atonement, God is for ever well pleased. It was God's own Son himself, that suffered — it was divine blood, that was shed; but still it was the blood of his humanity, which was himself, by virtue of its jjersonal union with him. These things, I humbly con- ceive, the Scriptures teach us, and they are sufficient for all the purposes of our salvation ; let us receive them with meekness, and be thankful for such information as is communicated, without curiously prying into things above our reach. From this digression, we now return to consider 3. What was the end and design of this stupendous proceeding — the crucifixion of the Son of God. And the only account which the oracles of God give us of the matter is, that it was the method which infinite wisdom devised for accomj)lishing the redemption and salvation of guilty mortals. Let us listen to the apostle Paul, unfolding this great mystery to the Hebrews : " It became Him, by whom are all things, and for whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." — "Forasmuch then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood; he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage. For verily, OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 43 he took not hold of the nature of angels, but of the seed of Abraham he took hold : wherefore in all things, it behoved him to be made like vmto his brethren : that he might be a merciful, and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."* The prophet Isaiah had long before given the very same account of the sufferings of the Messiah, when he said : " Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows — He was wounded for our transgressions — bruised for our iniquities : the chas- tisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way ; and Jehovah hath laid on him, the iniquities of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted ; yet he opened not his mouth : He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter ; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken oft" by an op- pressive judgment — for he was cut off" from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was smitten to death."t Such is the account which both prophets and ajjostles give us of the suff"erings and death of the Son of God; and it is this view of the subject, which brings it closely home to ourselves ; — it presents to our view, deliverance from the greatest misery, and the bestowment of the greatest blessings, which we are capable of enjoying — peace with God ; the forgiveness of sin ; adoption into his family ; the enjoyment of the Holy Spirit, as the Comforter; and — when we have finished our pilgrimage here below, and passed through death — the resurrection of our bodies from the grave, and the possession of eternal life in the kingdom of the Father. Here, also, we contemplate, the awful and aggravated evil of sin, and learn the dreadful state into which it has jjlunged our whole race — a state, which required * Heb. ii. 9, !(.>. H— 17. + Is.i. liii. 4—10. I]i6/tu^j Lowth'o Imm,. 44 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE such a sacrifice, as the shedding of the heart's blood of God's own Son, a person of infinite dignity and worth — the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person. Surely, if any thing can give us just notions of God, so as to make us fear him, and at the same time, lead us to hope in his mercy, it must be a view of " Christ crucified." And this will lead us to consider, III. The power and influence of this object on the minds of such as are enlightened to behold it with the eye of faith. " And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." The words, we see, contain a promise, that such should be the blessed effects of his death, in all succeeding ages; and this naturally leads us to enquire how, or by what means, this promise is accomplished. We all admit, that men cannot be affected or influenced by what they do not know. And it is upon this principle, that the apostle puts the question : " How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed; and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard; and how shall they hear without a preacher?"* This at once j)oints out to us the necessity of a preached gospel, in order that the report of the Saviour's death might be sounded abroad throughout the nations. And, accordingly, Christ, before he left the world, commanded, that his gospel should be preached unto all nations ; "Go ye into all the world," said Jesus to his apostles, " and preach the gospel to every creature : he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned."t " Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Sj)irit ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." :|: ' Rom. X. 14. t Mark xvi. 15, 16. X Matt, xxviii. 19,20. OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 45 The exalted head of the church, the kiiigf of Zion, has made j^rovision for jierpetuatiiig the knowledge of the Tnith after the decease of his holy apostles, even to the remotest period of time. So the apostle Paul tells the Ephesians, ch. iv, : " He ascended on hig^h, that he mig-ht give gifts unto men. And he gave some apostles, and some f)rophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the hody of Christ." Thus we see that, in order to carry into effect the ends of his death, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all authority and power is given, both in heaven and on earth, hath appointed the stated ministration of his gospel, as the grand means of conveying to the perishing children of men, " the knowledge of salvation, by the remission of their sins ;" and he has pledged himself to accom- pany the preaching of it, with his own effectual blessing, until time shall end. And so it pleases God, by what the Scribes and disputers of this world denominate, " the foolishness of preaching," to save them that believe.