school of the philosophers are such lessons taught? And let it be observed that these, and such as these, are not the glaring, splendid triumphs of Christianity, but its daily, noiseless, unobtruding, unostentatious operation. As the evidence, so the doctrine of Christianity is the same that it was from the beginning, Whether to the Jew or to the Greek; the preaching of John or of Christ himself, of the primitive disciples, or of the ministers of to-day, it is a "testifying of repentance toward God, and of faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." From the beginning to the end of the world, the call is, "Turn ye, turn ye, Why will ye die?"— “bring forth fruits meet for repentance." The command and the promise are blended together: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," and they are addressed equally to the jailor at Philippi, and to the multitudes at Jerusalem: "Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The universality of guilt demands univer sality of contrition and reformation; and there is but one "blood" that "cleanseth from all sin;" "neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." Is miraculous proof of the divinity of the Gospel still demanded It is at hand. By what instruments does the great Jehovah still support and extend the mediator's kingdom? By men themselves feeble, ignorant, forlorn like those to whom they minister: men standing in need of the self-same instruction, consolation, and support which they are called to administer to others: men, in general, as little qualified by natural endowments, or by the acquisitions of literature, to subvert the kingdom of Satan, and to build up that of Messiah, as the fishermen of Galilee were to shake the throne of the Cæsars, and to restore that of David which was fallen down. It is in every age the same. "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that plant-hearts. But the great Christian Legislator eth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." Still call for proof! What kind and degree of proof will satisfy or silence infidelity? Shall the sun stand still and the moon be stayed? Are not the constant and uniform motions and appearances of those great luminaries an equal, or a superior demonstration of sovereign power and wisdom? Shall the shadow upon the sun-dial of Ahaz be accelerated or retarded ten degrees? What can it prove more than is done by a steady and regular progression? Thousands are fed miraculously, at once, by a few loaves and fishes. Is the miracle less which day by day feeds the innumerable tribes of the human race, by a process of vegetation, and of animal increase? The producing hand is the same in both cases, the manner of production makes all the difference. Should one rise from the dead, will ye believe and repent? One has arisen from the dead: but infidelity still holds out. And we must leave it to its consequences: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." What other teacher, what other legislator did not find himself under the necessity of suspending, of relaxing, of mitigating the severity of the law; of accommodating himself to times, tempers, and circumstances? Even Moses himself was obliged to temporize, and to connive at the breach of the law, in favour of the hardness of the people's has but one unvarying, inflexible code, for the prince and the peasant, for the noble and the ignoble, for the slave and his master. It alone suits all nations, all seasons, all situations. Among the other marks of Deity this is not the least. Christianity is a religion, not for this district or for that, but for the globe; not for the Jew or the Greek, but for mankind; and thus approves itself to be of Him who "hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Nay more, Christianity is a religion for both earth and heaven, for time and for eternity. Its spirit is the spirit of love, and perfect love is the fulfilling of the Law and the perfection of felicity. "Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity. Wherefore? Faith and hope are adapted to a state of trial and suffering; they imply doubt, difficulty, imperfection: "but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." But after the exercise of faith and hope has ceased, charity is arrived at its maturity; a maturity that knows no decay. Thus are "the spirits of just men made perfect." Once more we ask: Is the history which we have been reviewing the history of a mere man? Is there nothing superior, no thing divine in this mode of teaching and acting? What mortal could have engaged in such an enterprize, with such support, and nave prospered? What human power and skill reach to the paralytic, the lunatic, the leper? What arm of flesh can control "the prince of the power of the air?" What eloquence of man can persuade the rich, or the poor to give up every thing? What tongue can say, with effect, to the wind and the sea, "Peace, be still?" If these are not proofs of a present Deity, what proof can be demanded, what proof can be given? Our knees bow, our tongues confess "that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." Amen. HISTORY OF JESUS CHRIST. LECTURE CXXII. BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.-LUKE X. 17-22. WISE and good men have attempted to and respect wherever he went? "There present an artificial arrangement of the se- followed him great multitudes of people from veral events recorded in the history of our Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from JeruLord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or what they | salem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jorcall a Harmony of the Gospels. It is both dan." Out of those multitudes he selected a pleasing and an useful amusement to as first twelve, with the peculiar designation of certain the dates and to settle the order of disciples and apostles, to whom he imparted events; and labours of this kind merit high a portion of his spirit and power: "He gave commendation. But the native majesty and them authority over all devils, and to cure simplicity of Scripture stand in no need of diseases, to preach the kingdom of God, and artificial arrangement. The whole spiritual to heal the sick." Afterwards "he appointbuilding is august and venerable, and each ed other seventy, and sent them two and particular part has its peculiar beauty and two before his face into every city and place excellency. To be assured that such things whither he himself would come." It was on were done, is of infinitely higher importance occasion of the return of those seventy, after than to determine the exact series of suc- having fulfilled their mission, and upon the cession. Every line of the history of Christ report which they made of their success, that is a radiant display of divine perfection; Jesus broke out into this holy rapture: "In every step he takes leaves an impress of be- that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I nignity behind it. It was predicted concern- thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and ing him, that he should be "a man of sor-earth, that thou