This evidence also still exists, not merely as an historical fact, but as a matter of daily experience and observation : for it is universally true, wherever the Gospel is preached, that the poor are the people to whom the word is sent, and that they chiefly, though not exclusively, are benefited by it*^.]
But faith in Christ, notwithstanding these grounds, is not easy to be exercised ; as will appear by con- sidering,
IL The difficulties it has to surmount —
Our Lord himself intimates, as indeed the prophets had before declared '^, that he was likely to prove a stumbling-block to many: and it must be confessed that there were many things in him which were cal- culated to offend a carnal mind.
1. The meanness of his appearance —
[His birth and education as a carpenter, his abject con- dition, (without even a place where to lay his head,) the poverty of his attendants, together with the contempt poured upon him by all ranks and orders of men, were circumstances which must have been an occasion of stumbling to any one, but especially to those who had been taught to expect only a temporal king, and a triumphant Messiah. Let us only put ourselves in their place, and conceive of a poor carpenter, sur- rounded by a few illiterate fishermen, and professing himself to be the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world; what should we think of such pretensions ? Whatever miracles he wrought, we should be very slow of heart to believe in him, and very backward to become his acknowledged followers. Something of the same difficulty still exists ; and it operates with great force upon the world at large. The followers of Jesus are still " a poor and afflicted people," despised and hated for his name's sake : and it is no easy matter to think that they are right, in opposition to the great and learned who reject him : we cannot endure to be told, that " what God has hid from the wise and prudent, he has revealed unto babes:" we are ready to reply, like those of old, " Have any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees, believed on him? But for this people, who knoweth not the law, they are cursed ; " they are misguided, ignorant enthusiasts, wholly undeserving of any notice or regard.]
2. The mysteriousness of his doctrines —
[Poor and despised as he was, he professed to be in
e 1 Cor. i. 26—28. f Isai. viii. 14, 15.
1347.1 Christ's answer to John's disciples. 337
heaven whilst he was yet on earth ; yea, to be one with the Father, and to know and do all that the Father himself either knew or did. He declared that he would give his life a ransom for the souls of men ; that all must " eat his body and drink his blood," if they would be partakers of his salvation ; and that as soon as ever they should eat his flesh and drink his blood, they should dwell in him, and he in them, and he would give them eternal life, and raise them up to the enjoyment of it at the last day.
Now these were " hard sayings," which they were not able to hear. And are they not hard sayings still? When we speak of a life of flnth on the Son of God, of maintaining the most intimate fellowship with him, and receiving out of his fulness a constant supply of all spiritual blessings, are not these things deemed enthusiastic and absurd ? Wherever these truths are insisted on with becoming energy, does not a considerable degree of reproach attach both to those who preach, and those who receive them ? Yes ; notwithstanding we profess ourselves followers of Christ, " the preaching of the cross is yet foolish- ness to us," till God himself has humbled us in the dust, and subdued our spirits to the obedience of faith.]