Full text of "On the prophecies and testimony of John the Baptist, and the parallel prophecies of Jesus Christ : eight sermons preached before the University of Oxford, in the year 1782 .."

See other formats

*<*..-.»^-

mmmm^r!finim-

LIBRARY

©Geological <f rmiuavjjt

PTxUsCETON, N. J.

No. Case. - Vkiv-> /j

-BR 45 .635-3.7^-2

Bampton lectures

/78Z

On the Prophecies and Teftimony of John the
Eaptifl, and the parallel Prophecies of Jefus Chrift,

EIGHT

SERMONS

PREACHED BEFORE THE

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,

IN THE YEAR I782,

At the LECTURE founded by the

Rev. JOHN B A M P T O N, M. A.

late canon of SALISBURY.

BY ROBERT HOLMES, M. A.

>ELLOW OF NEW-COLLEGE.

OXFORD.

printed for D. PRINCE AND J. COOKE, AND J, P, AND

C. RIVINGTON, AND T. CADELL, LONDON,

M DCC LXXX II,

Imprimatur,

SAM, DENNIS.

ViccCan. Ox on.
'June 19. 17^2,

TO THE REVEREND

THE HEADS OF COLLEGES,

THE FOLLOWING SERMONS,

PREACHED

AT THEIR APPOINTMENT.

ARE,

WITH GREAT RESPECT,

INSCRIBED,

ExtraSi from the lafi Will and Tejla^
ment of the late Reverend JOHN
BAMPTON, Canon of Salifbury.

I give and bequeath my Lands

^^ and Eftates to the Chancellor, Mafters,
** and Scholars of the Univerfity of Oxford
" for ever, to have and to hold all and fin-
** gular the faid Lands or Eflates upon truft,

** and to the iiitcnty uuJ purpofca herein after-
" mentioned j that is to fay, I will and ap-
" point, that the Vice Chancellor of the
*' Univerfity of Oxford for the time being
** ihall take and receive all the rents, iffues,
** and profits thereof, and (after all taxes,
" reparations, and necefTary dedud:ions made)
*' that he pay all the remainder to the en-
** dowment of eight Divinity Lecfture Ser-^
** mons, to be eflablifhed for ever in the faid
** Univerfity, and to be performed In the
** manner following :

** I direcft and appoint, that, upon the firft
** Tuefday in Eafher Term, a Ledurer be
** yearly chofen by the Heads of Colleges
" only, and by no others, in the room ad-
«* joining to the Printing-Houfe, between
a 3 the

"* the hours of ten in the morning and two
«* in the afternoon, to preach eight Divinity
** Ledlure Sermons, the year following, at
" St. Mary's in Oxford, between the com-
*' mencement of the laft month in Lent
<* Term, and the end of the third week in
** Adt Term.

" Alfo I direct and appoint, that the eight
" Divinity Ledure Sermons fhall be preach-
** ed upon either of the following fubjecfts
«« — to confirm and eftablifh the Chriftian
** Faith, and to confute all heretics and fchif-
*' matics — upon the divine authority of the
*' Holy Scriptures — upon the authority of
** the writings of the primitive Fathers, as
<* to the faith and practice of the primitive
*' Church — upon the Divinity of our Lord
*' and Saviour Jefus Chrifl — upon the Divi-
*' nity of the Holy Ghofi: — upon the Articles
** of the Chriftian Faith, as comprehended
** in the Apoflles' and Nicene Creeds.

** Alfo I diredl, that thirty copies of thq
'* eight Divinity Led;ure Sermons fhall be
" always printed, within two months after
** they are preached, and one copy fliall be
** given to the Chancellor of the Univerfity,

«* and

'' and one copy to the Head of every Col-
** lege, and one copy to the Mayor of the
** City of Oxford, and one copy to be put
** into the Bodleian Library ; and the ex-
** pence of printing them fhall be paid out
" of the revenue of the Lands or Eftates
'* given for eftablifhing the Divinity Lefture
** Sermons ; and the Preacher fhall not be
" paid, nor be entitled to the revenue, before
** they are printed.

*' Alfo I direcft and appoint, that no perfon
'* fhall be qualified to preach the Divinity
** Ledture Sermons, unlefs he hath taken the
:* Degree of Mafter of Arts at leafl, in one
** of the Vnq Univerfities of Oxford or Cam-
** bridge j and that the fame perfon fhall
** never preach the Divinity Lediure Sermons
" twice."

PRI

ENTS.

Luke

HI. 3, 4,

^he word of the Lord came mito John, the Son
of Zacharias, in the wilder nefs ; and he came
into all the country about Jordan, preaching
the Baptifm of Repentance.

General defign, pag. 6. ^Subftance of the firft difcourfe,

ibid. — — I. The Jews admitted that John was a prophet, 7.
— — the account, given of him by Jofephus, correfpondent

to that by the Evangelifts, 8. • John called a prophet by

Jofippon, 9. believed to be a prophet, without any view

to the Mefliah, ib. — this Ihewn from the Gofpels, and Afts of

the Apoftles, ibid.- II. upon what evidence the prophetical

character of John could be acknowledged, without conneding

him with the Meffiah, 10. i. thp outward appearances of

a prophetical charafter in John, ibid. 2. his minillry of

Baptifm, and his call to Repentance, ibid. 3. the unl

verfal expedation of the Meffiah, 13.—— 4. miraculous cir-
cumftances attending the conception and infancy of John, ib.
■■ ■ from all thefe circumllances, arofe a juft prefumption,
tut not a certainty, that John was a prophet,! 5. — III. the true
criterion of his infpiration,i6. it was prophecy, with near-
ly prefent accompliihment, 19. illuftration of this point,

?o. ■ the connedion, between the Eaptill and the Meffiah,

fieceflary, 21. John, not a prophet, unlefs he was the

lyieffiah's forerunner, laft page.

SER--

ii CONTENTS,

SERMON II.
Matth. iii. 5, 6.

T^hen went out to him yerufakm, and all
Judcea, and all the region round about Jor^
dany and were baptized of him in Jordan,
confejjing their Jins,

John, fent to prepare the way of the Lord, pag. 24. — —
to be fhewn partly in this difcourfe, from the baptifmal doc-
trine, as it refpedled the kingdom of heaven, and the Jewifh
people, ibid. import of the notice, the kingdom of hea-
ven is at hand, 25. — Jewifh notions of that kingdom, ib.
the true notion of it implied in John's preaching the baptifm

of repentance, 27. a caution attributed to the Baptill

by Jofephus, with refpeft to his baptifm, 29. — — • the mi-
niftry of the Baptill proceeded upon principles, exclufive of

the Law, and entirely Evangelical, 32. hence he appears

an original prophet, 33. — — particular view of the claufes in
the baptifmal doftrine of John. 34. — — he predicted the de-

ftrudlion of Ifrael, 36. the original circumftances, in this

prophecy, fliewed him a real prophet, 37. — — he predidled
the rejedion of Ifrael, and the call of the Gentiles, 38. ■■
hence alfo he appeared an original prophet, 41.' his bap-

tifmal doftrine levelled againft the Jewilh corruptions of the

Scripture-fenfe, 43. he taught that the Mefliah's kingdom,

the true righteoufnefs, the promife, and the genuine fonlhip

to Abraham, were all fpiritual, 44. inference, that he was

a real prophet, to the end.

SERMON III,

Mark i. 7.

There cometh One^ Mightier than /, after me.

Further

CONTENTS.

Ill

Further view of the baptifmal doftrine, viz. as it related
direftly to the Melhah, pag. 48. the baptifmal doc-
trine, as it ftands in the text of Saint Matthew, refumed,
49. • the attribute of power, afcribed to the Meffiah,

by the Baptift, 50. that of baptizing with the Holy

Ghoft, ibid. ■ that of tranfcendcnt dignity, 51. .

John afcribed thefe attributes to the Mefliah, by divine

revelation vouchfafed to himfelf, 52. evidences of

this, from his additions to the prophecies relating to the per-

fon of the Mefliah, 53. the Baptift rcprefents the Melliah

as the judge of all the world, 58. fummary view of the

baptifmal doftrijie, 63. Ihewn to have been delivered,

while the Meffiah remained unknown to the Eaptiil, 64. ■

the words, 'f 1 knew him not," confidered, 66, to the end,

SERMON IV.

John i. 6, 7.

^here was a 7nan, fent from God, whofe nafue
was 'John — the fame came for a wiinefs —

Of the teftimonies of John, after he knew, who was the

Meffiah, 74, of the baptifm of Jefus by him, ibid.

upon this John ceafed to be fimply the forerunner, and be-
came a witnefs, 75. the affertion, *' I knew him not,"

may be extended, as far as this interview, but not beyond it,

ibid. the Meffiah notified to the Baptift by immediate

revelation, 76. inftances fimilar to this, ibid. proofs

in the condufl of John, at Jordan, that he knew Jefus was the
Meffiah, 77. — fome particulars, not revealed to the Baptift, be-
fore this interview, 79. obfervations, on this tranfaftion,

purfued, 80. the clefcent of the Spirit upon Jefus, 81.

— — the Voice of the Father from heaven, 82. The firfi;

tellimony of John, after his baptizing Jefus, This was he, kc.
and obfervations upon it, 84.-— — rhe attribute of precxiftence

row firft affigned, Z^. appears grounded on the direft

interpretation of the title. Son of God, ibid. Deputation

of priefts and Levites to John, and the extent and import of

his anfwer to their enquiries, 87. Jefus, returned from

jhe temptation, prefcnts himfelf agai.". to John, S9, ob-

fervations

iv CONTENTS.

fervations on the chara£ler, Lamb of God, then applied to

him by the Baptift, ibid. illuftration of John i. 30, and

the fubfequent verfes, g2, • inferences from the preceding

obfervations, pag. 98.

SERMON V,

John i. 7.

T! he fame came for a witnefs, to bear wltnefs of
the light, that all men through him might
believe,

Illuflrations of the doftrine of John, as a witnefs,
continued, 99. ■ on the chara^ler. Son of God, 100,

■ in what fenfe John applied it to Jefus, loi. ■

the capital teftimony of the Baptift, John iii. 26, &c. confi-

dered, ib. the whole charafter of the Mefliah difplayed

by the Baptift in this teftimony, in more magnificent terms,
than he had employed before, 107. ■ they were confonant

to the fenfe of ancient Scripture, but unknown in Ifrael, 108.

> ■ fome of thefe charatlers imply in what fenfe he applied

the title. Son of G:d, ibid. — — fummary view of the whole

miniftry of John hitherto, 109. confidered as a witnefs,

in his imprifonment, 1 1 1 . • his fending the difciples to

Jefus illuftrated, 112. — ^—concluding inference that John
was Elias, 121.

SERMON VL

John xiii. 19,

Now I tell you, before it come, that when it is
come to pafs, ye may believe that I am He.

The completion of the prophecy of John, as Forerunner, and
of his teftimony, as a Witnefs, to be ihewn, from prophecies

CONTENTS. y^

of Jefus, either [relating to charaflers afcribed to him by

John, or parallel to prophecies of the Baptift, 124.

prophecies, to be confidtred in this difcourfe, relate
to charafters, which John had afligned, ibid. — — ift Cha-
rafter, the attribute of po\ver to the Meffiah, " he that Com-
eth after me is mightier than I." 125. refleftions on the

reality of the miracles of Jefus, ibid. view of his miracles,

as admitting a prophetical application, or giving him imme-
diate occafion to deliver prophecies, i 29.- inferences from

the foregoing obfervations, 134. II. The charader, Lamb

of God, and the prophecies of Jefus, relating to it, ib.

predifts his paflion, and its circumftances, 135. ■ moft of
thefe prophecies original, 136.' • inferences from the fore-
going obfervations, 142. III, The charadler Son of God,

and the prophecy of his refurreflion, that related to it, 144.

• original circumftances in that prophecy, 145. from

thefe, Jefus appeared a prophet, 146. his promife to

rife again by his own power fhews him more than a prophet,

ibid. •^— ill uftration of that promife, 147. inference

from foregoing obfervations, 149. — IV. The prophecy which
Jefus gave of his own afcenfion, juftifies the teftimony of John,

that he came from above, 150. original circumftance, in

that prophecy, ibid. general inference from the fabftance

of this difcourfe, 152.

SERMON VII.

John xiii. 19.

Now I tellyouy before it come, that when it is
come to pafs, ye may believe that I am He.

Of the prophecies of Jefus, that were parallel to thofe of

John, I. Chrift fpoke of the reftoration of the Holy

Spirit, in the terms both of a prophecy and a promife, 154.
•— — he reprefented the Holy Spirit, as another divine
agent in the work of redemption, 155. — — inferences from

the parting addrefs of Jefus to the difciples, ibid. of the

terms, in which Jefus repeated the fame prophecy, after his
refurreftion, 157. — — parallel to the prophecy delivered by

John,

vl CONTENTS.

John, " he fhall baptize you." &c. ibid. sad to the lan-
guage of the ancient prophets, yet original in Jefus, 158.

inferences from the foregoing remarks on this prophecy, i jg.
II. The prophecy of Jefus, of the converfion of the Gen-
tiles, parallel to the prophetical admonition of John, " think

not to fay within yourfelves, &c." 161. this prophecy

original in Jefus, 163. • fhewn firft, from comparing his

conduft, as a teacher ot Ifrael, with his prediction that the
Gentiles Ihould be converted, 164.— — 2dly, from his words,
*• Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, 1 will build my
church ;■" ** and, I will give unto thee the keys of the king-
dom of heaven,'' 172. III. The prophecy of Jefus, of the

deftruftion of Ifrael, parallel to the prophecy of John, " now

the axe is laid unto the root of the trees," 176. and to

thofe of ancient prophets, ibid. — — yet fhewn original in
Chrift, from fome new circumftances, which he interwove

with the prediction, 177. i. the completion of it limited

to a particular generation, and period of time, ibid. 2.

prophetical hiftory of the period between the delivery and the

accompliihment of the prophecy, 178. 3. That his eleft

Ihould be then the objeds of divine proteftion, 179, . 4.

the captivity of the Jews in all nations, and the prefent ftate
of Jerufalem, predicted, and the captivity of the one, and the
defolation of the other, limited to a particular period, i 80.—
Jewilli imprecation, " his blood be on us, and on our chil-
dren," thus literally fulfilled, 181. — this firft ad of
our Lord's judgement upon Ifraei, prefigures his laft univerfal
one over the world, 182.— —both called in Scripture his

coming, ibid. Jefus, in the fame prophecy. (Matth. xxiv.)

and the Baptift, in the claufe, " whofe fan is in his hand,
&c," fpeak primarily of the judgement of Ifrael, and ulti-
mately of the judgement of the world, 183. other pro-
phecies by Jefus of his univerfal judgement, 184. — — infe-
rences from the fubllance of this difcourfe, ibid.

SERMON VIII.

John xiii. 19.

Now I tell yotif before it come, that whe?i it is
come to pafs, ye may believe that I am be»

CONTENTS. vH

Of the prophecy, which Jefus delivered, of the prevalence

of his Gofpel, 187. the old prophets, the Baptift, and

Jefus himfelf, prophetically charafterized the unpromifing

rife, but final fulnefs of the Meffiah's kingdom, 188. .

the prevalence of the Gofpel, proves Chrift a prophet; but as
it mull be afcribed only to his own accomplilhment of his
promifes, it proves him, more than a prophet, 189, &c. ■ «
I. The Apodles, on Chrill's leaving them, had not fufiicient

knowledge for their office, 191. . nor fufficient fortitude,

ibid. fq. -Jefus foretold their fufferings and violent death,

191.—— reflexion on this prophecy, 193.— — notwithlland-
ing their deficiencies, the Apoftles adlually entered on their
miniftry, within a few days after their Lord's departure, 194.
— — hence neceflarily concluded, that their deficiencies were

previoufly remedied, 195. not by their own natural

powers, ibid.' but by the coming of the Holy Ghoft upon

them, 196. He brought the Gofpel down from heaven,

1 99. the Apoftles flood in need of further illumination

afterwards, ibid. II. The continuance of the Law, ano-
ther obftacle, 200. effeds of it on the minds of the Jews,

ibid. promife of Jefus to remove this obftacle, 202. ■

fulfilled in the fall of Jerufalem and the temple, and in the
difperfion of the Jews, 203. Jefus marked this accom-
plilhment of his denunciation of woe to Ifrael,as immediately
leading to the general eftablifhment of his Gofpel, 206. — under
Hadrian, the Jews endeavoured, in vain, to recover their holy
place, ibid. ■ Julian endeavoured, in vain, to rebuild it,
207. -— — III. Satan's kingdom another obftacle to the efta-
blifhment of the kingdom of Jefus, 208. ■ • he gave his

difciples power, and promifed them fupport from himfelf,

againft this enemy, 209. inferences from the fubftance of

this difcourfe, 210. General conclufions from all the dif-

courfes, 202. — — prophecies of Jefus afcribable only to the
divine Spirit ; and the exaft accompliftiment of them, as they
ftand in the Gofpels, afcribable only to the divine power,
216. • conclufion, that God fet his feal upon the Gofpel,

both as it was preached by Jefus, and as it was publilhed in
writing by the Evangelifts,

N I.

l!he word of the Lord came unto yobn, the Son
of Zacharias, in the nsjildernefs y and he came
into all the country about Jordan, preaching
the Baptifm of Repentance.

■^. H E hiilory of Chrift was admirably
adapted to give, the moft clear and
venerable reprefentation of Chriftia-
nlty, and, at the fame time, an obvious and
frequent * demonftration of its truth. For, as
the fyftem of duty, contained in his moral
and religious difcourfes, was in him vifibly
exemplified ; fo alfo, a confiderable part of
the evidence, that he came from God, arifes
from the feveral a<5ts and incidents of his
publick life. There are two queftions, that

^ An anfvver is given to the inquiry, why Chriftianity was
delivered, in the hiftory of our Saviour, in preference to any
other form, in a Commencement Sermon, Jeffcry's Trai^ts.
Vol. ii. at the end,

A , have

2 S E R M O N I.

have immediate reference to them ; the one,
concerning their real exigence, and the other,
refpedling the proofs, which they afford of a
divine atteftation.

It may be obferved, as to the reality of
thofe fads, in the life of Chrift, upon which
his Religion is founded, that the teflimony
of friends and adverfaries, has enabled us to
trace the profeffion of Chriftianity, through
all the intermediate ages, from our own
times ^ till it began. During that long in-
terval, it will be found invariably dillinguilli-
ed, with the obfervance of the fame ilated
day of worihip, and with the ufe of particular
Sacraments, either in exprefs memorial of
different a(5ls in the life of Chrift, or in pur-
fuance of his poUtive inftitution.

This '^ uninterrupted continuance of the
Chriftian profeffion, accompanied with thefe
characfteriftical obfervances, in all conjunctures
of things, and againft all obftacles, through
the feveral ages, between the prefent time and
that of Tiberius, evidently implies, that, in

** The prevalence of it, in Trajan's time, is attcfted by
Plin. Ep. 97. Lib. 10. See alio Daubuz pro teJlimonio Jofephi.
— ^Tacit. Annal. Lib. 15. cap. 44. — Sueton. Claud, cap. 25.—
Julian, apud Cyrill. Lib. 6.

*= This argument is drawn out at large by Dr. Campbell in
his Authenticity of the Gofpel Hiilory.

his

S ii K M O 1ST I.

his days, fuch perfons iirfl appeared as tho
difclples of Chrifl, and publickly aflerted,
that they heard the dodlrines, and beheld
the fads, upon which he founded, and
* commiffioned them to advance, the Chrif-
tian Rehgion.

By •''their hands, or under the immediate
diredion and revifal of fome in their number,
written hiflories were drawn up, and were
received and ufed by the refl, as true narra-
tives of what they had all heard and feen,
during their intercourfe with Chrift. — So far
as to the real exiflence of the fads, upon
which Chriiliianity depends.

That the Gofpels, extant at this day, are
the genuine hiflories, which thefe witneiTes,
immediately converfant with Jefus, either
penned or approved, may be grounded, not
only upon the teflimony of heathen adverfa-
ries, and Chriflian apologias, in every age,
but alfo, as a celebrated ' writer obferves,
*' upon the general reception and credit,
which they found, not only in all the
churches, but with all the private Chrif-
tians of thofe ages, who were able to pur-
chafe copies of them ; among whom,

'^ This is admitted by Tulian, apud Cyrill. Lib. 9. zqi.
* See Le Clerc's 3d. Differt. iubjoined to his Evang. Harm,
" Middleton. Free Inquiry, 410. Ed. p. 155.

A 2 though

^ S E i<^ M O N I.

though it might perhaps be the defire of a
few to corrupt, yet it was the common
intereft of all, to preferve, and of none, to
deftroy them. And we find accordingly,
that they were guarded by all with the
flrideft care, fo as to be concealed from
the knowledge and fearch of their heathen
adverfaries, who alone were defirous to ex-
tirpate them. After fuch a publication
therefore, and wide difperfion of them from
their very origin, it is hardly pofiible, that
they fhould either be corrupted, or fupprefled,
or counterfeited, by a few, of what character
or abilities foever -, or that, according to the
natural courfe of things, they fhould not be
handed down from age to age, in the fame
manner, with the works of all the other
ancient writers of Greece and Rome ; which,
though tranfmitted through the hands of
many profligate and faithlefs generations of
men, yet have fufFered no diminution of their
credit on that account 5 for though in every
age there were feveral perhaps, who, from
crafty and felfifh motives, might be difpof-
ed to deprave, or even to fupprefs, fome
particular books, yet their malice could
reach only to a few copies, and would be
retrained therefore from the attempt, or

correded

SERMON I. 5

correded at leaft after the attempt, by the
greater number of the fame books, which
were out of their reach, and remained flill
incorrupt. But befides all this, there were
fome circumftances, peculiar to the books of
the New Teftament, which enfured the pre-
fervation of them more effedually, than of
any other ancient books whatfocver ; the
divinity of their charader, and the religious
regard, which was paid to them by all the
fe6ls and parties of Chriftians -, and above all,
the mutual jealoufies of thofe very parties,
which were perpetually watching over each
other, left any of them fhould corrupt the
fources of that pure dod:rine, which they all
profefTed to teach and to deduce from the
fame books — it was not in the power of any
craft, to impofe fpurious pieces, in the room
of thofe genuine ones, which were adlually
depofited in all churches, and preferved, with
the utmoft reverence, in the hands of fo many
private Chriftians."

After thefe preliminary obfervations, to
juftify, in fome meafure, the liberty, that will
be taken, of appealing to the Evangelical
writings, as authentick hiftories of real fadt,
I proceed, in difcharge of the honourable
province alTigned me, to fliew that they con-
tain

6 SERMON I.

tain evidences of a divine atteflation to the
Gofpel, and begin with Hating the drift and
fubftance of the argument, to be purfued in
thefe difcourfes.

The defign is -, to produce and illuftrate,
firft, the prophetical teftimony of John the
Baptift to the Gofpel, and its Author ; and
then, the principal prophecies of Ghrift him-
felf ; and to urge them jointly in fupport of
the divine original of the Chriflian Religion.

This is the general fcheme In view ; the
particular argument of each difcourfe will be
ftated, as it occurs ; — the fequel of this will
be employed to flievv, firft, that the Jews
really admitted the prophetical charadter of
the Baptill -, fecondly, that the evidence, upon
which they admitted it, was only partial and
prefumptive, the complete and decifive proof
of it being entirely difregarded ; and laftly,
to point out from whence the true and con-
cluiive evidence of his divine miffion arofe.

I. With refpecl to the general reception
of John as a prophet, it may be obferved,
that '^Jewifh hillorians attefl: his adminiftration
of baptifm, and appropriate to him that title,
drawn from his office, by which he is dif-

' Jofephus, and Jofeph ben Gorion, or Jofippon. See
Xjardner, JewiAi and Heathen Telliraonies.

tinguifhed

S E R M O N I. 7

tinguifhed in the Gofpels, and aflign the
reign of Herod Antipas, as the date, and
the land of Judsa, as the fcene, of his mi-
niftry, and further intimate that a multitude
of Jews received his baptifm.

The teftimony, given by Jofephus in par-
ticular, to the publick minillry and general
veneration of the Baptifl, will have the
greater weight in behalf of the Gofpel, which
began in the baptifm of John, from the
agreement, fubfiiting between the facred wri-
ters and him, in their account, not only of
the miniflry and extraordinary fuccefs of the
Bapti(l:,but alfo of other circumflances,refpe<ft-
ing the charader and the objedis of his bap-
tifm, of which notice will be taken hereafter.

This hiftorian informs us, that John had
conciliated the affedion and reverence of the
people to fo great a degree, that his popula-
rity alarmed the king ; and that the deftruc-
tion of his army was publickly reputed a juft
a6l of divine vengeance againfl him, for fhed-
ding the blood of John.

Agreeably to this account, we learn from
the Gofpels, that Herod, although he ven-
tured to fliut up John in prifon, yet permitted
his difciples to continue their intercourfe with
him, and for a long time, through [ fear of

f Matth. xiv. 5. ^*^®

8 SERMON I.

the people and ^ perfonal refpe<fl to the Baptill,
forbore to deprive him of life, and, at laft,
gave him up with the greatefl: reludtance to
the fanguinary malice of Herodias.

The great Council of the Jews, who af-
fumed and exercifed the right of examining
and determining every claim to a prophetical
commiilion, by a folemn deputation of Le-
vites to the Baptift, enquired into the truth
of his pretenfions. The turn of their quef-
lions implies a perfuafion in the melTengers,
that John was a real prophet -, art thou Elias,
or that prophet, or the Chrifl: ? They did not
enquire, whether God had fent him, but ra-
ther, in what divine charadler he came ; and
they did not demand, *' why baptizefl thou
then," untill he had already difclaimed,
one after another, the feveral divine charac-
ters, which they had imagined might belong
to him. And after all, though his anfwer
gave offence to the Council, yet they did not
venture to condemn him as a falfe prophet.
Indeed, the danger vv^as great of difowning
his mifiion from God, and depreciating his
baptifm ; " ^if we Ihall fay, it was of men,
all the people will flone us, for the}'' be
perfuaded that John was a prophet," is the
language held by themfelves.

^ Mark vi. 20. g Luke xx. 5, 6. The

S E R M O N I. 9

The principal circumftances, which can
be drawn, either from the Scripture, or the
account of Jofephus, have fufficient agree-
ment, to fhew, that the character of the Bap-
tift was generally believed prophetical. The
^ lateft of the two Jewifh hiftorians expreflly
calls him a prophet j and, whether this writer
was a Jew in reality, or in pretence only, it
feems to be equally certain, that he has given
the true Jewifli opinion concerning John- If
he is efteemed a real Jew, then he ought alfo
to be reckoned a credible judge and witnefs
of the current notions of his countrymeg -,
but, on the contrary, if it be fuppofed, that
he perfonated a Jewifh character, and that m
a very late period, it may then be obferved,
that the reception and credit of his hiftory
among the Jews, even in preference to that of
Jofephus, fufficiently fliews, that they juflify
and authenticate the fubftance of his llory.

This belief, of the infpiration of John,
feems to have been generally entertained
without any view to the Meifiah. For, ^in the
Gofpels, mention is made of difciples, that
flill adhered to, and vifited, the Baptifl in the
prifon, when Chrifl was in the full exercife

' Jofippon is fuppofed to have written about the eleventh
century. Lardner, ubi fupra s Matth. ix, 14. xi. 2.

lo S E R M O N I.

of his miniftry; and of others, who obferved
exadlly the frequent falls, that John had pre-
fcribed, and, as it appears, blamed Chrift and
his followers, for their difufe of fimilar re-
flridions. We find aifo, " in the A(fls of the
Apoilles, that Apollos, and fome Jews, whom
St. Paul met with at Ephefuc, knew, and
had received, only the baptifm of John.

All the Jews of this defcription, as they
feem to have believed the prophetical charac-
ter of the Baptiil, could have no other ground
for admitting it, except that, upon which he
was feparately confidered, and independent of
the Meffiah. The immediate quefhion then will
be, upon what evidence the infpiration of
John was acknowledged by thofe, who either
overlooked, or violated, the connexion be*
tween him and Chrill ; and, whether that
evidence was, or was not, fufficient to judify,
in the fulleft extent, the conclufion they
drew. And, as this was the fecond of the three
articles, propofed for prefent confideration,
I endeavour, in the next place, if it be pof-
fible, to affign fome of their reafons.

II. I. In the plainnefs of his habit, and the
exad: abftinence of his life, which are dif-
tindly ^marked by the Evangelifls, theBaptiffc

^ xviii. 24. xix. 2. *" See Grotius on Pv^atth. iil. 4. Compare
Zccii. xiii. 4. 2 Kings i. 8. i Chfon. xxi. 16. carried

SERMON L II

carried all the outward appearances of a pro-
phetical .charader. His diftinguilhed holi-
nefs, and the fervent and authoritative ftyle,
in which he rebuked the vices and the finners
of his time, would naturally engage the ut-
moft refped; and veneration of all, that were
religioully difpofed. And, as the communi-
cation between God and his people, feemed
to be renewed of late, by the return of a
miraculous power at the waters of *^ Bethefda,
they would perhaps be the more readily in-
clined, to expedt the revival of prophecy
among them, and, on finding the ^ reputed
charaderiftics of a prophetical fpirit in the
Baptift, to attribute infpiration to him,

2. This impreffion, in favour of John,
might alfo be confirmed, by his miniftry of
Baptifm, and his call to Repentance. For
their own principles would naturally difpofe
them to take efpeciall notice of both thefe
particulars.

Baptifm was a facrament of the Jews, and
was adminiilered by John in the cuftomary

*' John V. 4.

s Vorftius enumerates fix concomitants or antecedents of
prophecy among them were ; Sequcftration from the com-
mon and profane manner of living- Scafonablenefs of the

time : for they held all times not equally fcafonable. ad Mai-
inonid. de fund. Leg. c. 7.

form.

12 SERMON I.

form. Their fathers had been baptized unto
"^ Mofes, or unto that difpenfation of religion
and worlliip, which God eftablifhed among
them by his miriiflry ; and as, under the Law
of Mofes, the ** old world," as they termed
it, Baptifm had been their facrament of ori-
ginal admiffion ', fo alfo, from their conftruc-
tion of the prophecies, and from popular
tradition, they looked for the fame means of
' initiation to the " ^ new world" under the
Meffiah. The call to Repentance agreed

equally with their preconceptions. The
maxim was received among them ', If Ifrael
repent but one day, prefently the Redeemer
Cometh. Whether they entertained juft no-
tions of Baptifm and Repentance, or other-
v/ife, is not confidered here -, but the prefent
queftion is, fim.ply, whether the ufe of Bap-
tifm, and the call to Repentance, were likely
to be deemed the accomplifhment of their
own traditions, and, on that account, appa-
rent-indications of a prophetical fpirit in the

* I Corinth. X. 2.—— Heb. ix. 19. Lightfoot Har.

1 Part, pag. 466.

' See Grot, on John i. 25. — But a baptifm, like that of
John, to initiate them to a new Religion, feeni3 not to have
been expeded.

^ Lightfoot. Har. ift part, pag. 9. et paflim.

' Lightfoot, Vol. 2. Har. ih part, pag. 10,

Baptift J

SERMON I.

Baptift ', and this perhaps may be conceive-
able.

3. But the prefumption of the infpiration of
John, in whatfoever degree the circumftances,
hitherto mentioned, can be fuppofed to have
fuggefled it, would be confiderably flrength-
ened by the univerfal expe(ftation of the
Meffiah. Syria had been fubdued, and
annexed to the great empire of Rome ; and,
as the time, limited in the prophecy of
"" Daniel, was confefledly elapfed, the King-
dom of the God of heaven, which he had
foretold, under Meffiah the Prince, was im-
mediately expefted to appear. The univerfal
prevalence of this expedlation in Ifrael, at
that time, has been indifputably fhewn by
writers both " facred and profane. *' The
kingdom of heaven is at hand," was there-
fore a notice, likely to further every pre-
vious fuppofition of an infpired charader in
the Baptift.

4. But above all, the miraculous circum-
ftances, that attended the conception, and in-
fancy, of John, if generally known, would
greatly facilitate his admiffion, as a prophet.

* Chap. 9.

" Luke xix. 1 1. Sueton. ia Vefp. c. 4.

When

14 SERMON!.

When they originally happened, " ° fear cam6
on all, and thefe fayings were noifed abroad
throughout all the hill-country, and all
they that had heard them, laid them up in
their hearts, faying, what manner of child
iTiall this be ?" The report of thefe cir-
cumflances might be revived, upon the com-
ing of John to baptize, fo near thofe parts 5
and, as the people grew daily more and more
difpofed to mufe and enquire concerning him,
a knov^ledge of them would be likely to take
a wider extent. If fo, as it would imme-
diately occur, that John ^ was of the line of
Aaron, and by right of birth a priefk of the
God of Ifrael, as ^ Jofippon expreflly calls
him, thefe miraculous circumftances would
indeed have a powerful! effed:, in perfuading
the publick, that his baptifm was from hea-
ven, and not of men. — Indeed, neither of the
prophecies, by the ' Angel and * Zacharias,
refpedting the real office of John, feem to
have been regarded or knov/n. If that had
been the cafe, his true charad:er, and the re-
lation between him and the Meffias, could
fcarcely have palled, as it did, without notice

° Luke i. 65. P Luke I. i.

