I presume one reason that may be assigned for it may be drawn from the account we have given us of his most amazing and unparalleled meekness. A Lamb, you all know, is one of the most pacific creatures in the world. When we would describe, or point out a person of a peaceable disposition, we say such a one is as quiet as a Lamb. But what is the meekness of any person, even _Moses_ himself, nay, of all the saints that ever lived, put them all together, in comparison of the meekness of the blessed JESUS? To prove this, I might refer you to his whole life, which was one continued meek and patient enduring of contradiction of sinners against himself; but if you want me to specify particular instances, only take a walk with me to _Gethsemane_’s garden; there you will see the traitor _Judas_ at the head of a troop of ruffians, accosting his glorious LORD with a Hail master! then kissing him, and then betraying him. But what says the Prince of peace? Only, “Friend, wherefore art thou come? _Judas_, betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss?” But how does this same JESUS behave after he was apprehended? Even in the same meek manner: for when his warm-hearted disciple _Peter_, through a misguided zeal, had cut off the High Priest’s servant’s ear, Suffer ye, said the holy JESUS, thus far. In all probability these words were addressed by our LORD to the officers who had tied his hands behind him. As though he had said, “Be pleased to unloose me, whilst I cure that poor man’s ear, which my too forward disciple hath imprudently cut off, and then you shall bind me again.” Was ever reply, was there ever meekness like unto this thy meekness, O thou blessed LAMB of GOD! Well did _Isaiah_ prophecy concerning thee, “That thou shouldst be led as a lamb to the slaughter,” which goes as willingly to the shambles, as to the pasture: and as justly might thy forerunner call upon sinners to behold thee under the pacific character of the LAMB of GOD. Help us, holy JESUS, to come at thy invitation, and to learn of thee, who gavest such amazing evidences of thy being meek and lowly in heart! then, and not ’till then, shall we find true rest in our souls.
But further, the dear LORD JESUS may properly be called a LAMB, or The LAMB, by way of emphasis, not only in allusion to the Lamb that was offered under the law morning and evening, but more especially because he was typified by the paschal lamb. Hence he is stiled, by that prince of preachers St. _Paul_, CHRIST our passover; and in allusion to the same, the Apostle _Peter_ tells us, “That we are not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from our vain conversation, but with the precious blood of JESUS CHRIST, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” This was an indispensable requisite to be found in the paschal lamb. It was to be a lamb without blemish. A proper type of him who knew no sin, but was spotlessly holy, harmless, and altogether undefiled in heart, lip, and life. Indeed, if we consider him as having the chastisement of our peace, and the iniquities of us all laid upon him by way of imputation, he was, as some divines express it, the greatest sinner that ever was: and we should esteem him to be such in reality, were we to judge of his innocence by the abusive and barbarous treatment that he met with whilst tabernacling on earth. But, notwithstanding all this, he was without sin, and therefore could boldly and truly give men and devils the challenge, and say, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” The prince of this world cometh, but shall find nothing in me. There was no corruption in the heart of this immaculate LAMB of GOD for _Satan_’s temptations to lay hold on: But this properly belongeth only to him: for any of his followers, though arrived at the highest pitch of christian perfection, much less for young converts, mere novices in the things of GOD, to presume that they either have, or ever shall, while on this side eternity, arrive at such a sinless state, argues such an ignorance of the spiritual extent of the moral law, of the true interpretation of GOD’s word, of the universal experience of GOD’s people in all ages, as well as of the remaining unmortified corruptions of their own desperately wicked and deceitful hearts, that I dare venture to tell the preachers and abettors of any such doctrine, however knowing they may be in other respects, that they know not the true nature of gospel-holiness, nor the COMPLEATNESS OF A BELIEVER’S STANDING IN THE UNSPOTTED IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST, as they ought to know, or as I trust they themselves, through divine grace, will be made to know before they die. Surely it is high time to awake out of this delusive dream! Pardon this short, (would to GOD there was no occasion of adding) though too necessary a digression.