* The Jews required a sign, (the interposition of heaven, by some miraculous work, striking their senses, and forcing conviction;) and the Greeks sought after wisdom, (they were for embellishing the doctrine of the cross, by the aids of philosophy.) — But the apostles preached "Christ crucified;" to the Jews, a stumbling block, and to the Greeks, foolishness ; but unto them that were called, both Jews and Greeks, this doctrine proved the power of God, and the wisdom of God, to their salvation.f Nor did the apostles need any other; they exhibited their report of this fact, as the testimony of God, and were determined to make known nothing else, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified, | And what were the effects produced by their preach- ing ? Why, " the hand and power of God every where • I Cor. i. 21. t 1 Cor. i. 22-24. ♦ ch. ii. 2. 46 THE ATTRACTIVE INJFLUENCE accompanied the word spoken, so that many believed, and turned to the Lord." In every country into Avhich the gosj)el came, thousands were drawn by the bare report of this wonderful event — the crucifixion of the Lord of life and glory ; drawn from a state of mental darkness, of idolatry, superstition, and vice; from a state of slavery to Satan, the god of this Avoiid, and of enmity to the true God — they were draAvn to CHRIST, to believe in him, to love him, to trast him for all their salvation, to live to him, and to suffer for his sake. They were brought to exijerience jseace with God — the enjoyment of his love, through the power of his Sjjirit, and made happy in the hope of eternal life; and such has been the case in every age, from the days of the apostles until now. " Sinners, like beasts of savage name, Put on the nature of the Lamb ! "While the wide world esteem it strange, Gaze and admire, and hate the change." Nor, if we look a little closely into the matter, shall we find much to surprise us, that such eflects resulted from the simple preaching of the doctrine of the cross. For, when accompanied by the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit, it is divinely adapted to produce these effects, as the following considerations may serve to show. 1. It is admitted on all hands, I believe, that it is faith, which unites the soul to Christ. But, is not Christ's death upon the cross, the strongest possible persuasive to faith in him r To be satisfied of this fact, let it be considered, that this event is the fulfilment of a long train of Old Testament prophecies. Do we not know, that " the Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets, testified beforehand, the sufferings of the Mes- siah, and the glory that should follow ?"* We have already • 1 Pet. i. 11, OF THE PEATH OF CHRIST. 47 had occasion to notice, in this discourse, that He is uniformly held forth in the law and the prophets, as a suffering person.* And what can he a stronger persua- sive to faith in Christ, than to behold the circum- stantial accomplishment of all these predictions, in the things that befel him at Jerusalem. But the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus is also a confirmation of the truth of the doctrines which he himself preached, during- his public ministry : for, he repeatedly foretold his own death, and the manner of it, which oug-ht to confirm our faith in him, as the true Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners. — His death is also a confirmation of the truth of the promises which he has left us upon record ; for, if we believe, that Jesus died and rose again, we must believe also, that he will come again the second time, without a sin-offering, to perfect the salvation of all who believe in him. And when we view his death, as it is invariably held forth in the writings of the holy apostles and prophets, as the appointed sacrifice for the sins of the guilty, and behold him rising again from the dead, on the third day ; his resurrection gives us the strongest possible ground of assurance, that He is the Son of God, and that he will judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing and kingdom.f His death ujjon the cross, therefore, is a powerfid persuasive to faith in him — and, by necessary consequence, of drawing the soul to him. 2. Are love and grace powerful attractives ? — are they motives to conciliate esteem, gain over the affections, and win the hearts of sinful mortals ? Behold, then, in the cross of Christ, they appear in their highest lustre. Consider what an influence they had on the apostle Paul, as he contemplated them in the mirror of the cross. His exclamation was : " God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby • Psalm xxii; and xl; Isa. liii; Dan. ix ; Zech.xiii. 7. t 2 Tiui. iv. I. 48 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."* The love thus manifested by the Saviour, in dying for the guilty, constrained him thus to judge, "that if one died for all, then were all dead ; and that he died, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto them- selves, but unto him that died for them, and rose again. f Another apostle says : " Hereby perceive we the love of Christ, because he laid down his life for us." J This love is truly said, to surpass all knowledge : there is a breadth, and length, and depth, and height in it, which never can be fathomed. It fills the holy angels with amazement; and if so, what effects ought it to produce on those who are the special objects of it ! 