very person whom they had crucified as a malefactor, was exalted to be the Saviour of the world.
In considering this address of theirs to the Jewish council, it will be proper to notice,
I. The testimony here borne to the Lord Jesus — Observe,
1. The testimony itself —
[The Jewish rulers conceived, that, in having crucified the Lord Jesus, they had wholly subverted his influence in the world. But the triumph was altogether on the side of Jesus, of whom the Apostle testified, that he was raised to the most exalted state in glory. Jesus had foretold that he would rise again on the third day ; and that, as he had come from the Father, so in his ascension he would return to the Father. And now the Apostle declared that this was accomplished in him: and that, though " he had been crucified through weak- ness, he was now raised by the power of God," and seated at the right hand of his majesty on high.
He further declared, that he tvas invested with the highest honours. He had been crucified as a malefactor who had arrogated to himself the title of "The King of the Jews;" nor had he interposed to save himself. But he was now " exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour ;" even the Supreme Governor of the universe, and the Saviour of the whole world, of all at least who would believe in him. However strange such claims might appear to his murderers, they were no other than what the prophets had taught them to expect, seeing that " every knee was to bow to him, and all the ends of the earth were to be saved by hima."
To this he added, that he was empowered to bestoiv the richest blessings. He was to be the one fountain of good to all his believing people, " giving repentance " to the most obdu- rate, and "forgiveness" to the most abandoned, the very instant that they should seek these blessings at his hands.]
2. The truth and certainty of this testimony —
[The Apostles all professed themselves " ivitnesses of these things ,•" that is, witnesses of his resurrection and his ascension, and consequently of those things which were the special objects of his exaltation.
Now certainly they were competent witnesses, both of the resurrection and the ascension of our blessed Lord : for, though they had not actually seen him rise, they had seen him
a Isai. xlv. 22, 23.
1754.1 THE ends of Christ's exaltation. 317
frequently after he had risen, and had even eaten and drunk with him, and beheld him in the very act of ascending into heaven. The very incredulity which they manifested in relation to these things, is a strong confirmation that they did not hastily credit the report of others, or even their own senses, till they were overpowered with such evidence as was abso- lutely irresistible b. They were also as unexceptionable wit- nesses as could possibly exist: for, being poor illiterate fishermen, they could not frame an imposture that should deceive the whole world ; nor had they the smallest induce- ment to attempt it, since they could expect nothing but con- tempt and persecution in this world, and eternal misery in the world to come. They gave their testimony too in the most unexceptionable manner. If they had been impostors, they would have gone to a distance, where their conspiracy should not so easily have been detected ; or, at least, have delayed till the present ferment had subsided ; and have practised their imposition first on the weak and credulous. But, instead of this, they bore their testimony without any loss of time, and in Jerusalem too, where every falsehood could be so easily de- tected, and before all the Jewish rulers, who were most of all interested in disproving the facts attested.
As for the testimony by which the Jewish rulers endea- voured to invalidate the assertions of the Apostles, it still further established the very point which it was intended to disprove0. For, if the guard slept, how could they tell what was done in their sleep? and why were they not punished? Why too did the rulers engage to screen them from punish- ment, when their disappointment and rage would rather have called forth their most vindictive efforts ?