*J Gorionides Joannem hunc prophetam vocat. Grot, ad Matth.
xi. ^. ^ Luk€ i. 17. ^ Luke i. 76,

and

SERMON I.

and effedt. But flill, even a rumour, how-
ever indiftind, that the birth of the Baptift
had been foretold, and his name dictated, by
an Angel, that appeared to Zacharias, during
his facerdotal courfe in the Temple, would
add very confiderable weight to every other
fuppofed evidence of his infplration, and
might poffibly determine the Jews, without
further hefitation, to admit his prophetical
charader.

If then, the real flate of the JewIHi
opinions and expedtatlons, at the time, be
conlidered, thefe feveral circumflances, taken
in aid of each other, will probably appear
fufficient to have raifed a general prefump-
tion, that John was a prophet ' -, and, that
they fhould operate fo far, as to attach the
people to him, and difpofe them to receive
his baptifm, in the true fpirit of it, and to
expert, with repentance and faith, the com-
ing of the Meffias, whom he predided, feems
to have been the divine intention.

But then, to treat this prefumption, as if
it was abfolute certainty, and to admit the
prophetical charader of the Baptift, upon this
probable evidence, exclufive of all other, to

* His fuccefs, even in that partial degree, to which it ex-
tended, was the completion of" prophecy. Malachi. 4. 5, 6.
Luke i. 17.

i6 S E R M O N I.

be given in future, tended immediately to
contradid: the counfel of God. It led many
of the Jews to break the neceflary conne6lion
between the Baptifl and the Meffias, and to
look no farther than John ; and of courfe,
they muft have acquiefced in fuch evidence
of his infpiratlon, as their limited view af-
forded. But all their proofs of the prophe-
tical characfter of John, fuppofmg him fmgly
confidered, whether they arofe from the cir-
cumftances, already recited, or fL'om any other,
fell (hort of that complete and decifive evi-
dence, which God had provided ; and when
they admitted John, as a prophet, upon any
prefumptive ground alone, however flrong,
they had much yet to learn, both of his cre-
dentials and his office. His infpiration could
be abfolutely afcertained, only by another,
and a fubfequent, criterion s and what that
was, is a material queftion, and will make
the third and final article of the prefent en-
quiry.

III. The ufual means of authenticating a
divine miffion, were not given to John. He
did no miracle ; and, on that account, if he
really was the meffenger of God, we may ex-
pert other evidence, upon which his prophe-
tical character could be, and therefore ought

S E R M O N I. 17

to have been, determined. If he had no fuch
deciiive evidence in his favour, hov^ever ftrong
a prefumption, of his divine commiffion,
might arife from other circumftances, yet
muft it he open to queftion, as God never fail-
ed to give an indifputable atteftation to every
real prophet. Upon that footing, the Baptlft,
as not being inverted with a miraculous
power, would have been left without any
conclufive evidence of his miffion from God ;
and the Jews, if their own experience, in the
cafes of former prophets, had influenced
their judgement, would, have queftioned the
prophetical chara(fler of any claimant, who
wanted the means of proving it undeniably
certain, and could only render it probable.

The truth, in the cafe before us, appears
to be this. The providence of God, as if to
prevent the very miflake, which was made by
the Jews, did not authenticate the miffion of
John, by any indubitable proof, that was ex-
cluiively perfonal to the Baptift, as the power
of working miracles would have been. The
only decifive evidence, that John was a real
prophet, arofe out of his relation to the
Meffias ; in him it began, and was refleded
back upon the Baptift. It was his appointed
province to prepare the way for One Mightier,

B that

i8 S E R M O N L

that (hould come,and to make him manlfefl unto
Ifrael. The unqueflionable right of the Bap-
tifl to a prophetical charader, could therefore
be fhewn, only by the abfolute appearance of
that Mightier One, for whom he prepared
the way. If he had fpoken of One to come,
who came not ; or had appropriated characters
to him, which, if he came, he did not fuf-
tain ', or had attributed works to him, which
he did not accomplifli, it would have been
reafonably concluded, in oppofition to all
other evidence, that he really bore no di-
vine commiffion. But, on the contrary, if
the predi(5lions of the Baptift, concerning the
fpeedy appearance, office, and works of Him,
who was to come, were verified ; in that ac-
complifliment would confift the proper and
fufficient proof, that John himfelf was a pro-
phet ; and his teftimony to the Meffias, upon
his appearance, ought then to have difpofed
the people of thofe and of all fucceeding
times, to believe the divine commiffion of
both.

According to this reprefentation, though
the ufual evidence of miracles, was not the
appointed proof, that the word of the Lord
came to John, yet another, and that decilive
in the queition, was granted to him. This

was

S E R M O N I. 19

was prophecy j but not of fuch a cafl:, as to
leave the point, which it v/as intended to af-
certain, for a confiderable interval of time,
in fufpence and undetermined. It was pro-
phecy, not with remote, but nearly prefent,
accomplifhment ; it was not as a light, fliin-
ing long in a dark place, but the dawn haded
on, and the day-flar foon arofe. The matter
was placed upon the proper ground, by fome
of the Jews, in one inftance, which is thus
recorded by the Evangelift. «« " Jefus went
away again beyond Jordan, unto the place,
where John at firfl baptized, and there he
abode. And many reforted unto him, and
faid, John did no miracle -, but all things,
that John fpake of this man, were true." The
place reminded them of former teftimonies
to the Meffias, which they had beard the
Baptift deliver there; and this recolledion pro-
duced in them a natural and reafonable effedt,
for the Evangelift adds, " and many believed
on him there." They faw and felt the true
evidence of the prophetical charad:er of John,
and were immediately led, by their juft
views, to proceed one ftep further than many

* John X. 41, 42,— See Chemnit. H, E. B. 5. pag. 10.

B 2 of

20 SERMON L

of their countrymen, and to admit the divinc
miffion of Chrift, as well as that of John.

I have thus endeavoured to fhew, that the
ground, upon vi^hich thofe Jews, who looked
no farther than the Baptifl, attributed an in-
fpired charad:er to him, was partial ; and have
ftated what appears the full evidence of it, to
which they ought to have extended their
views 5 that it might be diftincSly feen, with
what admirable flri(5tnefs, the credentials of
the Baptifl were adjufted to the nature and
defign of his office. And, as this point feems
of confequence in any account of the tefti-
mony of the Baptifl to Jefus, this difcourfe
fhall be clofed with a fhort illuflration of it.

Many prophets, and efpecially Elias, in
whofe fpirit and power the Baptifl came, had
been permitted to work miracles. They
flood as fingle objecfls ; and the public atten-
tion was to be drawn, and continued, to them
alone. The cxercife of a miraculous power
would therefore diredlly facilitate their ad-
miflion, in the character of divine mefTengers.
But the cafe was otherwife with the Baptifl.
The exercife of a miraculous power, as it
mufl tend to fix the eyes of the people im-
moveably upon him, would have counteradled
the real purpofe of his office, which was in-
tended

SERMON I. 21

tended to manifeft another unto Ifrael. And,
as the Jews flood moft in need of an induce-
ment to look beyond the Baptifl, the con-
clufive evidence of his divine miflion, was of
that particular nature, which was heft calcu-
lated to carry their views forward to the
Meffias.

A perfuafion that John really Vv^as a pro-
phet, generally prevailed; this feems to be
clear from the Jewifh hiftorians. But the
Scriptures alone affign the ground, upon
which that perfuafion could be completely
juftified. According to them, neither the
prophetical notice, given by the Baptifl, " the
kingdom of heaven is at hand," nor the pre-
ceding prophecies of the Angel and Zacha-
rias, could be verified, except in the adiual
coming of the Mefliah ; and all decifive evi-
dence, of the infpiration of John, would
therefore, as it feems, be excluded, if the
Baptifl was coniidered independent of him.

A necefTary connection appears then to
have fubfifled between them -, and their cre-
dentials feem to have been unavoidably in-
volved fo far, that the divine miflion of both
was to be afcertained, at one inflant, and in
one event. The Baptifl came in the charac-
ter of forerunner ; and it was not pofTible to
B 3 prove

22 S E R M O N I.

prove him, even a prophet, except from that
very incident, vv^hich would alfo prove him
the Forerunner. So evidently was it provid-
ed, that the Baptift could not fail to authen-
ticate the divine miffion of the Meffias, by
the fame means, and in the fame degree,
wherein he eftablifhed his own.

The credibility of the Gofpel-hiflory of
the Baptift will perhaps be confirmed, and
his teftimony to Jefus enforced, if it has now
been fhewn with any fuccefs, that, although
John certainly was received as a prophet, yet
his charad:er could not be proved prophetical,
if it were any other, except that, which the
Gofpel- writers reprefent it, of Forerunner to
the Meffiah,

SER-

( 23 )

SERMON II.

Matt. iii. 5, 6.

^hen ivejit out to htm yerufalem, and all
yudcea, and all the region round about yor-
dan, and were baptized of him in yordan,
confejjing their Jins,

"^ H E divine miffion of the Baptift,
however flrongly it might be pre-
fumed, could not, as I have before
endeavoured to fhew, be completely afcer-
tained, if he were confidered lingly, and in-
dependent of the Meffias. If he did not
really bear that charader of Forerunner to
One Mightier, who was to come, which the
Gofpel-writers attribute to him, no deciiive
evidence feems affignable, that he came from
God.

B 4 This

24 S E R M O N 11.

This point having been difcufTed in the
preceding difcourfe, I proceed to fhew, that
fufficient evidences of his "prophetical charac-
ter might have been difcovered, and accumu-
lated, by confidering him as a meflenger,
fent to prepare the vi^ay of the Lord.

This v^ill be attempted only in part, at
prefent, by illuftrating the baptifmal dod:rine
of John, as far as it refpedted the kingdom
of heaven, and the people of Ifrael.

I. As John, by both his parents, was of
the line of Aaron, he was by right of birth a
priefl of the God of Ifrael. When he at-
tained the proper age for commencing his
miniftry, he declined the fervice of the
Sanctuary, and forfook the Church of Ifrael ',
but affumed, and pubhckly exercifed, a fa-
cerdotal office, in obedience, as he profefTed,
to the word of the Lord. Baptifm was the
only one of the Jewifh ceremonies, which he

* Evidence of a divine miffion may arife from one or more
of the following circumftances. ift, From explaining former
prophecies, fo as to imply fuch a clear and comprehenfive
knov/ledge of the events, predifted therein, that it could not
reafonably be afcribed to the unaffifted faculties of man ; Or,
2dly, from declaring that the accompliihment of prophecies
was immediately approaching ; Or, 3dly, from repeating the
prophecies themfelves, with new and additional circumflances ;
Or, laftly, from delivering predidions entirely original. Fre-
quent occafion will arife of applying one or other of thefe
criteria. — —

retained

S E R M O N 11. 25

retained, but of this he kept only the form.
The new and original purpofe, to which he
applied it, may be colledled from his bap-
tifmal dodrine. The leading points of it
fhew, that the Holy Ghoft, with which
John had been filled from the womb, im-
parted to him juft views of the religious ftate
of Ifrael, at that time ; and enabled him to
predict the charaderiftical principles and na-
ture of the Gofpel-kingdom, which he de-
clared to be at hand, together with the rejec-
tion of the Jews, and the admiffion of the
Gentiles.

" The kingdom of heaven is at hand,'*
was the awakening notice, upon which his
baptifmal exhortation was grounded. The
expreffion itfelf was not ftrange to his
hearers, nor the intelligence, which he gave
them, unexpected. It coincided with the
popular opinion, and as, in ^he Jewifh fenfe, it
was extremely pleafing, the completion of it
was impatiently defired. We may therefore
imagine, that the Baptifl: was readily under-
ftood to announce ^ the approach of the Mef-

* Matth. xli. 28. xvi. 19. Luke xvii. 20, 21. Lightfoot,
Vol. I. pag. 568. fq. — Whitby, Matth. iii. 2. — fioin-heieu) l»-

hiyet. Chryfoll. Horn. X. in Matth. loc. cit.

fias.

16 S E R M O N II.

fias. The phrafe feems to be thus inter-
preted in many paffages of Scripture -, and
John applied it, in the greateft latitude, to
denote the whole oeconomy of things under
the Meffias.

Indeed, the Baptifl and his audience en-
tirely difagreed in their notion of that ftate.
The opinion, entertained of it by the Jews,
may perhaps, on the authority of their own
writers, as well as of the Scripture, be juftly
flated in the fubfequent particulars.

They expected, that the ^ fplendor and fo-
lemnity of their civil and religious conftitu-
tion would then be raifed to the ^ utmoft
height ; and Scripture had been ftrained to
juftify that fond belief, which zeal for the
law had fuggefted, and the voice of tradition
confirmed. They prefumed alfo, that the
"i difperfed of Ifrael would be gathered to«

^ Maimonides fays, the Jews expeded, that the nations,
roufed at the exhortation of the Meffias, would turn to the
Law. See Lightfoot Harmony, i ft part. pag. 14.

•* It was expefted that the Meffias fhoyld reftore the king-
dom of the houfe of David to its old glory, and build the
temple, and bring home all the difperfed of Ifrael : and that
Ifrael ihould then be at reft from the kingdom of wickednefs,
to ftudy the Law and the Commandments without difquietude.
Lightfoot, Vol. I. p, 568, from Maimonides. Perhaps there
are traces of this opinion in the Gofpels. John xi. 52.

* John viii. 39. — It fhall be the morning to Ifrael) but

night to the nations of the world. Ifrael in the time to

come

SERMON II.

gether in their own land, and that the blef-
fings of the Meffiah's kingdom would be
conferred upon them, by right of defcent
from Abraham, and in virtue of the divine
promife, to the ^ exclufion of all other na-
tions. They expecfted further, that the op-
prcffion of the kingdoms would then ceafe,
and not only political liberty, but alfo poli-
tical dominion, be reflored to Ifrael.

Thus had they reprefented the kingdom of
heaven to themfelves ; and that blindnefs of
mind, and hardnefs of heart, for which they
were reproved fo feverely, and have now fuf-
fered fo long, may be ultimately refolved into
thefe principles. How greatly they miftook
their own religious ftate, and the nature of
the Meffiah's kingdom, the reprefentation of
both, given by the Baptift, will fufficiently
difcover.

He " preached, the Baptlfm of Repentance"
— that, in ufe among the Jews, defer ves rather
to be named the baptifm of ftrid obedience.

come (i, e. the days of the Mefllas) fhall be left only, and
there fliall be with him no ftrange God, are Jewidi tradi-
tions, produced from their writers, by Lightfoot. Vol. i. pag.
14.

*" Luke xxiv. 21. Ads i. 6. — Lardner. Cred. of G. H,
5. 1. Ch. 5.

** This

28 S E R M O N IL

*• ^ This ihall be thy thy righteoufnefs," was
the language of the law to the candidate for
admiffion ; and although the burden, to which
he fubmittedjwas grievous, yet the obligation
incurred was ftrid. — ** Curfed is every one,
that continueth not in all things, which are
written in the book of the law to do them."
The ceremonial part of it at length engroffed
the popular attention and reverence, and ri-
tual obedience pafled for true religion ; and
in dired: conformity to this principle, it was
imagined that Abraham obtained the pro-
mife through the righteoufnefs of works.
The notions of repentance, which they enter-
tained, had not led them to admit any infuf-
ficiency in the legal atonements, or to feel
and confefs their linful and unforgiven ftate.
Among them it was, of courfe, merely for-
mal, without power, and entirely unproduc-
tive of fruits, worthy of repentance.

Under this perverfion of things, when the
moral law had entirely declined in public
efteem, repentance, in the true fenfe of it,
could have no place, as a principle of adtion.
Before it could operate, the current of the
prevailing opinions muft be turned, and a due

6 Deuteron. iv. i. vi. 25. xxvii. 26. xxx. 15. 19. Ezekiel.
XX. II. Galat. iii. 10. —

preference

S E R M O N IL z^

preference reftored of the moral to the ritual
law. This, among other efFedls, was referv-
ed for a new difpenfation, that would efta-
blifli the righteoufnefs of the heart, and not
of the letter, and annex the divine fandion
and bleffing to a fpiritual fervice.

The baptifm of repentance, was flridlly
accommodated to a people in this ftate of
moral corruption, and only to a difpenfation
of this cafl ; and when the Baptift accord-
ingly propofed it, he not only adted from
views, imparted to him by the Holy Spirit,
of the depraved and unforgiven flate of Ifrael,
however weakly felt, or hardily difclaimed j
but alfo, prophetically intimated, what was
the great pervading principle and charadler of
that difpenfation, which he prepared them to
receive ; and reprefented it, not as a law of
works, but as a kingdom of grace ; for his
baptifm preceeded as a fign of repentance,
and led on to fubfequent remiffion of fin.

Jofephus ^ attributes to the Baptift a cau-
tion, againft a miftake that might be made,
refpeding the nature of his baptifm, as it

^ Jofeph. Antiq. lud. Lib. i8. cap. 7. "^Outu yep >^ tIm

feems

30 S E R M O N II.

feems, in this very particular- God would
accept it, he taught, ' in behalf of thofe
** who did not ufe it, as an excufe for their
fins, but as a means of bodily purification,
implying a previous purification of the heart
by righteoufnefs." There is a remarkable
fimilarity between the concluding part of this
pafTage in Jofephus, and the words of the
Apoftle "" Peter, concerning baptifm, ** not
the putting away of the filth of the flefh, but
the anfwer of a good confcience toward
God." And the reprefentation of John's bap-
tifm, given by the Jewifh writer, agrees with
that of the Evangelifts. They have not cha-
racfterized it as the baptifm of remiffion of
fins, but fimply of repentance, introduc-
tory to it. According to the prophecy of
Zacharias,it was the office of the Baptifl, ** to
give knowledge of falvation by the remiffion
of fins i" but it is not faid, that he was to
give the falvation itfelf. He baptized with
water unto repentance, " without prefuming

"' I Pet. iii. 21.

" Theophylaft, on Matt. 3. "Atptc-iv ufixpiuv »« tix,i 7*

tm^ » ij o!(p£ff-(s ^ uf/.x=Tiiy. See allb Chryfoflom Homil. 74,
Tom. 5. pag. 53 J. Suicer. Thef, in voc. ^aiTrrta^x.

S E R M O N II. 1%

to fandllfy by the baptifmal water, or to con-
fer remiffion of fins upon repentance.

Jofephus therefore fketches the real nature
and fpirit of John's baptifm, as he fuppofes
it to imply, by purification of the body, the
previous purification of the heart. He ftates
indeed only part of the truth -, but he has
preferved enough of it, to render his tefti-
mony valuable, and as far as it goes, it ap-
pears diredtly appofite. According to him,
John cautioned the people, that his baptifm
had not any privilege of propitiating God for
fin ; and the Gofpels inform us, that he af-
cribed this great prerogative to One Mightier,
that fhould come. As it is agreed therefore, on
both fides, that he difclaimed this privilege
for himfelf, it feems fairly to refiilt from the
Jewifh, as well as the Evangelical, hiftory,
that the baptifm of John was fimply of a
preparatory nature, and that he really was
only the forerunner of another.

But when he adminifi:ered baptifm, as in-
trodudory, in any degree, to the remiffion of
fins, the queflion, whether the votaries of
the law flood already in a ftate of falvation,
was by him decided againfl the Jews. The
legal purifications and atonements, which the
original fandion of God, and the certainty,

they

12 SERMON IL

they were prefumed to give, of acceptance
and favour w^ith him, had concurred to fup-
port and endear, were now depreciated, as
invalid; and warning was given that juftifi-
cation ° with God muft be fought for upon
other terms. Every plea, grounded on obe-
dience to the law, even fuppofing it had been
exadt, was evidently difallowed. John ac-
cordingly propofed, as an indifpenfable and
univerfal requifite, the baptifm of repentance,
to open the way to fubfequent remiffion of fins.
It was a feal of the righteoufnefs of faith in
the Meffias who was to come ; and the accept-
ance and efficacy of it depended upon him,
whofe blood would wafh away fin, and whofe
baptifm of the fpirit would internally purify.
As this was the main objedt of Faith, pro-
pofed by John to his difciples, of courfe,
they who received his baptifm, ceafed to be
under the law. It was the counfel of God
to bring them into the path of falvation, and
they who refolved to abide by their old prin-
ciples and profeffion, would rejecft it againft
themfelves.

Thus the miniflry of John proceeded upon
principles exclufive of the law, and entirely

* ■aa^MTriTii ufAX^rxJ^v, as Jofephus calls it.

Evan-

SERMON ir. 33

Evangelical. Chrift afterwards enforced them
in his conference with Nicodemus; and the
import of the Baptift's dodrine, appears ex-
tremely fimilar to the fuhftance of that in-
terefting converfation. That mailer of Ifrael
knew not thefe things -, a baptifm of water,
unto fpiritnal regeneration of heart, both in
principles and pradice, as preparatory to ad-
miflion into the kingdom of the Meffias, had
never entered his mind ; and, when propofed,
it furpafled his apprehenfion. Indeed, none
of the ancient prophecies, or of thofc which
were nearefl: to this time, feem to have raifed
any expedation, that can be certainly traced,
of fuch an extraordinary miniftry, as that, un-
dertaken by the Baptift ; at leaft, a baptifm, of
this effed and import, was not known to be in
the divine intention, till the calling of John.
For the prophecies that charaderizedhis office,
as forerunner of the Lord, had not been fo
far particular, as to afcribe the ufe of bap-
tifm to him. The adminiftration of it appears
evidently to have been didated to him by divine
revelation, fnice the word of the Lord could
alone enable him, prophetically to reprefent
the kingdom of heaven, in dired contradic-
tion to the Jewiili conftrudion of the pro-
phecies, as a difpenfation of fpiritual grace

C and

SERMON II.

and redemption, intended to fuperfede the
ritual oeconomy of Mofes.

The call to repentance was grounded by
the Baptift, upon the approach of this king-
dom, not only becaufe it offered remif-
fion of fins, but alfo becaufe judgement
coincided therein with grace. He ftrives to
affed them, firft, by the mercies, and then,
by the terror, of the Lord. Accordingly, he
queftions the Sadducees and Pharifees, who
came to his baptifm, the firft of whom en-
tertained no belief, and the laft no fear, of
the divine judgement, **who hath warned you
to flee from the wrath to come ?" The Holy
Ghoft, with which the Baptifl: had been
filled from the womb, gave him an infight
into the principles of thefe fedarifts -, and
the queftion implies, that the baptifm of
John tended to deliverance, and that ^ a fenfe
of danger was a proper motive for receiving
it. It was, in facfl, to thofe who received it,
and brought forth fruits, worthy of it, a
pledge of prefervation from the vengeance,
impending upon the Jewifh people. The re-
mark of "^ St. Peter fufficiently illuftrates this
point ; he compares the deftrudion of Ifrael

f Mark xvi. 16. Adts ii. 40. ^ 1 Pet. iii. 20, 21.

with

S E R M O N II. 35

with that of the old world, when the family
of Noah were faved bv water : and then
adds, " the like figure whereunto, even bap-
tifm, doth now fave ns."

The ftrength and vehemence, in the lan-
guage of John, evidently denote the extre-
mity of that wrath, which he predicted.
** And now alfo," he cries, in a fubfequent
claufe, ** the ax is laid to the root of the trees."
This denuntiation correfponded to foregoing
prophecies. ** Lebanon fhall fall by a mighty
one" — *' Jerufalem fhall become heaps, and
the mountain of the Lord's houfe, as the high
places of the foreft" — and, " the day that
Cometh fhall burn them up, it fhall leave them
neither root nor branch" — *' every tree there-
fore, the Baptifl proceeds, which bringeth not
forth good fruit, ' is hewn down, and cafl into
the fire." Their beauty had been more than
once given into the hand of the enemy ; but
now the ax was laid to the root itfelf, which
had hitherto efcaped, and the downfall of
Ifrael impended.

* The prefent tenfe denotes the nearnefs and certainty of
the event. " H^jj x.ti-ttM—ix.^'ozsi'iTcM — ^oifixkrcj^. See Schmid.
ad. 1. The firft judicial aft of Chrift, i. e. the dertruftion of
the Jews, and not the laft Judgement of the world, feeins
here predifted.

C 2 Thi

36 S E R M O N 11.

This was a warning of great terror 3 and
the Baptift appeared in " that garb of mourn-
ing, and obferved "^ that rigour and feverity of
life, which were hkely to enforce moft deep-
ly his prophecy of evil tidings.

It was, indeed, commonly believed, at the
time, that the ruin of the Jewifh ftate was
predicted in the Scriptures ; and, in the days
of the Baptifl, it was not fuppofed to be
* very remote. Upon this account, his words
were likely to be referred by his audience to
that event -, and it might have been faid,
againfl the credit of his divine miffion, that
he only borrowed, and appropriated, the pre-
diftions of the early prophets.

But it may be argued, as it feems, upon
fufficient ground, that he did not barely re-
peat the fubftance of foregoing prophecies,
but really fpoke from divine revelation,vouch-»
fafed to himfelf.

The voice of prophecy, immediately before
it ceafed in Ifrael, denounced a day of total
burning, ^ a " great and dreadful day of the

" Probably, according to Macknight, the fackcloth of pe-
nitents and mourners. I Chron. xxi. i6,

* Math. xi. 18.

^ " The Romans will come and take away our place and
nation, John xi. 48."

y Malachi iv, 5.

Lord r

SERMON ir. 37

Lord ;" at the fame time, intimating to the
people, that univerfal converfion in heart,
upon the preaching of Elijah, before that
day of wrath, fhould prevent the curfe from
coming to fmlte the earth.

The woe, here denounced, had not been
fulfilled, when prophecy openly revived in
John, He repeated the threatening, and in-
timated the means of deliverance — fo far
Tvlalachi and the Baptifb agree. But that
prophet mentions the means of deliverance in
figurative and general terms -, on the contra-
ry, John ufes plain language and great preci-
fion. He named the baptifm of repentance
for remiffion of fins, as the fafeguard, ap-
pointed for thofe who would receive it. The
advantage is fhriking on the part of the Bap-
tift. He fpoke to the fame eifeft, as Malachi
and other prophets, that wrath impended
upon Ifrael : but he added, that his baptifm
was a fecurity from it ; and that, in the na-
ture of a privilege, as well as an obligation,
it fet a fign upon thofe who received it, and
placed them within that remnant, which
God would fpare. This particularity may
appear fuihcient to juftify the ailertion of St.
Luke, that «* the word of the Lord came
unto John," as the repetition of a former

C 3 pre-

38 S E R M O N IL

predidlion, with new and additional circum-
fiances, if afterwards accompliflied, appears
a plain evidence of his prophetical character.

To ftrengthen the impreffion, which his offer
of baptifm might make upon his audience, he
alTursd them, that they were entirely deftitutc
of any other fafeguard. ** Think not to fay
within yourfelves, we have Abraham to our
father." Defcent from this favoured patriarch
was ^ the principal ground of their confidence.
In purfuance of the divine promife to their
great progenitor, the kingdoms of Canaan
had really become the lot of their inherit-
ance. And from this they argued, with
confidence, to all the promifes, made to
Abraham in favour of his children. They
accordingly afTumed an exclufive interefl in
* all the divine bleflings, and expe(5led certain
immunity from all the divine judgements,
during the age of the Meflias. But this no-
tion of their hereditary privilege was declared
entirely groundlefs ; not indeed becaufe the
purpofe of God was changed, and the fons
of Abraham were difinherited by a repeal of

^ Pocock. Mifcell. pag. 172. 227. — Pugio Fidei 951,
" They enrirely overlooked the conditional and threatning

turn of the promife Exod. xix. 5. See Ltghtfoot, Vol. II.

533. fq. — et fup. 398. Nehem. ii. 20. Juft. Mart. D. ,pag.

469, cited by Whitby.

the

S E R M O N 11. 39

the promlfe ; for the language of the Baptlft
implies, that the bleffing *" would really def-
cend to the children of the patriarch. But,
in facfl, the Jewifh conftrudtion falfified the
promife. It was given to the fons of Abra-
ham, in one fenfe, and they, as his defcend-
ants,- expected to inherit it in another. The
real nature of the inheritance, and the ge-
nuine fonfliip to the patriarch, required in
the heirs, were implied in the latitude of
the promife, which was originally extended
to all families of the earth. The tenor of it
was, ** " multiplying I will multiply thee j"
fo that one part of Abraham's bleffing con-
fifted in the infinite number of his children.
Since the bleffing was univerfal, the fonfhip
to Abraham, on which it would devolve,
muft alfo be univerfal, and, confequently,
could not be a natural one, as the Jews fup-
pofed. It remained therefore a queftion, in
which all families of the earth had an equal
intereft, whether they had Abraham for their
father in that fenfe, which the promife re-
quired, or only in '' another, which it ex-
cluded. And erelong, according to the

•* Luke xiii. 16, xix. 9. Lightfoot. Vol II. 467.

*^ Heb. vi. 14,

^ See Whitby Rom. ix. 8.

C 4 warn-

40 S E R M O N II.

warning of the Baptift, the juft diftindlion
would be made, '^ between the true and the
reputed children of the patriarch ; and when
the bleffing defcended on the genuine heirs,
his natural progeny might be found to have
the leaft intereft in it, *' for God is able of
thefe flones to raife up children unto Abra-
ham/'

The language of the Baptift was evidently
calculated to undeceive them, in a point of
the greateft importance, which their prin-
ciples mifreprefented ; that the promifed
bleffing, and the fonfliip to Abraham, to
which it was annexed, were of a fpiritual
nature. He taught them, that defcent from
the patriarch, in the ^ natural fenfe, afforded
them no pretence, as heirs, to his bleffing,
which was fpiritual. They might be his real
and legitimate defcendants, in the literal con-
flrjudion, and yet, at the fame time, in the
fpiritual meaning, be no better than an evil
and adulterous generation, as our Lord after-
wards called them. The words of this claufe
are diflindly adjufted to the divine intention,

' Between thofe who were born, of blood and of the will of
man, or of the will of God. See Le Clerc. ad Hamm. ad 1.
^ Rom. iv. 17. viii. 23, si. 5. Ephef. i. 5. i Pet. ii, 9.

S E R M O N II. 41

as it was afterwards explained more extenfively
by St. Paul, in confequence of a ^ particular
revelation given to him. He ^ diftinguifhes,
like the Baptill:, between ** the children of
the flefli" and the ** children of God," and
adds, that " the children of the promife
are reckoned for the feed." He further
explains this point in another place, by the
allegory of Hagar and Sarah ; and reprefents
' the fon of Abraham, by the bondwoman,
as caft out, becaufe the promife was not given
to the children of Abraham, merely as fuch ;
** neither ^ becaufe they are the feed of Abra-
ham, are they all children, but in Ifaac fhall
thy feed be called ;" that is, ** they which are
the children of the flefli, thefe are not the
children of God : but the children of the
promife are counted for the feed ; for this is
the word of promife, at this time I will
come, and Sarah (hall have a fon."

That the inheritance of Abraham's bleffing
would defcend, according to the eledion of
God, and not neceffarily in the natural line,
was a principle before undifcovered, on which

^ Ephef. iii. 3. fq.

** Compare Rom. ix. 7, 8. fq.

' Galat. iv, 23. fq.

^ Compare Rom. ix. 7.

the

42 SERMON II.

the Baptift flrongly infifts, not only in a dc-*
claratory, but alfo in a prophetical ftrain.
For while he inculcated that conflruction of
the promife, which would lay the inheritance
open to all families of the earth, he fignified
that they would, in facft, be admitted to it.
The one point would indeed imply the
other ; but it is befides enforced with an ani-
mated turn of language, ** for I fay unto you,
that God ^ is able of thefe flones to raife ud
children unto Abraham." The claufe bears a
threatening cafl ; and although, like that of
Malachi, " left I come and fmite the earth
with a curfe, " it runs conditionally, yet it
relates, in the fame manner, to a divine
judgement impending. God has raifed up
other children to the patriarch, and the pre-
tence and boaft of Ifrael ftill continues,
** we have Abraham to our father." It may
therefore be prefumed, that the divine coun-
fel, concerning the rejedion of the Jews,
and the adoption of the Gentiles into the
kingdom of the Meffias, is predidled, in the
whole claufe, with as much precifion, as the

• Compare Rom. xi. 23. " God is able to graft them in
again." The converfioiis, of the Jews, and of the Gentiles,
are fpoken of, the one by St. Paul, and the other by the Bap-
tift, in expreffions of a fimilar turn. Both pafliiges feem
equally prophetical.

ftate

SERMON II.

ftate of things, fo early as the preaching of
the Baptift, would allow. It was moil pro-
bably one of thofe things, which the difciples
of Chrift, even after all their mafter's inflruc-
tions, remained unable to bear ; and the au-
dience of John were far lefs likely to bear a
more clear and direct declaration of this pur-

pofe of God.

