the name of Jesus, in the Creed : but who will bow clown their hearts before him ? In that respect, the most of us, alas ! are as stubborn and inflexible as stones or iron. Let us look back upon our past lives ; and we shall see, that in no one respect have we truly taken his yoke upon us, and never for a single hour been truly obedient to his will.]
2. We have rejected him, with a scornful preference of our most deadly lusts —
[The Jews had the alternative given to them, to save Barabbas, or the Lord Jesus. But they, with one voice, cried out, " Not this man, but Barabbas :" thus deliberately pre- ferring one who had destroyed life, to him who was " the Prince and Author of life" to a ruined world.
And have not we resembled them in this ? The Lord Jesus Christ is still " the Prince of life ;" possessing " life in, and of, himself s;" and ready to confer life on all who seek it at his handsh. Yet whom have we chosen for our friends? Have not those who would destroy our souls, as well as their own, been sought by us as our counsellors and companions, rather than He who came down from heaven to seek and save us? Yea, we have preferred also our most deadly lusts before Him; and, rather than " crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts1," we have, times without number, " crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame V
And let it not be thought that I speak here of open trans- gressors only: forthe more sober and moral of mankind differ not a whit in this respect from those who are more openly licentious : for the hearts of all are alike alienated from the Lord Jesus ; and all, without exception, agree in saying, " Let us break his bands asunder, and cast away his cords from us1."]
Let us then consider,
II. What the guilt we have contracted calls for at our hands —
The Apostle's address to his hearers is precisely that which befits our state also : 1. "Repent"—
[Well might the Jews, who had " crucified the Lord of glory," be called on to repent. But I think that this duty is yet more justly required at our hands : for the evidence which Jesus had given of his Messiahship, previous to his crucifixion, is not to be compared with that which his resurrection and ascension, and his sending of the Holy Spirit, have afforded
s John i. 4. and v. 26. h John xi. 25, 26. and xvii. 2.
1 Gal. v. 24. k Heb. vi. 6.
1 Ps. ii. 2, 3.