Infer —
1. How unfounded is men's contempt of the Gospel !
[The Gospel ever has been despised by proud self-sufficient men, and ever will be, as long as such men continue upon earth. It will ever appear " foolishness to the natural man." It is still loaded with reproach, and stigmatized with oppro- brious names; and he must be " a stranger indeed in our Jerusalem," who has not known and witnessed this humiliathi"- fact. But what do these scoffers think of themselves? Are they wiser or better than the angels ? Do they imagine the angels so weak as to admire and search into things which are unworthy the notice of a sensible man? Alas! these proud despisers of God and of good men evince to the world, that they themselves are the greatest objects of pity and compassion. We do not, however, say to them as Paul did to the obstinate
f Eph. iii. K).
and obdurate Jews, " Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish8 ;" but rather, Behold, and wonder, and adore.]
2. How criminal is their neglect of it !
[Though the angels are in some measure interested in the Gospel, yet their concern with it is not to be compared with ours. They would have been happy, though no Saviour had come into the world : but where should we have been ? what would have become of us ? Christ took not on him their nature : he shed not his blood for them : it was for us he be- came a man : for us he died upon the cross. What guilt then do we contract in slighting all his overtures of mercy ! Surely the angels will rise up in judgment against us, and condemn us, if we are indifferent to the salvation he has so dearly pur- chased, and so freely offered.]
3. How great a blessing is it to be well instructed
in it !
[We do not wish to depreciate human knowledge : but we do not hesitate to affirm, that all other knowledge, how deep, extensive, or valuable soever it may be, is no better than dung and dross in comparison of this11. All other knowledge shall vanish away; but this shall endure for ever. Angels would account all other things beneath their notice : but they never think they can pay too much attention to this. Know then, that if your eyes are opened to behold aright the great mystery of redemption, you have the most valuable gift that God him- self can bestow. You have that which will bring salvation to your soul. Yea, if you have but moderately clear views of the Gospel, you are in that respect greater and more highly- favoured than all the prophets ; not excepting even John him- self, who was more than a prophet, and had the distinguished honour of pointing out to men " the Lamb of God that should take away the sin of the world." Whatever then God has bestowed upon you, value this above all : whatever he has with- held from you, be satisfied with this. Whatever you do, or whatever you neglect, be sure to cultivate this. Resemble the angels in " looking into these things ;" and you shall resemble them in holiness, and be with them in glory.]
s Acts xiii. 41. h Phil. iii. 8.
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