Thus the dodlrine of the Baptift appears
partly defigned to prepare his countrymen for
the reception of a new difpenfation, by com-
bating their inveterate prejudices, and mif-
conceptions of the law, the prophecies,
and their own fpiritual ftate. The capital
points of his dodlrine were dired:ly levelled
againft the corruptions of the fcripture-fenfe
by the Jews. Difcarding the moral law, they
refted in ritual righteoufnefs, as a ftate of
falvation ; and arrogated to themfelves the
bleffing of Abraham's children, by virtue of
lineal defcent from him -, and, in order to
accommodate the kingdom of the Meffias to
their principles, they reprefented it to be a
ftate of temporal greatnefs, and " temporal
bleftings. The fyftem of their opinions was
uniform, and adjufted in all its parts ; but
when the Baptift declared that the kingdom

" Matth. XX. 20.

44 S E R M O N II.

of the Meffias, the true righteoufnefs, the
promife itlelf, and the genuine fonfhip to
Abraham, were all fpiritual, he overturned the
whole. And Unce, in the execution of his
purpofe, he difclofed the fpiritual nature, and
charadteriftical principles of the kingdom of
heaven, then ready to appear, and denounced
tne impending rejedion and ruin of Ifrael,
and the adoption of other children, as heirs
of Abraham's bleffing, his baptifmal doftrine
appears, not limply admonitory, but evidently
prophetical, and ftridly fuited to prepare the
way for the fpiritual kingdom of the Meffias,
by pointing out, and removing, impediments

to the reception of it.

The following refiediion arlfes from the
general fubftance of the foregoing obferva-
tions. Many expreffions, in the Jewidi
Scriptures, depreciated the law, and fome
implied the abolition of it. The force of all
thefe was felt ; and to palliate and pervert
them, had generally been the favourite lludy
of the fcribes and teachers of Ifrael. To
ingenuity and learning, exerted to defend the
law, their zeal added the authority of the
great council. Accordingly, the attempt to
change, and much more to fuperfede, the law,
was marked as an infuperable obftacle to the

admiiTion

SERMON II.

admlflion of any one, who laid claim to a
prophetical charadler ; it prevented all quef-
tion, refpeding the truth of his pretenfions,
and death was to be inflidled upon him, as a
convi(fted impoftor. — Yet, neither the popu-
lar conftru(ftion of Scripture, nor even the ju-
dicial interdidion, had any influence with the
Baptift. From whence it appears, that he
proceeded by ** neceflity laid upon him,"
that is, by divine command, to recall and
authorize that genuine fenfe of promife and
prophecy, which was not received in Ifrael.
For the eflential principles of the human
mind, by which it refolves and operates in
all conjun(flures, render it incredible, that he
would have thus expofed himfelf to rejection
and death, if he knew that he was a falfe
prophet ', and it muft have been impoffible
for him to execute his baptifmal miniiiry, in
fuch a ilrain of predidion, if he had not
been a true one.

SER-

( 47 )

SERMON III.

Mark i. 7.
J'here cometh One, Mightier than /, after me.

^ I ^ HAT part of the baptifmal dodlrine,
i already confidered, coniifled of ad-
monition and prophecy. The iirft,
was apphed to corred: the fpiritual miflakes
and haughtinefs of the Jews ; and the laft,
tended to fhew that the kingdom of Meflias,
was of fuch a nature and charader, that it
required in thofe, who defired to enter there-
in, a ftate of mind and principles, entirely
contrary to the prevalent difpofition of Ifrael.
Upon the whole, the BaptilT: gave full afTur-
ance to his hearers, that, unlefs they would
return to God, by the baptifm of water, en-
tirely difcarding their prejudices and pre-

fumpticn.

48 SERMON III.

fumptlon, and imprefTed with a jufl: and re-
pentant fcnk of their finful and unforgiven
Hate, the blejSings, which God had promifed
to the children of Abraham, would be in-
herited by others, but rejed;ion and ruin im-
pended upon them. He difclofed the divine
counfel to fave them, if they would embrace
it ; and, at the fame time, predided the
wrath, which God had determined againfl
them, if they refufed it. And, as the dif-
charge of his baptifmal office, fo far, imme-
diately tended ** to prepare the way of the
Lord," and, ** to make ready a people" to
receive him, ** what fhall we do then," was
a very interefling queflion ; and fuch as the
tenor of his dodrine might have been ex-
pecfted to fuggeft, not only to fome, but to
all, that heard it.

But there was another, and that a more
confiderable part of his office. He " verily
baptized with the baptifm of repentance ;"
but not without continually " faying unto
the people, that they fhould believe on him,
which fhould come after ;" and, as this was
the principal drift of his preaching, it is re-
prefented by St. Mark, as the fubftance of

iti

SERMON III. 49

it ; " John preached, faying, there cometh
One, mightier than I, after me."

That it may appear how he proceeded to
excite and fupport that faith in the Meffias,
which he reprefented, as an indifpenfable
qualification for admiflion to his kingdom,
it will be my prefent endeavour, to fhew in
what terms, and to what effecft, he fpake of
the Meffias, during that time, wherein he
continued unknown to him. For this

purpofe, I return to the baptifmal dodrine, as
it ftands in the text of St. Matthew, and go
on with it from that claufe, where I left it
at the clofe of the laft difcourfe.

What the Baptift had already preached,
whether it refpeded the religious corruptions
of the Jews, and their rejedion from the
Meffiah's kingdom, and the adoption of the
Gentiles, in their place, or the fpiritual cha-
radler of the approaching difpenfation, and
the terms of admiflion to it j was delivered
with fuch prophetical difcernment and fer-
vency, as evidently to imply, that he adled
under the informing and animating influence
of the Holy Ghofl.

He next proceeds to fpeak diredly of the
MefTias, and to characfterize his ofKce, and to
difclofe fame of his attributes.

D He

50 SERMON III.

He firfl inculcates the fubordlnate charac-*
ter, and limited effedt, of his miniftry, *< I
indeed baptize you with water unto repent-
ance," implying the great fuperiority of the
Mefliah's baptifm to his own. Through the
whole verfe, the baptifm of water, and the
weaknefs of John, feem to be put in contrail
to the baptifm of the Holy Ghofl, and the
power of the Meffias, with an intent to juf-
tify that attribute, which intervenes, ** he
that Cometh after me, is. mightier than I."
The Meffias is here reprefented in that
light, wherein the public exercife of his
office would fhortly place him ; and the at-
tribute relates not to one only, of all his
mighty works, as fingly oppofed to the bap-
tifm of John ; but comprehends that general
demonftration of power, which, according
to the prophecies, and the common expec-
tation of the Jewifh people, would be dif-
played in the miniftry of the Meffias. It
Hands alfo in the ftronger light, on account
of the comparative form, " a mightier than
I cometh -" for while John preached, ** the
kingdom of heaven is at hand," he did no
miracle ; but, on the contrary, the Meffias
argued, ** if I, by the finger of God, caft out
devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is

come

SERMON III. 51

come unto you." The voice of John, " cry-
ing in the wildernefs, prepare ye the way of
the Lord," proclaimed his approach; and the
Baptifl afterwards bore teftimony to his per-
fon. But, of his adual prefence, his own
ligns and wonders were greater witnefs, than
that of John. The attribute of power was
therefore fuited to give the mod fignal and
majeftic reprefentation of his miniftry.

The Baptift proceeds — *' whofe fhoes I
am not worthy to bear." St. Luke, in the
parallel paflage, explains, and even exagge-
rates, that comparative felf-abafement, which
the words of John convey. They place, in
a ftriking point of view, that great humility,
which diftinguifhed his own character, and
aggrandize, to the higheft degree, him that
was to come. Other divine meflengers,
whether of human or ^ angelic natures, fpeak
of each other and of themfelves, as brethren
and fellow-fervants -, but the ftrength of this
expreflion, confidered as tending to exalt one
prophet above another, is entirely fingular in
Scripture.

In thefe claufes, the Baptifl difclofed two
very fignal attributes of the Meilias, his
mighty power and tranfcendent dignity.

* Revel, xix. 10. xxii. g.

D 2 Herein

52 SERMON III.

Herein indeed he delivered nothing, that
contradided the notions of his audience.
They had reafoned from the prophecies, to a
limilar efFed 3 and as their expectation, that
the Meffias would be incomparable in power
and greatnefs, was grounded upon the pre-
dictions of their own Scriptures ; it was not
impoflible, that the Baptift's knowledge of
both thefe attributes, might rather appear to
be derived from antecedent prophecy, than
from the revelation of the Holy Spirit to
himfelf j and, upon that account, might
feem to afford no unqueftionable evidence of
his miffion from God.

In order to fhew, that John charac-
terized the Meffiah by thefe attributes, in
confequence of divine infpiration, particu-
larly vouchfafed to himfelf ; it might be ob-
ferved, that his conftrudtion of the prophe-
cies, which relate to the Meffiah, greatly
furpalTed the Jewilli interpretation of them,
and unfolded their genuine fenfe, which
was either not difcovered, or not received,
in Ifrael.

But, without enlarging upon this evidence
of the reality of his prophetical character, it
may perhaps here, as in a former cafe, be
fhewn from the claufe, under immediate

con-

SERMON III.

confideration, that both attributes, here afcrib-
ed to the Mefiiah by the Baptift, had been
didlated by divine revelation, particularly
given to him.

He contrafls the baptifm of the Holy GhofT:
to that of water. No conftrudlion of

Scripture feems to have raifed any expec-
tation, that can be affuredly traced, in
Ifrael, of a baptifm by water, that would
entirely overrule the principles and law of
the Jews. A mafter of Ifrael knew it not;
and much lefs would the people apprehend
and exped: the baptifm of the Holy Ghofl,
to complete what the baptifm of water began.

They believed indeed, that the Holy Spi-
rit, which departed from Ifrael, on the death
of Malachi, would return, in the days of the
Meflias. But this expedtation, however jufl,
was grounded upon a general and loofe con-
flrudtion of the prophecies, that the Spirit
would be poured out in the latter days.

But the turn, which the Baptift has given
to thefe prophecies, goes farther than barely
to foretell the reftoration of the Spirit to
Ifrael. He has not only fhewn with what
flridlnefs, the language of the prophets had
been adjufted to the divine intention -, but
has even enlarged upon their prophecies, by

D 3 the

54 SERMON III.

the addition of new and original circum-
ilances.

He evidently feems acquainted with the
• divine intention, to accomplifh in the heart,
by the wafliing of the Holy Ghoft, what the
washing of water fhould previoufly perform
for the body. Accordingly, he reprefents
his external baptifin of water, as the prepa-
ratory fign, but the inward baptifm of the
Spirit, as the perfedl accomplifhment. A
clofe relation ^ and analogy had been fixed
between them, and, according to the appa-
rent import of the words of John, would
erelong be exemplified in the approaching
difpenfation. When therefore he laid to-
gether the two baptifms, of water, and of
the Holy Ghoft, he virtually difclofed the
real defign of God, to connedt the walhing
of vi^ater, as the fign, with the wafhing of
the Ho'y Ghoft, as the thing fignified, in a
gofpel Sacrament -, and gave a reafon, till
then undifcovered, for his directing the pro-
phets to charadierize ' the return of the Spirit,

• All that was internal in baptifm was iTrn^oivity. John iii.
12.^ See Whit' y on Ephef. i. 3.

^ Titus iii. 5 James i. 8. Mede Opp. 62.

^ Thua, but much more expreffively, Jefus afterwards, un-
der the image of living water, deiciibed the efficacy of fpiri-
tual grace. John iv. 14, Ifaiah xliv. 3. of which fee the

Targ.

SERMON III. sS

with his gifts and operations, by the baptif-
mal elen:ient of water.

Another confiderable addition to the pro-
phecies, concerning the return of the Spirit,
was made by the Baptift, when he attributed
the reftoration of it to the Meffias. For, as
this fuperior baptifm, and that of water, are
contradiftinguiflied, fo alfo are the miniflers
of each ; and John ftates the fimilarity and
the difference between them, and afcribes the
baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, as truly and pro-
perly to the Meffiah, as the other to himfelf.
All that was external and imperfed: in bap-
tifm, he confines to that of water, and to
himfelf, the minifler of it ; but what would
be effediually wrought in the heart, he attri-
butes to the baptifm of the Spirit, and to the
power of him, that came after himfelf. He
feems alfo to reprefent it, as a mighty work,
that would evidently afcertain the tranfcen-

Targ. Expof. quoted by Whitby John vii. 39. — - See alfo

Wolf. ibid. Ifai. Iviii. 7, et Surenhufu Catallag. 358,

360. Ezek. xxxvi. 25. Zechar. xiv. 8. — Reland. Palaeftin.

352. Cocceius 0pp. Tom. VI. in cake, Ep. ';6.

D 4 dent

56 SERMON III.

dent dignity, as well as '^ power, of him, to
whom he afcribed it.

The Baptifl feems to have made another
addition to the prophecies, refpeding the
reftoration of the Holy Spirit to Ifrael. For
, the words, '^ and ^ with fire," feem to be put
in contraft to thofe, in which John had
mentioned the baptifmal element ufed by
himfelf ; and, upon that account, appear to
carry the fame fpecial reference to the man-
ner of accomplifhing the baptifm of the Holy
Ghoft, by the Meflias, which the water bears
to the manner of adiiiniftering the inferior
baptifm of John.

To confirm this fuppofition, it may be
obferved, that the baptifm of the Holy Ghoft
was adually accomplifhed, by the Meflias,
with fuch appearances, as the words, ** with
fire,'* would manifeilly denote.

It may be further obferved, that, on many
occafions, " fire had been employed, as the

*= John xiv 12. See Tillotf. Serm. 143.

* Of the genuinenefs of thefe words, fee Mill, ad 1. et Le
Clerc. Epift. ad Optimianum. Bibl. Selefl.Wolf, ad 1.

' Fire was the ufual fymbol of the divine prefence. Gen.xv.
17. xxiv. 17. xl. 38. —Numb. ix. 15. — Deuteron. iv. 33.
Jortin. Rem. Eccl. H. Vol. III. p. 392. fq. JeiFery's Trafts,
V. II. p. 408.

fenfible

SERMON III. t^j

fenfible fign of the divine prefence. As the
God of Abraham manifeiled himfelf in a
flaming iire, when he authorized Mofes to
deUver his peculiar people from Egyptian
bondage, and to bring them into covenant
with Jehovah, as their kingj fo again he
manifefted himfelf, by the fame fymbol,
when he empowered the Apoftles, to refcue
the world from fpiritual bondage, and to
introduce them into the kingdom of the
Meffiah.

There feems then a reafonable ground
for that literal interpretation of the words,
** and with £re," which many expofitors of
this paiTage have adopted ; and upon that foot-
ing, the Baptift has delivered, in this claufe,
an evident and original prophecy.

Thefe feveral circumftances, immediately
preceding, when laid together, are fufficient,
it is prefumed, to fhew, that when John af-
figned tranfcendent power and dignity, and
the baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, to the
Meflias, his dodrine in all thofe refpeds,
however conformable it might be to fore-
going prophecies, was neverthelefs the refult
of divine revelation, diredly vouchfafed to
himfelf.

58 SERMON III.

To proceed, — The Baptift, having thus
attributed to the McfTias the adminiftration
of baptifm with the Holy Ghoft, reprelents
him, in the fubfequent claufe, under another
charadler ; " whofe fan is in his hand, and
he will thoroughly purge his floor, and
gather his wheat into the garner, but he will
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire/*

The import of thefe expreffions may be
determined by their fenfe in former pro-
phecies.

*' I will fan them, with a fan, — I will
deflroy my people," faith the Lord by ^ Jere-
miah ; and again, *« I will fend unto Babylon
fanners, that fhall fan her, and fliall empty
her land ; for in the day of trouble they
fhall be againll: her round about ;" — and
Ifrael, under captivity, is called ^ the Lord's
** threfhing," and ** the fon of his floor j"
and ^ wheat and chaff are very frequently op-
pofed to each other in Scripture, and in a
fenfe fufiiciently obvious.

' Jerem. xv. 7. xli. 16. H. 2. Compare Amos Ix. g. Luke
xxii. 31.

e liaiah xxi. 10. — See Glafs. Rhetor. Sac. 303, 304.
^ Pfalm i. 4.— Job xxi. 18. — Jerem. xx. 28.—

The

SERMON IIL

The meaning of the claufe therefore ap-
pears to be this j he will difcriminate, and
that thoroughly, the good corn from the un-
profitable produce, in his hulbandry, and
gather the one, but deftroy the other.

The Meffiah is here reprefented in a judi-
cial character, as in a foregoing claufe -, but
not, as it feems, in relation only to the fame
acfl of judgement, which the Baptift had
already attributed to him. For, this pafTage
appears to contain a prediction of farther
extent, than the former ; and although it
may relate, in a primary fenfe, to the rejec-
tion and ruin of Ifrael, and the admiffion of
the Gentiles, in their place, to the Mef-
fiah's kingdom -, yet it may be underftood, in
an ultimate fenfe, of the univerfal adl of his
judicial power, the judgement of the laft
day.

A comparifon of the expreffions, in both
paffages, m^y perhaps tend to illuftrate and
confirm this point. ** Now the axe is laid
unto the ' root of the trees ; every tree there-
fore, that bringeth not forth good fruit, is
hewn down, and caft into the lire." The
prefent tenfe, which runs through the verfe,

' Deus minatur — faederis fui dereU>^ioneni, quod eft velut
arborem radicitus exfcindere. Grot, ad 1.

accord-

6o SERMON III.

according to the opinion of an ^ able critic
on the original text, implies the certainty
and near approach of the vengeance denoun-
ced ; and upon comparing this prophecy with
others, * flridly parallel, in the old Tefta-
ment, it may feem moll probable, that the
ruin of the Jewifh ftate and people, is alone
predicted in it.

But this claufe has a different tenor.
Ov TO ttIuov iv rri ;^«p ctvTH — if the verb be
fupplied, in the fame tenfe, which runs
through the reft of the verfe, it muft be
rendered, " whofe fan will be in his hand,
and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and
will gather his wheat into the garner, but
will burn up the chaff with unquenchable
fire."

If this be allowed, our view will not be
fo immediately confined, as it was in the
former claufe, to one, and that an imminent,
ad: of the Mefliah's judicial power; but may
be carried forward to *" another, and a more
remote, exercife of it.

^ Schmid. ad. 1.

' Ifaiah r.. 33, 34. — Micah iii. 12.

" Pofteriora hujus commatis verba, de colligendis friiglbus
ct comburendis paleis, ad ultimi judicii dien pertinent, ut ap-
paret ex collatione verb, ChriHi infra xiii. 30. 49. — — Grot,
ad 1.

SERMON III. 6i

If to this it be added, that he fliall purge
his floor, " thoroughly," ^aKa^nciei, and not in
a limited manner, the ad: intended may Teem,
not national only, but univerfal ; and, fince
the fire of his vengeance is called "unquench-
able," the judgement, to which the claufe
relates, may appear final and irreverfible. On
thefe accounts then, the pafTage may be ima-
gined to have a farther view, than barely to
fhe deftrudtion of the holy city, and the re-
jection of the Jews ; both of which events,
as the prophecies of Chrift, and St. Paul,
feem to intimate, will expire when the times
of the Gentiles fliall be fulfilled.

Upon the whole, the claufe, under imme-
diate confideration, apparently furpafles the
former, and contains a more enlarged pre-
dicflion. The foregoing prophecy refpeded
the ruin of Ifrael folely ; the latter, has
pofllbly the fame relation, in a primary
meaning, but at the fame time extends, in
an ultimate fenfe, to the Mefiiah's judge-
ment of all the world. And perhaps the
prophecy, which Chrift himfelf afterwards
delivered, of his approaching vengeance upon
Ifrael, had the fame refped to his real and
perfonal coming to inflid final punifliment
upon all his enemies.

There

62 SERMON III.

There is alfo another material difference
between the two paflages. The Baptift had
before declared that vengeance impended
upon Ifrael ; he now not only denounces it
to all the adverfaries of the MefTias, but alfo
reprefents it as infiided by him ; the fan and
the floor are his, as Lord of the harveft j he
will gather and he will burn.

Thus alfo the writer to the Hebrews afcribes
to the Meffiah, as his proper and perfonal
prerogative, an infallible and irreverfible
judgement, and the inflidlion of vengeance.
For he had, as a fon, the adminiflration of
all things over his own houfe, and, as fuch,
had promifed a reft to the faithful ; but to
them, who grieved him with their unbelief,
he faid in his wrath, " they fhall not enter
into my reft." In this chapter to the He-
brews, and in the claufes of the baptifmal
dodrine, now under confideration, admiffion
to the kingdom of God, and exclufion
from it, are reprefented as dependent upon
the " Meffiah, as Judge of all.

Here St. Matthew finifhes the account of
the baptifmal dodrine of John, before the
coming of Jefus to Jordan. St. Luke adds,

■ Keb. iii. 8. 19.

*' and

SERMON III. 63

«' and many other things, in his exhortation,
preached he unto the people." But if that
Evangelift had not already given the fub-
flance of them, he probably would have ex-
tended the account. It may therefore be
prefumed, that what has been already con-
lidered, forms a juft compendium of the
baptifmal dodlrine, delivered in that inter-
val, however the Baptifl might enlarge and
illuflrate it, upon frequent calls to re-
peat it.

He has difplayed the charader of the
Mefliah, by four capital attributes ; by
his mighty power; by his tranfcendent
dignity -, by his baptifm with the Holy
Ghoft, as a Prieft ; and by his judicial
authority, as a King, to be exercifed ere-
long over Ifrael, and finally over the whole
world. And from the amount of the

baptifmal dodtrine, hitherto confidered, it
appears, that his knowledge, of the nature
and purpofe of the Gofpel, and of the attri-
butes and offices of the Meffias, far exceeded
that of the Apoftles, till the fame divine
Spirit, which inftrudled and guided the Bap-
tifl:, had alfo {hed his influence upon
them.

After

64 SERMON III.

After this illuftratlon of the prophetical
teftimony of John to the Meffias, I proceed,
in the laft place, to fhew, that it was de-
livered, while he remained unknown to the
Baptift.

Before John had attained that age, ° which
the law appointed for entering upon a prieftly
funcftion, it may be reafonably prefumed, that
he did not receive a command to baptize, and
knew not the fubftance of the dod:rine, which
he afterwards delivered. ** He was in the
wildernefs, till the day of his fliewing unto
Ifrael ;" there it was, that the word of the
Lord came unto him ^ and, in purfuance of
that divine miffion, he began to exercife his
office ^ there, whilft Jefus continued ^ at Na-
zareth in Galilee.

After the Baptift had preached in the hill-
country of the wildernefs of Judaea, near to
Hebron, the fuppofed place of his nativity,
and education, he came into the region ' about
Jordan, where Jerufalem, and * all Judaea,
went out to him, and were baptized.

" Numb. iv. 3. — I Cliron. xxiii. 3.

P What went ye out into tlie wildernefs to fee ? Luke vii.

^ Matth. ii. 23, compared with iii. i.

^ Luke iii. 4, « Matth. iii. 5.

Faith

SERMON III. 65

Faith In the Meflias, then fpeedily coming
to his kingdom, was the ^ capital article of
his baptifmal exhortations ; and it has been
already fhewn, by what doctrines he en-
deavoured to remove impediments to his re-
ception, and by what charaiflers and attri-
butes he defcribed him. As thefe attri-
butes feem to be all, which John affigned to
the Meffias, before he had baptized him,
perhaps it may be allowable to infer, that no
other had been, as yet, revealed to the Bap-
tift. He was called and commiffioned to
manifeft the Meffias unto Ifrael ; and, with a
view to the accomplifhment of this office,
he was inftrud:cd to reprefent him, as far fu-
perior to himfelf in power and dignity, and
to afcribe to him the prerogative of baptizing
with the Holy Ghoft, and of immediately
cxercifing judgement upon Ifrael, and finally
upon the whole world ; and he had been in-
formed, that the perfon, upon whom he
fhould fee the Spirit defcend and remain,
was the fame, that fhould baptize with the
Holy Ghoft.

Thefe attributes of the Meffiah, and, as
it feems, thefe alone, having been revealed

* Mark i. 7.

E to

66 SERMON III.

to John, either by the word of the Lord, at
his miflion, or by the Holy Ghoft, fince his
original call, he baptized in the wide and
•populous diftridl abovemcntioned, from the
time of his firlT: receiving the divine commif-
fion, till the Meffias met him at the river
Jordan. This necefTarily muft have been a
period of confiderable length -, and according
to the gofpel-writers, it was an interval of
fix months. The baptifmal dodrine, which
he delivered during the whole of this period,
feems to afford no evidences, that he had re-
ceived any more extenfive and particular in-
formation, concerning the Mefliah, or his
offices, than what the above abftrad contains.

From appearances therefore it may be pre-
fumed, that divine revelation had not, as yet,
acquainted him, who was the Meffiah j and
as this prefumption feems to be confirmed
by his exprefs alfertion, " I knew him not,"
it will be attempted, in the remainder of
this difcourfe, to fix the fenfe of it, and the
time, to which it muft be reftrained.

If he is fuppofed to difclaim, a know-
ledge of the Meffiah's perfon ; then the ex-
preffion of the Evangelift, «* " he was in the
defarts, till the day of his fliewing unto
Ifrael," mud be taken ftridly, as overruling
" Luke I 80. any

SERMON III. d-j

any fuppofition, that the Baptlft vifited Jeru-
lem, at feftival-feafons, according to the di-
redion of the law, with which Jefus of
Nazareth comphed. And it feems extremely
probable, that John did not conform to this
legal injundion, and that the EvangeHil
really intended to obviate any belief that he
obeyed it. For it may be obferved, that
John was fet apart for the baptifmal office,
and filled with the Holy Ghoft, from his
mother's womb. He might therefore all
along be guided to hold himfelf independent
of legal obligations. This would not be
without precedent in the cafe of Elias, the
declared type of the Baptift. While the law
confined the facrifical ads of religion to the
Temple, and the Temple-minifters, he held
a public facrifice on the top of '*' Carmel.
And, as the type is always inferior to the
antitype, and John was continually filled
with the Spirit, the fame divine diredion,
under which Elias had aded, may be fup-
pofed to have difcharged the Baptift alfo
from the reftridion of the Law. The
diligence and nicety, obferved by the Evan-
gelifts, in their relation of particulars, ap-
pears of great weight in this queftion. Their

^ 1 King, xviii. 19.

E 2 account

68 SERMON III.

account is this : that " the call of John hap-
pened ** in the wildernefs," and that he
preached there firfl, and then came, and
baptized, ** in all the region round about
Jordan," — and that, after fix months, Jefus
came from Nazareth in Galilee, "^ beyond
Jerufalem and Samaria, and met the Baptifl
at Jordan. As this accurate detail, of the
gradual circumftances, feems the natural re-
fult of an "" intention to reprefent Jefus of
Nazareth, and John, as perfonally unknown
to each other, the alTertion of the Baptift,
** I knew him not," may reafonably be un-
derflood to imply, that he knew not the per-
fon of Jefus.

But it may alfo be taken in a fenfc, equi-
valent to that of a fimilar expreffion of Jefus
concerning John,** they knew him not,"which
relates not to the perfon, but the divine cha-
rad:er, of the Baptift. In perfon, as the
Baptift, John was clearly known j but he
was not received as that Elias, which was
for to come. In the fame fenfe, John might

" Lightfoot, Vol. II, p. 755.

* Samaria lay between ; and the journey from Galilee that
way to Jerufalem, would take up three days. Jofeph. in vit. et
Antiq. L. 2. C, 5. See Lightfoot Harmony, 3d part, p. 605.

* Compare Luke iir 51. Matth. xiii. 55. Mark vi. 33.

profefs

SERMON III. 69

profefs, he knew not that Jefus was the.
Meffiah J and this conftrudion of his words
may perhaps be confirmed by the following
confiderations.

The fubftance of his preaching, before
the Meffias appeared, was this ; " there
Cometh one, mightier than I." He Vv'as
fufficiently qualified for delivering fuch a
notice, if he had been alTured, on divine au-
thority, that the mighty one would fpeedily
appear ; and fuppofing him to have known,
who it was, that fliould bear this great cha-
rader, the intelligence was apparently of no
prefent ufe, as this flage of his ofhce did not
require it. He was qualified both as a pro-
phet, and a forerunner, without it; and
God ufually reveals all, that is necef-
fary, but nothing premature or fuperfluous.
As therefore no evidences have occurred in
the baptifmal dodtrine, hitherto confidered,
that John really knew Jefus of Naza-
reth to be the Meflias, it feems a reafonable
inference, that fome few of his attributes
had been revealed to the Baptifl, but no de-
terminate indication given, that Jefus was the
mighty one, whofe coming he had predided.

When the abfolute appearance of the Mef-
fias required that he {l:iould be manifefled to

E 3 Ifrael,

70 SERMON III.

Ifrael, in the fulleft latitude, then indeed it
would become indifpenfably neceffary, that
the Baptift fhould know him, in his divine
charadler 5 but it was not immediately requi-
fite, before the opportunity arrived of Shew-
ing him perfonally to the people. Upon
this footing then, the whole of that know-
ledge, which had been imparted to John,
either at his call, or fince, was ftridily ad-
jufted to the nature of his office, as forerun-
ner i and extended no further, than to qualify
him for that part of his miniftry, which has
been hitherto confidered.

As to the time, to which the words of the
Baptift, ** I knew him not," extend ; if they
are taken in the iirft of the two fenfes above-
mentioned, it comprehends nearly the v/hole
of his life ; if they are underftood in the
latter fenfe, the period, to which they relate,
commences with his call to the baptifmal
miniftry ; but in either cafe, expires upon
the coming of Jefus to his baptifm. And

perhaps the greateft ftrength of the aflertion,
may lie in this latter fenfe, and in this refe-
rence of it to a period, pofterior to the com-
mencement of his baptifmal miniftry.

The cafe then appears to ftand thus j it
may be prefumed, that John could not know

the

SERMON IIL

the Meflias, without a divine revelation ; and
the fubftance of his dod:rine, as the Evange-
lifts deliver it, during his miniftry of half a
year, gives no evidence, that he knew the
Meffias, during that period ; and confequent-
ly, it feems to be credible, that he applied
the aftertion, *' I knev/ him not," in that
fenfe, and to that interval of time. Upon
the whole, there appears a fufficient reafon
to imagine, that the Baptift: intended to aflert,
that he knew not the perfon of Jefus, and alfo,
that revelation had never acquainted him, who
was the Meffias, before they met at the river
Jordan ; fo that, in fad, he had predided
the immediate coming of the Meflias, and
difclofed fome of his attributes, by virtue of
one revelation, but, at the fame time, was
left unable to know him, whenever he fhould
appear, without another.

E 4 S E R-

( n )

SERMON IV.

John i. 6, 7,

^here was a man, fent from God, whofe name
was John — the fame came for a wiinefs —

L L the characflers of the Meffias,
which have been hitherto confidered,
were afcribed to him, before the
coming of Jefus to Jordan -, and the Baptift
feems to have difclaimed any knowledge of
him, previous to that interview, either as to
his perfon, or his office. Some reafons were
offered, at the conclufion of the former dif-
courfe, for interpreting the alTertion, '* I knew
him not," in both thefe fenfes ; and in the
laft of them, it was then apphed to all that
period of his baptifmal miniftry, in which
he continued ilri(^ly the forerunner. For

the

74 S E R M O N IV.

the Baptift, confidered as only the prophet of
the Higheft, might have been fufficiently
qualified to prepare his way, without know-
ing him, either as to his perfon, or his divine
character, that is, without knowing Jefus of
Nazareth, as fuch, or that He was theMef-
fiah.

But there is another light, in which the
laft only of the Evangelifts feems to have re-
prefented the Baptift. He " came for a wit-
nefs," as well as a prophet ; and it appears
requifite to diftinguifh and feparate thefe
characters, fince the aflertion, " I knew him
not/' cannot extend to them equally, and be
applied, with the fame propriety, to the one,
as to the other ; which will be fhewn more
fully, as I proceed. —

As this difcourfe will treat of the teftimo-
ny of John, immediately fubfequent to that
interview, wherein the Meffias became known
to him ; and as that teflimony was grounded
principally upon the baptifm of Jefus, it will
be proper to begin with a view of that im-
portant tranfad:ion.

** Jefus came from Nazareth of Galilee to
Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him —
but John forbad him — '*

^ Matth. Hi. 1 3, andr Mark i. 9.

SERMON IV. y^

As the Meffias now confefTedly appeared,
he not only afcertained the divine milTion of
John, as his forerunner, by thus fullfilling
the principal prophecy, which he had deli-
vered, but alfo opened to the Baptift a new
and diftind: part of his office. Upon this
interview, John ceafed to be limply the
forerunner; and it became incumbent upon
him, in future, to bear teftimony that the
mighty one, whofe way he had prepared, and
whofe immediate coming he had predi(5ted,
was really come, and had manifefted himfelf
openly.

If therefore it be confidered, that the cir-
cumftances and office of John, were thus
altered, by the appearance of the Meffias at
Jordan, the cafe may poffibly feem to require
that his aflertion, ** I knew him not," fhould
be extended, as far as this interview, but not
beyond it. For, although the perfon of the
Meffias had not been revealed to the Baptiil,
before this meeting, as the tenor of his bap-
tifmal dodrine, and that dired affiertion, if
it has been rightly interpreted, feem to im-
ply -y yet, from his condud, during this in-
terview, it may be juftly concluded, that the
Meffias was made known to him then, by im-
niediate revelation.

