[2.] A fond reverence of Moses and the proj)hets, as if it were derogatory to them to close with Christ : John ix. 29, ' We are Moses' disciples ; as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.' This
ISA. LIIL I.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 197
Christ confutes, John v. 46, * If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed me/
[3.] Offence at his outward meanness (that is the scope of this chap- ter), and the persecution he met with ; the just judgment of God upon them to fit them for destruction. Thus much for the Jews.
Secondly, As to the Gentiles, there were divers prejudices why they would not believe the gospel when tendered to them.
[1.] Pride in the understanding. They were loth to captivate their knowledge to the obedience of Christ, and to make their principles of reason strike sail to the truth represented. Therefore, 1 Cor. i. 23, it is said, ' Christ crucified' was 'to the Greeks foolishness.' It was a foolish doctrine, because contrary to their forestalled principles. This is to be noted by us also, because we are very unwilling to receive anything but what cometh dyed in the colom* of our own conceits, and is suitable to our carnal minds.
[2.] The meanness of the reporters, poor fishermen; though sufficient enough for the matter they took in hand by the Spirit's mighty assist- ance, yet of no great repute and value in the world. God would have the gospel commend itself to have a respect without the addition of any outward excellency, and therefore he useth the ministry of mean and weak men : Ps. viii. 6, * Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength.' God knoweth how prone the world is to close with a truth upon a preposterous ground, not for its own sake ; w^e cannot endure to stoop to a mean man. That of Salvian is very true : Omnia dicta tanti existimantur qua^itus est ipse qui dixit, nee tarn dictionis vim respiciunt quam dictatoris dignitatem. Men look to the worth of the speaker. Any attempt at innovation or alteration must needs be ill taken from them who are in the eye of the world very mean and low, especially against such practices as have been authorised by men of gravity and great judgment, countenanced by antiquity and long custom, confirmed by the joint consent of all ; for men to quit such practices upon the intimation of persons of mean presence and estates, it must needs be a great prejudice. As it is said, Paul's bodily presence was base and contemptible among them, 2 Cor. X. 10. Therefore, having so many lets in the way. well might the prophet cry out ' Who hath believed our report ? ' It is good to observe this, because this is a great prejudice against the entertaining of many of the truths of Christ in our days : we have men's persons in disesteem and contempt.
[3.] The hard conditions upon which they were to entertain Christ. He was not, as other of their gods, to be worshipped in company ; he was to be worshipped alone : they were to forsake all their old ways and worship, and to abridge themselves of their unlawful gains and trades ; and this was a prejudice they could not brook : Acts xix. 27, If this doctrine go on, ' our craft is in danger to be set at nought.' They were to expose themselves to all the obloquy and scorn that could be. It was crime enough to say they were Christians — Vir bonus nisi quod Christianus. They were to be cast upon the disadvantage of the hatred of near friends, upon all manner of persecution and cruelty, to be led about the cities and amphitheatres as the objects of public scorn and malice, — nay, and these things were not to be hidden from them, and
198^ A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 1.
only the lighter and better part revealed to them, — if they would be Christ's disciples. This is a prejudice enough, you will say, against a new way, — enough to make the world look upon it as some odd, humor- ous conceit of a few brain-sick persons, who had no other bait to allure to their way but fire and faggot, whips and scourges ; for the present they would promise you notliing but these things. Well might they cry out, Who will believe our report ? God would have no outward blandishment at first, that the truths of religion might not be sus- pected ; and indeed hence did so few believe, insomuch that the cause of Christianity never came to an indifferent hearing ; they hated the name, and would not let it plead for itself. Thus for the Gentiles.
4. I come now to prove it in our times, or the time of the first pro- mulgation of the gospel. I might divide my discourse into these two heads : Few believe the report of Christ, and few believe in Christ. I prove the latter. We all profess ourselves Christians, disciples of Christ, those that have entertained him, — but few do really believe. The lets and hindrances now are these : —
[1.] Ignorance. Men hear of Christ, but are not acquainted with him ; many come to the ordinances, but only to sit out the hour, not to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is much in a man's ends why he cometh to the ordinances : God seldom meets with a man in his word that cometh to it with a vain end ; if they do not seek after knowledge they shall not find it. Many of the reports of Jesus Christ are lost upon an ignorant people ; they hear the name, and do not weigh the thing in their thoughts ; they look upon him as aliquem mofjnuin — as some great person that the preachers talk of, and go no further. Thousands are damned this way through their ignorance ; they do not trouble their thoughts about getting the knowledge of Christ in his word, they come to the church and rest in that. There must be distinct apprehensions of the report of Christ before faith, not only to hear the sound, but weigh the sense : Rom. x. 14, ' How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? ' that is, not only the sound of his name, but heard so as to weigh the doctrine that was delivered concerning him. This affected ignorance is a great hindrance when men do not apply themselves to knowledge ; as it is, Prov. ii. 2, 3, ' Incline thine car to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding : yea, if thou criest for knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding.' Many incline their ears, but they do not apply their hearts to knowledge, weigh and ponder what they hear ; if they attend to it while it is spoken, they do not consider it afterwards in their more serious thoughts, and ponder it in their minds ; and therefore no wonder they do not close with Christ : liom. iii. 11, ' There is none that understandeth, none that secketh after God.' That will necessarily follow, if they do not understand Christ, they will not seek after him ; a man will not value an unknown good. This is one hindrance, gross and affected ignorance.