hast hid these things from rows and acquainted with grief." But it was likewise predicted that he should "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied." The words which have been read contain the accomplishment of this last prophecy. In all our affliction he was afflicted; let us weep with him and when he "rejoices in spirit," let us also "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls." The followers of Christ had now increased to a great multitude. And need we wonder, if such doctrine, supported by such purity and dignity of character, and by such mighty works, had the power of attracting attention the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." Let us trace the process. The evangelist records, at full length, the commission granted to those seventy, but gives us no particulars respecting their progress. These must be collected from the account which they themselves give of it. The seventy returned again with joy. Every thinking man enters on a difficult or a hazardous enterprise with very mixed emotions. He feels the consequence attached to an arduous and important station; he feels the pressure of responsibility, and the solici 66 tude of general expectation pointed towards him. The animating stimulus of hope is repressed by the dread of miscarriage. It is a terrible thing to return foiled, disappointed, discomfited. The eve of a battle is a season of solicitude. But when the conflict is over, when success is no longer doubtful, the soul enters into a state of perfect composure. Mournful is the reflection, "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain;" but how complete is the triumph of an apostle reviewing a successful ministry, and looking forward to the glorious recompense of reward. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me in that day." Such was the triumph of the seventy, having finished their circuit of the cities of Galilee. 66 thence will I bring them down: and though They express peculiar satisfaction in reporting to their divine Master, that "even the devils were subject to them, through his name." It was matter of great joy to them, that their preaching had been acceptable and useful; that they had been the honoured instruments in his hand to "heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease;" to predispose the minds of men to receive the kingdom of God, by healing their bodies: but to prevail against the great adversary who had so long tyrannized over the nations, leading them" captive at his will," this filled up the measure of their joy. At the same time, they modestly disclaim all personal merit. They humbly ascribe the glory of all this wonderful success to the potent name of their almighty Lord. Jesus himself exercises underived power over universal nature. "What a word is this!" exclaimed the astonished multitudes, for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out:" but the disciples have power, and prevail only through virtue com- This subjection of the devils to the dismunicated to them. "Without me," says ciples, through the name of Christ, Jesus in he, "ye can do nothing:" and then is the his reply contemplates as the beginning of believer most strong when he rests on im- Satan's complete and final overthrow, as a parted strength. Now those disciples were step toward the total subversion of his kingspeedily to be scattered abroad upon the face dom. "He said unto them, I beheld Satan of the earth, carrying with them the doctrine as lightning fall from heaven;""when I and the name, that is the wonderworking sent you forth armed with my commission, power of their Master. Wherever, there- and furnished you with power to execute it, fore, virtue accompanied that name, there I saw swift destruction overtaking the dewas Christ himself present; and of whom stroyer. You have begun a conquest which but of Deity can it be affirmed that he is in I am proceeding to accomplish. You have more than one place, in many places, in all subjected his mischievous agents. I shall space at once? God challenges omnipre- bruise Satan himself under your feet shortsence as his own: "Am I a God at hand, saithly." His usurped dominion," as "the God the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any of this world," as "the prince of the power hide himself in secret places that I shall not of the air," as "the ruler of the darkness of see him? saith the Lord: do not I fill heaven this world," is hastening "to expire. Rootand earth? saith the Lord." "Though they ed, established as it may seem to be, it shall dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take vanish in a moment, rapid as a flash of lightthem; though they climb up to heaven, ning, which disappears before it is well seen.” 66 The expression is in use with both the sacred | honourable and unspeakably grateful to be and profane authors. The downfal of the invested with authority to control evil spirits, king of Babylon is, by the prophet, represent- to cure inveterate distemper, and quicken the ed under this bold imagery: "How art thou dead, and to enjoy perfect personal security fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the amidst snares, and dangers, and the shadow morning! how art thou cut down to the of death, to speak with tongues and instruct ground!" The Roman orator says of An- the ignorant. But these and other choice thony, "thou hast dragged down thy col- gifts of God have been conferred on the unleague from heaven," and when Pompey worthy. Great talents are not always sancthe Great was hurled from his proud pre- tified to the possessor. Beneficial to others eminence, Cicero represents him as having they may be unprofitable or even pernicious "fallen from the stars. The time to favour to the man himself. He may speak with the a darkened, enslaved world was now come, tongues of men and of angels: he may have and Jesus triumphs in the near prospect of the gift of prophecy, and understand all the conversion of the Gentile nations "from mysteries and all knowledge: he may have darkness to light, and from the power of all faith so as to be able to remove mountains; Satan unto God." he may lay out his whole estate in works of charity, and even submit to suffer martyrdom, and after all remain destitute of that principle which alone admits into the kingdom of heaven. The magicians of Egypt performed wonders, but they served only to harden the heart against God. Balaam was a true prophet, but "he loved the wages of unrighteousness:" he knew and approved the better course, but he deliberately persevered in the worse. Simon had the art of bewitching the people of Samaria with sorceries; "to him they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God." "He himself believed also, and was baptized," but his "heart was not right in the sight of God;" he was still "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Where God has bestowed much, he will expect much, and in proportion to the number and value of the gifts received is the account that must be given. Who was equally honoured with the apostle of the Gentiles, by extraordinary communications from heaven? but "it is not expedient for me," says he, "to glory:" "of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities." In what then does a Paul, in what does every believer chiefly re The former mission of the seventy was limited to "the cities and places, whither he himself would come;" now their sphere is enlarged, and with an extended commission fresh assurances are given of divine protection wherever they went. "Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' After the resurrection from the dead, an unbounded career is set before them, the vast globe is spread out as the scene of action, the whole human race, through all ages and generations is the grand object of the gospel ministry, and powers adequate to the undertaking are granted. