THE TRUE LIGHT IN WHICH THE GOSPEL IS TO BE REGARDED.
1 Cor. i. 23, 24. We preach Christ crucified ; unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; but unto them ivhich are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
THERE is a disposition in man to dictate to God, rather than to receive from him what he is pleased to give. Though this is not right, nor should ministers gratify it, yet they should consult men's prejudices, and " seek to please them for their good." The Jevi^s and Greeks sought w^hat from their education they had been accustomed to admire : but St. Paul, not- withstanding his readiness to yield in all things that were less important, was compelled to make the strain of his preaching directly opposite to their corrupt desires. " The Jews require, &c. ; but we preach, &c." I. The great subject of the Christian ministry —
The Apostle designates this by " preaching the Gospel," " preaching the cross," " preaching Christ and him crucified :" but in "preaching Christ crucified" he did not confine himself to an historical relation of the fact, or a pathetic description of it. To fulfil the true end of the Christian ministry, we must,
1, Declare the nature of Christ's death —
[This in appearance was only like that of the malefactors that suffered with him; but it was a true and proper sacrifice to God. In this light it was characterized by the whole Mosaic ritual^: in this light it was foretold by the prophets^: in this light it is plainly represented throughout the New Testa- ment; and unless it be preached in this vieiv, we do not, in the Apostle's sense, preach Christ crucified.]
2. Set forth the benefits resulting from it — [There is not any one spiritual benefit which must not be
a The sacrifices were types of the atonement.
» Isai. liii. 5, 6, 10.
c Matt. xxvi. 28. 1 Cor. v. 7. Heb. ix. 26. Eph. v. 2.