Yes, pardon, and peace, and holiness, and glory, would he at this instant confer on us, if we would but seek them at his hands x. Was he incessant in his labours, rendering even the Sabbath-day subservient to his great work ? So will he now impart to our souls continually, and to the full extent of our necessities : and not only will he not intermit his labours on the Sabbath-day, but he will rather pursue them with redoubled energy on that holy day, sanctifying, rather than profaning, it by that blessed employment. In all this he will shew himself equal with the Father. He has said " Ye believe in God ; believe also in mey." And " every soul that believeth in him shall most assuredly be justified from all things2," and " be saved by him with an everlasting salvation3."]
From hence then learn,
1. To dismiss prejudice from your minds —
[The Jews were blinded by prejudice, and therefore could see nothing in the miracles of our Lord to justify their affiance in him. Had they been candid, and open to conviction, what blessings might they not have enjoyed ! But they turned his every word and work into an occasion of offence, and augmented their own eternal condemnation by the very means used for their salvation. And thus it is that prejudice works at this day. Multitudes are so offended at something which they account wrong, that they have neither eyes nor ears for those things which are of the greatest possible importance to their souls. A departure from some outward observance, which they venerate, shall swallow up all the best qualities that the holiest of men can possess, all the best actions that he can
0 Phil. ii. 6, 7. Pi Tim. iii. 16. <i Rom. ix. 5.
r Col. ii. 9. s Col. i. 19. * John i. 16.
u Eph. i. 22, 23.
x See Mark ii. 5 — 12. Rev. xxxi. 17, 18. Luke xxiii. 42, 43. y John xiv. 1. z Acts xiii. 39. » Isai. xlv. 17.