[The prejudices of men were so strong in favour of a tem- poral Messiah, that no man could overcome them, lanless he were enabled by the special assistance of God himself. And though the miracles of our Lord appeared to justify his pre- tensions to that office, yet his low condition in life, and the universal rejection of him by the great and learned, were a stumbling-block which no man of himself was able to remove. If indeed the Scriptures had been carefully examined, and compared with all that was accomplished in Christ, they were even then sufficient to establish the conclusion that Jesus was the Christ. But no man had eyes to see this truth, till the veil was removed from his heart, and his understanding was enlightened by the Spirit of God. And thus it is at this day : we say not, that any man is to expect a new revelation, or to be inspired in the way that the Apostles were ; this is not now to be expected by any man, the canon of revelation being completed, and God having made known all that is necessary for our salvation: but " our understandings (like those of the Apostles) must be opened, to understand the Scriptures ;" nor till we are taught of God can we ever have that view of Christ which is exhibited in the text. We may, it is true, obtain a speculative view of Christ's person and office from books and the teaching of men : but a spiritual and practical view of them, none but God himself can give us. We notice in Peter's confession an acquiescoice, an affiance, an exultation in the truths he utters : and that is the view which " flesh and blood cannot reveal unto us, and which can be revealed only by our heavenly Father." To this Divine agency the Apostles ascribed all their knowledge of Christ*^; and they unequivocally declare that no human being can derive it from any other source : " No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy GhostV]
He congratulates Peter on the clear knowledge which he possessed —
[Well might our Lord reply, " Blessed art thou, Simon ;" for blessed indeed he was, in having such views as these: he was blessed in them, whether we regard them as means of obtaining the Divine favour, or as evidences of having obtained it. On such a knowledge of Christ all his prospects of eternal happiness depended: " Thus to know Christ is life eternal"
But, inasmuch as the possession of it evinced that he
had been taught of God, it shewed that God had a favour towards him, and had " set him apart for his own " " peculiar treasure :" this very gift was to him a pledge and earnest of future blessings. What then could constitute a man blessed, if
1^ 1 John V. 20. 1 1 Cor. xii. 3.
1374.] Peter's confession rewarded, 449
this did not ? or what can rob a man of blessedness, who is possessed of such views, and such desires ? I ask not whether you be living in the enjoyment of temporal honours, or even of necessary comforts : if you resemble Peter, you are blessed, though you should be as poor and destitute as Lazarus him- self; " Blessed are your eyes, if they see, and your ears, if they hear," these glorious, these heavenly truths.]
But we are further called to notice, III. The distinction with which they were rewarded —
What was here spoken to Peter referred primarily, but not exclusively, to him. The other Apostles united with Peter in the confession ; and our Lord compre- hended them also in the commendation and distinc- tion conferred upon him : yet, inasmuch as Peter had manifested a pre-eminent zeal in so directly and con- fidently acknowledging Christ, he was honoured in some respects with a peculiar and pre-eminent reward. Our Lord promised him,
1. That he should lay the foundation of the Chris- tian Church —