Inftances

•^^ S E R M O N IV.

Inftances occur in Scripture, which clafe-
ly refemble the prefent cafe. ** * The Lord
had told Samuel in his ear, to morrow I will
fend thee a man ; and thou fhalt anoint him
to be captain over my people Ifrael, that he
may fave my people out of the hand of the
Philiftines. And when Samuel fa w Saul, the
Lord faid unto him, behold the man whom
I told thee of j this fame fhall reign over
my people."

*' The fame prophet received another com-
miffion, refpeding the fucceflbr of Saul.
The Lord faid unto him ; " I will fend
thee to Jefle, the Bethlehemite, for I have
provided me a king among his fons. Call
Jefle to the facrifice, and I will fhew thee
what thou fhalt do ; and thpu fhalt anoint
unto me, him whom I name unto thee'*
When David appeared, ** the Lord faid, arife,
anoint him, for this is he."

Thefe paflages are here produced at length,
that the parallel between the cafe of Samuel,
and that of John, may fland in the ftrongeft
light. The prophet, on both thofe occafions,
received a commiflion to anoint the future
king ; yet then, and in the whole of the in-

" I Sam. ix, 15, *• \ Sam. xvi. ii, 12.

terval,

SERMON IV.

terval, which preceded his appearance, Samuel
knew him not ; but when the king flood
before him, the prophet inftantly knew him
by another revelation -, and the cafe appears to
be the fame with the Baptift in both refpe(5ts.
That John knew the divine character of
Jefus, feems to be afcertained by his condu(5t
upon this occafion, as it marks in the moffc
lively and afFe(fling colours, his deep venera-
tion of the incomparable perfon, then before
him. He came to be baptized ; but John
forbad him ; in the language of humility
and awe, but not of authoritative refufal.
His own fpiritual neceffities, as they lay deep
in his mind, were immediate on his tongue j
** I have need to be baptized of thee." He
made that profeflion of faith in him, who
would baptize with the Holy Ghoft, which
his own baptifmal docflrine had conftantly
enforced upon others. Like them, he need-
ed the baptifm of the Spirit ; and felt his
great unworthinefs to baptize his, as well as

' In the laft of thefe two inftances, the prophet called all
the Sons of Jefle to the facrifice, not knowing which of them
the Lord had chofen — after Eliab, the reft of them paffed fuc-
ceflively before Samuel, and he faid unto Je/Te " the Lord
hath not chofen thefe." Revelation gave no direftion, re-
fpedting any of thefe — but when the youngeft of all came
in, the Lord faid immediately, *• this is he."

their,

yS SERMON IV.

their. Mighty Superior j ** Comeft thou to
me ?'* — His hefitation incurred not the
flightefl rebuke ; it turned entirely upon the
fenfe of his own extreme inferiority. The
great perfon, then before him, faw it's prin-
ciple, and overruled it, in the gentleft man-
ner J '* fufFer it to be fo now, for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all ^ righteoufnefs."
From the turn of this pafTage, it feems
that Jefus fpake with a particular view, to
the circumftances of himfelf and the Bap-
tift, at the time, with refped: to their
feveral offices — as if he had faid more at
large ; that his hour of baptizing with the
Holy Gholl:, to which John had alluded,
was not yet arrived j although that, with
every other mighty work, affigned to him,
would be accomplillied in their appointed
feafon ; but, in the mean while, that his
miniftry was to begin here, and in this man-
ner — ** Then he fufFered him."

From this interefling conference, it may

•* Plato, cited by Scliultetus. Exercit. Evang. ad 1. S^khcic-

facer e qua fui funt viunerisy et non curicfum ejfe in negotiis alienis.
^quum igitur Chrillus judicat, ut Johannes juftitiam fuam,
jpfe fuam, impleat; hoc eft, ut demandato fibi munere uter-
que defungatur.

SERMON IV.

be poflible to define, with greater precifion
than before, the fubftance and extent of di-
vine revelation, refpedting the Meffias, hither-
to vouchfafed to John. For thence it ap-
pears, iirft, that the Baptift had not been, as
yet, acquainted, at what time and upon what
occafion, he Ibould fee the Spirit of God de-
fcend upon the Meflias ; or even that he
fhould ad:ually receive the baptifm of water.
If John, had been apprized, that, on the
baptifm of the Meflias, the Spirit would vi-
fibly defcend upon him, or even that it was
in the divine intention, that he fhould bap-
tize him ', all hefitation, on his part, from
whatever principle of comparative felf-abafe-
ment it might arife, would have been ante-
cedently overruled. He would moft pro-
bably have hafted to the accompiifliment of
his office, in this point, as it would authen-
ticate the divine miffion of Jefus and his
own, rather than have delayed it by the
fmalleft reluctance. As this then appears

a new example, that divine revelation had
not hitherto fully informed the Baptift, in all
points, that refpedted the Meffias, and even
his own miniftry ; it may help to confirm an
inference, already made, that the particular

perfon

8o SERMON IV.

* perfon of the Meflias had not been revealed
to him, at his original miflion.

But it is more material to obferve, from
this tranfadtion, that Jefus evidently dictated
to John the counfel of God concerning his
own baptifm. The Holy Ghoft, with which
the Baptift had been filled from the womb,
appears here to have given him no dire<5tion.
The words of Jefus, were left to fupply the
place of the Spirit's influence ^ and the au-
thority and infpiration of Jefus, even before
he was anointed with the Spirit, were, in
fad, attefted by John, when he obeyed his
requifition, in a cafe, wherein revelation from
God had not previoufly inftrudled him, and
wherein alfo his own mind had fuggefted an
oppoiite condu(ft.

Since then, according to the foregoing
circumflances, the Baptift: apparently knew
that the Meflias then ft:ood before him, he
could not, it may be prefumed, baptize him,
as a difclple. For, in whatever points, the
baptifm of water was accommodated to the
converts of John, in all of them, it was
evidently unfuitable to the Meflias. Jefus
therefore mufl: have received it upon fome

^ See the clofe of the lafl difcourfe.

other

S E R M O N IV. 8i

other principle ; and the Scripture feems to
indicate, that he was publlckly ^ confecrated
to the prieflhood of the Gofpel, by baptifm,
as the ^ priefts of the law were ufhered into
their miniftry, by the wafliing of water.
He became fubjedt to the law for man ; and
•^ in all things it behoved him to be made
like unto his brethren, that he might be, not
only a merciful, but alfo a faithful, high
prieft, in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the fins of the people.

To proceed — This inaugural ceremony
was fcarcely concluded, when ' the heavens
were opened, and the Spirit of God defcend-
ed, in a bodily fliape, and, in the fight of
John, and of the furrounding multitude,
^ refted upon Jefus. He was thus ** ' anoint-
ed with the Holy Ghoft, and with power i"
and through the whole of his miniilry upon

' According to prophecy; Pfalm xlv. 7. Ifai. Ixi. i.

8 Exod. xxix. 4. 7. Levii. viii. 6. See Lightfoot, Vol, II.
476.

fc Hebr. ii. 17.

^ Ifaiah xi. 2. — Abarbanel, on this place obfcrves, that
the rejiing of the Spirit upon the Meffiah, was one of his
pretogatives.

' Ads X. 38. — The fubftance of that coramifllon, which
this undlion gave him, is recited by himfelf, in the words of
Jfaiah, Luke iv. 18, 19.

F , earth.

82 S E R M O N VL

earth, his miracles were wrought, his doc-
trines and prophecies were delivered, by
virtue of that Spirit, which at this time de-
fcended and remained upon him. The

voice of the Father immediately followed,
** "" this is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well-pleafed." In fad:, this was the baptif-
mal form of the Mefllas ; for by the title of
his beloved Son, the Father " glorified
Jefus to be an high-prieft, and, at the fame
time, declared the fufficiency and fuccefs of
his facerdotal miniflry, " in thee I am '^ well-

*™ Mark i. r I. Luke ili. 22, &:c. — Quod alius dicit, in quo
mihi complacui ; alius, in te complacui ; alius in te compla-
cuit mihi ; fi quceris quid horum in ilia voce fonuerit, quod-
libet accipe, dummodo intelligas eos, qui non eandem locu-
tionem retulerunt, eandem retulifle fententiam. Auguft, Lib-
2. de Conf. Evang. c. 14.

" Compare 2 Pet. i. 17. fq. wliere The Voice of the Fa-
ther is urged as a powerful teftimony to Jefus j and to this
Voice he himfelf probably refers, John v. 37. See Macknight
on Har, §- 142. lot xlye* ivti UK 'i^in fxiy^Hoi h ifiif, that is,
ye have not retained in your minds his word, when he bore
witnefs of nie, from heaven. Compare Heb. ii. i, v^orix,uv
roli uKisS-^a-i is equivalent to Aoysp ^pc^' [x.ivitlx, and ^ocfx^^vtiv,
to the contrary.

° See Budseus Comm.Ling.Gr.3i6.Schmid,ad I. Chemnitius
thinks, that St. Paul alludes to this Voice of the Father. Coloff.i.
19. Of the original word, which the Seventy render by i'u^exitf,
frequent ufe is made, when God is faid to receive a facrilice
favourably, or not. Levit. xix.7.X'Xii-<' 23,27.Pfalmli.i5.1faiah
liii. 10. " the pleafure of the LOrd ihall profper in his hand.'*
The Chald. Par. on this Chap, fays, that it was the good
pleafure of the Lord to forgive all fins for his (the Meffiah's)
fake ; that fo they might fee the kingdom of the Meffias.
• Braun.

S E R M O N IV. 2^

pleafed." The dodlrine of the Apoftles

fully illuftrates this laft expreffion. Accord-
ing to them, the fource of human falvation,
and of all fpiritual blefllngs, is kv^oKia. esS,
the good pleafure of his will in Chrift. The
Redeemer himfelf therefore profefies to the
Father; "in burnt-offerings and facrifices for
fin thou haft had no pleafure— lo, I come, to
do thy will, O God ;" — and by this will
we are fandiiied, through the offering of
that body, which God had prepared for the
Meffias, and the Father hath made us ac-
cepted in the Beloved, He pleafed the Fa-
ther, and thereby prevailed with him, in be-
half of men, becaufe he was the Son of
God ', and to this conftrudtion the paffage, as
it was pronounced by the Father, appears
immediately to lead ; but the contrary
opinion, that, becaufe he had pleafed the
Father, he became the Son of God, reverfes
the tenor, and feems to deftroy the force, of
the fentence.

p Immediately, that is, probably, before

Braun. ad Hebr. p. 627, et Seledla Sacr. pag. 358. Hence
the Meffiah's miniftry is called the " acceptable year" of the
Lord, and the Lord is faid to have, or not to have, " plea-
fure" in facrifice. Ephef. i. 5. Heb. x. 6.
f Mark i. xz.

F 2 fufficient

84 SERMON IV.

fufficient time had been given to the Baptifb,
for pointing out Jefus, as the Meffias, to the
people, the Spirit led him up into the wil-
dernefs, to undergo the temptation. But as
John was now enabled to enlarge his bap-
tifmal dodrine very confiderably, in confe-
quence of the MelTiah's adtual appearance ;
he accordingly referred to it in his firft
teftimony, fubfequent to the baptifm of
Jefus. He declared to the multitude, who
had been, either actually prefent at this mira-
culous tranfaiftion, or, at leaft, made acquaint-
ed with it i " ^ this was he, of whom I fpake,
he that cometh after me, is preferred before
me, for he was before me." This defig-

nation of the Meflias, is nearly, although
not abfolutely, perfonal ; and the Baptift ap-
parently fpeaks, of one, who had been lately
prefent, and to perfons, who then had feen

him.

The attribute, which is contained in the
words, ** he was before me," is a new ground
of dignity, and furpalTes any charader of the
Meflias, which John had mentioned, before
the baptifm of Jefus. This feems therefore
another example, that the charadler of the
MefTias was only gradually unfolded to the

•> John i. 15.

Baptift.

S E R M O N IV. 85

Baptift. It llkewife appears from hence,

that the Holy Ghoft, which had notified thj
perfon of the Meffias to John, fuggefted alfo
this eminent attribute of his preexiflence,
when that occafion was come, which imme-
diately required the application of it. For
Jefus had received the baptifm of John,
which appeared, even to the Baptift, incom-
patible with the preeminence of the Meilias 5
and he had made no difplay of that extraor-
dinary might, which John had propheticaDy
attributed to him. Thefe circumilances
would rather tend to weaken the effecl of the
previous declaration of the Baptift, that he,
who came after him, was unfpeakably his
fuperior in power and dignity. The attri-
bute therefore of prcexiftence feems to have
been dictated by the Spirit, and to have been
afcribed to the Meflias by the Baptift, in or-
der to aggrandize his charadier, upon a new
and ftronger ground, at that time, and under
thofe particular circumftances, when it was
moft immediately required. This artri-

bute appears to have been grounded upon
that interpretation of the title. Son of God,
which the Holy Spirit, the continual guide
and inftrudor of the Baptift, in all neceliary
cafes, had fuggefted to him upon this occa-

F 3 fion i

86 SERMON IV.

fion ; and he feems to have been led by the
fame divine influence, to ground upon that
title, other charadlers of the Meffias, which
remain to be confidered in their place.

But to proceed — During the temptation
of the Meffias, the Jewifh council, by a de-
putation of priefts and Levites to JoJin, in-
quired into the divine charad:er, which he
aifumed. It was the ^ prerogative of that
council, to examine and decide upon every
claim of this kind ; and the anfwer of the
Baptift, to this judicial meffage, was to con-
ftitute that evidence, upon which the coun-
cil virtually profefTed to admit or difallow his
divine miffion. This is implied in the lan-
guage of the mefTengers ^ " v/ho art thou ?
that we may give an anfwer to them that
fent us." It may therefore be expedted, that
the anfwer of the Baptift, upon this occafion,
fhould produce the true criterion of his pro-
phetical charadler. His reply accordingly
affigned it. After therein explaining the na-
ture, and limiting the extent, of his office,
he attefted, as he had done moft probably
during the laft forty days, that the Meffias

^ This is implied in Luke xiii. 33. — See Lightfoot Har-
mony, 2d part 521.

had

SERMON IV. 87

had really appeared, and would fpeedily ma-
nifeft himfelf openly in his preeminent mi-
niftry ; ** there ' ftandeth one among you,
whom ye know not ', he it is, who, coming
after me, is preferred before me." By this
anfwer, he virtually gave teflimony to the
council itfelf, that the Meflias was abfolute-
ly come, and, by his adtual appearance in
Ifrael, had fulfilled that prophecy of his ap-
proach, which, as they knew, John con-
ftantly had delivered, during that period, in
which he had baptized Jerufalem, and all
Judasa, and the region round about Jordan.
So that, in fad:, he urged the accompiiih-
ment of his capital prophecy, as forerunner,
in proof of his mifiion from God j and it
was formerly obferved, that this criterion was
the intended and fufficient evidence of it.

Befides, ** ' thefe things were done, inBetha-
bara, where John was baptizing," and there-
fore, moft probably, in the hearing of fome
difciples, who had feen Jefus receive baptifm,
and heard their mailer almofl immediuteiy
teftify, "this was he;" and confequeiitly
were enabled to corroborate, what the Baptill

' John i. 26. Wolf, ad 1. " Standeth, i. e. miniftereth."
Comp. Zech, iii. 7. Grot, ad John iii. 29.
» John i. 28.

F 4 affirmed

88 S E R M O N IV.

affirmed in his anfwer to the Levites. The
information then, which the melTengers had
an opportunity of carrying back from Betha-
bara to the council, was particular and
ample, as it comprehended both thefe cir-
cumftances ; firft, that John really bore a
divine commiffion, fince his prediction, of
the immediate approach of the Meffias, had
been fulfilled ; and, laftly, that the MefiTias,
upon receiving his baptifm, had been openly
attefted in a miraculous manner from heaven.
Thus, that the vifit of the Levites to John,
happened after he had baptized Jefus, was a
circumftance of confiderable advantage in the
queflion, concerning the prophetical charadler
of the Baptift, which had been the caufe of
their coming j for the firft certain and un-
queftionable evidence of the divine mifiion
of John, arofe from the baptifm of Jefus,
and his anfwer to the mefiTengers accordingly
affigned it. The providence of God had, as
it feems, fo adjufted events and circumftances
to the counfel of his own will, that when
the claim of the Baptift, to an infpired cha-
rafter, was examined by that judicial authori-
ty, which prefcribed to the people in allow-
ing or reje(5ting it, he had been already
enabled to affign the completion of his

prophecy.

SERMON IV, 89

prophecy, as forerunner, for a plain creden-
tial of his divine commiffion ; which he
could not have done, at any period of his
miniftry, prior to the baptifm of Jefus. And
lince the council did not condemn him for a
falfe prophet, they ought in obedience to the
law, and upon their own principles, to have
received his teftimony, as a true one.

To proceed ; On the next day, * as it ap-
pears, to the vifit of the Levites, Jefus re-
turned from the temptation, and prefented
himfelf again to John. This firft opportu-
nity of executing his office, in the utmofl:
extent, was immediately embraced by the
Baptift, and he applied to him this fignal
and interefting attribute, ** Behold, the
Lamb of God !" This indication of the
Meffias is perfonal, and, as fuch, John im-
mediately purfues it -, ** this is he, of whom
I faid, after me cometh a man, which is
preferred before me."

When he thus ftyled him perfonally.
Lamb of God, he feems to have refpe<fted
the facrifice of Chrift for fin, as the remain-
der of the claufe implies, " who taketh away
the fins of the world."

» See John i. 29.

Indeed

90 SERMON IV.

Indeed, all the piacular oblations of the
law, whether made day by day continually,
or only at ftated times, had their confumma-
tion in him, as their antitype ; and that the
" pafchal Lamb, in particular, was a type of
the Meflias, appears evident from the Scrip-
tural application of the prophecy, <* "^ a bone
of him fhall not be broken >" and the pafT-
over, in the Jewifh fenfe, denoted redemp-
tion. But the Meffiah cannot be con-
fidered as a jufl antitype, either to the Lamb
of the daily facrifice, or to that of the paff-
over, unlefs his death had an expiatory pur-
pofe and effed:. Accordingly, the Apoftles
reprefent him facrificed for us, as a Lamb
without fpot, and as our paflbver. He has
obtained the redemption of man, not merely
becaufe he was fpotlefs, but alfo, becaufe he
was flain ; partly, by his unblemilhed righte-
oufnefs, but much more, by his precious
blood. So that by the full import of the

" The Baptift allude?, either to the Lamb of the daily Ta-
crifice, (Lightfoot's Harmony, 2d part 529) or to the
Pafchal Lamb, Bochart Hieroz. part ift. Lib. ii. C. 50, See

Huet. D. E. 729. Deyling. Obf. Sacr. p. 254. part iii.

— Epiphan. H^ref 8. Frifchmuth. Diff. de Agno Pafchali.— •
I Pet. i. 19. Rom. iii. 25. v. 9. Heb. ix, 14. x. 19. Apoc.
V. 9, 7. 14.

" Pfalm xx;£iv. 20. John xix. 36.

attribute

SERMON IV.

attribute, Lamb of God, the Baptift, in fad:,
oppofed Jefus to all the Levitical offerings,
and pointed him oat as the great facrifice,
which God had ordained, and would accept,
for univerfal expiation of fm. It may be

further obferved from this attribute, that the
characfter of the Meffiah fcems now to have
been revealed to John, more exteniively, than
before. For, the Baptift had prophetically re-
prefented him, as the object of faith, and given
teftimony that the Father from heaven had de-
clared himfelf well-pleafed in him, as his be-
loved Son ; but he had not hitherto affigned,the
principal ground of that faith, or the reafon of
that good pleafure. But John, at once, en-
larged his former predidion, and carried it
to the utmoft extent ; and alfo, illuftrated
fully the force and import of the Voice from
heaven, by now afcribing both remiffion of
lins, and the good pleafure of the Father, to
the facrifice of the Meffiah, as Lamb of
God. And, as the difciples of Chrift un-
derftood not this charader of the Meffias,
till he had opened their underftandings, after
his refurredion, and given them a clearer
notion of that attribute -, fo neither, it may
be prefumed, could John have feen and
affigned the real ground of human juftifica-

tion.

92 S E R M O N IV.

tion, and of the Father's good-pleafure, in
the Meflias, without a divine revelation, of
more extent and precifion, than could be
traced in his dodlrine, before the baptifm of
Jefus. For the attribute. Lamb of God,
implies the v^'hole of that which an Apoftle,
after the defcent of the Holy Spirit on the
difciples, thus comprehenfively defcribed * ;
** God hath predeftinated us unto the adop-
tion of children by Jefus Chrift, according
to the good pleafure of his will, to the praife
of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath
made us accepted in the Beloved, in whom
we have redemption through his blood, the
forgivenefs of fins.'* As the Meflias

came principally to fulfil this chara(5ter of
redeemer by his death, it was impoflible to
point him out to the people, by a more
ftriking and endearing attribute. And, upon
this occafion, the Gofpel-writer accumulates
fome preceding teftimonies of the Baptift,
and reprefents him as applying them all per-
fonally to Jefus. ** ^ Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the fins of the
world ! This is he, of whom I faid, after
me Cometh a man, which is preferred before
me : for he was before me — and I knew

* Eph. i. 5. T John i. 29.

him

SERMON IV. 93

him not ; but that he (hould be made ma-
nifeft unto Ifrael, therefore am I come bap-
tizing with water — (and John bare record,
faying, I faw the Spirit, defcending from hea-
ven, Hke a dove, and it abode upon him) and
I knew him not ; but he that fent me to
baptize with water, the fame faid unto me,
upon whom thou fhalt fee the Spirit defcend-
ing and remaining on him ; the fame is he
which baptizeth with the Holy Ghoft ; and
I faw, and bare record that this is the Son
of God." As the great perfonal attribute.
Son of God, in the clofe of this extract,
will be confidered in the next difcourfe -,
fome obfervations, upon a part only of this
paflage, remain to be offered at prefent.

The Baptift afferts ; "I knew him not,
but that he fhould be made manifeft unto
Ifrael, therefore am I come, baptizing with
water." Upon applying here what was '^ for-
merly obferved on the aflertion, " I knew
not," this whole claufe may poffibly be allowed
to import, that the purpofe of the baptifmal
miniftry, namely, to manifeft the MeiTias to
Ifrael, was revealed to John, when he re-
ceived the commiffion to baptize j but that
the individual perfon of the MefTias, and the

* See the clofe of lafl: difcourfe.

par-

94 S E R M O N JV.

particular incident, wherein he would be-
come known to John, as fuch, were neither
of them revealed to him, at his original call,
or at any time, that preceded the coming of
Jefus tojordan. It was then, that he ceafed to
be ftridly the forerunner, and became proper-
ly a witnefs ; and it was then, that he knew
him by another revelation. The whole verfe is
fet down by the Gofpel- writer, as the continu-
ed language of the Baptifl. Thiscircumftance,
as it appears, requires to be carefully noted ;
for the cafe feems otherwife with the verfe
enfuing. In that, the Evangelift breaks off
the words of the Baptifl, to affign that emi-
nent inftance, wherein the baptifm of water
had, in fad, brought on the manifeftation of
the Mefiias to Ifrael. He fpeaks in his own
perfon, though he applies the exprefs tefti-
mony of the Baptift to the great incident. — '
** And John bare record, faying, I faw the
Spirit defcending from heaven, like a dove,
and it abode upon him." The verfe feems
elliptical, and may be thus filled up, by re-
curring to the words that preceded ; and
John bare record, faying, the baptifm of
v/ater did really manifefl the Mefiias to Ifrael,
forafmuch as I faw the Spirit defcending
from heaven, and it abode upon him, on

SERMON IV. 95

Ti^ectfzoLi TO 'zxTviv^A. "■ This ^ parenthefis of the
Gofpel-writer fpecifies only from what cir-
cumftance John manifefled the Meffias to
Ifrael, not that from which the Baptift knew
him. On account of that period, which
he had thus interpofed, and to reftore the
connection between the verfe, immediately
following the parenthefis, and that which
preceded it, and to alleviate the interruption,
which the Evangelifl had occafioned by thus
interpofing a fentence, he has repeated the
difclaiming claufe, " I knew him not," and
with it again introduced the exprefs words of
the Baptift. If therefore the firft and laft of
the three verfes be thrown together, and the
repetition ftill preferved, their import may
be thus reprefented ; I knew him not, but
was expreflly fent to manifeft him unto
Ifrael by the baptifm of water. — I knew

y Another inftance of a parenthefis, fomewhat fimilar to
this, occurs in ver. 14.. of this chapter, — 'o Ao'y©- er«^| 'lyimot
y^ 'tTKKvuTii £» iiiMv (>^ i'>[itiira.fAi^x tIm H^xr uvri, ^\cci ui
fAwyii^i •Botfk rrxT^oi) ^Ao'gJi? ^tipiT®- j^ aXi/ideiui. There will
be no neceffity, with fome critics, for underilanding w^h'^jj?,
•as put for the accufative, zr^ii'^jjv, if the parenthefis here be
taken as a whole by itfelf, in which the Evangelifl gave an
inftance, of thevifible glory of the Logos, in his tabernacle
of the flelh, namely, in the Transfiguration, to which Peter
refers in his fecond Epiftle, i. 17, 18;

him

96 SERMON IV.

him not, but v/as informed that he it was,
on whom I fhould fee the Spirit defcend and
abide, who fhould baptize with the Holy
Ghoft. The Baptift mentions two points,
that were made known to him at his ori-
ginal call, and alfo indicates another, that
was left, at that time, unrevealed -, and he
appears not to have given any intimation,
that he fhould not, or that he did not, know
the Meffias, till the vifible defcent of the
Spirit upon him.

The inconfiftency, which has been fup-
pofed to fubfift between the aflertion, " I
knew him not," and his words to Jefus, at
Jordan, ** I have need to be baptized of
thee," feems entirely to have arifen, from
extending the meaning of the claufe, I
knew him not, beyond that point of time,
when Jefus prefented himfelf to be baptized.
At that inflant, as it was before obferved,
he became known to John, and continued
fo, while he performed his baptifmal office,
and when the Spirit defcended ; and the
Baptift feems not, either in this paiTage or
any other, to have given juft ground for
fuppofing, that he baptized Jefus upon any
other footing, than as the Meffias, confefTedly

known ;

SERMON IV.

known ; and has only faid, that him, whom
he was fent to manifeft, and on whom he
fliould fee the Spirit defcend, he knew not.
This feems the whole import of the verfes 5
and they relate rather to the means of mani-
fefting the Meffias to Ifrael, than of revealing
him to John ; which points appear entirely
diftind:, and materially different. For this

fenfible fign was the evidence, intended to be
given byjohn, of the divine charader of Jefus.
This ufe of it was at iirft explained to him, and
to this he was dire(fted. And although the
f]gn did not notify the Meffias to him, yet it
was of great weight in the profecution of
his office. It made him a witnefs, in that
fame inftance, wherein he had been only a
prophet before. His former prediction
might ftill be delivered, but with the ad-
vantage of being confirmed and juflified
by the fign — " he fliall baptize you with the
Holy Ghoft," for I faw it defcend and abide
upon him. And when the Baptifl attefled
the defcent of the Spirit upon Jefus, he ap-
pealed, in fad:, to a fignal and publick miracle,
in behalf of his own infpired characfter.
As he did no miracle, he could not have
afferted, ** this is the Son of God," upon any
flronger ground, than divine revelation to

G himfelf.

9$ S E R M O N IV.

himfelf, if the fenfible fign, of the defcent of
the Spirit upon Jefus, could not have been
urged by him, as a divine atteflation to his own
veracity. So that the fign v^ras of great im-
portance, even to the Baptift, although it was
not wanted to notify the Mefiias to him.

This paffage then, if the illuftration of it,
here offered, may be admitted, will tend, to-
gether with the general fubftance of this
difcourfe, to fupport the following conclu-
lions — that, authority to ad, as the fore-
runner and witnefs to the Meffias, was given
to John, at his call, but that a confiderable part
of his qualifications, for the difcharge of thofe
offices, was imparted to him, during his
miniftry ; and that, as he could not have
undertaken fuch a baptifm of water, and
have known the divine purpofe, intended by
it, except by the word of the Lord originally -,
io neither could he thus have conducted it
with fuccefs, through fituations,which he did
not forefee, without continual infpiration
from God.

SER-

( 99 )

SERMON V.

John i. 7.

^hefame came for a witnefsy to bear witnefs of
the light t that all men through him might
believe.

A I i H E baptlfmal do(ftrmes and prophe-
i cies of John, as the forerunner,
have been already difcufled ; but his
teftimonies, as the witnefs of the MefTias,
having been, as yet, illuftrated only in part,
I proceed, at prefent, to fpeak of thofe,
which were delivered by the Baptift, after
Chrift had adually coUeded difciplcs, and
alTumed a prophetical charader.

For this purpofe, the great attribute of
Chrift, as Son of God, may properly be
confidered -, and as the fenfe, in which John

G 2 under-

100 SERMON V.

underftocd that title, may perhaps be deter-
mined by thofe teftimonies, that will occur
in the prefent difcourfe, the illuftration of
that attribute has been referved to this place.

*« I faw and * bare record, that this is the
Son of God." The words may poffibly im-
ply, that John had commonly afcribed this
title to Jefus, before he returned from the
temptation, and had again prefented himfelf
to the Baptift. But however that may be,
the attribute is here applied perfonally to
Jefus ', and the words of the Baptifl bear an
evident reference, both to the defcent of the
Spirit upon Jefus, which he faw,and to the voice
ot the Father, which he heard. The defcent
of the Spirit, was a fign, to him and to the
|)eople, that Jefus (hould baptize with the
Holy Ghoft J and the Voice from heaven,
was a new revelation, that he was the
beloved Son of God. The Baptift, as
the witnefs to the Mefliah, was thereby
enabled to aflign the ground of thofe attri-
butes, which, as forerunner, he had prophe-
tically afcribed to him ; and the words of the
Father, ** thou art my beloved Son," as

* " f4,iixx^rijf)fK», have borne record."

they

SERMON V. loi

they were underftood by John, immediately
led to the attribute, ** he was before me,"
which the Baptift had not afcribed to the
Meffias, till after the Voice from heaven.
What John afferted in that attribute, was
equally true of the MefTiah's miniftry, as a
prophet, and of his exiftence, as a man. He
came after the Baptift in both refpeds ; and
of courfe, the attribute, ** he was before
me," had no relation to either of thefe
fenfes -, for, upon that footing, John would
direftly contradicft his own previous tef-
timony, as well as the reft of the Gof-
pel-hiftory of Chrift. It feems then,
that, whatever authority the title, beloved
Son of God, gave the Baptift, for repre-
fenting Jefus, as antecedent to him, it muft
afford him the fame for afterting, that Jefus
pre-exifted as Son of God ; and therefore,
that he applied this title perfonally to him,
in that ftrid fenfe, wherein Jefus afterwards
aflumed it.

But other expreHions of the Baptift, in the
further difcharge of his office, as a witnefs,
will contribute to fhew, that he applied the
attribute, beloved Son of God, as expreffive
of perfonal, and not only of official, dignity
in Chrift.

G 3 For,

ioa SERMON V.

For, foon after his baptifm, Jefus began
to call difciples, and at Jerufalem, during
the PafTover, authoritatively ^ expelled from
the temple, thofe who profaned his Fa-
ther's houfe, wrought miracles, and delivered
his dodtrines openly. His difciples alfo,
acting under his immediate commiffion,
*: baptized the people in Judaea, unto faith in
the Meffiah, as John did before, and ^ even
at that very time -, and Jefus returned not
into Galilee, until he ** " knew how the
Pharifees had heard that he made and bap-
tized more difciples, than John." It feems
to have been his intention, to bring on a
comparifon between himfelf and the Baptift ;
that occafion might from thence be given to
John, before his own miniftry expired, of
bearing teftimony to Jefus in the a(flual exer-
cife of his prophetical office.

Accordingly, a difpute arofe concerning
the two baptifms, in which the difciples of
John took the lead againft the Jews, and
complained to their mafter, that his province
was invaded, and the credit and fuccefs of
his own miniftry furpafled. ** ^ Rabbi, he that

'' John. ii. 15, '^ John iii. 22. compared with iv. 2.

* John iii. 23. ' John iv. i . ' John iii. 26.

was.

SERMON V.

103

was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou
bareft witnefs, behold, the fame baptizeth,
and all men come unto him." This drew
from the Baptift an anfwer, that, in fome
particulars, ftrongly implies, in what an
exalted fenfe he applied the title. Son of
God.

