this distant place and period, are witnesses for him that his cause has triumphed, and that it shall finally prevail throughout all the earth. God had set the world at defiance ; and had pronounced obedience to the Gospel to be the true wisdom of every man, of kings and governors, as well as of the lowest classes of society0: and, agreeably to his predictions, " the stone which the builders disallowed, is become the head of the corner." Let men then continue to oppose the Gospel as they will, it shall " run and be glorified, and fill the face of the whole earth with fruit :" it is a rock that defies all the power or policy of hell itself: and, as " all who fall upon it shall be broken, so, on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Happy would it be if the enemies of Christ would avail themselves of the space allowed them for reflection, and would consider what an unequal contest they are endeavouring to maintain ! They think that they are fighting against a few weak enthusiasts: but they are "fighting against God" him- self, who, in the person of his Son, addresses them, " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? " The Lord grant that the admonition given on that occasion to that bitter persecutor, may be remembered by us all ; " It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks ! "]
3. That the proper effect of his death is to produce penitence and faith in all —
[We see the propriety of their conduct who smote their breasts, and publicly professed their faith in Christ : we even congratulate them in our minds on their speedy experience of such a blessed change. But was this conduct proper in them only ? Is there no occasion for similar emotions amongst us ? Perhaps, instead of opposing, we approve and profess the Gospel : but who amongst us has not opposed the establish- ment of Christ's kingdom in his own heart ? Though we did not unite with those who crucified him on Mount Calvary, have we not " crucified him afresh," by continuing in sin ? Truly there is even more cause for us to " smite our breasts," than there was for that multitude to do so : for they sinned " through ignorance ;" " they knew not what they did :" but we sin against light and knowledge, yea, against our own most solemn vows of allegiance to him. The smallest knowledge of our own hearts will furnish us with a catalogue of sins that we have committed against him, a catalogue that would reach up to heaven. This then I say ; let us imitate the penitent multi- tude and the believing Centurion : and in this especially let us imitate them, in not moving from the place where we are,
c Ps. ii. 1—6, 9—12. with Acts iv. 25, 26.