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"-" and these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Here every obstruction is removed, all opposition dies, every enemy is subdued, and the scriptures are fulfilled, which say: "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:" "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon-day." "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Thus was the serpent's head bruised, and the triumph of the Re-joice and glory? In the composing reflection, deemer completed. Compare spiritual things my name is written in the book of life." with spiritual, the commission of the great "I know whom I have believed, and I am Head of the Church with the execution of persuaded that he is able to keep that which it, the promised support of the apostles with I have committed unto him against that day." what they were enabled actually to achieve," Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown as the facts stand recorded in the book of of righteousness, which the Lord, the righttheir acts. eous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Compared to this, what a poor trifle it is for a man to know that But Jesus points out to his disciples a purer source of joy than even a grant of miracuous powers could bestow. It was highly his name is in an opulent testator's will for a | inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay splendid bequest, were it even the reversion his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou!" of a kingdom? This is that "peace of God That which is good in the eyes of man is which passeth all understanding, which shall frequently a sore evil; but that which is keep the heart and mind through Christ good in the sight of God must be good in itJesus, and which the world can neither give self; and when Deity shall have executed nor take away." the whole plan of his providence, the myriads of his saints and angels shall with one voice proclaim "all is good." Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." This is "the hour," the eventful hour when "Jesus rejoiced in spirit:" the hour when the great Sovereign of the universe was subjecting spiritual wickednesses to human agents, and perfecting praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings; when all the glories of the kingdom of heaven unveiled themselves to his view, and the nations of the earth hastened into it. The scenes of sorrow and suffering which must intervene are absorbed in contemplating the blessed effects which they were to produce. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." Here we behold our great pattern setting us the example of referring every thing to God, as the first cause and the last end of all; who acts by his own uncontrollable, inexplicable supremacy, and with a view to his own glory. But we are not to understand our Lord as giving thanks that "the wise and prudent" were kept in a state of ignorance respecting the things of God, but that while they were so, while they remained under the power of wilful blindness, it had graciously pleased God to manifest these things to the comparatively simple and illiterate. We have a similar mode of expression, and which falls under the same mode of interpretation, in the epistle to the Romans, vi. 17, where the apostle says: "But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin;" meaning obviously," that although, that whereas ye were the servants of sin, ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you:" So here, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that while the wise in their own conceits, and the prudent in the estimation of the world, neglect and despise the things which belong to their peace, their all-importance is discerned, felt, prized, and improved by persons, lowly in their own sight, contemptible in the eyes of men, but estimable in the eyes of Him who "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." 66 Having made this ascription of universal power, authority, and property to the Father, he represents himself as invested in an equal extent of dominion, as sole and sovereign administrator of the world which he made, which he upholds, and which he came to redeem. "All things are delivered to me of my Father." God is "Lord of heaven and earth." Now these two words imply all space, with all the beings which inhabit the worlds" visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers." To the utmost extent of the words, therefore, and of their import, the sovereignty of God, Redeemer extends, and it is asserted and ascribed neither in a single passage, nor in doubtful terms. "All power," says he, in another place," is given unto me in heaven and in earth;""authority to execute judgment also;"" power over all flesh, to give eternal life." "The Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them: even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." Now this is either mere pretension, unfounded as that of the devil over "all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them," or it is a claim of right: and who but God can support such a claim? Who but God can possess and exercise the power of quickening the dead, of executing judgment upon all, not only according to their works, but according to their most secret thoughts, and of bestowing eternal life? Is a creature, a mere man like ourselves, to be entrusted with, is he capable of managing such an empire? No; Where all power, then, is lodged, there is Deity; "in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him." Behold, Christian, and rejoice in spirit, the powers of darkness prostrate under the feet of, the Prince of Peace: He "maketh his angels Jesus ascribes to the Father universality spirits, his ministers a flaming fire," and of dominion, under the title of" Lord of hea-" are they not all ministering spirits, sent ven and earth;" and he resolves all creatures and all events into divine sovereignty: "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.' He giveth not account of any of his matters." He doth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the 66 forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Behold the heathen given him for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession; "He must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet." We, my beloved brethren, |