he rose triumphant ; and the affrighted guards fled to relate the wonderful event. Now began his exaltation, which speedily reversed the scenes that had been exhibited. His enemies already stood confounded ; and propagated an absurd falsehood to conceal their shame. The hopes of his disconsolate people were revived by many infallible proofs of his resurrection. They conversed and ate with him, and beheld him in the very act of ascending into heaven. It was but a few days afterwards, when, according to his promise, he sent down the Holy Ghost, and thereby completed the confusion of his enemies, and the triumph of his friends. Instantly no less that three thousand of his most inveterate enemies " bowed the knee to him" and " took, as it were, an oath" of allegiance to him as their rightful sove- reign : though they had just before seen him " crucified through weakness," and treated as the most infamous of malefactors, they "came to him" that they might obtain "righteousness and strength." What confusion now seized the rulers, who still retained their enmity against him ! All their efforts were in vain : the more fierce their opposition was, the more did the word prevail : so that in a little time, not Jerusalem only, but all Judea, yea the whole Roman empire, was filled with converts to the cause of Christ. Now the disciples triumphed in their turn : and from that time myriads in every place have been "justified by his blood," and have "gloried" in his salvation.]
2. It shall be yet more fully accomplished at the day of judgment —
[It is in reference to this period in particular that the Apostle cites the passage before usb: and then indeed will it be verified to the uttermost. The submission of his people will be more entire, their acknowledgments more grateful, and their glorying more ecstatic, than they could be in this world ; while the subjugation of his enemies, and their confusion before him will be complete. When he shall say, as to those of old, ' Many good works did I for you, for which of them did ye hate me ? for you I left my glory, and veiled myself in human flesh ; for you I sojourned upon earth, and died upon the cross ; for you I sent my messengers to beseech you in my name to accept of mercy : for which of these things was I a stumbling-block unto you ? ' how will they hang down their heads with shame ! Eloquent as they now are in vindication of themselves, they will not then have one word to answer. Thus shall it be both to the friends and enemies of Christ : as sure as there is a God in heaven, possessed of faithfulness and power to fulfil his word, so sure shall not one jot or tittle of it ever fail of its accomplishment.]
b Rom. xiv. 1 1.