1 This sermon was preached May 26, 1670.
230 THE DIVINE POWER OF THE GOSPEL.
4. There is a special kind of profession, that, in its own nature, is exposed to reproach in the world. The apostle Paul tells us, 2 Tim. iii. 12, " They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer perse- cution/' There is (John xv. 4, 5) a being in Christ by profession, and not living godly: for there are branches in the vine by profession, that bring forth no fruit ; — men that have a profession wherewith they do not trouble the world, and for which the world will not trouble them ; — that can go to that length in compliance with the world, and the ways of it, as that they shall not have one drop of the spirit of the witnesses of Christ, who torment the men of the earth. But " they that will live godly," — that is, engage in a profession that shall, upon all occasions, and in all instances, manifest the power of it, — they " shall suffer persecution." We see many every day keep up a profession, but such a profession as will not provoke the world. Now, this is to be ashamed of the gospel, — to be ashamed of the power and glory of it, — to be ashamed of the Author of it. No man can put Jesus Christ to greater shame, than by professing the gospel without showing the power of it.
III.1 I shall now give the reasons why we ought not in any thing to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I speak unto persons that are under a conviction that such and such things belong unto the gospel. If we are not, what makes us here this day? I do not go to persuade any that this or that worship, or this or that way, is according to the gospel; but I suppose a conviction thereof to be upon us: upon a supposition of which conviction and persuasion I shall offer these reasons why we ought not to be ashamed of the gospel. And, —
1. The first is this: — Because Christ, the captain of our salvation, and the great example of our obedience, was not ashamed of all that he had to undergo for us.
There are two things that greatly aggravate things shameful, and press, if possible, shame upon a person : —
(1.) The dignity of the person that is exposed to things shameful. It is more for a person honourable, noble, and in repute for wisdom in the world, to be exposed to indignities, reproaches, and things shameful, as the apostle speaks, than for beggars, — poor vile persons of no repute. Now, consider the person of Christ, who he was, and what he was. He was the eternal Son of God, the " first-born of the whole creation:" and as, in his divine nature, he Avas " the express" (the essential) " image of the Father;" so in his whole person, as in- carnate, he was the glory of all the works of God. And the apostle,
1 This sermon, according to the method announced, p. 224, is given under a threefold division. The second branch of the subject has either been omitted, or, what is more probable, to judge from the strain of the author's remarks, the illustration of the second is merged and contained in the first branch. — Ed.
THE DIVINE POWER OF THE GOSPEL. 231
when he would set out the great condescension of Christ in submitting unto things shameful, doth at the same time describe the greatness and glory of his person, Phil. ii. 6-8, " He made himself," says he, " of no reputation; he took upon him the form of a servant, and he was obedient unto the death of the cross;" which three things, as I could show you, are comprehensive of all that was shameful to Christ. But at the same time that he tells us what he did, how doth he de- scribe him ? When he did so, he was " in the form of God, and ac- counted it no robbery to be equal with God." He was the great God in his own person, and equal with the Father; yet then this honour- able one condescended to all things shameful and reproachful in the world.
(2.) Shame is aggravated from the causes and matter of it There are various things that cause shame. Some are put to shame by re- proaches, scandals, lies ; some, by poverty ; some, by imprisonment ; and some, by death, made shameful by the ways, means, and prepa- rations for it. By which of these was Christ now made an object of shame? By all of them, and inconceivably more than any heart is able to apprehend, or tongue to express. He was reproached as a wine-bibber and a glutton; as a seditious person and mover of sedi- tion; as a fanatic, and one beside himself. He was in that state of poverty, that, during the whole course of his ministry, he had not where to lay his head, nor any thing to live upon, but what good people administered unto him of their substance. In the midst of this course he was taken praying; when, he told them, they might have taken him at any time. " I was," says he, " in the temple openly; I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me." He was taken by soldiers with swords and staves, as a thief and malefactor ; apprehended, carried away, and hanged upon a tree (the shameful est death then in the world), in the midst of Jews and Gentiles ; — with both which sorts of men that kind of death was the most shameful. The Romans put none to that sort of death but slaves, thieves and robbers, — the worst malefactors : and among the Jews it was the only kind of death that was accursed, Deut. xxi. 23, " He that is hanged on the tree is accursed of God;" — which words our apostle repeats, and applies them to Christ, Gal. iii. 13. How did Christ behave himself now, as to all these shameful things that came upon him? Hear the prophet expressing of it in his name, Isa. 1. 6, 7, " I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair" (the usual way of dealing with persons in such cases) ; " I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: I know that I shall not be ashamed." Did he recoil, or go back from his work ? did he repent of it? No; " ' Thy law is written in my heart;' I am