lightened malice against him in his dying agonies, and there was a poignancy in their infults, of which the ignorant multitude were not capable.

1. They reproached his great design for which he came into the world. He faved others, himself he cannot fave*. How different is the force of the fame words, according to the intention of the fpeaker! When they faid, His blood be upon us and upon our chil dren they spoke the very language of the hearts of those who love him, and who derive all their hopes, and all their happiness, from the application of his blood to their confciences. But, to themfelves, it proved the most dreadful imprecation. So, it will be the grateful acknowledgment of his people in time, and to eternity, that when he was refolved to fave them, the difficulties in the way were fo great, that neither his prayers, nor his tears, nor his unfpotted innocence, could prevail to fave bimfelf. But, for this his love to finners, his enemies reviled him. Nor would they have offered to believe, if he would come down from the cross, had they fuppofed there was the least probability of fuch an event; for they * Matt. xxvii. 42. + Ver. 25. VOL. İ.

had

had often rejected evidence, equal to what they now demanded.

2. They reproached him for his trust and confidence in God. He had faid, that God was his own Father. And they understood him to ufe the expreffion in fo high a sense, as thereby, to make himfelf equal with God. Had they mifunderstood him; had he not really intended what they laid to his charge, furely, he would have explained himself. This was the very ground of their proceeding against him, before the council, and the formal reafon of the fentence of death, they pronounced against him. How often did he appeal to the testimony of the fcriptures, and of John, whom they durft not but acknowledge to have been a prophet, and to his own mighty works, in fupport of his claim? But having faftened him upon the cross, they triumphed, and unwittingly expreffed their exultation, in the very words, which, David had foretold fhould be used to MESSIAH. So exactly were the fcriptures fulfilled, by those, who, ufed their utmoft endeavours to evade them, and to prevent their accomplishment.

8

* John v. 18. stor.

But

But what is all this to us? It is very much to us. Christ could fuffer but once, yet we read of those who crucify him afresh. His gofpel represents his personal ministry, declares his character, reveals his love, produces the fame. effects in those who receive it, and they who oppose it, are confidered as oppofing him, and are influenced, by the fame fpirit, which, inftigated the unbelieving Jews. It is to be hoped that many reject and fcorn it, as the multitude. did of old, through ignorance; and that the interceffion of him, who prayed for those that knew not what they did, will prevail for their converfion. Whenever their eyes are opened, they will be pricked to the heart *, and will then gladly enquire of those, whom now they defpife, What they must do to be faved? But it is to be feared, there are, in Chriftian countries, many perfons, who too nearly resemble the spirit and conduct of the Jewish rulers. Whose oppofition proceeds from rooted enmity to the truth, perfifted in, against light that has fometimes forced upon their minds, and who, though convinced, will not be perfuaded. They, who defpife, calumniate and scorn the believers of the gospel,

would certainly offer the like treatment to the Author of it, if he was within their reach. They are ill-treated for his fake, and he confiders it as an affront to himself. Thus he said to Saul of Tarsus, when breathing out threatnings against his difciples, Why perfecutest thou me? They, who reject his minifters, reject him *. They who speak disdainfully of his dying,himself, to fave others; they who reproach or ridicule the humble confidence of his people; who cenfure and revile their hopes and comforts derived from his good word, as enthusiasm or hypocrify; who have no compaffion for their diftreffes, but rather wound them as with a fword in their bones, faying unto them, Where is now your God? are certainly treading, if not altogether with equal vehemence, in the footsteps of the Jewish rulers.—May the Lord in mercy fhew them the danger of their path, and give them a timely apprehenfion of the destruction, to which it leads! That they may humble themselves to his will, implore his pardon, espouse his caufe, and experience the comforts and privileges of that gospel, which they have hitherto reviled and scorned.

ke x. 16.

+ Pfal. cxv. 2.

SER

SERMON XXII.

MESSIAH UNPITIED, AND WITHOUT

COMFORTER.

PSAL. lxix. 20.

Reproach [Rebuke] hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for fome to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

TH

HE greatness of fuffering, cannot be certainly estimated, by the fingle confideration of the immediate, apparent cause; the impreffion it actually makes upon the mind of the fufferer, muft, likewise, be taken into the account. That which is a heavy trial to one person, may, to another, be much lighter, and, perhaps, no trial at all. And a state of outward profperity, in which, the eye of a byftander can fee nothing wanting to happiness,