He began with afTuring his difciples, that
the fuccefs of Jefus, and his own, were both
given from above, in a jufl proportion to
the difparity of their offices ; fince he was
the forerunner only, but Jefus was the
^ Bridegroom and ^ Lord of the Church, that
fpiritual bride, which was deftined for him
alone. — if flie was difpofed to meet him
with affection and duty -, if ihe was received
and welcomed with his favour, it was all,
that his own miffion from God had given
him ' to accomplifh ; it was all, that it left
him to defire — •' this my joy therefore is
fulfilled" — he muft increafe, but I muft
decreafe. "

After this, he enlarges on the dignity of
Chrift, confidering him, as he goes on, in

8 Ifaiah Hv. 5, 6. Ixii. 5. Jerem. iii. 14. Matth. xxii. 2;
Ephef. V. 27. Rev. xxi. 9,

^ Pfalm xlv. n. * 2 Corinth, xi. 2.

G 4 the

104 SERMON V.

the light of a publick teacher, at that time
aftually difcharging his office.

" He that cometh from above, is ^ above
all." — He taught, what the Apoftles after-
vi'ards more fully fet forth, that the
Meffiah was not taken from among men,
but came down ^ from heaven — "" that
he had by inheritance obtained a more ex-
cellent name than angels, and, both by his
miffion and original, was above all, whether
" prophets of the earth, or ° miniftering fpirits
of heaven,

" What he hath feen and heard that he
teftifieth" — Prophets, who came not im-
mediately from heaven, and were not, like
Him, "-above all," could make no fuller
difcoveries to men of divine things, than
their imperfecfl faculties were able to re-
ceive. But the teftimony of the Son of
God is founded upon his own unlimited and
intuitive knowledge.

** And no man receiveth his teftimony."
— This feems a direct prophecy of the Mef-
fiah's rejeftion by the Jews 3 but without
contradid:ing a preceding claufe, ** he mufl

^ Rcqi, ix, {J. Compare 1 Cor'nth. xv. 47.
• John iii. 31. « Hebr. i, 4. " Heb. i. i, 2.

» Heb. i. 14.

increafe.''

SERMON V.

105

increafe." Their relation is different ; for
the fuccefs of the Meffiah's miniftry is one
thing, but his rejedion by the body of the
Ifraehtifh nation, is another ; and both are
predi(5ted by the Baptift.

** He that hath received his teftimony
hath P fet to his feal, that God is true."
Hitherto the law and the prophets had pro-
phefied ; but now the age of accomplifli-
ment was come. Chrift is the end of the law,
and '^ the vifion and the prophecy are fealed up,
as ** ' all the promifes of God in him are Yea
and Amen." The teftimony of Jefus accord-
ingly yields the great and ultimate demon-
ftration of the truth of God, with refpedl,
both to his promifes by the prophets, and
to the witnefs, which he had borne to Jefus,
by his voice from heaven.

" ' For he, whom God hath fent, fpeaketh
the words of God." — All divine meffengers
may be faid to have fpoken the ** words of.
God ;" but " the words of God" are attri-
buted to Jefus, not only in confequence of
his divine million, in which refpedt he re-

P See Wolf. Eph. i. 13. ^ Dan. ix. 24.

^ 2 Cor. i. 30. * See 1 John v. 10, il.

fcmbles

io6 SERMON V.

fembles the earthly prophets ; but alfo, in
confequence of his divine original, as the
beloved Son of God, which title belongs
properly and exclufively to him. The di-
vinity of that doftrine, which Jefus then
adually delivered, was necefTarily implied by
the fubfequent claufe, — ** for God giveth
not the Spirit by meafure unto him." — From
inftances, which have occurred,the influence of
the Spirit upon John, appeared to be limit-
ed i and, all other prophets received it, like
him, occafionally, and by meafure. But the
prerogative of Jefus was tranfcendent. As
' it pleafed the Father, that, ** in him all
fullnefs, * and all the treafures of wifdom and
knowledge, fhould dwell," the Spirit had no
attribute, which was not continual and entire
in him.

** The Father loveth the Son, and hath
given all things into his hand." Here the
Baptift alludes to the voice of the Father
from heaven ; and affigns the proper founda-
tion of the tranfcendent prerogatives of Jefus,
by referring to this title, " thou art my be-
loved Son," Agreeably to the import of this

* Colcf. i. 19. ii. 3. * John xvi. 15.

teflimony.

SERMON V.

107

teftlmony, Jefus is reprefented elfewhere, in
the New Teftament, as the Lord and " heir
of all things, even of thofe which the Fa-
ther himfelf claimeth — fupreme, not only
as a Prophet, but alfo, as the King, and
Judge of all.

" He that believeth on the Son, hath
everlafting life." The jufl lliall live by
faith in him, for their "^ life is in the Son —
he will confer it upon us, or refufe it, here-
after, as we believe or deny him here, —

This fignal teflimony to Jefus was not deliver-
ed long before the imprifonment of theBaptift,
in which his miniftry expired. He repeats
and enlarges fome particulars, which he had
mentioned before ; but difplays the whole
charad:er of the Meffiah, in much more ex-
prefs and magnificent terms, than he had
hitherto employed. The tranfcendent ex-
cellence of his official qualifications ^ juftifi-
cation * by faith in him j and eternal life, at
his difpofal, as the reward of that faith ; are
all of them evangelical doctrines, confonant

" Matth. xxi. 38. Rom. iv. 13. Heb. i. 2.
"■" I John V. 1 1 .

* Not by the works of the law, which was the principle
of the Jews.

indeed

io8 SERMON V.

indeed to the genuine import of ancient
Scripture, but entirely unknown in Ifrael ;
and therefore in delivering them, the Baptift
adted as a prophet, and in applying them
with others, to Jefus, at that time exercifing
his minifterial office, he adled as a witnefs.

Some of the principal characters, here af-
cribed to the Meffias ; namely, that he came
down from heaven, and teftified what he had
feen and heard, and was above all ; appear
immediately grounded upon that declaration
of the Father from heaven, " thou art my be-
loved Son." And thefe, if taken together
with another, already mentioned by the
Baptift, ** he was before me," feem to render
it a juft conclufion, that the title. Son of
God, was applied by John, as the attribute,
not fimply of the Meffiah's office, but alfo,
of his perfon ; and the amount of thefe tef-
timonies is nearly equivalent to the confeffion
of faint Peter, after long acquaintance with
the dodrines and miracles of Jefus, ** ^ thou
art Chrift, the Son of the living God." It
feems to have been the divine intention,
that the eye of faith fhould be led on from
a view of the glorified humanity of Jefus,
to that of his divinity ; and, the language of

y Matth, xvi, 1 6.

SERMON V.

109

the Baptift was ftridly accommodated to that
defign, by reprefenting the title, beloved Son
of God, as implying not only the extraordi-
nary gifts, and tranfcendent eminence of
Jefus, as a prophet, but alfo his pre-exiftence
in heaven, and near relation to the Father.

Thus, the Baptift adled, for fome fpace of
time, as the forerunner, and for a much
longer, as the witnefs of the Meffiah. He
knew him not, while he continued merely
his forerunner, and prepared the Jews, by
baptifm, and by the correction of their prin-
ciples and manners, to exped; and receive
him with faith. Upon the public appear-
ance of Jefus, John firfl knew him by im-
mediate revelation -, and, at his requifition,
and againft the previous didate of his own
mind, baptized him, to his office. It was
then he became a witnefs -, and imme-
diately notified his actual appearance, and
afterwards teftified, that he faw the Holy
Spirit then defcend and abide upon him, and
heard the Father, from heaven, pronounce
him, his beloved Son, Erelong he pub-
lickly pointed him out in perfon, as the Son
of God, attefted by that fign, and proclaimed
by that voice, from heaven ; and upon the

expreffions

no SERMON V.

expreffions then ufed by the Father, and in-
terpreted by the Spirit to the Baptift, he
grounded, and afcribed perfonally to Jefus,
the charadler of univerfal redeemer ; and
alTerted his pre-exiftence in heaven, and
defcent from thence, his perfonal and unli-
mited knowledge of divine things, and the
immeafureable fullnefs of his fpiritual gifts
and powers, his univerfal fuperiority and do-
minion, and the nearnefs of his relation to
God, as his beloved Son. And further,
when Jefus a(£tually entered upon his office,
and authorized his difciples to baptize, and,
in the number of his followers, furpafled the
fuccefs of John j he knew and felt that the
purpofe of his own miffion was anfwered -, and
in terms of great energy, and highly expref-
iive of his eminent humility and pious reiig-
nation, he even prophefied that the conclu-
fion of his office was near ; ** he that hath
the bride, is the bridegroom j but the friend
of the bridegroom, which ^ ftandeth and
heareth him, rejoiceth greatly becaufe of the
Bridegroom's voice : this my joy therefore
is fulfilled i he mull increafe, but I mufl
decreafe.

y i. e. minillereth. Comp. Zech. iii. 7. Grot, ad I.

That

SERMON V. Ill

That event ,foon followed, which verified
the predi(fl:ion of the Baptift. For his mi-
niftry, the fuccefs of which declined upon the
growing manifeftation of Jefus in Judaea, was
brought very near its clofe by his imprifon-
ment. Yet that " burning and {hining
light," in which the people had been
willing to rejoice for a feafon, though ren-
dered faint and dim, did not immedately
expire. For it may perhaps appear, upon
examination, that, even ,in the prifon, he
endeavoured to promote the reception of
the Meffias, and ftill acfted the part of a
witnefs to Jefus, then fully exercifmg his
great office.

In order to illuftrate this point, it muft
be previoufly obferved, that, upon the im-
prifonment of the Baptift, Jefus went from
Judaea into Galilee, and there ^ preached,
*' repent ye and believe the Gofpel ;"
he called the Twelve, and attefted his di-
vine miffion by ligns and wonders, accom-
panied with every circumftance, that might
tend to render them illuftrious and convin-
cing. Accordingly, ** * there came a fear on
all, and they glorified God, faying, that a
great prophet is rifen up among us, and that

* Marki. 15. * Luke vii. 16.

God

112 SERMON V.

God hath vifited his people. And this
rumour of him went forth throughout all
Judaea, and throughout all the region round
about." Jefus then notorioufly verified that
iignal prophecy of the Baptift, ** he, that
cometh after me, is mightier than I" — and
as that natural and jufl remark, ** ^ all things,
that John fpake of this man, were true,"
was delivered before the paffion of Chrift, it
evidently related to his mighty works and
docftrines, as confefjedly predicted by the Bap-
tift. The powerful efFed: of the works of
Chrift, upon the minds of the people, in ge-
neral,feems not to have exceeded their impref-
fion, upon the difciples of the Baptift. In the
prifon, they acquainted him with the dodrines
of Jefus, with his call of the Apoftles, and his
miracles. That jealoufy for the honour of
their mafter, which had already led them to
make a fimilar reprefentation to him of the
fuccefs of Jefus, was probably one of their
prefent inducements to fhew him of all thefe
things. Upon receiving this intelligence,
the Baptift " called unto him two of thefe
difciples," and ^ fent them unto Jefus, faying.

" John X, 41,

"* Of this meflage Tee Epifcop. Jndit. Theol. Lib. ili. Cap.
25. Jortin. Difc. on Chriftianity, ch. 5. Macknight on Har-
mony, '§. 42. Lightloot on Matth. xi. 3. tt ^j-j

SERMON V, 113

'* Art thou he, that fhould come, or do we
'look for another ?" The confiderations, that
immediately follow, may perhaps have fome
tendency to explain ^nd juftify this condud:
of the Baptift.

This meflage is placed, by St. Luke, im-
mediately after his account of the raifing of
the widow's fon from the dead ; and the
mighty works ot Jefus probably had induced
the difciples of John to admit, like Nicode-
mus, and 'other Jews, that he was ** a teacher
come from God." For this appears implied
in the very terms and tenor of the queftion ;
as it feems flridly calculated to bring on a
determination, not whether Jefus bore any,
but what, divine character ; " art thou he,
that (hould come, or do we look for ano-
ther ? art thou the Meffias himfeif, or only
comeft thou before him ?"

To explain and confirm this conftrudlion,
it may be obferved, that the Jews univerfally
believed that Elias mull firft come. In con-
fequence of this received opinion, the mef-
fengers of the council had enquired of the

•= Others of the Jews, who looked not on him, as the Mef-
fiah. yet, it is faid believed on him on account of his mi-
racles. John vli. 31. Stiilingf. O. S. B. ii. Ch. 9. 259.

H Baptift

114 S E R M O N V.

Baptift himfelf, ** art thou Eli^s ?" and as
he anfwered, ** I am not," the publick ex-
peiftation of Elias, to precede the Meffiah,
would remain no lefs prevalent than before,
although John was taken for a prophet ; and
there are evident traces of it, in the Gofpel-
hiftory, at a later period.

It may be added, that Elias was highly
celebrated in Ifrael, on account of his
miraculous power. The fon of Sirach de-
livers the Jewifh opinion in this cafe : ** '^ O
Elias, how waft thou honoured in thy won-
drous deeds, and who may glory like unto
thee ; who didft raife up a dead man from
death, and his foul from the place of
the dead, by the word of the moft High !
The miracles of Jefus, and efpecially his
raifing two perfons from the dead, might
therefore, it may be conceived, rather incline
the Jews to take him for Elias. —

Laftly, it may be remarked, that the
Meffiah was expedted to manifeft himfelf in
outward fplendor and majefty. The humble
ftate of Jefus would therefore naturally dif-
pofe the people to believe, that the character
of Meffiah could not belong to him.

^ Eccluf. xlviii. 4.

From

S E R M O N V. 115

From thefe cpnfiderations, taken in aid of
each other, namely, that, ^ according to the
Jewifh opinions, Elias was then to come ;
and that, as Jefus wrought miracles, he was
the more likely, to be really Elias ; but, as
he did not appear in outward pomp and
greatnefs, could not, as they apprehended,
be the Mefliah -, it may perhaps feem cre-
dible, that thefe difciples of John, ^ like
many of their countrymen, miftook Jefus for
Elias ; and that it was the real wi(h and de-
fign of the Baptift, to correal this particular
error, by fo framing the queftion, as necefla-
rily to bring on a decifion of the point in
doubt ; ** art thou he, that fhould come, or
do we look for another," art thou the Meffias,
or only comeft thou before him ?

The Baptifl evidently knew the real cha-
racter of Jefus ; and any fuppofition that he
made this enquiry, for his own fake, feems
irreconcilable with the whole of his former
condu(ft, as the witnefs of the Mefliah, and
particularly with that full and eminent tefti-
mony, to which he had been led by the for-

^ Trypho objefts to Juftin, that Elias muft firft come, to
anoint the Mefliah. Whitb. on Matth. xvii. 10.
' Matth. xvi, 14 Luke ix. 8.

H 2 mer

ii6 SERMON V.

mer report of his followers, that Jefus bap-
tized, and all men came unto him. It may
then be reafonably fuppofed, that the
Baptift adted from a leading regard to his
difciples, and not to himfelf.

In order to account for his fending them
to Jefus, it may be obferved, that he had
often attefted his divine charader at large to
all his difciples ; ^ fome of whom had made
the right ufe of his teftimony, and confe-
quently followed Jefus. But thefe difciples
of John had adled otherwife, and by obfti-
nately adhering to their mafter, difappointed
his endeavours, and fruftrated the great end
of his million. In thefe circumftances, the
Baptift could have little reliance on the effed
of his own exhortations, and might rather
choofe to refer his difciples to Jefus, than,
in his own perfon, to repeat teftimonies,
which, however exprefs and frequent, had
made no proper impreflion upon them. —

Befides ; if he had renewed his own tef-
timonies to the real charadler of Jefus, even
with fuccefs, the fame efFedl would but then
have followed, which the meffage itfelf brought

f John I. 36, 37.

on.

SERMON V.

117

on. In either cafe, the difciples would have
repaired to Jefus, and would thereby have
fallen under the immediate influence of his
do(ftrines and miracles ; and they had unquef-
tionably the fame power to convince the
followers of John, whatever it was, whether
the teftimony, or the meffage, of their maf-
ter, that gave them occaflon to hear thofe
do(5trInes, and to fee thofe miracles. But the
teflimony of the Baptift, if it had been re-
peated, might not have rendered them more
ready, at this time, than before, to follow
Jefus, and to inform themfelves of the na-
ture and evidence of his divine charader.
But this effed:, which was all that could be
hoped, and which might probably not have
followed, from the mere teftimony of John,
he now abfolutely enfured by fending the
difciples with fuch a queftion to Jefus.

To thefe confiderations it may be added
further, that the miracles of Jefus had af-
forded the ground of that attribute, '♦ he,
that Cometh after me, is mightier than I,'*
and were greater witnefs to Jefus, than that
of John. The Baptift therefore, by fending
the difciples to Chrift, really fliewed them
the accomplifhment of his own prophetical

H 3 tefli-

IjS SERMON V.

teft:imony,and placed them under the immediate
impreffion of that witnefs to the divine cha-
racter of Jefus, which far furpafled any tefti-
rnony, that he either was then, or had been
at any time, enabled to give.

If then the mefTage of the Baptifl may
be placed in this light, he will probably feem
to have proceeded in the fureft, and therefore
in the kindeft, way, to promote the fpiritual
advantage of his followers ; and his condud,
in this refpe(fl,may appear mofl fuitable,to one
great purpofe of his miffion, that of pointing
out the perfon of the Meffiah, and leading
the people to him -, as well as to the view,
under which he appeared to think and acft, at
all times after the publick appearance of the
Meffiah, of difcouraging an excluflve ad-
herence, and even any leading regard, to
himfelf.

Jefus referred the difciples to the prefent
evidence of his miracles and dod:rines, as
fufficient to determine their queftion. The
things, which they then faw, plainly fhewed
that he bore fome divine character ; and, as
it belonged not to the forerunner, but to the
Meffias himfelf, to preach the Gofpel, the
things, which they heard, afcertained that

SERMON V. 119

he was not Elias, and that they were not to
look for another -, and his intimations, that
the poor had the Gofpel preached to them,
and that all were blefled, who fhould not
be offended in him, were both of them ob-
vioully fuited to prevent his lowly condi-
tion, from rendering them averfe to be-
lieve that he really was, ** he that fhould
come."

They were, at the fame time, diredled
to go and fliew John again the things, which
they had heard and feen. As he had
did:ated their queftion, and was held by
them in the higheft reverence, an appli-
cation of that evidence, which they had
heard and feen, was likely to come the
nearer to their hearts, when he fhould ex-
plain, and enforce it upon them. And,
as Jefus commonly declined to bear tefti-
niony to himfelf, and to alTert diredlly that
he was the Meffias, it may feem probable,
that in this inftance, as in all others, he
would have left the operation of his doc-
trines and miracles, upon the minds of
John's difciples, to themfelves, if it had
not been the abfolute office of their maf-
ter to notify the Meffiah to the people.

H 4 l^

I20 SERMON V.

If the turn now given to this mefTage
may be admitted, the Baptift will appear
to have been, even during his imprifonment,
a witnefs to Jefus, and to have maintained
to the laft, that convidtion, under which
he had adled formerly, that Jefus was the
Meffiah. Hence alfo, that illuflirious tef-
timony to the charafter of the Baptift,
which Jefus delivered, immediately as the
meffengers of John departed, will feem to
have an eafy and natural introdudion. He
was not ** a reed, fhaken with the wind ;'*
but immovable in principle, and fteady in
teftimony. He appeared a prophet, in un-
folding the genuine fenfe of former pro-
phecies, and enforcing them with circum-
ftances, unknown and original ; in opening
and characterizing the Gofpel-kingdom of
the Meffiah -, in proclaiming his immediate
approach, and predidling many of his at-
tributes, — and even more than a prophet,
in baptizing the Meffiah to his office, in
attefting his aftual prefence, in pointing
him out in perfon, as the redeemer and
fan<ftifier of the world, and the Son of
God.

The

SERMON V. 121

The proper application of thefe pro-
phecies and this teftimony of John, has
been made by the mighty one, whofe fore-
runner and witnefs he was ; ** ^ if ye will
receive it, this is Elias that was for to
come — he that hath ears to hear, let him
hear."

» Matth. xl. 14.

SER-

( 123 )

SERMON VI.

John xiii. 19.

Now I tell you before it comet that when it is
come to pafs, ye may believe that I am he.

IT has been fhewn already, that the Bap-
tift, as the forerunner of the Meflias,
had predicted his coming, and had in-
dicated fome of his attributes -, and, as a wit-
nefs, had pointed out Jefus of Nazareth per-
fonally, as the mighty one, that fhould come,
the Spirit of God having vifibly defcended
from heaven and abode upon him, and the
voice of the Father having, at the fame
time, declared him his beloved Son.

In order to fhew, both the completion of the
prophecy, delivered by the Baptift, as fore-
runner, and the truth of his teftimony, as

the

124 S E R M O N VI.

the witnefs of the Meffiah ; I proceed, in the
fubfequent part of thefe difcourfes, to afTign
fome of the many fignal evidences, which
the Holy Spirit gave of his continually
dwelling in Jefus, during his publick minif-
try, by producing and illuftrating feveral of
his prophecies, which either immediately
related to characters, that John had attri-
buted to him, or were parallel to prophecies,
delivered by the Baptift.

The firft attribute, which John prophe-
tically afcribed to the Mefliah, was contained
in the following words ; ** he, that cometh
after me, is mightier than I." As the

ancient Scriptures had prediifted the miracles
of the Meflias, and were, *in that refpedt,
though not in all, rightly underftood by the
Jews, the attribute of power was confefTedly
the great charadleriftic of his miniftry. And
Jefus appropriated to himfelf this prophetical
charader,by openly exerting a mighty power,at
his will,by his word, at hand or at a diftance,
upon animate or inanimate nature, and over
the invifible world i againft him that had

* See Grot, on John ix. 32.

the

SERMON VI. X25

the power of death, and againfl the fplrits
of darknefs. Jefus fulfilled the prophecy
of the Baptift, by this exercife of power ;
and alfo verified his teftimony, by thus fen-
fibly difplaying that glory, which he received
at Jordan. For, as Jefus caft out devils by
the Spirit of God, and as the Father, that
dwelt in him, did the works, his figns and
wonders were the witnefs, both of the Spirit,
that defcended from heaven, and refled upon
him, and " of the Father, whofe voice de-
clared him his beloved Son.

As the reality, and divinity, of the mi-
racles of Jefus are points, that fall not pro-
perly within the plan of thefe difcourfes,
which treat of his prophecies only ; it will
not be allowable to offer more than a fhort
obfervation or two upon them.

As all fenfible facts whatfoever are cre-
dible upon adequate teftimony, it feems that
they will not become incredible, merely be-
caufe they are miraculous. The only qucf-
tion then, that can be reafonabiy made,
refpedls the fufficiency of the evidence.
Nor will the regularity of the operations of

^ John xiv. 10.

nature

126 S E R M O N VI.

nature afFord an infuperable objedion to the
credibility of a miracle 5 for the teftimony of
eye-witnefles yields greater evidence in behalf
of the miracle, than the regularity of nature can
bring againft it j the one, as pofitive, ought
in reafon to overrule the other, as only pre-
fumptive. And when the charader of the
Apoftles,and their ^ motives to preach theGof-
pel, with their number and ' agreement, and
all the circumftances that can be, and have
been, urged in their favour, are taken to-
gether into confideration j that their teftimo-
ny fhould yet, after ail, be falfe, feems
infinitely more ^ wonderful, and proportion-
ably lefs credible, than the very miracles,
which they atteft.

The credibility of the miracles of Chrift:
muft therefore reft:, not upon the nature of
the fads, but only upon the evidence, that
is brought to afcertain them; and, if the
teftimony of the Apoftles cannot reafonably
be rejeded, all previous queftions will be

* See Stillmgfl. O. S. Book ii. Ch. 9. §. 9. Campbell.
Auth. Gofp. Hift. Sed. x'lv. pag. 152.
= See Laftant. de Jufticia, Lib. v, cap. 3.
f The remark of ChryfoRom may be applied to the

Apoftles, « <rT,fA.eici¥ (Xg/'ra) ;t;»p<» 'i'TTe-icrciv, zro>hu> f^.H^^et to 6acuf/,ei

^y,,nrxt. ap. Stillingfl. O. S. B. ii. Ch. 10, §. 5. Hume's Eff.
on Miracles, pag. 182, 183-

cxcluded.

S E R M O N VI. 127

excluded, and the miracles of Chrifl muft be
admitted, as real.

When the earliefl adverfaries, to the Gof-
pel, either pretended that ^ miracles were not
charadteriftical evidences of the Mefliah ; or
imputed the mighty works of Chrifl to
magical or diabolical power in him, or at-
tempted to ^ traduce and depreciate them ;
they feem to have felt the inconteftable force
of the Apoftolical teftimony, and virtually to
have given up all objedlion to the reality of the
miracles of Jefus. And if enemies to Chriftia-
nity, fo able and determined, as Maimonides,

s Malmonider, de Reg. cap. xi, fays, *' do not imagine
that the king Mefliah fliall have any need to alter the courfe
of nature, or to raife the dead. (Bifhop Patrick. Witnefies to
the Son of God, pag. 181.)— -He a/ferts alfo, (de fund. leg.
cap. viii. 1 .) that the Ifraelites did not believe Mofes from
the miracles, which he wrought, — and elfewhere, that Elias
and Elilha wrought not their miracles to confirm their pro-
phecies. This feems extorted from him by the irrefiftibic
evidence of Chrift's miracles; for he fays, (ibid. vii. §. 12,)
we believe not every one that ihews a fign, or doth a miracle,
to be a prophet, unlefs we have known him from the begin-
ning, to be fit for prophecy; that, in his wifdom, and his
works, he hath excelled his contemporaries, and hath walked
In the ways of prophecy, in holinefs and feparation from
others." His refervation probably was, we know not what»
or whence, Chrift is, and therefore his miracles are no evi-
dence at all. Nihil non nugaciflimi mortalium fingunt, ne
cogantur agnofcere, virtute ac digito ^ua/t ipfius Dei, Jcfum
noftrum efFecifle miracula fua. Vorlliui. See Stillingfl. O. S,
B. ii. Ch. 6. pag. 202.

^ Origen. contra Celfum. Lib. i. p. 22, 30.

Celfus,

128 SERMON VL

Celfus, • Julian, and ^ others, could not dil-
credit the teftimony of the Apoftles, and
deny that the mighty works of Jefus were
real, it feems entirely inconceivable, that
exceptions, which appeared unreafonable, in
the days of thofe adverfaries, can be made
upon any jufter ground, in our own, to
the teftimony of the Apoftles, and the
reality of the miracles of Chrift. And

if the reality of the miracles of Chrift, can-
not juftly be difallowed, the divinity of them
will necefl*arily follow from their nature and
effecft. For, as * they tended to overturn the
kingdom of the evil fpirit, it is "" plain that
they were wrought by the Holy Spirit of
God, as the "" Apoftles and Jefus himfelf
afterted.

To return then from this digreftion and
proceed. — There is one view, in which the
miracles of Chrift may be reprefented, con-
fiftently with the plan of thefe difcourfes s

' Julian apud Cyrill. 1. 6. p. 206.

^ Hierocles apud Eufeb. p, 512.

' The fubftance of thofe arguments, which are ufually
urged in defence of Chrift's miracles, may be feen in Jortin,
Rem. E. H. Vol. ii, p. 7.

*" See Stillingfl. O. S. B. ii. Ch. 10. p. 352. Origen. con«
tra Celf. Lib. ii. Chryfoft. Horn, ad Matth. xii. 25. 'ort jxh
"/kf ylnrdt, j^ W4t«j «ri* '»t< oi Setcc. cvfti^et yimctf, >^ ff-§«7j!^T«{

'= Afts ii. II.

namely,

SERMON VI.

129

namely, as far as they admitted a propheti-
cal application, or gave him immediate
occafion to deliver prophecies.

1. A miraculous draught of fifhes flruck
the difciple Peter with aftonifhment and
difmay. Upon feeing what the power of
Chrift could accomplifh, he dreaded what it
might inflid: -, " " depart from me, for I am
a linful man, O Lord." Chrift immedi-
ately difpelled his terror, by a prophetical
application of the miracle to him ; *' fear
not, from henceforth thou fhalt catch men."
He extended the fame promife to other dif-
ciples on a fimilar occafion j " I will make
you fifhers of men." His power, that gave
fuccefs to their prefent toil, would co-
operate with them, as eifedtually, when
they fhould fprcad the ^ net of the Gofpel,
and gather of every kind.

2. He faid unto the man, fick of the palfy,
** '^ thy fms be forgiven thee -," and proceeds
to juftify himfelf for affuming the divine
prerogative of forgiving fin. ** That ye
may know and believe, that the Son of man

° Luke V. 8. P Matth. xlii. 47.

1 Matth. ix. 2.

I hath

130 SERMON VI.

hath power on earth to forgive fins, then
faith he to the fick of the palfy, arife, take
up thy bed, and go unto thine houfe." He
feems to reprefent that miraculous cure, as
the fign of a much greater, which he would
afterwards accomplifh ; and by thus remov-
ing the pains of ficknefs, prophetically im-
plies, that he would take away 'the punifh*
ment of fin. So alfo, upon giving light

to the eye, he alluded prophetically to his
future difperfion of that fpiritual darknefs,
which had hitherto hung over the mind.
** I am the light of the world ; ' I am come
into this world, that they, which fee not,
might fee." And from thefe inflances, it
feems not improbable, that upon healing
other bodily infirmities, he fometimes repre-
fented himfelf, in a prophetical light, as the
reftorer of ^ health to the fouls of men,
which ^are often fpiritually deaf, and dumb,
and lame, and blind.

3. From the miracle of the loaves, he
takes occalion to draw off the attention of
the people, from *' " the meat which perifh-

"■ Chryfoft. Horn. 30. pag. 344. Ed. Par. T?? fAo* rut

^ John ix. 5. 39. ' Matth. ix. 12.

" John vi. 27.

eth.

SERMON VI. 131

eth, to that which endureth unto everlafting
life ;" and prophetically points out his fle/h,
as that *• living bread," which he would
give for the life of the world. ^ As he had
provided temporal fuftenance by the loaves
and fifhes, fo he promifed eternal life,
through his body and blood -, and prophe-
tically reprefented the prefent exercife of his
power, in difpeniing the one, as the fign
and pledge of his future difplay of it, in
procuring the other.

4. The "^ feventy difciples, at their mif-
fion, were not expreflly inverted with any
other miraculous power, but that " of heal-
ing the iick. It feems that they proceeded
further, than barely to the cure of bodily
difeafes ; for they ** returned again with
joy, faying. Lord, even the devils are
fubje(5t unto us through thy name." —

From their expreflion of joy and wonder,
Chriil took immediate occafion to reprefent
their fuccefs in a prophetical light; *' I be-
held Satan, like lightning, fall from hea-
ven." His view went on from their paft to
their future efforts againft the evil fpirit ;
and he marked their prefent triumph over

"^ Ltike X. I. " V. 19.

I 2 him.

132 SERMON VI.

him, as the fign and prelude of his final
ruin. Accordingly, he delivers an imme-
diate promife to them j ** behold I give
unto you pov^cr to tread on ferpents and
fcorpions, and over ^ all the power of the
enemy. Upon his million of the twelve to
the cities of Ifrael, he had given them the
fame ** ^ authority over all devils, and to
cure difeafes." At the time of his confer-
ring this power upon them, he had an evi-
dent view to their " fecond miffion, " go ye
into all the v/orld, and preach the Gofpel
to every creature." And when he gave this
command, after his refurred:ion, it was ac-
companied with his general promife to be-
lievers ', ** '' in my name fliall they caft out
devils, they Ihall fpeak with new tongues ;
they fhall take up ferpents ; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it fhall not hurt
them ; they ihall lay hands on the fick, and
they fhall recover." With what juftice

y Xlpe^yunoi J^xfT TO ^;j3^;«v etvccj —ori'' ui rclvtw on n oouy^v^i
Tesj fj{ct,yftiieiot4 rod ^i/acoA^ ;<<5i.7K>kUi7?/, xcof zfuiTtl itp^n?v. zroiViU^ ret

c««'v», reiZ-m Bfuixe. Chryfoltom. Horn. 42. ad Matth. xii. 25.
pag. 447. Ed. Par.

* Luke ix. i.

* Grotius ad Matth. x. 16. Mark xvi.*i5.

'' Of the accomplifhment of this promife, in its fcvera!
claufes, fee Grotius on Mark xxi. 15, fq.

and

SERMON Vr.

and truth, had the Baptifl afcribed to
him the attribute of power ? It was his
will, it was his " name, that ^ would co-
operate with the faith of his followers ; and
nothing could baffle, or even withftand,
that power, which he would confer upon
them.

Laflly, That majeftic declaration, ** ' I
am the refurredlion and the life," placed
his intended miracle, of raifing Lazarus
from the dead, in a light doubly propheti-
cal i firfl, as the pledge of the general re-
furrecftion, *' he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet ihall he live," —
and fecondly, as the afTurance of everlafting
life after death, ** ^ he that liveth, and be-
lieveth in me, fhall never die." He predidted
refloration to life, and the inheritance of

•= Matth. xii. 27. Mark ix. 38.

* Tranfcribere in alium jus l"uum,et quod facere folus poffis,
fragiliffimx rei donare, et participare faciendum, luper omnia
fitai eft poteftatis, continentiique fub fe omnium rerum caufas,
et rationum facultatumque naturas. Arnob. Lib. i. p. 31. —
Whitby on John xiv. 12.

