[At Nazareth, he appeared as a poor man, of a poor family, in circumstances of extreme want, not having so much as a place where to lay his head. And from his hearers there his future history was veiled, as was also the entire nature of his divine mission. Yet our Lord marvelled at their unbelief. But to you the entire nature of his dispensation is made manifest ; and the glory of God, as displayed in it, has been set before your eyes. You see him coming down from heaven, to obey the law which you have broken, and to endure the curse which you have merited ; and then rising from the dead, and ascending to heaven, to perfect the work for you. You have beheld the meridian blaze, as it were, of that light, of which they saw but the early dawn. Nay, more ; you have seen " the glory of all the Divine perfections concentrated in him, and shining forth in his faced." If, then, there was cause for marvel at their unbelief, what must there be at yours ? ]
2. With what confidence you profess yourselves to be his —
[You would account it a grievous insult, if your right to call yourselves Christians were questioned. Yet, if you will forgive me, I would ask, What are the great mass of you better than baptized heathens ? You have been baptized in the name of Christ, it is true ; as Simon Magus also was : but, what was he changed by his baptism ; or, what are you ? What evidence have you that you are " born of the Spirit," and " made new creatures in Christ Jesus ? " And if, in the want of all proof of conversion, you maintain your title to heaven, say whether you be not opposing every declaration of God in his word, and whether there be not reason to marvel at your unbelief?]
3. What important interests you have at stake —
[On your believing in Christ your eternal happiness depends. This, all who receive the Gospel most cordially acknowledge. How comes it, then, that you never take the trouble to ex- amine your state before God, and to try the sincerity of your faith ? One would suppose that the thought of eternal happi- ness in heaven, or of eternal misery in hell, should be sufficient to awaken you to some consideration: but, since nothing of this kind can influence you, we may well marvel at your unbelief — ]
Know, then,
1. That the Lord Jesus Christ at this very instant marvels at you —
d 2 Cor. iv. 6.