[They had not been able to fix any charge of guilt upon him : seeing that he had in all things approved himself " The Holy One and the Just :" yet had they insisted on his cruci- fixion, when Pilate, convinced of his innocence, had " deter- mined to let him go:" yea, though he was " the Prince and Author of life," they had preferred " a murderer" and destroyer of life before him&. It was true, they had acted " ignorantly," blinded by their own prejudices and passions11: but still they were highly criminal in the sight of God ; and must perish to all eternity, if they did not look to Him as their Saviour, whom they had crucified as a malefactor.
What a tremendous charge was this! To be accused of murder ! of murdering the Prince of life, and " crucifying the Lord of glory!" But the charge was undeniable: and no hope of mercy remained to them, but by repenting of their guilt, and seeking to be cleansed from it in that very blood which they themselves had shed.]
But, as the miracle in this view is profitable chiefly to the Jews, we shall proceed to consider it,
II. As a ground of consolation to us —
Whilst we enter into all the feelings of the man that was restored, and are ready, as it were, to unite with him in all the expressions of his joy, we cannot but regard his miraculous restoration as calculated,
1. To confirm our faith —
[What cannot the Lord Jesus Christ effect ? Whose soul can he not heal as easily, and as effectually, as he healed the body of that poor man? " Is there any thing too hard for him?" ]
2. To encourage our hope —
[Long had that man neglected the opportunities which the presence of Jesus at Jerusalem afforded him : for we cannot doubt, but that if he had applied to Jesus for relief, as myriads of others did, he would not have applied in vain. But now the mercy which he had never thought of seeking, was con- ferred upon him unsolicited1. What then will not Jesus do for them that ask him ? What though we have slighted him all our days, and have never so much as thought of him till this present hour ; will he spurn us from his footstool ? Has he not said, that " Whosoever cometh to him, he will in no wise cast out?" ]
3. To inflame our love —
p Acts iii. 13—15. h Acts iii. 17. J Acts iii. C, 7.