網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

death." Nor was his confidence disappointed; for his fervent desires were granted, and his most sanguine expectations fully realized. For the word of the Lord is true, which saith, "before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

Christ was a Lord in his death as well as in his life, or he would not have been able to pluck this brand from eternal burnings, when he himself was enduring the most bitter pains of his vicarious and meritorious death. It was by these agonizing sufferings that he despoiled the last enemy of his sting, and conquered him in dying; and in this mysterious and memorable conflict upon Mount Calvary, triumphantly declared himself to be the Prince of life, and the Lord of glory! These gospel verities were revealed by the Spirit of Christ to the expiring criminal, and constituted the basis of his faith, and the only source of his consolation, until the solemn moment of his departure from a world of sin, temptation and sorrow, to the entrance of his happy spirit into the kingdom and joy of his Lord. Hence it is obvious, that when he committed his soul into the hands of the Saviour in the awful article of death, it was an act of the highest worship; and had not the King of the Jews been properly and truly God, he would have been guilty of the grossest idolatry; instead of receiving a blessing, he would have procured unto himself a curse. For it is written, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm." I hesitate not to affirm, that this vessel of mercy brought more glory to Christ in the last moments of his life, than many professors do in the course of fifty years! The grace of our Lord to him was exceeding abundant with faith and love," for where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." 1 Tim. i. 14; Rom. v. 20.

How astonishingly clear and scriptural were his views of the glorious person of Christ as God-man! Any one might have imagined that he had heard the Saviour say, I am David's Lord and David's son: and had listened to the united testimonies of St. Peter and St. Paul, “But ye denied the Holy One, and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of Life-which none of the princes of this world knew; for, had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Acts iii. 14; 1 Cor. ii. 8. He was indeed a miracle of grace. In his salvation, the King of Zion

gave a most signal display of victorious grace;—of his unchangeable love, when the love of others to him waxed cold;—of infinite compassion, when no pity was shown to him;-of succour and sympathy, when his rebellious creatures laughed at his misery, exulting in his ignominious death-only vexing themselves with satanic malice, because they were not able to make his sufferings more distressing and more reproachful. Had he possessed less than infinite forbearance, he would have consumed his enemies, and avenged himself of his adversaries. But he patiently endured the cross, and despised the shame. O may endless honour and glory be ascribed to thee, thou merciful, meek, and lovely Saviour: for "this is not after the manner of man, O Lord!"

Again, when we further contemplate the correctness of the confession of his faith in calling Christ, Lord, it is self-evident to every reflecting mind, favourable to truth, that he had a conspicuous view of the unsearchable riches of Christ, even through his deep poverty. At that mournful period, when the Prince of Life had not power to make a will of his vesture-nor could he distribute his plain garments among his needy disciples; yet he distinctly acknowledged him the possessor and disposer of a kingdom which is not of this world, but glorious and divine, abiding for ever; for "of his kingdom there shall be no end." Surely we are compelled to exclaim, none can teach like the great Prophet of the church! His wisdom is the wisdom of God, which maketh men wise unto salvation. For the success of his saving work, he is neither dependent on auspicious circumstances, nor confined to the ordinary use of means. If he chooses to work, who shall let or hinder it? And "when his arm is stretched out, who shall turn it back?" Mean and insignificant instruments, when he employs them, do not retard, but further the purposes of his love; and those that are suitable and fitting are unavailable, unless he deigns to use and to bless them. Even the great and argumentative St. Paul may plant, and the eloquent Apollos water, but God must give the increase. That the Lord Christ gave such unequivocal proof of his Godhead in the conversion of this hardened rebel, and receiving his penitent soul into paradise, is a fact which none of the enemies of his Deity will ever with truth be able to deny, or in the least invalidate. That he looked to Christ on the cross as the God-man, there is

not the smallest doubt; though the Saviour was enduring the poignant and excruciating agonies of crucifixion, and the dreadful curse of the violated law of God in his righteous soul, for the sins of his people. In this exalted character, as the Surety of his church, he believed him mighty and willing to save the vilest of sinners who came to him, and firmly trusted all his immortal interests in his hands, knowing that they were eternally safe in his keeping. "I give my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hands." St. John x. 28. "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." Psalm cxxv. 1.

It is also worthy of your serious consideration, that the dying thief did not say, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy Father's kingdom;" but, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into THY KINGDOM!" I desire you, my respected and attentive hearers, to bear in mind, that the Messiah had a twofold right to this kingdom. First. An original right with his Father, as God the Creator. The Holy Spirit declareth, that "the Logos, (or Word) was with God, and the Word was God: that all things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Again, "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Secondly. A donative right, which he acquired by completely accomplishing the stupendous work of salvation; and as a recompence for this vast undertaking, the Father assigned to him a kingdom; and our blessed Lord, as the surety and representative of the elect, has inviolably secured to them a kingdom. He hath obtained eternal redemption for us. Hence he says, "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me."

