felf in the way of those who would not otherwise have known him. And though he was opposed, calumniated, and laughed to fcorn, he continued unwearied, and determined in the fame caufe, beftowing benefits. on all around him, as occafions offered, and returning good for evil. May we not with reason ask, Why then did Jews and Heathens, priests and people, fcribes and Sadducees, rage fo furiously against him who did nothing amifs, who did all things well? Why did perfons of the most oppofite interests, parties, and fentiments, who could agree in nothing else, fo cordially agree in oppofing MESSIAH? His gospel breathes the fpirit of the great Author, and has a direct tendency to make men happy and useful. Wherever it was published, in the first age, among the Heathens, many of them turned from the worship of dumb idols, to ferve the living and true God. It taught and enabled them to renounce ungodliness and worldly lufts, and to live foberly, righteously, and godly *. And it ftill produces the fame effects. The world now bears the name of Chriftian, but under Titus ii. 1.2. this new and honourable name, it retains the fame fpirit as formerly. Many who are called Chriftian, are no lefs under the power of evil tempers and evil habits, than the Heathens to whom the apoftles preached. But where the gofpel of the grace of God reaches the heart, a real and obfervable change is produced. The profane perfon learns to fear an oath, the libertine is reclaimed, the drunkard becomes fober, and the mifer kind. Wherever the truth of the gofpel is known and received, inftances may be found of perfons who were a terror and a burden to their families, being delivered from the stings of a guilty confcience, from the dominion of headstrong paffions, from the flavery of habitual wickedness, and made peaceful, ufeful, and exemplary members of society, by what the apoftle calls the preaching of the crofs. And we challenge history to fhew, that an abiding, confiftent reformation, was ever effected by any other doctrine, in a fingle province, or city, or village, or even in a fingle family. What then shall we fay of that zeal which kindled the fire of perfecution against our Lord and his apoftles, and his followers, through through a fucceffion of ages? What is the common principle, the bond of union, which at this day connects people who differ so widely in other refpects, and points their difpleasure, from all fides, against this one object? In a former difcourfe, I briefly mentioned the principal grounds of that dislike which the Jews manifefted to MESSIAH's perfonal ministry *; and I obferved that they are deeply rooted in the nature of fallen man, and therefore not peculiar to any one age or nation. The gospel always did, and always will, produce the fame happy change, in those who receive it; and provoke the fame oppofition and refentment in those who do The actings will be different as circumftances vary, but the principle is univerfally the fame. In this island, which the good providence of God has diftinguished by many fignal and peculiar favours; the fpirit of our conftitution and government, is friendly to liberty of confcience, and the rights of private judgment; fo that our religious profeffion does not expofe us to the penalties of fire and fword, ftripes or tortures, imprisonment or banishment. Such trials have been the lot of our forefathers; not. * Vol. I. Sermon XVII, when when the fervants of God, under the names of gofpellers, or puritans, were treated as heretics of the worst fort. We are bound to acknowledge with thankfulness, the blesfings of religious and civil liberty which we enjoy. But the world at large around us, is not more favourably difpofed to the grace and rule of MESSIAH's kingdom, than it was in the days of Heathen and Popish darknefs. The tongue, at least, is unrestrained, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak, The gofpel offends the pride of men, by confidering them all on a level, as finners in the fight of God; and by propofing only one method of falvation, without admitting any difference of plea or character. It offends them likewise by its ftrictness. Like Herod, they might, perhaps, confent to do many things *, if they were left at liberty to please themselves in others, in which, though exprefsly contrary to the will of God, they will not fubmit to be controlled. And therefore they are much displeased with the gofpel; which, by affording no allowance or connivance to the least known fin, but prescribing a rule * Mark vi. 20. of univerfal holiness, croffes their inclinations and favourite interefts. When Paul preached at Ephefus, Demetrius and his companions perceived that their craft was in danger. This was the real caufe of their anger, but they were afhamed to avow it; and therefore their oftenfible reason for opposing him, was of a religious kind *, and they profeffed a great concern for the honour of Diana. Few, perhaps, would have given themselves much trouble, to promote or preferve the gain of the craftsmen; but a pretended regard for the worship which had been long established, was a popular topic, which wrought powerfully upon the superftition of the ignorant multitude, and thoufands were presently induced to join with them in the cry, Great is Diana of the Ephefians. The like arts are ftill practifed, with the like fuccefs. The fame fecret motives, are disguised by the fame plaufible pretences. The deceitfulness and wickedness of the heart appears in no one instance more plainly, than in the cavils which are repeated and multiplied against the grace of the gof VOL. II. * Acts xix. 28. K pel. |