* John xi. 25. fq.

^ He that liveth, i. e. after his refurrcffiion, — and

believeth in me," — this is the condition ; for they who be-
lieve not, will be delivered up to the power of the fecond
death.

I 3 im-

134 S E R M O N VI.

immortality, to all thofe, who had faith in
him, as author and giver of both, and thus
appropriated to himfelf the prophecy of the
Baptift, ** he that believeth on the Son, hath
everlafting life."

In thefe wonders and ligns of Chrift, the
prophecy of John, ** he, that cometh after
me, is mightier than I," was fulfilled j and
the prophetical applications, that Chrifl
made of his mighty works, afcertain his
perfed; infight into the whole plan of re-
demption, and his diftlndl foreknowledge
of every fucceeding difplay of his power,
till it fhould have entirely accomplifhed the
good pleafure of the Father. The mi-

racles themfelves, and the prophetical views,
in which Jefus frequently reprefented them,
fuggeft a very interefting queftion, that oc-
curred to the Jews upon another occafion,
** ^ whence hath this man this wifdom,
and thefe mighty works ?" The anfwer
has been already given in the teftimony
of the Baptift, " I faw the Spirit defcend-
ing from heaven, and it abode upon him."
This difplay of fpiritual gifts, and fpiritual
might, alike unlimited in knowledge and
operation, manlfefted forth the divine glory

s Matth. xiii. 54.

SERMON VI.

of the Spirit that dwelt in Jefus. In a
word, by this accumulation of prophecy and
miracle, he appeared at once the wifdom,
and power, of God.

But to proceed to another charader, at-
tributed to him by the Baptift ; " behold
the Lamb of God." When his miracles

had fufficiently ** manifefled forth his glory,'*
both as to his office, and original, to per-
fuade the difciples, that he was ** ^ Chrifl
the Son of the living God," he began to
lay before them, ' without further referve,
the bitter fufferings, which he would un-
dergo, in the accomplifhment of his cha-
rader, as Lamb of God.

He frequently inculcated the great pur-
pofe of his paffion ; " ^ the Son of man came
— to minifter, and to give his life a ranfom
for many;" and more explicitly than ever,
at the inftitution of the Holy Communion ;
** this is my blood of the New-Teftament,
which is fhed for many, for the remiffion
of fms." And agreeably to the true and
full import of thefe and other limilar inti-
mations, he thus profefles in his prayer to

'' Matth. xiv. 33. John vi. 6g. xxvi. 31. John v. 36, 37.
viii. 18. X. 25, 38. Ads viii. 37. xiv. 11.

' Mat. xvi. 21. ^ Matth. XX. 28.

I 4 the

136 S E R M O N VI.

the Father, immediately before his death,
** for their fakes, I fandify myfelf." This
feems to be a '^ facrifical expreffion, by
which he devotes himfelf as an expiatory
offering.

Indeed, that the Meffias would be ' fa-
crificed for the expiation of univerfal lin,
had been evidently foretold by the ancient
prophets. Many of the indignities, and
" perhaps the very manner of his death,
were by them particularly marked. But
the prophecies of Jefus, that refpedled
his fufferings, appear neverthelefs original
in him, not only from his delivering
in particular detail, what the prophets
had reprefented in general and indefinite
terms ; but alfo from his enlarging their
prophecies, and predi(5ling various things
and circumftances, that would befall him,
of which no certain traces occur in the Old
Teflament. Thefe predidlions afcertain his
own prophetical character, agreeably to his

^ See Levitic. xxi. 3. comp. Heb. il. 11, Whitby ad 1.

' Ifaiah xxxiii. 10. Dan. ix. 7. 26.

*" Zechariah xii. 10. xiii. 6. Pfalm xxii, 18 This whole
pfalm is admiited by the Jews to relate to the Meffias. Huet.
Dem. Ev. prop. 9. pag. 607. H>-br. ii. 6. Voffius Har. Er.
Lib, ii. 7. §. 48. obferves that there is no prophecy of Chrill's
crucifixion in the Old-Teftament.

inference

SERMON VI.

inference in the text, *« " I tell you before it
come j that when it is come to pafs, ye may
believe that I am he."

Thus, he particularized not only the
•place, but alfo the day of his paffion ; ^'^ after
two days is the feaft of the paiTover, and
the Son of man is betrayed to be crucifi-
ed." At the time of his delivering this
prophetical notice, the Jewifh affembly-
^ had refolved to offer no violence to him,
during the feftival-week ; and the deiign of
betraying him to the chief- priefts had not,
as it feems, been formed. Thefe circum-
ftances render the prediction, that he fhould
fuffer at the paiTover, more fignal and won-
derful.

After having frequently declared that he
fhould be delivered into the hands of men,
he pointed out one of the tv^elve, as the
betrayer, by a publick and perfonal defig-
nation -, and, with a view, as it feems, to
the execution of his projed:, faid unto him
at the inftant, ** what thou doeft, do quick-

" John xiii. 19.

* Luke XX. 14, eihi "naii i?stS<P^T'.VFi j'^ r 7o'^e», fx^Et tMe»r
«-(p»T!i^ ; >^ ci<o«Ao»T£f {i^w i' ee/XTi-iXiiy'ay] UTj-iKTiimv, Chryfoft.
Horn. 68. pag. 671. Ed. Par,

P Mat. xxvi, 2.

s V. 5.

138 SERMON VI.

ly/' and immediately, on his going out,
** now," he exclaimed, " is the Son of man
glorified." From whence it feems a juft

inference, that the treacherous compact it-
felf; and the defign of his betrayer to fulfil
it, in that night; and the adual accomplilh-
ment of his fcheme, in the courfe of it ;
were fully and diflindlly forefeen. And,

even in the moment of its execution, when
Judas, at the head of a multitude, drew
near, that aifediing queftion, *' betrayeft
thou the Son of man with a kifs," implied
his knowledge of that fign, whereby it had
been agreed to fingle him out from the dif-
ciples. - —

His alTurance to the eleven, ** all ye
fhall be offended becaufe of me this night,"
although correfpondent to a "^ former pro-
phecy, which he then cited and applied, was
yet accompanied with fufhcient evidences of
his divine foreknowledge. For here alfo, as
before, he enlarged the prophecy. He pre-
dicated the repeated denials of Peter, with
a limitation as to time. This was entirely
original ; and the more clofely the predicftion
is confidered, the more wonderful will it

' Zechar. xiii. 7.

appear.

SERMON VI. 139

appear. This abjuration, when foretold,
was not only contingent, but expreflly con-
trary to the refolute determination of that
difciple's mind. Yet three repetitions of it
Were diftinftly marked. The cafe alfo

involves another ftrong and very interefting
circumftance. When Chrift flood ^ before
his judges, and a6tually anfwered the quef-
tion of the high-priefl, refpeding his difciplcs
and his do<ftrine, the feveral replies of his
follower had not efcaped him. He marked
the moment, when the predidlion was ful-
filled in all its parts ; and then, ** ' the
Lord turned, and looked upon Peter," who
inftantly, ** remembered the word, that

Jefus had fpoken."

** He fhall be delivered to the Gentiles,"
was another original prophecy ; and upon the
completion of it, the peculiar indignities,
which he was to fuffer, and his crucifixion,
all which he expreflly foretold, " abfolutely
depended. He Vv'as '" condemned by the
Jews for blafphemy, in calling himfelf the
Son of God ; and * death by ftoning was the

* John xviii. ig. ' Lv.le xxii. 61.

" See John xviii. 31, 32. * Matth. xxvi, 65, &c.

^ This they aftually confcfs — Behold the man, that is
condemned to be ftoned. Sanhedr. in Lightfoot, Hor. Heb.
ct Tal. on Ads. pag. 634.

puni(h-

I40 SERMON VL

puniiliment, which their law prefcribed.
But, ^ as it was " not lawful for them to put
any man to death," they led him away to
* the Roman governor ; ^ and fearing that
Pilate would not be difpofed to put Chrift to
death, for blafphemy againft the God of
Ifrael, they changed their ground of accufa-
tion, and reprefented him, as a mover of
fedition, and a "" ftate criminal ; ** if thou
let this man go, thou art not Csefar's friend ;
** whofoever maketh himfelf a king, fpeaketh
againft Caefar." That charge fubjeded Chrift
to the '' Julian law, which was executed in
the reign of Tiberius with the utmoft rigour.
Fear of the tyrant, and of the turbulent
multitude, who demanded that crucifixion.

y Either, becaufe according to their law, crucifixion could
not be inflicted ; (See Le Clerc. Harrizn. on John xviii. si-
Grot, on Gal. iii. 13.) which neverthelefs, and not ftoning,
they were refolved that Jefus fhould undergo. Judaei non alio
quam crucis fupplicio Chriftum affici volebant, tamen alio po-

tuiflent. Gregor. NyfT. i Orat. in Ref, Chrifti. Or elfe, on

account of the feaft, left they fhould be defiled, Auguftin.
Tradat. 1 14. in Johan. of the fame opinion is Chryfollom. ap.
Merilli not. Philol. in Cren. Fafcic.

^ Tacit. Ann. xv. 44. 114.

* Luke xxiii. 2. John vii 12.

'' Senec. lib. iii. de benef. cap. 26. Sueton. in Tiberio.
cap. xxviii. 1. Tacitus, Ann. 3. xxxviii i. — addito majef-
tatis crimine, quod turn omnium accufationum complemen-
tum erat, ap. Merilli. not. philol. ad Johan. xix. X2. in Cren.
Fafcic.

accord-

SERMON VI. 141

prefcribed by the Roman law, might be in-
flid:ed on him, prevailed over the favourable
difpofition of the governor to Jefus, and in-
duced him to give fentence, that it fliould
be, as they required. Thus W2iS he deliver-
ed up to the foldiers of Pilate, and treated
by them according to the *" cuftoms, and
'' law of the Romans. The Jews, who had
unjuftly condemned him to death by their
law, conftrained the Gentiles to crucify him
as unjuflly by their own. *" St. Peter after-
wards upbraided them with this aggravation
of their guilt; " him, by wicked hands, ye
have crucified and llain." —

Thus was he ** ^ numbered with the tranf-
greffors," and, ** poured out his foul unto
death," in full accomplifhment of his
own alTurances, as a prophet, and of his

*= Chrift was fconrged. Matth. xxvii. 26. Mark xv. 15.
as being condemned to crucifixion. — Florus alfo, firft fcourged
thofe whom he afterwards crucified. Jofeph. ubi fupra. Titus
did the fame. Lib. vi. cap. 12.

* Paul. Lib. V. fentent. tit. 22. Authores feditionum, et
tumultus, concitato populo, pro qualitate conditionis, aut in
crucem tolluntur — aut beftiis fubjiciuntur, aut in infulam de-
portantur. The fame puniftiment was inflifted upon others,
for fedition, by Varus, and Florus, fuccefTors of Pilate. Jo-
feph. de bell. lud. Lib. ii. cap. 14. Merill. ubi fupra.

' Afts ii. 23. See Huet. Dem, Evang. 61. Locke oa Rom.
vi. 8. Gal. ii. 15. Benf. Hift. planting Ch. 8i.

' Ifai. liii. 12. ,

Iamb

142 S E R M O N VI.

charadter, as Lamb of God ; and even in the
midll of unfpeakable agony upon the crofs,
he faw, as at one glance, the compafs and
extent of prophecy, and the; whole fcheme
and intention of the Father, concerning his
fufferings ; and, having firft verified the pro-
phecies in one only point, that ^ yet remained
to be fulfilled, pronounced that all, which
was written in Scripture, or purpofcd by the
Father, was accompliflied 5 ** it is finifhed,"
and bowing his head he ** gave up the ghoft."

From the fubflance of thefe particulars,
feveral important inferences evidently arife.

It thence appears, that, as all things, whe-
ther they were written in the ancient pro-
phecies, or not, which fhould come upon
him, under every fituation and conjundure,
were known to Chrift without limitation, he
has given the plaineft evidence, that his mif-
fion, and his doctrines, were divine ; and
that, according to his frequent aflurances,
his death was expiatory, and, as fuch, had
been ^ foreordained by the Father, and con-
fented to by himfelf.

* John xix. 28.

8 See the promife of the Father, Ifaiah liii. 7, ic3, 11, 12.

i and the undertaking of the Son, Pfalm fv. 7, 8, g.

fee alfo Zechariah vi. 13.

2. It

SERMON VI.

2. It appears alfo, that, the human heart,
in all its prefent and future movements, lay
open to him. St. Mark ^ attributes this
knowledge of the heart, to *' his Spirit ;"
not to prophetical infpiration merely, (for a
prophet is not faid to know by his fpirit)
but to his tranfcendent participation of the
efTential Word, t^ ctKpa, f^zrox'^ th AvToXoyn, as
the apologift to Celfus fpeaks ; and, in
' Scripture, ** the divine nature of Chrift, is
called the Spirit, — through which he is
faid to have offered up himfelf."

It appears alfo, laftly,'' that the divine mind,
no lefs than the human, was by him diftindl-
ly known ; and that, according to the witnefs
of the Baptift, and his own, he teftified what
he had heard and feen, with the Father,
whofe words he fpake,whom he knew, as the
Father knew him, and in whom he was, as
the Father in him, his beloved and only-
begotten Son.

, Thefe predidions related immediately to
his charader, as Lamb of God ; he alfo

*» ii. 8, Grot, ad loc. See John xvi. 30. Revel, ii. 23.
» Heb. ix. 14. 1 Pet. iii. 18.
^ I John V. 8.

delivered

144 SERMON VI.

delivered others, that chiefly refpeded his
great attribute, as Son of God, which the
Baptift had Hkewile afcribed to him.

Of this kind was the prophecy of his
rifing from the dead, which generally ac-
companied the predidtion of his death. He
reprefented his refurredion, as a fign to that
generation, evidently, becaufe it would fully
** declare him the Son of God ;" and his
prophecy of that miracle, was not imparted
to the difciples only, but delivered at large,
and ' generally known.

" Foregoing prophets had flrongly implied,
rather than expreflly named, the Meffiah's re-
furredion from the dead. The terms, in which
Chrift predided it, were not only very diredt
and particular, but alfo included circum-
ilances, that, either were entirely original, or
if, in any degree, alluded to in the Old-
Teflament, were firft brought out into light
by him. Such inflances, therefore, feem
fully to evince the reality of his own pro-
phetical character.

' Matt, xxvil. 63.

" Pfalm xvi. 10. xH. ic. Ilaiah liii. 10, 11. Afts iii. 1.
I Pet. i. 11.

SERMON Vr.

He refers to " the cafe of the prophet
Jonah, as exacftly denoting the appointed
time of his continuance in the grave ; and
accordingly, his own refurredion, as the great
antitype to the miraculous deliverance of the
prophet, was limited by himfelf to ° the
third day.

He named, not only the day of his refur-
redion, but alfo, the place of his future ap-
pearance ; ** P after I am rifen, I will go be-
fore you into Galilee ;" and he feems to have
appointed a mountain, in that diftridl,
where he would fhew himfelf unto the dif-
ciples. This prophetical appointment was
probably intended to render his appearance,
after death, more publick and unqueflion-
able ; for, ** moft probably upon that moun-

" Mat. xii. 39, 40, xvi. 4. « Rabbini, Jonse ty-

pum pro* refurreftione mortuorum confirmanda citantes,
allegant Ofeae diftum, vi. 2. quod fane cum typo Jona,
qui tres dies et tres nodes integras in ceto detentus fui/Te le-
gitur, non convenit. Ex quo apparet, etiam loca ifta, in
quibus dicitur Chriftum refurredlurum, ^«t« -reii? if/,ifxi, fie
intelligenda efle, ut fMrk Tft?? ■^i/'ipoa idem fignificet, quod in-
tra tres dies, five tertio poft die. Epifcop. Inftit. Theol. 463,
Cap, 17. §. 4.

" Mat. xvi, 21. xvii. 23. xx. 19. Mark ix. 31. x. 34,
Luke ix. 22. xiii, 32.

P Matth. xxvi, 32. See Kidder, D. Mef. Part 3. p. 94.

*i Matth. xxviii. 16. Thofe who doubted, were not of the
eleven, but of the reft, who came thither to fee him. See
Lightfoot, I Cor. XV, 6.

K tain

146 SERMON VI.

tain In Galilee, he was feen by five hundred
brethren at once.

As thefe circumflances, which Jefus par-
ticularly foretold, had not been indicated by
any foregoing prophet, it feems a reafonable
concluiion, that he poflefled an exadt know-
ledge of all the purpofes of God, which re-
fpeded his refurredion, and his appearance
to the difciples, after death, entirely perfonal,
and underived from any divine revelation,
that preceded his coming.

So far then Jefus has appeared a real pro-
phet, from the prediction, which he deli-
vered, of his rifing again from the dead.
But there is another original, and extremely
fignal, circumftance, from which he muffc
appear infinitely more than a prophet.

He not only exprefily foretold .his re-
furredion, but alfo reprefented it as an aft of
his own power ; ** deftroy ' this temple, and
in three days I will raife it up." The
Evangelifi: informs us, that " he fpake of
the temple of his body."

The facred writers, fpeak of the divinity
of Chrift, in a ftyle of accommodation to

' John ii. ig. 21.

the

SERMON VL

147

the common notions of the Jews. They
believed that the divine prefence was in ' the
tabernacle. Accordingly, by the Evange-
lifts and Apoflles, the human nature of
Chrift, is named the temple and * tabernacle
of his divinity, as the Word, or Son of God ;
laxYivuTiv h ^f/Av, *« he dwelt among us," fays
St. John, or, in a more clofe and endearing
fenfe, he tabernacled in our nature ; and,
** in him dwelleth all the fulnefs of the God-
head " bodily," fays St. Paul j and hence he
elfewhere calls the humanity, or flefh,. of
Chrift, * }cc(,Tcc7riTc(>(T-(A,ci,, the veil.

Hence then may be underftood his pro-
jnlfe of railing his own body from the grave.
As his acftual refurredlion afcertained his
prophetical charadler, becaufe he had fore-
told it ; fo alfo, the completion of his ex-
prefs promife to rife again, by his own
power, as ftrongly implies, that there was in
Chrift fomething belides, and far above, a

* Levlt. xxvi. II, 12. Ezek. xxxvii. 26. 2 Cor. vl. 16.

yvtupil^ofd/j^, ui ©fee? j^ Ku'e/t®-. Cyrill. ap, Petav. Dogm.
Theol. Lib. vii. Ch. 11. §. 11. ■»■ See Vitring. Qbf. Sacr.
pag. 14;. fqq. The human nature of Chrill is ftyled by
Epiphanius, hx^"^ ■srXt^^ufA.K^';.

" Col. ii. 9. tk'te9Jv, oii cv itio) ccofAoCTi' ft yS «t4e77^a» tttot
^TToiiaze.^ ozifAOi. Paul. Emef. apud Petav. ibid.

"^ Heb. X. 20.

K 2 mortal

148 SERMON VI.

mortal nature. The Apoftle Peter accord-
ingly affirms, ** " that he was put to death
in the flefh, but quickened by the Spirit."
The flefh and the Spirit, in relation to
Chrifl, are expreffions commonly ufed by
the Apoftles, to denote, by the ^ firft of
them, his humanity, and by the laft of
them, his divinity. Thus he is faid, both
to have offered himfelf, and to have been
quickened, by the Spirit. There was in
him, that which could be facrificed and die;
and there was in him, that which offered up
his mortal nature, as a facrifice, and after-
wards ^ raifed it again to life. The one was
the flefh, which could be put to death ; the
other was " the eternal Spirit."

Hence he is a quickening Spirit to the
human nature, both in himfelf and in his
brethren. As the Son ** had life in him-
felf," he was able, according to his prophecy
and his promife, to build again that temple
of his body, in which the fulnefs of the
Godhead had dwelt j and as he ** quickeneth
whom he will," and is truth itfelf, he will

« 1 Ep. Hi. 1 8.
y Rom. i. 3. John 1, 14.

^ It it no objei^ion, that the Father raifed him. See John
V. 19.

equally

SERMON VI. 149

equally fulfil his univerfal prophecy and
promife, " I am the refurredtion and the
life."

When he was rifen from the dead, his
difciples were enabled to underfland both his
prophecy and promife, relating to it. Then
*' ^ they believed the Scripture," becaufe
the refurredion of their Lord was foretold
therein ; and they believed " the word, which
Jefus had faid," becaufe he had, not only
predided it, but alfo promifed perfonally tp
fulfil it.

Upon this point it may be fufficient to
make the following remark. The tefti-

monies of the Baptift, that the Father gave
not the Spirit to Jefus by meafure, and that
he had a nature, infinitely fuperior to that, in
which he came after John, feem evidently
verified by his refurrection from the dead,
confidered as the completion of his pro-
mife. For, when his human nature was
broken and divided, and when he was not a
perfedt man, he yet perfonally exerted the
divine power of the Spirit, to render his
manhood again entire.

John ii. 22.

K 3 The

150 S E R M O N VI.

The prophecy of his afcenfion, when
the terms, in which Jefus delivered it, are
flridtly confidered, bears an immediate re-
lation to his character, as Son of God, and
verifies the teftimony of the Baptift, that he
came from heaven.

The afcenfion of the Meffiah to heaven,
had been alluded to by the prophets, and
particularly by the '' Pfalmift, and Daniel.
But Jefus delivered this prophecy, not only
in terms that were dired:, and not inde-
finite, which alone would evince the rea-
lity of his prophetical charader ; but alfo,
accompanied it with circumftances, which
the prophecies of the Pfalmift and Daniel
had not mentioned, and to which, of
courfe, they did not lead.

He foretold his afcenfion, as vifible to
the difciples ; ** '^ what and if ye fhall fee the
Son of man afcend up where he was be-
fore .?" He marked this circumftance, in con-
fequence of his own knowledge, that the
Father had purpofed, and the Gofpel-fcheme
required, that they fhould fee him afcend ;
and accordingly, ^ while they beheld, he was
taken up, and a cloud received him out of
their fight."

•» Pfalm Ixviii. 18. Dan. vii. 13 "^ Johnvi. 62. ^ Ads i. 9.

The

SERMON VI. 151

The concluding words of the prophecy,
*' where he was before,"are dlred:ly parallel to
the tellimony of John, that he came ** from
abpve ;" and to a fimilar efFed:, Jefus fpeaks
elfewhere of his afcenfion to heaven, as of his
return to the Father; ** ^ and now, O Father,
glorify thou me with thine own felf, with the
glory, which I had with thee, before the
world was." The prophet Daniel, al-

though he had fpoken rather more largely
than the Pfaimift, yet reprefented the Son of
man, as receiving only the glory of bis me-
diatorial kingdom ; but Jefus has enlarged
the prophecy, and expreflly referred to ano-
ther glory, which he had with the Father,
not only before the mediatorial kingdom,
but even before the world began. It is this
capital circumftance, which no prophecy, of
the Meffiah's afcenfion to heaven, had men-
tioned, except' his own, that affords the
ftrongeft evidence to his charader, as a real
prophet, and juflifies the attributes, afcribed to
him by the Baptift, ** he was before me,"
*' he that Cometh from above," ** this is the
Son of God."

From the fubftance of this difcourfe, one
general inference feems to arife ; that the

' * John xvii. 5.

K 4 glorj

152 SERMON VI.

glory of the Godhead in Jefus, fhone forth
through the vail of his flefh, in miracles of
power, combined with fuch miracles of
knowledge, that the confeffion of his dif-
ciples cannot but appear as juft, as it was
obvious, — « f now are we fure, that thou
knoweft all things, — by this we believe,
that thou cameft forth from God."

' John xvi. 30,

SER.

( IS3 )

SERMON VII.

John xiii. 19.

Now I tell you before it comey that when it is
come to pqfsi ye may believe that I am he.

/^ I ^ H E prophecies of Jefus, which were
I confidered in the lafl: difcourfe, were
grounded upon charad:ers, propheti-
cally afcribed to him by the Baptiil. I pro-
ceed, at prefent, to confider other prophecies
of Jefus, which not only had an immediate
reference to the character. Son of God, at-
tributed to him by John, but alfo were pa-
rallel to prophecies, that John had previoufly
delivered.

The prediction, of the refloration of the
Holy Spirit to the people of God, refpefted
the character of Jefus, not only as a prophet,

but

154 SERMON VII.

but alfo, as Son of God, (ince it was delivered
in the terms both of a prophecy, and a pro-
mife.

He ufes the following, among other ex-
preffions. *• ^ I will pray the Father, and
he (hall give you another Comforter," '* even
the Spirit of truth," *' which is the Holy
Ghoft ;" and he gave the difciples an alTur-
ance, fomething more than prophetical, that
the miffion of the Spirit, abfolutely depend-
ed upon his own afcenfion to the Father ;
'* "^ if I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you."

He not only predidled the advent, but alfo
promifed the miffion, of the Holy Ghoft.
*' ^ Behold, I fend the promife of my Father
upon you 3" *' " I will fend him unto you,"
" from the Father i" and he feems to call the
advent of the Spirit, his own coming, and
his feeing the difciples again ^ He

alfo gave a prophetical delineation of the
offices of the Holy Spirit, — " he fhall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatfoever I have faid unto
you," " he fhall teftify of me," " and he will

^ John xiv, '6, &c. * John xvi. 7. •* Luke xxiv. 49.
« John xvi. 7. <• John xiv. l8, 19, 28. corop.

Gal. iv. 6. Phil.i 19.

ffiew

SERMON VII. 155

fhew you things to come ; '^ he fhall glorify me,
for he fhall receive of mine, and fliall fhew
it unto you." And he affigns the true ground,
both of his promife to fend the Spirit unto
them, and of this prophetical account of his
otiices J ** ^ all things, that the Father hath,
are mine ; therefore fud I, that he fl:iall take
of mine, and fliall fhew it unto you." In
thefe paffages, the Holy Spirit is defcribed as
another divine agent, in the work of redemp-
tion ', as a witnefs, to attefl that Chrifi; was
gone to the Father, and, as an advocate, to
glorify him, by preparing the Apoftles, in all
refpe6ts,to fulfil the commifiion, which he had
given them, to preach the' Gofpel, and by
abiding with his flock for ever.

The parting addrefs of Jefus to the difciples,
before hispaffion, from whence thefe exprefiions
are taken, accumulates promife and prophe-
cy together ; and from the general fubflance
of that affedting difcourfe, as far as it related
to the mifliion and offices of the Fioly Spirit,
the following reflections feem to be juftly
drawn.

I. That Jefus, before his paflion, as Lamb
of God, perfedly knew and defined the

• John xvi. 14. ^ John xvi. 15.

office

156 SERMON VII.

office- of the Spirit, as well as his own, in
accomplifliing the divine plan of human re-
demption ; and accordingly predicted, that,
in completion of the promife of the Father,
and his own, the Holy Ghoft would be fent
by both, to ^ enable the difciples to perfed:
that divine purpofe of Gofpel-falvation,
which he had already opened, and would
enable them to carry on,

2. That the ^ counfel of peace was be-
tween the Father, and the Lamb of God ;
and that the refpedlive offices of each, in
the fcheme of redmption, namely, the good-
pleafure of the Father to accept, in behalf
of man, that facrifice of himfelf, which
Chrift, as Son of God, came down from
heaven to offer, as well as the regular fteps
and order, in which that fcheme would un-
fold itfelf, in all its parts, were as fully
known to Jefus, as they were to the Father.

Thus far, with refpedl to the prophecy of
the reftoration of the Spirit, as it was deli-
vered by Jefus, before his death, as Lamb
of God, After his refurredtion from the

s The Gofpel is accordingly ftyled, *' the miniftration of
the Spirit." z Cor. iii. 6, 8.
** Zcchariah vi. i 3.

dead,

SERMON VII.

^S7

dead, he thus repeated the prophecy ; *« ^John
truly baptized with water unto repentance,
but ye fhall be baptized with the Holy
Ghoft, not many days hence." This is an
obvious repetition of that contraft, which
John had formerly put, between the miffion
of the Spirit, and the baptifm of water ;
and gives fiifficient authority for confidering
the whole of the predidion, which Jefus
gave, of the return of the Holy Spirit to the
people of God, as parallel to the prophecy
of John, ** he fhall baptize you with the
Holy Ghoft." In this paflage, Jefus con-
tinues that particular ftyle of exprefiion, in
which ^ he had ufually delivered the fame
prophecy. The return of the Spirit had
been chara(5lerized by the ancient prophets,
and by the Baptift, under the fymbol of
water. It was therefore proper as well as
ftriking, that he, by whofe Spirit the pro-
phets had foretold the return of the Holy
Ghoft, fhould, in delivering the fame pre-
didlion, employ the prophetical ftyle and
language, efpecially when he was (o foon to
pour out the Spirit upon believers.

• Aas i. J.

^ John iv. 13. vii. 38. Compare Ifaiah Iviii. 7. Surenhuf.
Cacallag. 358.

But,

158 SERMON Vir.

But, although the expreffion of Chrift,
«« ye {hall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft,"
was confonant to the language of John, and
of the early prophets, yet his own prophecy
was evidently original, fince he enlarged the
whole body of the prophecies, refped:ing the
return of the Spirit, by the addition of new
and important circumftances.

The limitations, as to time and place, were
both original. — *' Ye fliall be baptized with
the Holy Ghoft, not many days hence," —
** ' tarry ye in the city of Jerufalem, until ye
be indued with power from on high." In
the laft words of this command, another
additional circumftance feems to be predicft-
ed, The "" prophecy of Joel, to which faint
Peter referred, as accomplifhed by the def-
cent of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pen-
tecoft, had not expreflly mentioned, either
the power of working miracles, or of fpeak-
ing with other tongues, among the gifts of
the Spirit. But Chrift had already predided,
that both thefe powers fhould be conferred
upon his difciples. " Pie that believeth on
me, the works that I do, fhall he do alfo,

' Luke xxiv. 49.

»" Ads ii. 16. See Whitby, i John v. 6.

" John xiv. I 2.

and

SERMON VII. 159

and greater works than thefe fhall he do, be-
caufe I go to my Father," — *' ° thefe figns
fhall follow them, that believe j in my name
fhall they caft out devils ; they fhall fpeak
with P new tongues." He muft therefore be
underftood to predidl both thefe fpiritual
gifts, in the general prophecy of the miffion
of the Holy Ghoft, as a Spirit of power ; and
thereby to have made a great addition to the
parallel prediction of the Baptifl, as well as
to the ancient prophecies, of the return of
the Spirit to Ifrael.

If then the feveral circumftances, related
by faint Luke in the Ads, that the difciples
were baptized with the Holy Ghoft, accord-
ing to the promife of Jefus, in the time, and
at the place, which he had affigned, and,
with fire, according to the prophecy of the
Baptift, be taken together into confideration,
the following concluiions feem to ftand upon
a fair foundation.

I. That, as John, in predidling the efFu-
lion of the Holy Ghofl, with circumftances,
before unrevealed, appeared an original pro-

** Mark xvi. 17.

? The Apoftle refers to this power, as the teftimony of
ChriH, I Cor, i, 5. ^tzrtiili Xoyu^ in every tongue.

phet,

i6o SERMON Vir.

phet, fo alfo Jefus neceflarily ftands in the
fame light, fince he enlarged the prophecy
of John, and expreffly particularized, at
what time, in what place, and with what
miraculous powers, the Spirit would return.

2. That the effufion of the Spirit upon
believers, either to confecrate them to the
miniftry, or to initiate them in the profeflion,
of the Gofpel, was as much "^ the perfonal a(^
of Jefus, as baptizing the Meffiah by water,
to his prophetical office, had been the perfo-
nal ad of John.

Laftly, that the adual advent of the Spirit,
according to the prophecy, and the promife,
of Jefus, affords inconteftable evidence, that
he really afcended to the Father, ** ' fat
down on the right hand of the Majefty on
high," and that all power was given unto
him, in heaven and earth.

To proceed, — The converfion of the
Gentiles, and their adoption to the inherit-

< The efFufion of the Floly Ghoft, is admitted to be one of
the charafteriftics of the Meffiah, by Abarb. on Ifaiah xi. 2.
See Rom. v. 15, 17. Gal. iv. 6. Eph. iv. 7. Tillotf. Serm.

' The Spirit is a witnefs to Chrift i Cor. i. 5. Lightfoot,
Hor. Heb. et Talm. Vol. ii, 740. 1 Tim. iii. 16. 1 John v. 6.
» Heb. i. 3. viii. i.

ance

SERMON VIL i6i

ance of that bleffing, which had been ori-
gnially promifed to all families of the earth,
through the Mefliah, as the true ' feed of
Abraham, as it was a very important revo-
lution in the fpiritual flate of mankind, was
accordingly predicted, on many occafions,
by the Son of God, to whom the " Father
had promifed the heathen for an inherit-
ance, and the utmoft parts of the earth
for a polfefTion.

