Let all the hearers of the Gofpel make the application to themselves. It is Jefus, who yet addresses you by the mouth of his fervants, and to him your attention is demanded. What influence, then, have the truths, which are preached, produced in your minds? You may have been astonished, but have you been truly converted by them? Remember, with whom you have to do; it is One, whom you cannot deceive. Though with demure appearance you tread his courts, if you work iniquity, he will fearch it out, and finally reject you with contempt and abhorrence. He fpake on earth, and much more. will he fpeak from heaven "with authority," when he fhall come with power and great glory, as the Judge of quick and dead. "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who fhall ftand when he appeareth?" There are thofe, who will "have confidence, and not be afhamed before him at his coming t." But there are multitudes, even in his vifible Church, who shall then be overwhelmed with confufion, whilst he will pronounce the tremendous and irreversible sentence, I never knew you: depart from me."

"The Lord grant unto us, that we may find mercy of the Lord in that day!" Amen.

* Mal, iii. 2,

↑ John ii. 28

16

JESU

JESUS CHRIST.

SECT. 12.

Jefus healed a leper-retired into the wilderness-attended by Pharifees and Doctors-cured a paralytic -called Matthew, the publican-vifited him, when many Publicans were prefent-justified his difciples for their free and focial manner of life.

In every part of our Lord's public miniftry, we fhall find him attended, through his different movements, by immenfe multitudes. The doctrines, which he preached, and the miracles, which he performed, generally brought together a large concourfe of people; though but few in comparison feem to have been cordially attached to him. Some were led by curiofity, or a defire to hear and to fee any thing new and uncommon; and others, oppreffed with bodily diseases, applied to him for relief under their various complaints. Shall not we, also, in the prefent day, be induced to liften to the word, which he hath commanded to be published; and come to him for that healing of our infirmities, which he alone can beftow? The Gospel of his grace is as wonderfil and important as ever: and Jefus, who is exalted his throne of glory, is not lefs powerful or comonate, than he appeared to be during his abode earth. Let us enquire, then, what are the truths, he hath delivered to his Church; what the behich his hand confers.

Among

Among the crowds, which followed Jefus, after his fermon on the mount, was a poor unhappy man, "full of leprofy *." A malady this, which was pe culiarly diftreffing. For, not to obferve that it was moft offenfive, painful, and dangerous, the Jewish law excluded all perfons, infected with it, from public worship, and from a free intercourse with fociety, forbidding them to dwell in any town. How wretched their fituation! Here was one, who, being deeply impreffed with a fenfe of his own mifery, earnestly implored relief. When he faw Jefus, having heard of his character and his wonderful works of mercy, he applied to him with much importunity, and with evident figns of a real dependence upon him, though, probably, not without a mixture of unbelief. He worfhipped him, falling down on his face before him, and very ardently befought him to extend his compaffion to him. "Lord," faid he, " if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." With a full confidence of his power, he yet feemed to entertain a doubt of his willingness, to heal him. What a picture of diftrefs was here! An afflicted creature, deprived of the main comforts of life, fhut out from friends and relations, loathsome in the fight of others, and burdenfome to himself, despairing of obtaining deliverance from men, and now proftrate as an humble fupplicant at the feet of Jefus! And did the Saviour ever turn away from fuch an object, or difregard fuch an application? No; his heart was ever fufceptible of the tenderest pity; and, therefore, no fooner was the defire expreffed, than it was granted in its full extent. For inftantly, at his word, the malady was removed, and a perfect cure wrought. He upbraided not the leper with his diftruft, but, to demonftrate that his grace is equal to his power, and that he is as ready as he is able to relieve every needy petitioner, which

"

✦ Mat. viii. 1—4. Mark i. 40—45. Luke v. 12—16..

feemed

tern, fet before us: alas! how defective are the most eminent of his followers! In nothing, perhaps, do they fail more, than in the improvement of their leifure for devotional purposes. And is not this holy retirement neglected, because it requires the most lively, fpiritual affections, and flatters not the vanity of the mind, by exciting the admiration of others.

Jefus, however, was foon called forth again to public view and activity. Though it might have been pleafing to himself to have spent a longer feafon in folitude, he could not be unmindful of the multitudes, who flocked after him, and therefore for their fakes he returned to his former exertions *. Upon his coming back to Capernaum, immenfe crowds attended him, to whom he preached the Gofpel. Amongst these were fome perfons of higher ftation and more refpectable appearance, than thofe who ufually reforted to him; "Pharifees and Doctors of the law." It is but feldom that men of rank or confequence in the world pay any serious regard to the word of God; and therefore we may be difpofed to wonder that these made part of the congregation. But it is remarked of them, that "they were fitting by," as if they were totally unconcerned with his fubject, and, like fpies, they meant only to obferve and cenfure his conduct. They had travelled from diftant parts of the country, even from Jerufalem, and, probably, met by appointment at Capernaum, not fo much from curiofity, as from a malicious defire to start objections against him. We fhall, therefore, remark, that they were ready to catch at his words. He was perfectly apprized of their intenons; and yet, not difcouraged by their prefence, he nt on with his work, and gave fuch proofs of his h character before them, by many miraculous cures, were enough to convince or confound them.

Mat. ix.1-8. Mark ii. 1-12. Luke v. 17-26.

5

The

The minifters of Chrift are often placed in a fimilar fituation, being furrounded by thofe, who are unfriendly, and difpofed to find fault. Such hearers may properly be faid to be "fitting by;" for they come to pafs their judgment on the fermon, not to be inftructed from it; and, therefore, they criticife both the preacher and his doctrine with malevolence and feverity. The fervant of the Lord, however, though his own feelings may be hurt, muft ftill perfift in the faithful discharge of his office, nor conceal any part of the truth, even while he knows that he fhall excite opposition by it.

When Jefus was thus attended, a poor difabled paralytic was brought before him. The crowd about the house prevented all access to him; but fuch was the eagerness of the afflicted man and his friends to obtain relief, that with great pains and difficulty he was taken up to the roof, and let down by cords, probably into the court yard, where our Lord might be preaching.

Perhaps, this particular method of application arofe from ignorance and unbelief, as it seemed to imply, that the Saviour could not work the cure at a diftance. He did not, however, upbraid them with their weakness; but, confidering their conduct as an evidence of faith, he received them graciously, and encouraged the palfied perfon by an affurance of the pardon of his fins. A bleffing this, which does not appear to have been folicited or defired. But so free and extensive is the mercy of our God, that all, who apply to him with real fincerity of heart, shall find him " able to do exceeding abundantly above all that they afk or think."

The declaration of Jefus, which denoted his fovereign majefty and divine power, difpofed his captious hearers to raise a formidable objection against him, They argued within themselves, that he was guilty of the groffeft impiety in the claim, which he had fet

up.