3. On account of the benefits he will impart to us —
[If we hoped for nothing more than to avoid the miseries of hell, methinks we could never sufficiently reverence that adorable Saviour who came to deliver us from them. But this is a small part only of the blessings- which he will bestow upon us. He will introduce us to the presence of his heavenly Father, and give us the most delightful fellowship with him :
He will rescue us from the dominion of sin and Satan, and transform us into the image of our God in righteousness and true holiness : He will even exalt us to thrones of glory, and make us partakers of the honour and felicity which he himself enjoys at the right hand of God. And when God was sending us his own Son to impart all these benefits, had he not good reason to say, "They will reverence my Son?" If a doubt had been suggested whether such a Benefactor would be wel- comed upon earth, should we not have been ready to inveigh against the person who suggested it, as a calumniator of the human race?]
But events have happened widely different from this prediction. God, if we may so speak, has been disappointed in his expectations ; and that too in an incredible degree. This will appear by considering,
II. The extent of his disappointment —
How the Lord Jesus was treated among the Jews, it is scarcely needful to mention. Those who are the least instructed amongst us know, that instead of being reverenced, he was loaded with all manner of indignities, and at last put to death, even the cruel and ignominious death of the cross. Amongst us, it may be thought, he meets with a more favourable reception : but in truth, God is as much disappointed in our conduct towards him, as in that of the Jews themselves : for,
1. His person is slighted —
[We do indeed externally revere the name of Jesus, and profess to call him our Lord and Saviour : but do we really reverence him in our hearts? Is he truly precious in our eyes ? Is he " fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely?" Alas ! how many days and months have we passed without so much as one affectionate thought of him ! How many years might we spend in different families without hearing any heart-felt commendations of him, or being once exhorted to love and serve him ! The excellencies of others are painted in glowing colours; the praises of statesmen and warriors are sounded forth in every place : but in Jesus we " see no beauty, no comeliness, for which he is to be desired :" nor have we any delight in cele- brating the wonders of his love.]
2. His authority is disregarded —
[If we warn any person against such or such a line of con- duct from the consideration of its being injurious to his health,