From the preceding incontrovertible fact of the dying thief presenting his fervent prayer to Christ in his last moments, we learn, that he most unquestionably believed him to possess the real and essential attributes of deity; and, consequently, he was an object of the most profound adoration. This is such a fundamental and important article of gospel faith, that all persons of every nation, kindred, tongue and people, taught of Jehovah, firmly believe, and cordially embrace, as absolutely necessary to the possession of salvation. Therefore, those persons or

professors who deny this truth, are no more entitled to the name of Christians, than Jews, Turks, or infidels; and if the Saviour speaks the truth, living and dying in this woful state of infidelity, they will be as far from possessing eternal life as demons in outer darkness. 66 If ye believe not that I AM he, ye shall die in your sins." "Whither Ι go, ye cannot come." Were I not able to adduce any other proofs corroborative of the deity of Christ, surely the foregoing testimonies would be deemed satisfactory evidence by all those who prefer the unerring word of God, to the vague and uncertain opinions of men. But socinianism, with other pestilential errors closely connected with it, both in this country and other parts of Christendom, is alarmingly upon the increase; and fostered under the cant phrase of liberality of mind, which views all religious distinctions with a cold indifference, and the peculiar glories of the gospel as mere non-entities,—it surely becomes every faithful minister of the new testament, in these latter days of blasphemy and rebuke, to make a bold and decided stand against the vile encroachments and daring opposition of the motley hosts of the enemies of the truth, who are continually upon the alert to defy the armies of the living God; for what they cannot carry by assault, they will, if possible, take by stratagem ; so that by smooth words and fair speeches, they have already led astray many who are sorely entangled in the yoke of bondage; and others are awfully deceived to their own destruction. "In the latter times, some shall depart from the faith." Let, then, all Zion's watchmen, who are Israelites indeed, and love our Lord Christ in truth and sincerity, rouse themselves from the benumbing stupor of the present awful times of a general falling away from the truth; and, with the vigilance and fidelity their solemn and overwhelmingly responsible work demands, affectionately, fearlessly, and earnestly contend for the ancient faith once delivered to the saints. We ought not to give place to the common enemy even for an hour, that the truths of the gospel may continue with us in their native simplicity and glory, that their unction and life-giving energy may be enjoyed in our hearts, by the grace and power of the Lord the Spirit. See Gal. ii. 4, 5. Rest assured, that the essential and all-important doctrines of the Godhead of Christ is the central point in which all the lines of divine revelation meet-the various declarations of the

Bible harmonize, and splendidly appear in all their overpowering majesty and combined glories, to the everlasting honour of a Three-One Jehovah, and the unspeakable comfort of every believer. Those are the worst of enemies that would despoil us of this only hope; they resemble merciless pirates, who, having robbed the vessel of all her rich stores, at last sink the ship, without affording the perishing and miserable crew a plank on which they may escape the devouring gulf. Upon this only basis, the salvation of the church is built by the hands of the Eternal; and if this principal foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do? For upon this imperishable pillar rests the faith of God's elect. From this enriching source of life and joy, is derived all our consolation, dearest hopes, and immortal felicity. The nominal protestant churches, which are deprived of this pre-eminent gospel truth, and inestimable jewel, are comparable to a lifeless carcase, without an animating soul. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing-for the body without the spirit is dead." All that is lovely and fair in christianity is deformed; their strength and beauty are departed; and upon their eyelids are fixed the chilling shadow of moral death. There is nothing left but the outworks of christianity; and upon them may be written "Ichabod-the glory is departed." Indeed, if Christ is not really and truly God, christians are, of all men, the most miserable; for as their expectations are raised infinitely higher than any other sect, therefore their disappointment would be inconceivably greater. But this supposition is absolutely false. Their Saviour is God, blessed for ever; and, therefore, true believers are the only happy persons; "yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." Their Redeemer is strong, Jehovah of Hosts is his name." "Their rock is not like our rock; our enemies themselves being judges." Happy is the man who hath the God of Jacob for his help.' If the scriptures are true, I explicitly declare, that socinians are as far removed from correct views of the person of Christ, as Mahometans, or any other infidels; and were they consistent with themselves, they would not only be deists, but atheists; for there are as many arguments to prove the deity of the Son, as there are the Godhead of the Father. In order to confute these gainsayers, as well as to establish the weak and wavering; and for the edifica

66

« 上一頁繼續 »