But in every place the Gospel has been rejected by those to whom it has come —
[The Jews rested in the letter of their law, but hated the spirit of it ; they embraced the shadow, but rejected the sub- stance. By whomsoever the Gospel was preached, or under whatsoever form, the great majority of that nation could not be prevailed upon to receive it. Thus at this day, the truth of God is generally disregarded and despised. Men, it is true, profess to be followers of Christ, and to approve of his religion : but they are not suitably affected with it in any respect ; they neither rejoice in its promises, nor are humbled by its threat- enings ; " if we pipe to them, they will not dance ; and if we mourn to them, they will not lament." Notwithstanding there is such a transcendent excellence in the Gospel, and such an exact suitableness to men's necessities, yet we still have reason to complain, " Lord, who hath believed our report?"]
It is a matter of no small importance to ascertain, II. The true ground of this reception —
The ostensible ground is, that the Gospel is not properly administered —
[The Jews could not confute the arguments of the Baptist or of Christ ; but they took occasion from the peculiarities of each to reject their testimony. John, agreeably to the dis- pensation under which he ministered, was austere in his man- ners ; and Christ, agreeably to the dispensation which he came to introduce, was affable and social : yet, so far were the people from being pleased with either, that of one they said, " He hath a devil ;" and of the other, " He is a glutton and a drunkard."
Thus it is at this time : men will not say, " I hate the Gospel, and therefore will not attend to it ;" but they will find fault with the persons who administer it ; and make their peculiarities a plea for despising their message. At one time they represent the ministers of Christ as speaking too much about faith, and thereby depreciating morality : at another time, as insisting so strongly on good works, that they drive men to despair. Sometimes they will object to the truth because it is not read to them from a written discourse : and sometimes because of the earnest and impressive manner in which it is delivered. Even the virtues whereby ministers endeavour to adorn and recommend the Gospel, are often made occasions of offence ; and the strictness of their lives, the con- descension of their manners, and their assiduity in labours, are stated as grounds of heavy complaint. And as no terms were too opprobrious to be applied to the Baptist and to Christ, so there is no name so ignominious, nor anv treatment so harsh,