hated him, despised him, and crucified him as a male- factor. Nor was this owing to the violence of a few : the whole nation rose up against him, and put him to death. Now this shews us in the clearest light, what human nature is, and what enmity there is in the heart of man against God. And O ! what a humiliating thought is it, that we should be even capa- ble of such atrocious wickedness! If any one object, that this was done by the Jews ; and that, if God were to come down amongst us, he would meet with a more suitable reception ; we reply, That in whatever place he should appear, he would assuredly be treated in the same way : for indeed he does come ; he comes to us in the preaching of his Gospel : he is truly, though not visibly, amongst us ; for he has said, " Lo ! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world:" yet, so far from admiring his beauty, and adoring his good- ness, we scarcely bestow a thought upon him ; yea, instead of seeking our happiness in him, and devoting ourselves wholly to his service, there is no possession so contemptible, but we prefer it before him, nor any lust so base, but we choose the indulgence of it rather than his favour.
Let this melancholy truth sink down into our hearts, and cause us to lothe ourselves in dust and ashes. Nor let us ever rest, till our enmity be slain, and our aversion to him be turned into reverence and love.
In contrast with this, let us next observe —
2. What love there is in the heart of God towards
man !
Had God foreseen that his creatures would have instantly and universally adored him, we must have for ever marvelled at the love that induced him to become incarnate. But how transcendent does that love ap- pear, when we consider that he foresaw the treatment he should meet with, and that, as he died for his very murderers, so he now invites to mercy the most con- temptuous of his enemies ! Let heaven and earth stand amazed ! and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever !