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inflamed with love towards our adorable Redeemer; and let our mouths be never opened more, but in thanksgiving to God and to the Lamb.

CLXXXV. MEN'S NEGLECT OF THE GOSLEL.

Isai. liii. 1. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

WHEREVER we turn our eyes, we find much occasion for sorrow and lamentation. The miseries which sin has brought into the world, and which are daily multiplied by the follies and wickedness of man, have rendered this state a vale of tears, not only to those who most feel their weight, but to those, who, exempt from their pressure, are yet disposed to sympathize with their afflicted brethren. But there is one subject in particular, that affords matter for the deepest regret to every benevolent mind; it is, the unconcern, which men in general manifest for their eternal interests. This caused" rivers of tears to flow down the eyes" of David, and "great horror to take hold upon him." It was on account of this, that Jesus, unmindful of the acclamations of surrounding multitudes, stopped to weep over the murderous Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah laboured much to counteract this awful infatuation: but, except to a very few, who "were as signs and wonders" in the land, his efforts were unavailing; and he was constrained to take up this lamentation over them, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"

For the fuller understanding of these words we shall enquire, What is the report here referred to? In what way it obtains credit? and what reception it meets with in the world?

I. What is the report here referred to?

When our Lord expounded the scriptures to the two disciples in their way to Emmaus, he shewed them, that, according to the prophecies, "Christ ought to have VOL. II.

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suffered, and by sufferings to enter into his glory. "a Indeed, that was the general testimony of all the prophets; and more especially is it opened to us in the chapter now under our consideration.

A more wonderful report never reached the ears of man. God was manifest in the flesh. The Son of God, "Jehovah's Fellow," not only assumed our nature, but, in our nature, died; "he became obedient unto death, even the accursed death of the cross." To this he submitted for our sake, and in our stead; to expiate our guilt, and, by the sacrifice of himself, to reconcile us unto God. Well might the apostle say, "Great is the mystery of godliness;" for indeed it almost exceeds the bounds of credibility.

But, strange as this report may seem, there never was any other so well authenticated, or established by such a variety of evidence. A series of prophecies respecting it, respecting not only the general outlines, but even the minutest, and most contingent circumstances of it, have been given to the church during the space of four thousand years. Every one of these has been fulfilled; and that too by the very persons who laboured to the utmost to destroy the credit of the report itself. The typical representations of it also were so numerous that no human foresight could have contrived them, nor could any human power have caused a combination of such various, and, to all appearance, contradictory circumstances in one event. Without noticing therefore the miracles wrought in confirmation of it, we may well affirm that "it is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation."

With respect to its importance, never was there any other report so universally interesting as this: for it is not confined to a single state or kingdom, but to all the kingdoms of the earth, and to every individual from Adam to the latest of his posterity. Nor does any thing less than their eternal salvation depend upon it: they, who welcome it, will find acceptance with God; and they, who reject it, will be "punished with everlasting

a Luke xxiv. 26, 27. b 1 Pet. i. 11.

c Zech. xii. 7.

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destruction from his presence." It is, in short, that gospel, which "he that believeth shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned." ""e

And what tidings were ever so replete with joy? The most signal deliverances, the most complete victories, the most glorious acquisitions, enhanced by every thing that can be supposed to exhilarate the mind, are no more in comparison of this, than a twinkling star to the meridian sun. Even the angelic hosts, when they came to announce the wonderful event, proclaimed it as "glad tidings of great joy to all people." None ever believed the news, but he was instantly liberated from all his fears and sorrows, and filled with "joy unspeakable and glorified. ››

Such then is the report referred to in the text: a report so marvellous, that it fills heaven and earth with wonder; so true, that we may as well doubt our own existence as entertain a doubt respecting it; so interesting, that all the concerns of time and sense are, in comparison of it, but as the dust of the balance; and so joyous, that it is a certain and inexhaustible source of happiness to all who receive it.

