SUMMARY OF SERMON XXVI.

I CORINTHIANS, CHAP. 1.—VERSE 23.

IT is added in the Creed, under Pontius Pilate, èrì Пovríov Πιλάτου: now ἐπὶ may mean either in the time of Pilate, or under him as president and judge; both senses, in this case, seem intended: it may be useful then to consider the time when, the person under whom, and consequently the place where, and the manner how, he suffered.

1. The time, in itself most fit and agreeable to divine predictions, illustrates the wisdom of God in his providence, whilst it confirms his veracity, his constancy, and his fidelity: these points enlarged on. This time was fit to be set down, to exclude all confusion and uncertainty about the history.

2. As for the person, in all respects something is remarkable about him: 1. as a Roman, and therefore an alien from the commonwealth of Israel; so that both Jews and Gentiles conspired against their common Saviour; that so in type and mystery it might be signified how the sins of all men did jointly bring him to his death; and consequently his own immense goodness be demonstrated; &c. 2. A stranger also was proper, as apt to be a fairer judge, on our Saviour's trial, for vindication of his personal innocence ; &c. 3. If we consider Pilate as a governor and judge, we may therein see the wisdom and special providence of God, punishing our Saviour by his own officer in a course of justice; and the loyal obedience of Christ, submitting both to God and man; &c. 4. As for Pilate's personal qualities, history declares him to have been harsh and

wilful, violent, rapacious, and cruel, &c. : yet, in comparison with the furious Jews, he behaved himself moderately and ingenuously; and though his character led him to consent to their iniquity, yet he in fact condemned them, condemned himself, and absolved the accused person, though he took away his life; affording a testimony of his innocence sufficient to overthrow all Jewish slanders, and to confirm our faith.

3. The name of Pontius Pilate intimates the place of our Saviour's passion; he being well known to have been at that time governor of Judea, and to have resided in Jerusalem: this shown to accord with prophecy; &c.

The rest of the particulars proposed in the last discourse are now resumed.

II. We may consider that our Saviour's sufferings were most bitter and painful: these enumerated; &c. But as the case was so hard and sad, so the reason thereof was great, and the fruit answerably excellent. He thus demonstrated his exceeding love for us, and signified the heinousness of our sins: he yielded the most valuable compensation for the tortures which we should have endured, and he thoroughly exemplified the hardest duties of patience and obedience.

III. We may consider this sort of punishment as a servile punishment, inflicted not on freemen, but only on slaves, or people scarcely regarded as men.

To be so raised up on high is to provoke contempt, scorn, and obloquy; to draw forth the language of derision, &c. Thus was the prediction in the Psalm verified, I am a reproach of men ; &c. Thus did our Saviour endure the cross, despising the shame; and thus he became, as the Apostle says, a curse for us; making himself of no reputation, that we, together with life and liberty, might recover also that honor which we had forfeited.

The peculiar sufferings of our Lord dilated on: in order that

no one may be tempted to undervalue them, or to compare them with the sufferings of other virtuous men; as Celsus compared them with those of Anaxarchus and Epictetus. The intensity of our Lord's sufferings shown from the frame and temper of his human nature, so sensibly affected with the pain and shame, and all the other evils apparently waiting on his passion.

IV. We may consider that this way of suffering had in it some particular advantages conducive to the accomplishment of our Lord's principal design.

Its being very notorious, and its lasting a competent time, were such, in the confirmation of our faith, in the conviction of infidelity, in the exhibition of his patient deportment. As he lived, so he died, publicly and visibly; the world being witness of his death, and so prepared to believe his resurrection, and embrace his doctrine; &c.

Another advantage was, that by it the nature of Christ's kingdom might be evidently signified; that it was not such an one as carnal people expected, but purely spiritual, &c. It was thus a touchstone to prove men's dispositions; &c.

Another was, that by it God's special providence was discovered, and his glory illustrated, in the propagation of the gospel: when the stone which the builders, with so much scorn, refused, should become the head of the corner, we might with good assurance say, this is the Lord's doing.

Again, looking to his posture on the cross, we may, with many devout Fathers, consider it full of many instructive and admonitory emblems: these enumerated.

V. We may, to confirm our faith, &c. observe the correspondency of this manner of suffering with the ancient prophecies and types foreshowing it: enumeration of such prophecies; enumeration of such types; particularly that of the Paschal Lamb.

VI. The consideration of this suffering is very applicable to our practice; being most apt both to instruct and to affect us.

1. How can it otherwise than inflame our hearts with love towards our Lord, to think what intensity of pain and shame he underwent for us?

2. How can reflexion on this case do otherwise than work in us a hearty gratitude? This enlarged on.

3. What surer ground of faith in God, what stronger encouragement of hope can there be, than this?

4. What greater engagement can there be to obedience; and what can produce a greater detestation of sin?

5. What in reason can be more powerful to the breeding within us remorse and penitent sorrow?

6. If ingenuousness of disposition will not so operate and melt us to contrition, yet surely this consideration must produce some salutary fear in us: this enlarged on.

7. How can it but greatly deter us from the wilful commission of sin, to consider that by it we do, as the Apostle teaches, re-crucify the Son of God, and again expose him to open shame ; &c.

8. It may yield great consolation and joy to us, to contemplate our merciful and kind Lord on the cross, thus transacting our redemption, not only as a resolute sufferer, but as a glorious conqueror this topic enlarged on.

9. This consideration is also a strong inducement to the practice of charity towards our neighbor; for whom, as well as for ourselves, our Lord underwent such sufferings.

10. Farthermore, what can operate more towards breeding a disregard of this world, with all its deceitful vanities and mischievous delights? &c.

11. It is surely a great commendation of afflictions, and a strong consolation under them, to ponder well this point; for if hardship was to our Lord a school of duty, &c., and a step unto

glory, how much greater reason have we to undergo tribulations! This enlarged on.

12. The willing susception and the cheerful sustenance of the cross is indeed the express condition, and the proper character of our Christianity. Let it be to the Jews a scandal; let it be folly to the Greeks; let it appear scandalous, distasteful, strange, or incredible, to any persons of carnal or prejudiced minds; yet to us it must appear grateful and joyous; a faithful proposition, worthy of all acceptation; &c. This topic enlarged on. Conclusion.

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