persecute us''." "The servant cannot expect to be above his master : it is sufficient for him, if he be as his lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, much more will they those of his households" We may see therefore, in the universality, contemptuousness, and acrimony of his per- secutors, what his followers must expect, even unto death. We are expressly told, that " we are called to the same, because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps*':" and, seeing that he has suffered for us with- out the gates of Jerusalem, we must go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach'^."]
It shews us, too, in what way we must bear it —
[In the whole of these sufferings, we hear not one word of complaint. No, verily: though " he was so oppressed and afflicted, yet opened he not his mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter ; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth^." This especially is marked out for our imitation by St. Peter. " Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps : who did no sin, neither was guile found in liis mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered, threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously^." To this effect we are instructed by our Lord, and all his holy Apostles : instead of " rendering evil for evil unto any man," we must " love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that dcspitefully use us and persecute us^." Nor let this be thought impossible. It was done by Stephen, in the very hour of martyrdom*^': and it was nobly carried into effect by St. Paul, throughout the whole of his ministrations : " We are made a spectacle," says he, " unto the world, and to angels, and to men. Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place ; and labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things, unto this day^." Here you see practical Chris- tianity : and, if you come from the hall where Jesus so meekly bare alibis ignominious treatment, and learn " so to walk as he walked," you will not have beheld this sight in vain. " Consider then, I pray you, brethren. Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself;" that you, under similar treatment, may never be weary nor faint in your minds'."]
z
John XV. 20. a Matt. x. 24, 25. *> 1 Pet. ii. 21.
•= Heb. xiii. 12, 13. <^ Isai. h'ii. 7. « 1 Pet. ii. 21—23.
<■ Matt. v. 44, s Acts. vii. 60. ^ 1 Cor. iv. 9 — 13. i Heb. xii. 3.
1410.] THE MOCKING OF CHRIST UPON THE CROSS. 59o
Let me not conclude without further remarking on this subject,
1. How astonishing is the love of Christ to sinful
man !
[Our blessed Lord, as I have shewn, foresaw from the beginning all that should come upon him : yet, instead of drawing back, he longed for the period even to be baptized with this bloody baptism, and was quite "straitened till it should be accomplished ^. What manner of love was this ! When shall we learn to estimate it aright? O, brethren, seek to '* comprehend its breadth and length, and depth and height !" for it is by that, and by that only, that you can. be " filled with all the fulness of God'" ]
2. How infatuated must they be who do not seek those blessings, for the obtaining of which all these things were endured !
[Who would believe that men professing to receive this record as true, and to hope for mercy through these very suf- ferings, should yet be as careless about their souls, as if they were of no value ; and as indifferent about eternity, as if there were no future state of existence ? Look at the Saviour, bre- thren, and reflect. Who he is ; and what he has done ; and what he has suffered; and /or what end all these things have been effected ! Had your souls been of little value, would all these things have come to pass ? Had the future state of existence been a matter of such indifference, would the Son of tlie Living God have suffered all this for you? Go to the garden of Gethsemane ; go to the hall of judgment ; go to Mount Cal- vary ; and learn the value of immortal souls : go, I say, and learn the folly and madness of neglecting this Saviour, through whom alone any soul of man can be saved. I pray you, beloved, be in earnest, whilst yet the sufferings of God's dear Son may avail for you. But if ye will not seek after him, then think what your portion must be in the eternal world. For, "if these things were done in the green tree, judge ye, what must be done in the dry "^ ? "]