It was formerly obferved, that the cau-
tion, given by the Baptift to his audience,
*' think not to fay within yourfelves, we
have Abraham to our father ; for I fay unto
you, that God is able, of thefe ilones, to
raife up children unto Abraham," really
predicted the rejedlion of Ifrael, and the
adoption of the Gentiles to the inheritance
of the patriarch's bleffing, as fully and
clearly, as that early and introdudlory ilate
of the Gofpel feemed to allow. That ad-
monition of John may therefore be confi-
dered as prophetical, and parallel to all the

* Gal. ill. 1 6, " He faith not unto feeds, as of many, but
as of one; and to thy feed, which is Chrift." Seeds, muft

mean many, and not, one. Seed, may mean, one ;

(comp. Gen iv. 25.) and on that, as the true fenfe of it, the
Apoftle feems to infift.

" Pfalm ii. 8.

L pro-

i62 SERMON VII.

prophecies, which Jefus delivered, of the
call of the Gentiles, and the reje(:?tion of
Ifrael.

The following prediction of Jefus is very
fimilar to that prophetical admonition.
** "" Many fliall come from the eaft, and
from the weft, and fhall fit down with
Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob, in the kingdom
of heaven ; but the children of the kingdom
fliall be cail: out into outer darknefs." This
language feems to have been defignedly
affimilated to the tenor of the promife, to
Jacob. <« ^ I am the Lord God of Abra-
ham thy father, and the God of Ifaac -, - —
thy feed fhall be as the duft of the earth,
and thou ilialt fpread abroad to the weft,
and to the eaft, and to the north, and to
the fouth ', and in thee, and in thy feed,
fhall all the families of the earth be blef-
fed." The Gofpel was thus ^ preached to
Jacob, as before to Ifaac and Abraham ; and
for one and the fame reafon, that the ad-
miflion of all families of ^ the earth, to-
gether with the patriarchs, into the king-
dom of heaven, was foretold by Jefus -,

* Mat. vlii. II, * Genef. xxvlil. 13, 14.

y See Galat. iii 8. ^ Comp. Luke xiii. 29.

namely.

SERMON VII. 163

namely, becaufe " God would juflify the
heathen through * faith." The children of
the kingdom fhould alone be caft out;
** '' the kingdom of God fliall be taken from
you, and given to a nation, bringing forth
the fruits thereof;" and with an immediate
view to the converfion of the heathen, and
the rejediion of the Jews, Jefus feems elfe-
where to fpeak, in very explicit terms ;
** other *" flieep I have, which are not of
this fold ; them alfo I muft bring, and they
fhall hear my voice."

Thefe, and other fimilar declapations of
Jefus, correfpond, not only to the above-
mentionfed prcdicflion of the Baptift, but
alfo, to many of the noblefl prophecies in
the old Teftament. But, however confonant
thefe predictions may feem to foregoing
prophecy, they appear neverthelefs not to
have been derived from any divine revelation,
that preceded the coming of Jefus, and
therefore to afcertain his miflion from God.

This may poffibly be placed in a clearer

* Of which the Gentile Centurion gave fo illuftrious an
example, that Chrift took immediate occafion from it, to pre-
dift the adoption of all others, like him, to the inheritance
of Abraham's bleffing. Matth. viii. 11.

^ Mat. xxi. 43. <= John x, 6. See 1 Pet. ii. 25.

L 2 light.

i64 SERMON VII.

light, by comparing the condu6l of Jefus,
as a teacher of Ifrael, with his own predic-
tion, as a prophet.

The miffion of Chrifl was not of univer-
fal extent. ** "^ I am not fent, he fays, but
unto the loft fheep of the houfe of Ifrael 3"
and the immediate benefits of his prefence
upon earth, were exclufively ftyled by
himfelf, ** ' the children's bread." Con-
formably to this reftridion in his own
miniftry, he ^ limited the firft commiffion
of the Twelve; *' go ^ not into the way of
the Gentiles, and into any city of the Sa-
maritans, enter ye not ; but go rather to
the loft {lieep of the houfe of Ifrael."

The limitation, with refpe(!t to his own
miffion, feems, at the firft view, to contra-
did: the declared purpofe of his coming,
" ^ that the world through him might be
faved ;" and the interdiction, which he laid
upon his Apoftles, appears, at firft fight, no
lefs calculated to impede, rather than to

^ Matth. XV. 24. Comp. Rom. xv. 8,
•= Mark vii. 27. •

^ Hence, when the Greeks, John xii. 22, defired to fee
Jefus, Philip declined leading them to him, and confulted
Andrew, whether he Ihould do it. See Whitby ad 1.
s Matth. X. 6, ^ Joha iii. 17.

promote.

SERMON VII. 165

promote, the accomplifhment of the old-
Teftament prophecies, and his own.

A proper apprehenlion of the Gofpel-
fcheme, and of the jufl dependency of its
parts upon each other, will indeed render it
eafy to perceive, that thefe apparent incon-
fiftencies are not real. But the queftion is
not, whether they are real ; but fimply,
whether the condu(5l of Chrift, thus at once
to predid: the call of the Gentiles, and yet,
at the fame time, to delay the completion of
it, and to undertake in his own perfon, and
confer upon others, a limited commiffion,
although he was an univerfal Saviour, could
reafonably be afcribed to the prophecies, or
to any knovvn interpretation of them. Ac-
cording to all appearances, this conduct:, in
the Meffiah, could not be explained or ac-
counted for, by any Jewifh conftrudtion of
Scripture ; and the prophetical writings,
although fufficient evidences of the divine
miflion of Jefus, after his miniftry had ex-
plained them, were neverthelefs not diftindl
enough, to have afforded any adequate pre-
conception, of the regular fleps and method,
by which he proceeded.

If then the condudt of Jefus, in the par-
ticulars abovementioned, be compared with
L 3 ancient

i66 SERMON VII.

ancient prophecy, and with his own, it will
probably appear, that he ad:ed under thofe
views, and made that difpontion of
things, in his work of redemption, which
divine revelations, previous to his coming,
had never difcernibly marked, and to
which, of courfe, they did not lead. He
came to fulfil all things, that were written
of him } but fome, as Lamb of God, and
many more, as Son of God, and univerfal
king. In thefe charad:ers he difcriminated,
and referred to each the adls and predic-
tions, feverally appropriated to it. He ap-
plied himfelf, and fent his difciples, at firft,
to Ifrael only ; for, fince he had not been
promifed, as a teacher upon earth, to the
world at large, he might, in that characfler,
have one peculiar nation, for his immediate
objedt 'j but, as his redemption was univer-
fal, his ultimate objed', as a Saviour, muft
be all mankind. It was not his miniftryj
merely as a teacher upon earth, but the ac-
complifhment of his charader, as Lamb of
God, that obtained the reconciliation of
the world -, and the Gentiles, who were
afar off, were firfl to be made nigh by
the blood of his crofs, and his paffion was

SERMON VII. 167

to ' precede his glory in their admifiion to
his kingdom.

In this Icheme of univerfal redemption,
both the vengeance and mercy of God were
confpicuoufly difplayed. It was a difpenfa-
tion of the greatell: feverity to the peculiar
people, who fell, and were rejed:ed, through
unbelief; but of. infinite goodnefs to thofe,
who had been ** ftrangers to the covenants
of promife," and were adopted through
faith. " ^ Fill ye up then the meafure of
your fathers," was therefore an addrefs
doubly prophetical. It implied that the
Jews, after the example of their fathers,
who had llain the prophets, would put Jefus
alfo to death ; and that the cailing away of
Ifrael, incurred thereby, would bring on the
reconciliation of the world.

This was that myftery of Chrift, which,
from the beginning of the world, had been
hid in God. The great and univerfal blef-
iings, that would enfue upon the complete
revelation of it, were indeed magnificently
difplayed by the prophets ; and they had de-
fcribed the ofhce and dignity of the Mef-

» Ifalah liii, 10, 11, 18. Luke xlii. 2. Hebr. v. 9, lo. f<i.
^ Matth. xxiii. 32.

L 4. fiah.

i68 SERMON VII.

fiah, and predidied his fufFerings and glory.
But the whole body of the prophecies dwelt
upon the final iiTue and event of the fcheme
of redemption, rather than ftated, the exadl
procefs, by which the Redeemer would con-
du(5l it, and the particular and material dif-
ferences, in the ftate of his church, before
and after his paffion, which would regulate
his proceedings and predictions.

Foregoing revelation therefore could not
be the fource, from whence he drew ; the
divine plan itfelf mufl have been his guide,
in adjufting the order and arrangement of
the conftituent and intermediate parts, and
gradually filling up the whole. A regular
and expanding fyflem had been fettled in
the divine mind; of which only fome partial
and indiftindl views, though fully fufficient
for the purpofes intended, had been com-
municated to mankind. But Jefus diftin-
guifhed the feveral means and parts from each
other, and conduced their progrefs and gra-
dual operation to the accomplifhment of the
divine mercies, in the appointed feafon.
What the prophets had accumulated in ge-
neral and indefinite terms, the courfe of his
miniftry drew out, and diflributed in that
regularity and order, in which the divine

mind

SERMON VII. 169

mind had previoufly difpofed them. By
*' the Spirit, which ^ fearcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God," he knew
through what means, and at what time, the
counfel of the Father would be finally com-
pleted ; and accordingly faw where to for-
bear, and what to prophecy, and how far to
limit or extend his views and operations.
He predidled the call of the Gentiles, becaufe
it was in the divine intention ; but he delayed
that call, becaufe the peculiar church of the
Jews was not diflblved, and the preference of
Ifrael to the Gentiles flill fubfifled. But
when in the body of his fiefli through death,
*" he had prefented the Gentiles, ** holy and
unblameable, and unreproveable in the fight
of God," then the mediatorial kingdom was
begun ; and then he delivered an unlimited
commiflion to his Apoftles, ** " all power is
given unto me, in heaven and in earth -, go
ye therefore, and teach all nations." The
Jews had crucified the Lord of glory, and
thereby forfeited all privilege and preference
in the divine bieflings. The diftindion be-
tween Jew and Gentile immediately upon

1 1 Cor. ii. 10. '^ CoIoiT. j. 22.

" Math, xxviii. 18, ig.

this

170 SERMON VII.

this expired ; and both were admitted by
the Father, upon the fame conditions of re-
pentance and faith, into the fellowfhip of
his Son, who was now the univerfal Prince
and Saviour.

The body of the Jews, notwithftanding,
rejeded ihe Gofpel-ofFer of falvation. The
confequence of this aggravated infult to the
mercy of God, is urged by the Apofiles of
the Gentiles ; ** ° it was neceffary that the
word of God fhould iirft have been fpoken to
you, but feeing ye put it from you," ^ be it
known therefore unto you, that the falvation
of God is fent unto the Gentiles, and that
they will hear it."

The expreffion of Jefus, ** '^ let the chil-
dren iirft be filled," was grounded upon his
diftind: foreknowledge of all thefe circum-
ilances, with refpe(5t both to their progrefs
and final effect in extending the blefiing of
Abraham to the Gentiles, and ' gathering
them together with the Jews into one body,
and giving accefs to both by * one Spirit unto
the Father.

* A(5ts xiJi. 45, P xxviil. 23.

^ Mark vii. 27. ' Gal, iii. 14.

» Ephef. ii. 18.

SERMON Vir. 171

In the great refult of thefe circnmflances,
all fucceiiively tending to fulfil the falva-
tion of the world, the riches of the divine
mercy lay, undifcovercd by all, except the
Son of God, in whom were hid all the
treafures of wifdom and knowledge. By
his Spirit, as only-begotten of God, he
entered into, and fully comprehended, the
compafs and depth of the counfel of peace
between himfelf and the Father, and, being
made in the likenefs of man, diredled and
accomplifhed the fcheme.

Thefe reflections, which have arifen from
a comparifon of the conduct of Jefus, as a
teacher upon earth, with his own predic-
tion, as a prophet, have tended to fliew,
that his prophecy of the call of the Gen-
tiles, had not been drawn from any forego-
ing revelation from God. Other circum-
ftances alfo,whichJefus has added to the pro-
phecy, have the fame tendency to prove him
a real and original prophet. Such are, the
views, which he gave, of the prevalence of his
Gofpel, through the Roman empire, before
the fall of Jerufalem ; and of its extending
to the four winds of heaven, before his lafl
coming. But paffing over thefe, I iliall

mention

172 SERMON VII.

mention only one other evidence, that he
adted by a real and perfonal foreknow-
ledge.

This evidence feems to be contained in
the words, *' thou art ' Peter, and upon this
rock, I will build my church ;'* and I will
give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven." — The fequel of the pafTage extends
to all the Twelve ; but this extrad: feems
exclufively retrained to Peter.

The import of the firft claufe, ** thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church," may perhaps be determined from
other pafTages of Scripture. The faithful,
which are ftyled God's " building and '" the
houfehold of God, are faid to be built upon
the foundation of the Apoflles and pro-
phets ; and the wall of the heavenly city is
defcribed, in the book of " Revelation,
to have twelve foundations, and in them,
" the names of the twelve Apofties of the
Lamb." So that, apparently, in whatfoever
fenfe the church would be founded upon
Peter, in the fame it would be built upon
^ all the Twelve.

' Matth. xvi. i8. " i Cor. iii. g. ^ Eph. ii. lo.
" Rev. xxi. 14. y Comp. Gal. ii. 9. James, Cephas,

and John, who feemed to be pillars.

The

SERMON VJfl. 17

/ i

The meaning of the fubfequent claufe,
feems alfo to be eafily affignable. — The
Pharifees are reproached for "* jQiutting up
the kingdom of heaven j and woe is de-
nounced to the teachers of the law, for
having taken away *' the key of know-
ledge." By parity of expreflion, to lead
men into the way of Chrillian falvation,
would be properly called, to " open for
them the kingdom of heaven, and give them
the key of knowledge.

To be the rock of the church, and to
have the *" power of the keys, feem there-
fore the common attributes of the apoftoli-
cal office i but the words of faint Peter, to
the fynod at Jerufalem, fufficiently imply
the real difference, that fubfifled between
himfelf and his colleagues, in both thefe
refpedts. ** ^ Men and brethren, ye know
how that a good while ago God made

' Mat. xxiii. 13, Luke xi. 52,

^ Chrift ftyles himfelf " the dwOr," and the gates of the
Church are defcribed, when once open, as open for ever.
Ifaiah Ix. 11. — To open the door, denotes preaching the
Gofpel. If. xxvi. 2. Afts xiv. 27. i Cor. xvi. 9. 2 Cor. ii.
12. ColofT. iv. 3. Rev. iii. 8.

•^ Non male forte hue conferas antiquum ritum tradendi
clavumjuxta pugillares apud Hebraeos in doftorum fuorum
promotione ; quae certe ad conceflam docendi poteftatem fpec-
tabat. Marckius in Exercit. 5. Comp, Matth. xxiii. 13. i Cor.
iii. 5. iv. I. 2 Cor. iv. 5. vi. 4,

*• Afts XV. 7.

choice

174 SERMON VII.

choice " among us, that the Gentiles by my
mouth fhould hear the word of the Gofpel."
He justifies his prefent forwardnefs in advif-
ing what condud: they fhould purfue toward
the Gentiles, from the choice, which God
had made of him, to take the lead in open-
ing the Gofpel to them j and it is generally
conceived, that he alludes to thefe very words
of Jefus.

According to this interpretation of the
words of Jefus to the difciple Peter, they
contain an original prophecy, that he fliould
firft open the door of faith to the Gentiles,
and, fo far, become exclulively the ^ founda-
tion of the Gentile church, which Chrift,
the mafter-builder, would raife upon the
common labours of the Twelve. And ac-
cordingly, Cornelius, who, with his family,
formed the lirfii-fruits of the Gentile church,
was particularly dired:ed by an Angel, to fend
for Peter ; and that Apoftle had already been
inflrucfled, by ^ immediate revelation from

* £K '»iMv, i. e. had preferred him to the reft. See Marckius.
Exercit. 5.

^ The foundation, as a part of the building, may be faid
to be f.rft, even with refpeft to priority of time only. — The
word ^iij-ixiov feems compounded in this fenfe by the Seventy.
Efdras. vii. q. ■ i^iui^luTi rluj Lvaoctcriv rUM KTTo BfljoVAftiii©-,

he took the firft ftep in afcending from Babylon.

8 See Benfon. Hift.of Plant. Chrill. Vol. I. pag. 234.

his

SERMON VIL 17^

his Lord, to comply with the requeft of
CorneHus.

Saint Peter apparently confiders this cir-
cumftance in the Hght of a privilege, but it
is propofed here, fimply, as original ; and,
as it made a part of the prophecy of Jefus,
refpedting the eftablifhment of his church
among the Gentiles, it affords an obvious
proof, that preceding revelations from heaven
were no guides to him, but that his own
views extended alike to every the greateft, as
well as the ^ mofl minute, particular, in the
counfel of God.

To proceed, — Belides the attribute of
reigning over the Gentiles, another preroga-
tive of a kingly chara(5ter, namely, that of
difpenfing reward and puniiliment, was pro-
phetically afcribed to the Meffiah by the
Baptift, and affumed by Jefus himfelf. Two
feveral exercifes of that power are predicated
by both ; one, over Ifrael, the other, over the
world.

I. That dreadful vengeance, which Jefus

'' The more minute fome of thefe things are in themfelves,
the greater is the evidence of divine foreknowledge in the
predidlion of them ; becaufe the conformity between the prc-
diftion and the hiilory, is fo much the more circumftantial,
Maclaurin. on the Prophecies, pag. 63.

would

176 SERMON VII.

would inflid upon Ifrael, for fhedding the
blood of the prophets, and his own, is thus

predicted by himfelf. ** He beheld the

city and wept over it, faying, if thou hadft
known, even thou, at lead in this thy day,
the things which belong to thy peace, but
now they are hid from thine eyes 3 — for the
days fhall come upon thee, that thine ene-
mies fliall cafl a trench about thee, and keep
thee in on every fide, and (hall lay thee even
with the ground, and thy children within
thee, and they Ihall not leave in thee, one
ftone upon another, becaufe thou kneweft
not the time of thy vifitation."

This pafTage delivers. In a fhort but ftriking
detail, what the Baptift referred to in fummary
terms, " now the axe is laid unto the root
of the trees -," and if all the prophetical
* parables and difcourfes of Jefus, which bore
an evident relation to his approaching ven-
geance upon Ifrael, could be feen at one
view, he would probably be found to have
accumulated the feveral circumftances, which
lay difperfed in the writings of preceding
prophets.

* Mat. xxi. 33, 41. xxii. 2, 7. xxiii. 34, 35. Luke
xix. 12.

But

SERMON VII.

But from the many original circumftances,
which Jefus has interwoven with his pro-
phecy of the deftrudion of Ifrael, it appears
evident, that the divine purpofe itfelf, and
not barely antecedent revelation from God,
was the fource of his prophecy.

I offer only fome few examples.

I. He limited the completion of his judi-
cial vengeance upon Ifrael, to that genera-
tion, and to that period of time, in which the
Gofpel fhould have been preached through-
out the Roman empire. When he informed
his Apoftles and followers, that their fuffer-
ing and death fhould precede it, he ^ except-
ed the Evangelift John, and intimated that
he fhould furvive it. He had before ex-
tended the fame predi(ftion to others, ** there
be fome flanding here, which fhall not tafle
of death, till they fee the Son of man coming

^ The words of Chrift were confidered as a prophecy by
the difciples. The extent of it was prolonged by them to the
confumnution of all things ; but the Evangelift hinifelf over-
rules that conftruftion, and limits the prophecy to the coming
of Chrift ; and, as if to fix the ienfe, and Ihew the accom-
plifhment of it, he fubjoins, " this is that difciple, that tefti-
tieth of thefe things, &c." As he v^rote mcft probably after the
deftruftion of Jerufalem, he might, at the fame time, record
this prophecy, and atteft its completion.

M m

178 S E R M O N VIL

in his kingdom j" " this generation Ihall
not pafs, till all thefe things be fulfilled,"

2. He not only particularized every bloody
and ignominious circumftance, that would
attend and follow the fiege and downfal of
Jerufalem, but alfo defcribed the fliort and
dreadful period, between the delivery and
the accomplifliment of his predi(ftion, and
gave a prophetical hiftory of that inter-
val. The people of Ifrael are reprefented as
falling from deep to deeper wickednefs and
woe. The coming of falfe Meffiahs, to de-
ceive them ; their llaughter of his Apoftles
and difciples ; wars and bloodflied among
nations and cities -, hatred and treachery
between ' parents and children ; famine,
earthquake, pefhilence ; are all exprelTly enu-
merated, as figns that the utter ruin of Ifrael
drew near. Thefe are called, her " begin-
ning of forrows," apz^ u^ivuv ; what then
were they to be, when her full time was
come ?

' Tacit. 1^. (Whitby Mat. xxiv. 9, to, 11.) — Jofeph de
B. lud. 1. 4. cap. 10. et 18. i Theff. ii. 4.

"^ On the approach of the legions to the city, thofe defpe-
rkte bands, which had filled the whole country with (laughter,
were driven within the walls. So that many, in Judasa and
Galilee, efcaped from their fury, by the iiegc being thus ac-
celerated.

SERMON VII.

179

3. He prophetically promifed, that they
who, according to the call of the Baptift,
and his own, had endeavoured to fave them-
felves from this wrath to come, by faith in
him, fliould then be the objed:s of divine
protedion. ** For their fajces, thefe days
of his vengeance Ihould be " fhortened ;"
and, with particular follicitude for them, he
pointed out the ° ilanding of the Roman
eagles in the holy place, as their appointed
iignal for immediate efcape. However im-
minent the danger was, and however fliort
the time, before the enemy returned ; yet

celerated. — — Before the fiege, they had deftroyed their own
refources of corn ; and by inteftine flaughter haftened and
facilitated the triumph of their enemies. Thefe were fome of
the caufes, that enabled many, who had fled to the barren
mountains of Pcrxa, and others, even in the city itfelf, to
fupport themfelves there, till the end of thefe tribulations.

" Matth. xxiv. 22.

° Mat. xxiv. 25. The Roman ftandard was na? [nxfc^^
j^ b uvra «ETt^ zi'-"^^'^f ^ little /hrine, with a golden eagle
in it. (Di -n. in Hamm, ad Mat. xxiv. 28) Grotius fliews
from Arrian, Suetonius, Tacitus, Jultin, and Tertullian, that
the Roman ftandards exhibited the image of the Emperor, and

were, on that account, adored by the Legions. an Idol

is called an abomination, i Kings xi. 5, 7. 2 Kings xxiii. 13.
Jerem. vii. 30. xxxii. 34. Ezek. vii. 20. The Roman Eagles
appeared before the city, u. der Ceftius Gallus ; but lud-
denly difappeared, and erelong returned under Titus. In
that interval, according to jofephus, many efcaped ; and
according to Ecclefjaftical writers, many Chrillians fled to
Agrippa's dominions, in Peraea, and took Ihelter there.

M 2 the

i8o SERMON VII.

the favourable moment might be, and was,
feized with fuccefs, by all thofe, who be-
lieved in Chrifl: and his prophecy, and not
in P falfe Chrifts, and falfe prophets, who
would fay ** peace and fafety, when fudden
deftrudiion cometh upon them.'*

4. He predided alfo the captivity of the
Jews in all nations ; and even the prefent
flate of Jerufalem, thus ** trodden down of
the Gentiles ;" and limited the captivity of
the one, and the defolation of the other, to
that period, when the times of the Gentiles
fliall be fulfilled. The prefent condition of
the Jews, not only affords teftimony to the
accomplifhment of this prophecy, in that
part of it, which denounced the end of their
itate ; but alfo gives the flrongefl affurance
of its future completion, in the remaining
part, which feems to promife, that, *' Jeru-

P The general charadler, which Jofephus applies to fome of
them, /3«(r;X««y 0 KM^oi kuTviih, ftiews the operation of prin-
ciples, which the Gofpels afcribe to the Jews, viz. that the
time of the Meffiah's appearance was confelfedly come, and that
his leading objedl fhould be the temporal deliverance of
Ifrael. The fame principles, that formed the ground of all
thefe impofturesjwould tend to produce their fuccefs. Jofephus
adds, that thefe falfe Chrids fhewed inifAH» y^ ts^xtx ; whence
it is evident, that a miraculous power, was a credential of the
true Meffiah, though Maimonides affirms the contrary.

falem

SERMON VII. i8i

ialem fhall ceafe to be trodden down of the
Gentiles, and that Ifrael fhall fee Jefus com-
ing to her in his mercy, as he came now in
his wrath, when the times of the Gentiles
fhall be fulfilled, and the Jews (hall be dif-
pofed to fay, ** blefled is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord."

Thefe are only fome few '^ of the many
'original circumftances, with which Jefus en-
larged the viev/s, that foregoing prophets
had given, of the deftrudion of Ifrael;
but thefe feem fufficient to fliew, that the
divine mind, and not antecedent prophecy,
had been the fource, from whence he drew,
and that all the purpofes both of the venge-
ance and mercy of God were equally known
to him.

The hiftory of Jofephus, a Jewifh prieil,
and an eye-witnefs of the tranfadlions, which
he defcribes, yields at once a commentary,
and a teftimony, to this prophecy of Jefus ;
and the more clofely the predidlion and the
detail of that hiftorian are compared to-

^ This capital prophecy has been frequently, and very dif-
tindlly, explained ; the following are among thofe writers,
who have already difcufTed it. Chandler, DifT, annexed to
Comm. on Joel. Grotius and Whitby, on Matth. xxiv.-
Newton. Dili, on proph. Vol. ii. pag. 24. fortin Rem. on
Eccl. Hift. Vol. i. Tillotfon's Sermon. 184. fq.

M 3 gether.

iSz SERMON VII.

gether, the greater will be our aftonifhment,
that the dire imprecation of the Jews, ** his
blood be on us, and on our children," fhould
be fo fignally and literally fulfilled ; and the
prediction itfelf, in all its parts, if taken to-
gether with the accompli{hment, affords the
flrongeft evidence of the divine miffion of
Jefus, as a prophet -, of his entire knowledge
of the will and purpofes of the Father, as
Son of God ; and of his judicial power, as 4
king,

2. This a(5t of his regal authority over
Ifrael, prefigures his final and univerfal
judgment of the world ; and as he came vir-
tually or by his power, in this firft exer-*
cife of his judgement, and will come really
and in perfon, in the lafl, both of thenx
are flyled his coming, in his ' kingdom, iix
the clouds, and in his glory, and are call-
ed, the fign of the Son of man. Hence,

' The deftruftion of Ifrael feems to be called Chrift's com-
ing. John xxii. 21. In clouds, Revel, i. 7. this expref-

fion does not neceffarily mean only a real and perfonal com-
ing, comp. 2 Sam. xxii. 8. See Lightfoot and Whitby on Matth.

xxiv. 31. —In glory with Angels, Mat. xxiv. 30. It is

ftyled Chrifl's inthroning, Matth. xix. 28. Luke xxii. 30. — •
See Lightfoot, Hor. H. et T. 461.

SERMON VII. 183

in the fame capital prophecy, he feems to
fpeak, in a primary fenfe, of his approach-
ing judgement upon Ifrael, and in an ul-
timate fenfe, of his laft judgement of the
world. The fame obfervation was formerly
applied to the prophetical words of the Bap-
tift ', «« whofe fan is in his hand, and
he will thoroughly purge his floor, and
gather his wheat into the garner, but he
will burn up the chaff with unquench-
able fire." As the terms, here ufed, feem
rather to denote a perfonal than a virtual
paroufla, the palTage appears principally to
refpedl the laft coming of the MefTiah to
judge the world -, and in that view is pa-
rallel to the following prophecies of Chrift.
** The Son of man fhall come in his glory,
and all the holy angels with him, then fliall
he fit upon the throne of his glory -, and
before him fhall be gathered all nations,
and he fhall feparate them one from ano-
ther, as a ihepherd divideth his fheep from
the goats 3 and he fhall fet the fheep on his
right hand, but the goats on his left.
Then fhall the king fay unto them on his
right hand, come, ye bleffed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom, prepared for you from
M 4 the

i84 SERMON VII.

the foundation of the ' world. Then fliall
he fay alfo unto them on the left hand, depart
from me, ye curfed, into everlafting fire."
** The Son of man £hall come in the
glory of the Father, with his angels, and
then {hall he reward every one according
to his works." He predicted the vengeance,
which he would inflicft upon his enemies,
and the fafeguard, that he would afford to his
elect, in this life ; together with the end-
lefs mifery, to which he will condemn the
wicked, and the unfpeakable happinefs,
to which he will receive the righteous, in
another.

From the fubftance of this difcourfe
it feems to be juflly inferred -, that the
divine glory of the Spirit in Jefus, was
fignally difplayed in his predictions, and
promifes, fince he diftindtly forefaw, as a
prophet, and perfonally promifed, as Son
of God, all the means and operations
either of grace or of vengeance, which were
appointed to eftablifh, to extend, to fup-
port, and to finifh, his mediatorial kingdom }

* Matth. XXV. 31.

and

SERMON VII. 185

and that, by the accomplifliment of his pro-
phecies and his promifes, in many refpedts,
he has given fufficient evidence that he is
true and faithful, poffefled of all know-
ledge, and of all powder, both as the author
and the finiiher of our faith.

SER-

( i87 )

SERMON VIII.

John xiii. 19.

Now I tell you before it come, that when it is
come to pafs, ye may believe that I am He,

T^ H E prophecies of Jefus, which
have been already confidercd, were
parallel to predidlions of John,
and bore a direcfb relation, and, by their ac-
complifhment, gave evident teftimony, to
the charader of Jefus, as Son of God. In
order to fhew, that his prophecy of the
eftabliihment and prevalence of his kingdom
in the world had the fame refpedl, and by
its completion gave the fame atteftation, to
his charader, as Son of God, I propofe to
confider that prophecy, in the prefent dif-^
courfe.

The

i88 SERMON VIII.

The Mefliah and his kingdom, are pro-
phetically reprefented in the * old-Teftament>
as gradually advancing, from a fmall and ob-
fcure rife, to full fize and brightnefs.
The import of thofe predictions feems to be
prophetically implied in the words of the
Baptift, " he muft increafe ;" and in many
pafTages, parallel to this claufe of John,
Jefus foretold his own increafe and the
eftablifhment of his kingdom, with circum-
flances, expreflively denoting the unpromif-
ing beginning and final fulnefs of it. He
compared it to a little leaven, by which the
whole is leavened ; and to ^ the lead of all
feeds, which, when it is grown, is the
greateft among herbs, and becometh a tree ^
and when he encouraged the Apoftles, as the
intended flewards and rulers of his houfe-
hold, ♦* "" fear not, little flock, it is your Fa-
ther's good pleafure to give you the king-
dom," he feems to have fpoken partly with a
prophetical view to their future miniftry of
his Gofpel.

* Pfalm cxviii. 22. Ifaiah xlix. 7. liii. 2, Sec. Daniel ii.

34. 35-

" Matth. xiii. 32, 33.

* Luke xii. 32. compared with verfe 41, 42,

Indeed,

SERMON Vlir. i8^

Indeed, the prevalence of Chriftlanity,
confidered as the accomplishment of the
prophecy of Jefus, affords ftrong evidence
of his divine charadler ; but it becomes
llronger, upon conlidering that the preva-
lence of his Gofpel muft be afcribed imme-
diately to himfelf. In the firft of thefe tvs^o
lights, it difplays the divine foreknowledge
of its author, while he miniftered upon
earth ; and in the laft, it afcertains his divine
power, while he reigneth in heaven.

I fhall therefore endeavour to fhew, that
nothing but his own accomplifliment of his
promifes adjufted the means of cftabliihing
his kingdom to the end propofed, and
thereby enfured the completion of his pro-
phecy.

1 . With this view, it may be obferved, that
the Apoflles of Jefus, at the time of his going
away from them, underflood not the fpiritual
charader and univerfality of his kingdom }
and were unprovided with "^ many principal

^ Compare Matth. xxvlii. 20, ** teaching them to ^ obfervc
all things, v,'hatfoever I have commanded you," — with John
xiv. z6, " he fhall bring all things to your remembrance,
whatfoever I have faid unto you." If the Twelve were al-
ready

190 SERMON VIIL

requifites, for the fuccefsful difcharge of
their office. This was plainly confefled by
their Lord, before his death ; ** ' I have yet
many things to fay unto you, but ye cannot
bear them now." Thefe things would mofl
probably, at that time, either have clalhed
with their ruling prejudices, or quite have
overpowered their flrength of mind. Jefus
then indeed afligned a future remedy for
thefe deficiencies ; but thereby implied that
they would flill fubfift, until the remedy
fliould be given ; and accordingly they ^ ap-
pear to have fubfifted, at the time of his af-
cenfion.

Again, — Although the million of the
Twelve was of univerfal extent, yet, as being
all Galileans, they were obvioufly unable to
propofe the Gofpel, fuppofing that they had
completely underftood it, to any, but Jews, and
not even to them, without very confiderable
difadvantage. Unikilled, as it feems, in the
^ original text, and even the ^ Greek verfion, of '

ready able to teach whatfoeverChrlft had commanded, the Spi-
rit was not wanted, to remind them of whatfoever he had
faid unto them.

' John xvi. 12. See Whitby ad 1. ,.

f Afts i. 7.

s See Lightfoot, Vol. i. 285.

