1. The resurrection of Christ — [Christ is expressly called, " a rod out of the stem of
b Isai. v. 3, 4. c Jer. ii. 17. and iv. 18. d Ps. li. 4.
Jesse e ;" and so little prospect was there, according to human appearances, that he should ever nourish, that it was said of him, " He shall grow up as a tender plant, and as a root out of the dry ground:" "He is despised and rejected of menf." If this was his state whilst yet alive, how much more must it be so when he was dead and buried! His enemies then triumphed over him as a deceiver, and his followers despaired of ever seeing his pretensions realized. But behold, with the intervention of one single day, this dry rod revived, and blos- somed to the astonishment and confusion of all his adversaries. Now indeed it appeared that God had " appointed him to be both Lord and Christ8." Now it was proved, that "his enemies should become his footstool11." On his ascension to heaven he was laid up, as it were, beside the testimony in the immediate presence of his God, to be " a token against the rebels.'" There is he " a token," that God desires to save his rebellious people: that "he has laid help for them upon one that is mighty:" that all which is necessary for their salvation is already accom- plished : that their great High-Priest, having made atonement for them, is entered within the veil ; and that " he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." If any shall now reject him, he will be " a swift witness against them ; " and God will be justified, yea he will glorify himself in their eternal condemnation.]
2. The spread of the Gospel — [The Gospel is represented by God as " the rod of his strength':" and in reference, as it should seem, to the very miracle before us, its miraculous propagation through the earth is thus foretold : " God shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root : Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit k." Consider how the Gospel militated against all the prejudices and passions of mankind, and by whom it was to be propagated, (a few poor fishermen,) and it will appear, that the blossoming of Aaron's rod was not a more unlikely event than that Christianity should be established in the world. Yet behold, a very short space of time was sufficient for the diffusion of it throughout the Roman empire ; and, from its first propagation to the present moment, not all the efforts of men or devils have been able to root it out. The spread of Mahometanism affords no parallel to this ; because that was propagated by the sword, and tended rather to gratify, than counteract, the sinful passions of mankind. The doctrine of the cross not only gained acceptance through the world, but transformed the very natures of men into the divine image.
e Isai. xi.l. f Isai.liii. 2, 3. s Acts ii. 32, 36. h Acts ii.34,35. 1 Ps. ex. 2. k Isai. xxvii. 6. with Matt. xxiv. 14.
164.1 aaron's rod that budded. 101
Such operations, visible in every place, and in every stage of their progress from their first budding to the production of ripe fruit, could not but prove, that the priesthood which it main- tained was of divine appointment ; that the doctrine which it published was suited to our necessities ; and that all who em- braced it should be saved by it. In this view every individual believer is a witness for God, and " a token against the rebels;" inasmuch as he manifests to all the power and efficacy of the gospel salvation : he is " an epistle of Christ, known and read of all men ;" and, by his earnestness in the ways of God, he says to all around him, " How shall ye escape, if ye neglect so great salvation?" Yes; every soul that shall have found mercy through the mediation of our great High-Priest, will, in the last day, rise up in judgment against the despisers of his salva- tion, and condemn them : nor will the condemned criminals themselves be able to offer a plea in arrest of judgment.]