Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

this world of wretchedness and sin? It was mercy struggling in the bosom of Almighty God, and prevailing for development in this mysterious way.

Go again to Gethsemane and Calvary; behold that innocent sufferer prostrate upon the earth, bathed in a bloody sweat, suspended on the cross, agonizing under the load of his creatures' guilt, crying, in the depths of sorrow, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Who has brought him to this state? It was mercy. Mercy would not rest; it would break forth; rather than not exercise itself towards mankind, it would transfer to God himself the penalty due to them; and write, in the blood of an infinite and holy Saviour, the pardon it designed for sinful man. How glorious is this display of mercy; and where but in the gospel of Jesus could it be beheld so honourably and so clearly exhibited?

3. Add to this glorious exhibition of justice and mercy, the manifestation which the gospel makes of divine faithfulness and truth, and you will see sufficient reason why, in answer to the prayer of Moses, "Show me thy glory,"-God should preach to him the unsearchable riches of Christ.

God had surely threatened death as the punishment of sin. When, therefore, man had sinned, what remained but that the penalty denounced should be executed immediately? The word had gone forth; it could not be revoked, nor could its sentence be reversed, consistently with the sacred rights of truth. What then shall be done?

If the sentence be executed on man, the veracity of God is undoubtedly displayed and honoured. But how can man be spared, and God's truth be preserved inviolate? In no other way than the substitution of God's own Son in the sinner's place. This proposal truth willingly accepts, gladly transfers the penalty to him, and joyfully inflicts on the voluntary sufferer the sentence denounced against the offender. Here

"mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." All the perfections of God are made to harmonize in the salvation of man, and all are displayed in a more clear and glorious manner than they could be in any other method. Justice is exercised in a way of mercy; mercy is exercised in a way of justice; and both of them are manifested in the way of holiness and truth.

This is one view of the glory of the gospel as a divine dispensation; the clear and sublime manifestation which it makes of the character of God. While all his works praise him and his saints give thanks to him, it is this dispensation which proclaims his name and his honour: "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin;" and for this revelation of his character, it is well called "the glorious gospel of the blessed God."

IV. While this glory of the gospel should lead us to speak with all boldness, and never to be ashamed to declare its power and its worth, it should lead you to remember how worthy it is of all men to be received. This faithful saying is worthy to be accepted with all readiness of mind; worthy to be welcomed, like the star of the wise men, with exceeding great joy; worthy to be enamelled in the crowns of princes, and to be written in the soul of every Christian with a beam of the sun, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The faithful have ever been ready to unite in the exclamation of the inspired prophet, "How beautiful are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth." What man of sorrow would not open his heart and welcome the embraces of that messenger who was coming to him with more lovely and aç

ceptable news than the very wishes of his heart could have framed for himself?

When Joseph was sent for out of prison to Pharaoh's court, and when Jacob saw the chariots which were sent to carry him to his long lost son, their spirits were revived and comforted after their long distress. When Caligula, the Roman emperor, sent for Herod (that Herod who was afterwards smitten by an angel of God,) whom Tiberius had bound in chains and cast into prison, and placed a diadem upon his head, and for his chain of iron gave him a chain of gold of equal weight, the historian says, "Men could not believe the reality of a change so wonderful." But what are all good tidings to the gospel, which is a word of salvation, which opens prisons and releases captives, and gives a joy with which the world intermeddles not? "Your joy no man shall take from you." O how worthy is such a gospel to be accepted and improved!

If we suffer the loss of every thing for Christ, godliness is great gain after all. In a shipwreck, I throw my goods overboard, and count myself happy to get my life in exchange. O how willingly, then, should the man who is convinced of the danger of his soul, cast off every thing which presses him down; and rejoice, with unspeakable joy, to have his soul saved from an eternal shipwreck, and to be brought before God in peace.

Have you no desires to see the glory of God displayed in the face of Jesus Christ, or to enjoy the presence of God, made peaceful and happy for you by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus? Can you deliberately make the choice, that while hereafter myriads of ransomed sinners rejoice in the glories of a full salvation, your souls should see God only as an avenger of blood? It is a painful alternative which is presented to you, but it is the only possible one,

God is dwelling among you in the riches of gospel invitations and in the fulness of spiritual strength. In the persons of the Son and the Spirit, he would be 'received into your bosoms, and rule over all your affections and purposes. But if he be rejected by you to the end, you will be constrained to see him appearing in the glory of his government, "to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The glorious gospel which is offered you now, forms the highest honour of your souls. It brings you a king having salvation, and makes you with him, kings and priests for ever. Happy are the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk in the light of his countenance; and blessed will you be, / though in the midst of reproaches and tribulations, if you are led to welcome this salvation to your hearts, and to wash your robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.

LECTURE IX.

THE GLORY OF THE GOSPEL FROM ITS METHOD OF PUBLICATION.

[ocr errors]

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God feigneth.— ISAIAH, LI. 7.

No one would be led to doubt, probably, in the most cursory reading of this text, that it was intended to refer to the publication of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if there should be such a doubt, St. Paul has decided the proper application of the passage, in his epistle to the Romans, by adducing it as a reason for sending preachers of the gospel throughout the world. Speaking of the messengers of the gospel, he says, "How shall they preach except they be sent?" as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things."

It is then the gospel of Jesus, the ministry of which is said to be so excellent and desirable. This gospel, in its very name, is glad tidings; it is a publication of peace between God and his alienated creatures. It is good tidings of everlasting good, through the mediation of a crucified Redeemer, to those who return unto God and live. It is salvation,-full, free, eternal salvation,-to every one who accepts its tidings with a thankful heart; salvation from present despair and misery; salvation from everlasting sorrow and punishment,

« ÖncekiDevam »