We have not any Jewish prejudices to encounter —
[The Jews had received their law from God ; they had been accustomed to expect a temporal Messiah, yet they saw a man altogether destitute and despised, and beheld the law of Moses superseded by a new religion. His works indeed should have obviated all these difficulties : but we have not these difficulties to contend with. We profess that the Gospel is from God. We profess that Christ's kingdom is of a spiritual nature. We profess that his cross is his own glory, and his Church's hope.]
We see the whole design of God unfolded — [The Jews had only partial and contracted views : they could not reconcile many seeming contrarieties. The Disciples, even after Christ's resurrection, were at a loss to account for the occurrences they had seen k. But we behold the counsels of God completed ; the various prophecies are all accomplished; the characters and offices of Christ are opened ; the great ends of his incarnation and death are effected ; the glory of God, as shining in his face, is fully displayed.]
We have witnessed the success of the Gospel — [Those to whom our Lord spake, saw his ministry de- spised : the great and learned of their nation rejected him. His followers were only a few, and those of the lowest class : but we have seen the " grain of mustard become a large tree :" the Gospel has spread to the remotest corners of the earth ; it has triumphed over the prejudices and passions, the interests and powers, of the world ; its influence is yet daily exhibited before our eyes.]
How heinous then must be our guilt if we reject him ! Surely our " sin must be of a crimson or a scarlet die." Address —
1. Those who make excuses for their neglect of Christ—
[With what foolish and weak excuses do men deceive themselves1 ! Surely God will not be deceived by these.
k Luke xxiv. 2 1 .
1 We may notice a few : " I have not time." For what is time given ? — " I am not able." Do you do what you can? — " It is time enough yet." Shall you certainly live, and have the grace you now slight offered you again ? — " I have the majority on my side." Are you not then in the broad road ? and will associates mitigate your pain ? — " Professors are hypocrites." Is that a reason ijou should not be sincere ? — " God is merciful." To whom? the impenitent ?