What think ye of CHRIST?
MATTHEW xxii. 42.
_What think ye of CHRIST?_
WHEN it pleased the eternal Son of GOD to tabernacle among us, and preach the glad tidings of salvation to a fallen world, different opinions were entertained by different parties concerning him. As to his person, some said he was _Moses_; others that he was _Elias_, _Jeremias_, or one of the ancient prophets; few acknowledged him to be what he really was, GOD blessed for evermore. And as to his doctrine; though the common people, being free from prejudice, were persuaded of the heavenly tendency of his going about to do good, and for the generality, heard him gladly, and said he was a good man; yet the envious, worldly-minded, self-righteous governors and teachers of the _Jewish_ church, being grieved at his success on the one hand, and unable (having never been taught of GOD) to understand the purity of his doctrine, on the other; notwithstanding our LORD spake as never man spake, and did such miracles which no man could possibly do, unless GOD was with him; yet they not only were so infatuated, as to say, that he deceived the people, but also were so blasphemous as to affirm, that he was in league with the devil himself, and cast out devils by _Beelzebub_ the prince of devils. Nay, our LORD’s own brethren and kinsmen, according to the flesh, were so blinded by prejudice and unbelief, that on a certain day, when he went out to teach the multitudes in the fields, they sent to take hold on him, urging this as a reason for their conduct, “That he was besides himself.”
Thus was the King and the LORD of glory judged by man’s judgment, when manifest in flesh: far be it from any of his ministers to expect better treatment. No, if we come in the spirit and power of our Master, in this, as in every other part of his sufferings, we must follow his steps. The like reproaches which were cast on him, will be thrown on us also. Those that received our LORD and his doctrine, will receive and hear us for his name’s sake. The poor, blessed be GOD, as our present meeting abundantly testifies, receive the gospel, and the common people hear us gladly; whilst those who are sitting in _Moses_’ chair, and love to wear long robes, being ignorant of the righteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS, and having never felt the power of GOD upon their hearts, will be continually crying out against us, as madmen, deceivers of the people, and as acting under the influence of evil spirits.
But he is unworthy the name of a minister of the gospel of peace, who is unwilling, not only to have his name cast out as evil, but also to die for the truths of the LORD JESUS. It is the character of _hirelings_ and _false prophets_, who care not for the sheep, to have all men speak well of them. “Blessed are you, (says our LORD to his first apostles, and in them to all succeeding ministers) when men speak all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake.” And indeed it is impossible but such offences must come: for men will always judge of others, according to the principles from which they act themselves. And if they care not to yield obedience to the doctrines which we deliver, they must necessarily, in self-defence, speak against the preachers, lest they should be asked that question, which the Pharisees of old feared to have retorted on them, if they confessed that _John_ was a prophet, “Why then did you not believe on him?” In all such cases, we have nothing to do but to search our own hearts, and if we can assure our consciences, before GOD, that we act with a single eye to his glory, we are chearfully to go on in our work, and not in the least to regard what men or devils can say against, or do unto us.
But to return. You have heard what various thoughts there were concerning JESUS CHRIST, whilst here on earth: nor is he otherwise treated, even now he is exalted to sit down at the right hand of his Father in heaven. A stranger to christianity, was he to hear, that we all profess to hold one LORD, would naturally infer, that we all thought and spoke one and the same thing about him. But alas! to our shame be it mentioned, though CHRIST be not divided in himself, yet professors are sadly divided in their thoughts about him; and that not only as to the circumstances of his religion, but also of those essential truths which must necessarily be believed and received by us, if ever we hope to be heirs of eternal salvation.