^ Which the Greek of the New-Teftament much follows.
Lightfoot, Mifcell. Vol. i. 1005.

the

SERMON Vin. 191

the prophecies, they could not confirm the
Chriftian faith, by appealing to the Jewifli
Scriptures. The firft of thefe impediments
rendered them utterly unable to " difciple all
nations ;" and the laft greatly difqualified
them for preaching with fuccefs, * even to
their own.

2. It may be obferved, that their Apofto-
lical ^ warfare, indifpenfably required far
greater fortitude of mind, than previous ap-
pearances indicate that they naturally poffef-
fed. After having heard the docflrines, and
feen the miracles of Jefus, after having
preached in the cities of Ifrael, they had all
forfaken him, and Peter had thrice denied him.

Befides 5 their natural fears would be ex-
tremely aggravated, by the exprefs prophecy
of Jefus ; " ' behold I fend you forth, as
lambs among wolves ;" ** "" ye fhall be hated
of all men for my name's fake ;" ** " they
fhall deliver you up to be afflided, and fhall

» To Jews, the argument from the prophecy, would be par-
ticularly awakening. Hence, in their addreffes to their coun-
trymen, the Apoftles commonly ufed it,

'^ I Tim. i. 18.

• Luke X. 3.

*" Mat. X. 22. Luke xxiv. 9.

" Mat. X. 17.

kill

ig2 SERMON VIIL

kill you.** That part of the predidlion,
which related to faint Peter fingly, was thus
explained to him ; *' ° when thou waft
young, thou girdedfl thyfelf, and walkedft
whither thou wouldefl: ; but when thou (halt
be old, thou fhalt flretch forth thy hands,
and another iliall gird thee, and carry thee
whither thou wouldefl not ; this he fpake,
fignifying by what death he fhould glorify
God;" and it is generally underftood to ^ imply
crucifixion. The feelings and wifhes of the
Twelve would greatly add to the diftresful
effedt of this prediction upon them. Full of
hope to enjoy the glory of this world, in the
kingdom of their Lord, they were not likely
to receive his prophecy of their fufferings and
' violent death, without extreme difappoint-
ment, aggravated by the utmofl terror. And
hence it may be obferved, that if Jefus fhould

• John xiv. 36. xxi. 18.

f See Grot, et Wolf ad John xxi. 18. Petrus ab altero
cingitur, cum cruci adftrlngitur. Tertull. Scorpiaco. The
ufe of his hands, and of his feet, fhould be taken from him.
This would not charafterize any other death, but that of
Crucifixion j and it is elfewhere charadterized particularly by
the fufFering of the hands, and the feet ; " they pierced
my hands, and my feet," Plalm xxii. i6. The Apoftle him-
felf feems to allude to this prophecy of his Lord, 2 Pet. i.
13, 14, and it was accomplilhed foon after, in the perfecution
railed by Nero.

'i Matth. xxiv. 9. Mar. xiii. 9. Luke xxi. iz^ 16.

SERMON VIIL 193

be fuppofed the author of impofture, his con-
du(ft in ruining the favourite hope of his adhe-
rents, even before they underftood that faith,
which he defigned them to propagate, and in
fhewing them a world, prepared to perfecute
and deftroy them ' for his name's fake, as it
would certainly tend to fruftrate his own de-
fign, feems entirely irreconcilable with every
known principle of nature. There were no
aflignable means of overcoming the natu-
ral eifcdt of his predidion upon them, except
a commanding fcnfe of duty, founded upon
the real truth of the Gofpel, and animated
by the promlfe of its author to fupport
them. Belides, his diredion to the

difciples not to ' meditate before what
they fhould anfwer, flill further aggrava-
ted the cafe. He gave them a foreiight
of danger, yet forbad them to prepare de-
fence ; and apparently abandoned them to
that perfecution, under which he taught
them, at the fame time, they would alTuredly
fink.

' Hence TertuUian calls the perfecution of the Chriftians,
** nominis prslium," See Newton on Prophecies. Vol. ii.
pag. 253.

= Luke xxl, 14.

N Accord- '

194 S E R M O N VIII.

According to this reprefentation, Jefus
left his Apoftles without that knowledge of
his Gofpel, which their office necefTarily re-
quired ; and, if they had really underftood
it, without the power of propofing it, to any
but Jews, although they were fent to people
of all tongues ; and not even to Jews, with-
out great difadvantage ; and befides, without
fortitude, equal to the undertaking. No
adequate caufes of the accomplifhment of
the prophecies, that Jefus niuft increafe,
and the kingdom be given to his little flock,
feem therefore to have exifted, at the time
of his afcenlion.

Yet if, as ' faint Luke certifies, the Apo-
flles actually entered upon the miniflry of the
Gofpel, not many days after the departure of
their Mafter, one of the two following points
will be neceflarily true j either, that they
exercifed their office under fuch fignal defi-
ciencies, or that thefe impediments were
previoufly removed by the power of their
Lord, according to his promife.

* Afls ii. 14. That the book of the Ads of the Apoftles,
was written by St. Luke, and contains a true hiftory, hath
been fhewn from various external and internal tellimonies, by
Benfon, in a particular difTertation, at the end of Hift. of the
firft planting of the Chriilian religion* Vol. ii. pag. 318.

The

SERMON VIIL 195

The firft of thefe cafes fcarcely feems de-
fenfible j for then the fa(fl would be, that a
fyftem of Gofpel-faith was, at firfl:, clearly
propofed by perfons, who did not themfelves
juftly comprehend it j and the moft im-
placable perfecution, and even the utmoft
bitternefs of death, voluntarily incurred by
men, who were naturally difpofed to flirink
at a much lefs formidable danger.

This difficulty can be avoided only by
fuppofing, that their deficiencies were a(5tu-
ally remedied, before the commencement of
their miniflry. But the interval, between
the afcenfion of Jefus and their publication
of his Gofpel, was of inconfiderable length -,
and the firft view, which they gave of it,
was compreheniive and clear, and, beiides,
was propofed with fervency, and *' "' much
affurance." An improvement fo great and
fudden, both in their views of the Chriftian
fcheme, and in their ftrength of mind, can
not reafonably be afcribed to their natural
powers.

According to appearances then, the in-
creafe of Jefus and of his kingdom, foretold
by the Baptift and himfelf, could not be

« I Their, i. 5.

N 2 pro-

196 S E R M O N VIII.

provided for without his accompllfli-
ment of that prophecy, which he had
delivered, in his lafl words to the difciples ;
«* ye fliall " receive power, after that the
Holy Ghoil is come upon you." He had
before predided the advent, and had pro-
mifed the miffion, of another divine agent in
the work of redemption, and had direded
the Apoftles to " wait at Jerufalem for his
coming, as it was his diftind: and proper of-
fice to remove thofe very incapacities, under
which they laboured. ** Behold, I fend the
promife of my Father upon you ;" " when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth ;" he fliall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your re-
membrance, whatfoever I have faid unto

you.

Jefus by adually fulfilling this prophecy
and promife baptized them with the Holy
Ghoft ; and having himfelf the Spirit with-
out meafure, he gave unto them '' of his own
fulnefs. The Holy Ghoft, when he de-

^ Summam hie proponu tot fermonum ApoIloHcorum, quos
hie liber (AtS. Apoft.) exhibebit. Confer Marc. xvi. 20. Grot,
ad Afts i. 7. • "

'' Afts i. 4.

f John i. i6, Eph. jx, 13.

fcended.

SERMON VIII.

197

fcended, accompliflied "^ his offices of advo-
cate and witnefs to Jefus, by his influence
upon the Apoflles, as a Spirit of truth, and
a Spirit of power ; and the evidence of his
adual coming upon them immediately and
publickly appeared.

Indued by him, as a Spirit of truth, with
** " the word of wifdom," and enriched by
him, as a Spirit of power, with ** all utter-
ance," the Apoftles were at once enabled
to communicate to men of every tongue all
the dodrines which Jefus had already deli-
vered, and whatever elfe came to them
then or afterwards by revelation from God.

^ John xvl. 13. iKHt<^ TO UnZiuse, he, that Spirit of truth.
Clarke, Scrip. Doft of the Trinity, p. 202, comp. Eph. i.
13, 14. " that holy Spirit of promife, which (is, who) is the
earneft, Sec.

* i. e. a comprehenfive view of the dodlrines and mylleries
of the Chriflian religion. See 1 Cor. i. 24. ii. 6. Ephef. i.
17. St. Paul is faid by St. Peter, (2 Ep. iii. 15.) to have
written his epiftles, according to " the wifdom given unto
him." In the catalogue of fpiritual gifts, i Cor. xii. 8, the
" word of wifdom" Hands firll ; and in the lift of thofe, who
received the feveral gifts of the Spirit, the Apoftles are placed
iirrt, (28, 29.) fo that the Apoftles only feem to have receiv-
ed the " word of wifdom," that is, were enabled to Jpeak by
revelation, i Cor. xiv, 6. Superior prophets and evangellfts,
learned from the Apoftles, 2 Tim. i, 2, what they learned
from immediate revelation. Thus alfo the Apoftle Paul receiv-
ed not the Cofpcl from man, but immediately from Jefus
Chrift, I Cor. xv. 3. Galat. i. 1 1, 12,19. — See Benfon, Hift. of
planting, C. R. Vol. i. pag. 40, 41. and the note at pag.182.

N 3 Re-

198 SERMON VIII.

Renewed by him, as a Spirit of power,
in the temper of their minds, out of weak-
nefs they were made ftrong,from being fearful
thev waxed bold, and continued to the end
exadtly the reverfe of what they had been in
the beginning. That Peter, in particular,
could maintain the exercife of his miniflry
through a life of continual hardship and
ftruggle, under the certainty of ending it,
like his Lord, upon the crofs, he owed to
the ^ former interceffion of Jefus, that his
faith might not fail j and to this accomplifh-
ment of his promife, which enabled him to
ipeak ** "^ the word of God v/ith boldnefs."

Invefted, befides, with a miraculous power
of the largeft extent, they " came behind in
no gift ;" but, more highly favoured than
former prophets, and, in fome degree, re-
fembling their Lord himfelf, they uniformly
difplayed the fuUeft criteria of a divine
iniflion, the exercife of fpiritual gifts, in
their own perfons, and ^ the communica-
tion of. them unto others, ' difcerning of
fpirits, ' prophecy, and miracles.

^ Luke xxii, 31.

•^ Acls iv. 31.

^ Ads viii. 14.

" Ai^s V. 3, 9. viii. 21, 23. xiii. 10, xiv. g.

Their

SERMON VIIL

199

Their manifold incapacities for preaching
the Gofpel would therefore, as it feems,
unavoidably have remained in all their for-
mer force, if Jefus had not fent to them,
according to his promife, ** the Spirit of
truth, which is the Holy Ghoft." He it
was, who ^ brought the Gofpel down from
heaven, and fhined in their hearts, to give
** ^ the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God, in the face of Jefus Chrift." As
they were but *' earthen veffels," unfit for
the fpiritual ufe, to which they were ap-
pointed ^ the excellency of the power, which
was treafured up in them., the more plainly
appeared to be of God.

But even after this effufion of the Spirit
upon them, they were ftill permitted to re-
main *" unacquainted with the principle, upon
which falvation would be extended to the
Gentiles j fo that, even in this capital point,
they could not proceed to the extent of
their commiffion, without farther illumina-
tion. Jefus therefore perfonally infbrud:-
ed faint Peter, in the cafe of the Gentile

f I The/r. 1. 5. I Cor. il. 7, 10. i Pet. i. 12.
8 2 Cor. iv. 6. vii. 8.

^ See Grot, ad AQ. Apoftol. ii. 39. Benfon Hift. of

planting the C. R. Vol, ii. pag. 230.

N 4 Cor-

2do SERMON VIIL

Cornelius. Hence, and from many fimikr
inflances, it appears^ that as the Twelve
could not have opened their miniftry, with-
out an eiFufion of the divine Spirit upon
them, fo neither could they have proceeded
in the difcharge of it, without repeated in-
fpiration from God.

II, The continuance of the law, was
another great impediment to the increafe of
Jefus, and to the growth of his kingdom.
Two divine difpenfations fubfifled at once
in rivalfhip to each other. From this com-
petition the minds of the Jews took diffe-
rent turns, but all unfavourable to the Gof-
pel. Exclufive zeal for the law ^ exafper-
ated the greater part of that people againft
Chriftianity, and particularly againft thofe,
who taught it. '' All their craft, all their

' This was the chief ground of that oppofition to the
Apoflles, which their contemporary Cerinthus gave. See
Epiphanius, quoted by Whitby, ad CololT, ii. lo. and
Conftit. Apoftol. Lib vi. lo.

^ I . By an eftabliflied prayer againft Chriftians. 2. By

emiflaries, to decry the Gofpel every where. A6ls xix. 13.
See Lightfoot on Afts, 289.—— Of Jewilh oppofition to the
Apoflles, fee Afts xiii. 45. xvii. 5. Rom. xv. 31. i ThefT. ii.

14. James fufFered at Jerufalem. Afts xii. 2. Jofeph.

Antiq. 1, 20. Cap. 8. Antjpas at Pergamus, Revel, ii.

12, 13. « Peter at Babylon. Lightfoot, Hor. Heb. et

Tzlm. 241.

power^

SERMON Vlir. 201

power, were exerted to check and overthrow
it. They fhed the blood of the Apoflles
and converts of Jefus, not perceivino;, in.
the meanwhile, that they added to the evi-
dence of his divine miffion, by thus accom-
plilhing his prophecies. Others of that

nation yielded indeed, at firft, to the evi-
dence of the Gofpel, but without any re-
laxation of their zeal for the law. They
fubverted the fundamental principle of
Chriflianity, by aflbciating judaifm with
it, and obftinately ^ fhutting the door
of faith againfl the Gentiles. Others
of them, who embraced the Gofpel, and
fubmitted fo far to the fpirit of it, as not
utterly to decline communion with the
Gentiles, yet rigoroufly contended for im-
pofing the yoke of the law upon them, and,
probably when the Apoflolical council at
Jerufalem decided againft them, renoun-
ced the faith of Chrift, and °* fell back to
the law. " All thefe purfued their feve-

' Afts xi. 3. XV. I, 5.'c.

" Of the apollacy of many. See 2 ThefT. ii. 3. Gal. iii.
2. 2 Tim. i. 15. Comp. Matth. xxiv. 12.

" In the Afts, and in the Epiftles, efpecially thofe of faint
Paul, many evidences occur, that thefe feveral principles
prevailed among the Jews. See Ads xxi. 21. Rom. ii. 17.

' See Gal. ii. 4. and Whitby on Gal. iii. 4. and on James

i. 19.

ral

202 SERMON VIII.

ral principles, with bitter hoflility to the
true difciples of Jefus, and virtually labour-
ed to fubvert his kingdom. Every effort of
Apoftolical vigilance and induftry, and all
the authority of an Apoftolical fynod,
would certainly have failed in fupporting
the little flock of Chrift, againft this weight
of unrelenting and fanguinary oppofition, if
it had not been the Father's good pleafure
to give them the kingdom.

The removal of this great obflacle to the
increafe of Jefus, and of his kingdom, de-
pended upon his accomplifhment of that
woe, which he had denounced againft the
city, temple, and people of Ifrael, re-
prefenting the ftiaking and downfal of
their ftate, by the ° convulfion and ruin of
nature. By this fignal ad; of his judicial
authority, he had promifed to ^ come and
relieve his church, and to make a way for
his own kingdom. Hence it feems fre-
quently reprefented in the ^ Apoftolical

* Comp. Ifaiah xlii. lo. . Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8. Joel. ii. 31,
iii, 15.

** John XXI. 22.

1 I Pet. iv, 7. Phil. iv. 5, i ThefT. v. 2. Heb. x. 25.
James v. 9.

Epiftles,

SERMON VIII.

203

Epiftles, as the fignal teft, by which the
true fervants and the real kingdom of Jefus
might be known, and by which the conteft,
between the two rival difpenfations by Moles
and himfelf, would be determined in fa-
vour of his own. As this prophecy was
generally difpcrfed throughout the Roman
empire, before the fall of Jerufalem, the
minds of men were awakened to exped: the
accomplifl:iment of it, as an eventual tefti-
mony for or againil Jefus, and his Gofpel.

That the prophecy was literally accom-
pliflied in the fall of the city, a fliort but
jftriking evidence is given in the complaint
of the Jew Eleazar, " ^ where is that city,
whofe inmate, as we believed, was God ^
From the foundations it is rooted up ; and
one only monument of it is left, the camp
of thofe who deftroyed it, ftill pitched on
its remains."

An overthrow, no lefs complete, befel
the Temple. What the lingering flames,
though madly haftened by the Jews them-

' Jofeph. de bell. lud. Lib. vii. cap. 8. Ed. Hudf. See
flewton, on Proph. Vol. ii. pag. 315.

felvesi

204 SERMON VIII.

felves, had left undone, the Roman 'plough-
share accompliihed ; it profaned and utter-
ly defaced the holy place. The * facred
vefTels were depofited in the temple of
peace at Rome, and " the tribute, ufually
paid by the Jews to the God of Ifrael, was
transferred to Jupiter of the Capitol, to
whom erelong a temple was ere(5led, "^ on or
near the fite of the houfe of Jehovah.

Thefe were indeed the days of wrath
upon this people, and all things that were
written againft them were accomplifhed.
They were thrown out, as a carcafe, and the
eagles were gathered together to devour it.
The llain were innumerable -, and they who
furvived, were either fold to flavery, or
* devoted to the fanguinary combats of the
theatre, or referved for the triumph of the

* See Lightfoot, Whitby, and Wetflein. on Luke xlx. 44,

* Jofeph. de bell. lud. Lib. vii. 24.

** Jofeph. Lib. vii. cap. 27. (psgav h, IvK^iiTroj' iirit 'lahtlcn

iTTt^tcM ouo J^xp^uui, ixa.'fiy KiXdiiaKi ecik tsuv e't*^ «j to }fg.iriTCi>>^ttf
^Eg«v, uarri^ izs^rig^cj «j T ci li^ixroXufjioii viuv cTiuJlJiX^v. — Xiphl-
lin. ad Dion. CaiT. Lib. 66, init. K«/ cctt' c>««v» J)J)isi^f^6» i-

"^ Dion. Cafl*. Hift. Lib. \x\x. p. 793. Ed. Leunclav.
Hanov. 1606. Newton, on Proph. Vol. ii. pag. 317,

* Jofephus. de bell. Jud. Lib. vi. 9. §. ii. 3. et Lib. vii.
Cap. ii. §. I. Ibid.

con-

SERMON VIII. 20^

conqueror, in which ^ the law of the Jews
clofed the train. From that time to this,
their calamities have exceeded any that
ever befel them, as a nation, before. They
were together in Goflien, together in Baby-
lon ', Mofes, was fent to them, and Ezekiel
and Daniel prophefied, under their capti-
vity. But they are feparated now, and de-
ftitute of all divine communication, and
entirely difabled from any further obferv-
ance of their ceremonial worfhip, ' con-
liflently with the laws of that difpenfation,
to which they refolutely adhere. They
feem to be "* held up to the eyes of all na-
tions, as a fignal monument of the ven-
geance of Jefus now, as we hope they are
referved for the final difplay of his mercy.

This coming of Jefus, in his kingdom,
to fulfil his own denuntiation of woe to
the temple, the city, and people of Ifrael,
broke the power of the Jews, and relieved
his little flock ; and thereby he fubverted

TaT®-. Jofeph. ibid. cap. 24.

'^ Deuteron. xii. 11, 12, 13, 14. 2Kingsviii. 29. 2 Chron.
vii. 2.

" See Amos ix. 9. I will fift the houfe of Ifrael among all
pations, like as corn is fifted in a lieve, yet fhall not the leaft
grain fall upon the earth.

the

20& SERMON VIII,

the law, and left his Gofpel to ftand with-
out a competitor, as a divine difpenfation.
This great event was a teftimony to all
men, that the peculiar church of Ifrael was
dilTolved, and that the fpiritual kingdom of
Jefus would comprehend all kindreds, and
nations, and tongues. And accordingly,
Jefus prophetically marked this adl of his
judicial power, as immediately and effe(!lu-
ally leading to the univerfal eflablifhment
of his own kingdom ; ** he (hall fend " his
angels, with a great found of a trumpet,
and they fliall gather together his eledl from
the four winds." The trumpet of the Gof-
pel would then be founded, by the *^ mef-
fengers of Jefus, in all lands, and his eled:
fhould hear it, and be gathered unto him
from one end of heaven to the other.

The Jews endeavoured, under Hadrian, to
recover the remains of their city, with aa
Intent to rebuild it, and reftore the laws
and worfliip of their fathers. In vain -,
they were ^ again given up to flaughter, and

^ See Lightfoot, and Whitby, on this place.

^ "A•>■7s^^ frequently means, fimply, a meffenger. Matth.
xi. lo. Luke vii. 27. ix. 52. James ii. 25. Rev. ii. i. See
Olearii. Analyf. ep. ad Heb. pag. 11.

•* See Eufebius, Jerome, Chryfoftom, and Appian who
lived at that time. Mede's Works, b. 3. pag. 443. all quoted
by Newton, on proph. Vol. ii. 318, &c.

famine.

SERMON VIIL 207

famine, and peftllence, and fire. — If any
furvived this fecond overthrow, them the
edid: of " Hadrian prohibited, ^ on pain of
death, from entering, and even from behold-
ing afar off, the miferable ruins of their city.

Another attempt was afterwards made by
the emperor Julian, to defeat the accom-
plifliment of this prophecy of Jefus, and to
reftore the law, as a rival to the Gofpel,
by rebuilding the temple, and recalling the
difperfed people, of Jerufalem. But, with-
out ^ minutely difcuiling the plain evidence
of divine interpoiition, to prevent the exe-
cution of this defign, it may perhaps be
fufficient here to obferve, that the prophecy
and the promife of Jefus are not defeated
of their accompliflimenr. The temple
and city of Jerufalem continue *' trodden
dov/n of the Gentiles," and the law is in no
condition to contend, as a competitor, with
the Gofpel.

III. Another great obflacle to the Increafe
of Jefus, and to the fuccefs of his little

« Eufeb. H. E. Lightfoot. Vol. i. 367. Wnitby. See Pref.

^ See Lightfoot. Vol. i. pag. 367.

s See Whitby, Gen, Pref. pag. 28, Lightfoot. Vol. u

362,

flock,

2o8 SERMON VIIL

flock in eftablifhing his^ kingdom, is de»
fcribed in the words of the Apoftle Paul ;
" ^ we wreflle not againfl flefli and blood,
but againfl principalities, againll powers,
againil the rulers of the darknefs of this
world, and againfl fpiritual wickednefs in
' high places." This is a full defcription of
what Scripture elfewhere compendioufly
calls the ** power of darknefs," and the
kingdom of Satan, antagonifl to the king-
dom of God's dear Son. That enemy is
the God of this world, the father of every
thing that maketh a lie, and efpecially of
religious abominations ; ufing, in every age,
and with all his power and fubtlety, the
falfe theology, the vain philofophy, and the

•^ Eph. vi. 12.

* £» roli ma^xyUii — fcil. z^k[ai)(iti, fays, Wclf. ad 1. " in
heavenly things, i. e. remiffion of fins, j unification, adoption,
&C. Chryfoft. to yu^ i* to'is 'tTrnptCnot?, «vt< t5, vTrip ruy
iTca^aiylu*, W<v. — — But TflV«<f, is generally, and more pro-
bably, fupplied. See Hamm. ad 1. Satan is called in Scrip-
ture, *' the Prince of the power of the air."—— He, and his
confederacy, ^

rul'd the middle Air,

Their highefl Heaven. "

Milton, P. L, i. 516.

The feventh phial, Rev. xvi.iy. is poured upon the Air, when
Idolatrous Babylon falls, which is ftyled (xviii. 2.) ^yA*«xi»
Tjxviii vnvfAxr^ Ky.xjtc^rti, and at vvhofe fall " the holy apof-
tles and prophets,*' (20) are called upon to rejoice.

corrupt

SERMON VIII.

209

corrupt paffions oT men, to fuftain his own
kingdom, and to bear down that of God. He
had his eftablifhment among the heathen na-
tions, and his ''fynagogue among the Jews, and
** now worketh in the children of difobe-
dience," and " Mindeth their eyes, left the
light of the glorious Gofpel of Chrift, who
is the image of God, fhould fhine unto
them."

To the whole power and confederacy of
fuch a formidable enemy, afluming all
fhapes, even that of an angel of light, the
kingdom of Jefus is oppofed ; and, having
himfelf forefeen the conflid: between them,
he prepared his difciples for it, by giving
them power, and promifing them fupport
from himfelf ; ** behold," he faid to the
feventy difciples," " I give unto you power
to tread ^ on ferpents and fcorpions, and over
all the power of the enemy /' and to an
Apoflle, " thou art Peter, and upon this
rock will I build my church, and the gates
of hell fhall not prevail againft it;" and.

^ See 2 Cor. xi. 14. Rev. ii. 9, 10.

' Luke X. 1 9. 'ivx fx,yi T« t/!7r«KT« caroAneo^}?, etd^j^ii, '* (£

Photii Amphiloch. apud Wolf. Cur. Phil, Vol, v. ad calc.
pag. 815.

O to

2IO SERMON VIII.

to the difciples at large, after his refurredion^
«* lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world."

Thus were the Apoflles of Jefus prepared
to encounter the miniflers of Satan, and
the Gofpel was thus enabled to prevail
over Heathenifm, however recommend-
ed by Antiquity, or fuflained by Civil
Power. The uninterrupted completion of
thefe promifes of Jefus could alone enfure
his encreafe, and, in the midil of continual
ftruggles, maintain the kingdom to his little
flock ; and the power of his difciples,
through the Spirit, with which they were
baptized, to difcern this adverfary, and
to difarm and overcome him, was granted
by Jefus himfelf, *" who wrought with them,
and " went forth conquering and to con-
quer," until the repeated fhocks, which he
gives to the kingdom of Satan, {hall gradual-
ly have accomplifhed its downfal.

From the whole of this difcourfe it
feems reafonable to infer -, firft, that, as
Jefus left the Apoflles, at his departure, de-
flitute of the principal qualifications for the

"^ Comp. Gal, iv. 14.

miniftry

SERMON VIII. 211

miniftry of the Gofpel, his prophecy, that
the good pleafure of the Father would give
the kingdom to his little flock, was left by
himfelf to depend entirely, for its accom-
plilliment, upon his promifed miflion of the
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to confer
upon the Twelve that knowledge and power,
which, although abfolutely neceffary for
their fuccefs, were yet entirely unattainable
by themfelves. It was the tefl: of his cha-
rader, both as a prophet, and as Son of
God ; and, by the accomplifliment of it,
«' him hath God the Father fealed."

2. That, as the peculiar kingdom of the
Father over Ifrael ftill fublifled, and would
ftand in the way of his own univerfal one,
Jefus, by fubverting that kingdom, within
the time and with the fignal circumflances,
foretold by himfelf, has evidently fhewn
that his increafe, and the principles and
eftablifliment of his own kingdom, entirely
coincided with the counfel and good pleafure
of the Father.

3. That, as the power of the evil Spirit
was and would be every where, and by
every means, concealed or open, at all

O 2 times

212 SERMON Vm.

times exerted to leflen Jefus and his kingdom,
he undertook to be prefent with believers by
his power and his " grace, and to £hew him-
felf, alway even unto the end/greater in them,
than he that is in the world. And as the
hiftory of the church and of mankind con-
cur to fhew, that he has fignally fulfilled and
is now fulfilling his promife, he hath thereby
given and ftill gives fufficient aflurance,
that he will proceed in maintaining the con-
flict, till Satan, as lightning, fhall fall from
heaven. —

Having now filled up the defign, at firft
propofed, it remains only for me to ftate the
general conclufions, which feem to refult
from the whole, that has been offered in
thefe difcourfes.

The baptifmal doclrine of John, and the
ancient prophecies, refpedling the Meffiah
and his kingdom, agreed in their true prin-
ciples and import, and therefore might both
proceed from the fame divine Spirit. And, as
the Baptift, in affigning the attributes of the
Meffiah, and chara(fterizlng his kingdom,
proceeded upon the fplritual fenfe of Scrip-
ture, contrary to the notions and traditions

0 Ephef. iv. 7. 1 John ji, 20. ® Jehn iv. 4..

SERMON VIII. 213

of the Jews ; and, above all, added to the
prophecies many new and original circum-
ftances, which were afterwards fulfilled, it
appears, that a divine revelation had been
actually vouchfafed to himfelf.

Several attributes of the Meffiah's perfon
and office John, as his forerunner, predided,
before he knew him ; and after the Mefiiah
was perfonally notified to him by divine re-
velation, he afcribed to him many new cha-
racters, denoting his official and perfonal
glory, which feemed not to have been re-
vealed to the Baptift, at his original miffion.
Thefe and other evidences were pointed out
in proof that he adted under continual infpi-
ration from God. All thefe characfters John,
as a witnefs, opplied to Jeftrs of Naza-
reth, whom he had baptized to the office of
Meffiah. In order to fliew that this application
was juft, he inflanced the defcent and abode
of the Spirit upon Jefus, which he faw, and
the voice of the Father, that proclaimed him
his beloved Son, which he heard.

When Jefus entered upon his miniftry, he
affumed, and, by difplaying the mighty
works of the Father and of the Spirit, that
dwelt in him, juftified himfelf in affiiming,
the feveral charaders, previoufly afcribed to

hinx

214 SERMON VIII.

him by the Baptift. At the fame time he
gave prophetical views of the various cir-
cumftances and fituatlons, through w^hich he
Ihould pafs, and of feveral fucceflive adls of
power, which he would difplay, in accom-
plifliing each of thofe charad:ers, which the
jjaptill; had afcribed to him, and which he
had thus affumed to himfelf.

He alfo delivered prophecies, parallel in-
deed to thofe of John, but far exceeding the
ineafure of the prophetical fpirit in the
Baptifl. In his minute particularity, as to
circumftances -, in his exaft limitations, as
to time ; and, in his original difpofition and
arrangement of things in the work of re-
demption, all implying the fame perfedl
knowledge of the human and divine mind,
the glory of the Spirit of God appeared
through the veil of his fieili. And more-
over, by promifing to fulfil his own pro-
phecies, and adually fulfilling them, after
his death and refurredion, and after his
afcending up, where he was before, to the
glory, which he had with the Father, before
the world was 3 in a word, by delivering
prophecies and promifes in his flate of hu-
miliation, which he has, to this time, fig-
nally accompliflied in his flate of glory, he

has

SERMON VIII. 215

has given evidence, which ilrengthens daily,
that he was the Son of God, and came down
from heaven, and, being made perfe^:, in all
his offices, is become the author of eternal
falvation to them, that obey him.

The general fubftance of the fore^oinjr
difcourfes will, it is prefumed, yield a fuffi-
cient foundation for thefe conclufions, if
the 'authenticity of the Gofpel-hiftory, to
which the appeal has all along been unre-
fervedly made, cannot reafonably be difputed.
With refped to this point, it may be urged,
that many prophecies of Jefus, which
have been already mentioned, namely, that
his Gofpel fhould be preached throughout
the Roman empire, and moft of his Apoilles
be put to death, and Feter particularly by
crucifixion, before the end of Ifrael fliould
come; and, that the city and temple of Jerufa-
lem (liould be overthrown,and trodden down of
the Gentiles, till the end of a period, not yet
fulfilled; and that the Jews fhould "be carried
captive into all lands," before that very ge-
neration of men fliould pafs away ; were all
extant in written Gofpels, long " before either

The Gofpel of St. Matthew is generally faid to have been
written in the eighth year after the afcenfion of Jefus ; thofe
of Mark and Luke, before the fall of Jerufalem. See this
point purfued, and proved, at large, in Jortin's Rem. on Ec-
clef. Hill. Vol, i. pag. 41, Sec,

zi6 SERMON VIII.

of the predidions were accomplifhed. Hif-
tory, facred, ecclefiaftical, and profane, and
even the prefent condition of Jerufalem and of
the Jewifh people, concur in their teftimony,
that all thefe prophecies either have been ex-
aiftly fulfilled already, or are now^ in a courfe
of accomplifhment.

Since then the divine Spirit only, which
forefeeth all things, could have didated thefe
prophecies, and the divine power only, which
ordereth all things, could have exadlly ad-
jufted the feveral events to the predidions,
as they flood in the New-Teftament- writings i
it feems evident that both at the firft preach-
ing of the Gofpel by Jefus, and at the writ-
ten publication of it by the Evangelifts, God
fet his fcal upon if, iinfl marked it for his
own, by applying his tranfcendent attributes
of Prefcience and Power, to witnefs and
fupport it ; and, confequently, that the bap-
tifmal predidions and teftimony of John,
and the prophecies of Jefus, as both are re-
prefented in the Gofpels, were truly the
witnefs of God, which he hath teftified of
his Son.

THE END.

f V

■^

'I .

A5?.*fr

A'l

'^IMlMM^IB

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "On the prophecies and testimony of John the Baptist, and the parallel prophecies of Jesus Christ : eight sermons preached before the University of Oxford, in the year 1782 .."

See other formats