3. Permit me to ask once more, — " Are our own interests and happiness any attractives ? — Is there any thing in the consideration of these things, calculated to touch the springs of action in the human heart ? If so, then there is every thing in this wonderful object to draw us to Christ. Let us reflect upon the many, the great, the unspeakable blessings, which flow unto the sinful sons and daughters of men, through His media- tion. By his death upon the cross, we have peace with God; for thus runs the divine record: "He hath made peace through the blood of his cross," and thereby procured our reconciliation unto God.| — The pardon of sin flows to us, only through the channel of his atoning blood — for " our sins are forgiven us for his name's sake." — " We have redemption in his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." — Eph. i. 7. Is it a privilege to be adopted into the family of heaven, to become the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty — to be allowed free access to a throne of grace, with liberty of speech to povu- out our hearts, with the confidence of children to a father? this blessing is enjoyed only through faith in him, " for ye are all the children of • Gal. vi. 14. t 2 Cor. v. 14. J Col. i. 20. II 2 Cor. V. 18. OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 49 God," says the apostle, " through faith in Christ Jesus." But, "if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus:"* or, as the apostle writes on another occasion, — " because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son ; and if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ."t And to say all in a word, "grace reigns through righteousness, in the gift of eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.":]: 1. Let this subject be improved by those, who, through grace, have believed in Christ, in the way of confimi- ing their faith and hope. We have seen, that the crucifixion of Christ is the accomplishment of a series of Old Testament types and shadows, which constituted a considerable part of the Levitical institution, as well as of numerous predictions scattered throughout the writings of the prophets. 'Tis, therefore, with great propriety, that the poet luis said — The types bore witness to his name, Obtained their chief design, and ceas'd. The incense and the Weeding lamb The ark, the altar, and the priest Predictions in abundance join, To pour their witness on his head : Jesus, we bow before thy throne, And own thee as the promis'd Seed. 2. The subject we have been considering, is well cal- culated to raise our admiration of the wisdom and grace of God, manifested in the plan of redemption. The doctrine of Christ crucified has, in every age, been a stumlding block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek ; yet, after all, it is the wisdom of God, and the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. The religion of Jesus is essentially different from every • Rom. viii. 15 f a.il. iv. 5—7. t Rom. v. 21. H 60 THE ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE Other religion in the world. Other religions may abound with superstitious rites, to engage the vulgar, or with refined systems of morality, to amuse the speculative. They may set forth the intrinsic beauty of virtue, and the deformity of vice, with the happiness attending the one, and the misery entailed on the other. But where was a system of religion ever found in the world, so framed as to derive its chief influence from the death of its author ? This is the leading peculiarity, the grand distinguishing characteristic, of the religion of Jesus. To the wise of this world, to the scribe and the disputer, it appears a scheme of things alike foolish and weak ; but the wisdom of God and the power of God, are in- delibly impressed upon it; for while it makes provision for the eternal happiness of myriads of the human race, and that in a consistency with the claims of justice, and the honours of the divine government, it humbles the sinner to the very dust, and glorifies God in the highest possible degree. 3. This subject ought to reach conviction to those who have heard the gospel, and yet remain in impenitence and unbelief. What is the voice, in which the transactions of Calvary now address you? It is this — "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myseK, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return — That, unto me, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess. Surely, shall one say, 'In the Lord have I righteousness and strength;' even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him, shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."* Remember that He who was crucified in weakness, now liveth by the power of God. You are now invited to look to him, as the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world : but if you harden your heart, and turn a deaf ear to * Is. xlv. 22-25. OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. 61 him that now speakcth to you from heaven; if in this the day of yonr merciful visitation you despise the offers of his grace — he will sjieeclily arise as "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah ;" and what will be his language then? — What can you expect but this — "Behold, ye desjjisers, and wonder, and perish." "Those, mine ene- mies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before my face." " Kiss the Son, then, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." — Psalm, ii. 12. Behold th' amazing sight ! The Saviour lifted high ! Behold the Son of God's delight Expire in agony ! For love of us he hied, And all in torture died ; Twas lovo that bow'd his fainting head, And op'd his gushing side. We see, and we adore, Nor can resist such love ; We feel its strong attractive power To lift our souls above. Drawn by such cords as these, The saints must all combine, With cheerful ardour to confess The energy divine. In thee our hearts unite, Nor share thy griefs alone, But from thy cross pursue their flight, To thy triumphant thr