But as it seems to surpass all belief, we shall do well to enquire

II. In what way it obtains credit?

It is proper to observe that the credit, which is to be given to this, is very different from the speculative assent, which we give to other reports. A belief in the gospel comprehends in it, not only an acknowledgment that it is true, but a full persuasion that it is necessary, suitable, and excellent; and such a persuasion, as compels us to renounce every other ground of dependence, and to rest all our hopes of salvation on this alone. Such a belief as this is not the result of reasonings about the evidences of Christianity, but the effect of a divine operation on the soul of man; it is produced by an exertion of omnipotence; an exertion not less, wonderful, than that which was put forth in raising Christ from the dead, and setting him at the right hand of God, far above all the principalities

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d 2Thess. i. 8.

e Mark xvi. 16.

f 1 Pet. i. 8.

and powers of earth and heaven. If faith had been merely an assent founded on evidence, and necessarily arising from conviction, one can scarcely conceive, how the people, to whom our Lord preached, should have so generally rejected his testimony; seeing that, according to their own confession, "he spake as never man spake,” and confirmed his word with the most stupendous miracles. But his opposers, though convinced and confounded, were as full of enmity against the truth as ever, because they wanted that divine unction, which was necessary to enlighten their minds and convert their souls: for want of a spiritual discernment they could not believe in Christ, or rightly apprehend the things of the Spirit. It was thus for several years with the apostles themselves: they had been taught by the ministry of Christ himself: yet, till he opened their understandings to understand the scriptures, they could not reconcile the events they had seen with the declarations they had heard. Nor would Lydia have yielded to the persuasive eloquence of the apostle, if the Lord himself had not opened her heart to attend to the things delivered by him.*

h

"the gift

Faith then is, as we are repeatedly assured, of God." And the prophet marks this truth in the words before us; the revelation of God's arm is evidently used by him as an expression equivalent to the believing of the report of the gospel; the latter being only the fruit and effect of the former.

Nor is faith to be derived from God solely at the first: we are as much dependent on him for its continuance and increase, as for its first formation in the soul. If he for one moment leave us to ourselves, however confident we may have been in times past, we shall soon cry out in unbelief, Lord save us, we perish:" and every renewed difficulty will only prove to us our constant need of that petition, "Lord, increase our faith." As we cannot embrace the truth, till "God make us willing in the day of his power," so neither can we hold fast our profession,

8 Eph. i. 19--22.

i Luke xxiv. 45, 46.
1 Eph. ii. 8. Phil. i. 29.
n Luke xvii. 5.

h John. vi. 44. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

k Acts xvi. 14.

m Matt. viii. 25. and xiv. 28–30.

unless, he, who was "the author of our faith, be also the finisher.""

That there are but few who thus believe the gospel will appear, if we consider

III. What reception it meets with in the world?

We might naturally have expected that so glorious a testimony should have been universally received with joy and gratitude: but the very reverse of this has been the effect of its publication in every age, and in every place. What the prophet Isaiah experienced in his day, all succeeding ministers have complained of. Our Lord, who wrought such unnumbered miracles in confirmation of his word, quoted the very passage before us in reference to himself, declaring that it was accomplished in the people of that generation. The apostle Paul also, the most honoured of all the apostles in that great work of converting souls to God, after he had planted many churches, yet found occasion to adopt the same expression, because those who received his message were scarcely to be discerned amidst the myriads who rejected it. And is there not as much reason now to make the same complaint? If indeed all who repeat the creed, and who say, I believe in Jesus Christ, were true believers, we should have reason to rejoice: but if faith in this divine record be a resting upon it as true, as suitable, as necessary, and as excellent, then are there few indeed who believe. Let us only ask, Who hath believed our report? Are there many to whom Jehovah's arm has been revealed? many, who, through the mighty working of his power, have been made to feel an interest in these tidings in some measure suited to their importance? On the contrary, do not the generality consider them as idle tales? And when they are enforced with earnestness, are not many ready to exclaim, like Ezekiel's hearers, "Ah, Lord God, doth he not speak * parables?"" Let us but cast our eyes around, and we shall have abundant proof of this melancholy fact: the contempt poured both on those who publish and those who

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