Page images
PDF
EPUB

ally illiterate and timid disciples. Such are the evidences by which the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ are supported, as matters of fact: whether they be decisive and satisfactory, you must determine.

That the immediate disciples of Jesus Christ did meet together for the purposes assigned in the sacred scriptures, may be proved from the testimony of Pliny the younger: who says that "Christ was worshipped as a God among the Christians: that they would rather suffer death than blaspheme him: that they received a sacrament, and by it entered into a vow of abstaining from sin and wickedness, conforming to the advice of Paul; that they had private assemblies of worship, and used to sing together in hymns."* This account was written about seventy years after our Savior's crucifixion.

Quadratus, who was converted to christianity, was a celebrated Athenian philosopher; and he says, that "those whom our Savior raised and healed, were not only seen while he himself was upon earth, but survived after his departure out of the world." "Nay," adds he, "some of them were living in our days." And both Tertullian and Arnobius assert, the conversion of multitudes of learned men, from the simple conviction of the truth of christianity, arising from evidences then within their reach, and from personal knowledge.†

We conceive that by this time, you will be ready to admit the truth of the apostle's assertion which we read to you at the opening of this Lecture: "We have

See Addison's Evidences. See also note 8, of this Lecture, at the end of the volume.

† Aristides and others.

not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty." And now it is only necessary to observe, that Reve, lation is to us, what the star was to the wise men.

1. IN ITS NATURE. It is a light shining in a dark place. It is the "day-spring from on high visiting us." What a world was this before it arose! The shadows of ten thousand midnights could not have made a gloom so horrible; and the blackness that veiled Egypt three long days and nights, was light in comparison of this irksome, impenetrable obscurity. The trembling, feeble ray of reason, served only to make darkness visible; and the proud discoveries of philosophy shone only through the night as the twinkling of a taper, to expire when the sun arose. No cheering beam illumined either hemisphere, till this morning star was seen in the East, as the harbinger of perfect day. Then the shout was heard "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon them that dwell in the land of the shadow of death hath the light shined." It resembled the star.

2. IN ITS SOURCE. It is remarkable that all intelligence came first from the East.-Science there uncovered all the effulgence of her radiant head, while the West was in darkness.. There was the first manifestation of God; and long, very long, was this light confined to her borders. A night of superstition and of ignorance brooded on the world, while the descendants of Abraham (who was himself from the East) enjoyed the light of truth. In every respect the lands lying under the rising sun have ever had the start of us; and we have been satisfied to be their disciples. Our language, cold and torpid in itself, has borrowed

We have learned from them, imagery from theirs. in our eloquence, to thunder with the storm: to rush with the torrent: to glide with the river: to murmur with the rill; and to whisper with the breeze. From them came this volume fraught with intelligence; and Revelation, like the guiding star, arose in the East.

8. IN ITS OBJECT it resembles this star. Jesus Christ is the sum and substance of this book. Obliterate his name from these sacred pages, and you have extinguished their light, destroyed their vigor, deranged their harmony, and defaced their beauty. There is not a particle of information treasured up here, that does not, more nearly or remotely, in some way, relate to him. Not a prophecy, not an history, not a miracle, not a doctrine, not a precept, not an epistle, that is not united, by some invisible thread, to the Messiah. The express design of this record is to make us acquainted with him: to discover what he has done: to enforce what he has said: to declare what he expects: to testify of "the King of the Jews."

4. IN ITS ISSUE Revelation resembles this star. It had no sooner led these sages to the feet of Jesus Christ, than it disappeared for ever. The Bible safely-conducts us to Christ, but not immediately. It therefore remains to guide our erring feet through this world, as the passage to his more immediate presence. It is necessary to discover the thousand dangers of the way, and the difficulties which we must surmount. But when we shall have arrived at our Father's house: when we shall see him, eye to eye, and face to face; when we are are safely conducted to the place where he is: having fulfilled its commission, and answered its destination, this star also shall disappear.

O may we see him as our Prince and Lord! see him-not as did Balaam when he reluctantly predicted his coming, and said, "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh!"-See him-not as did the Jews, who discerned no form nor comeliness in him; who saw no beauty that they should desire him; and who refused their king! See him not as Herod, who desired to subvert his cause, and to take away his life-not with an envious, malignant eye: but see him as did these sages, who fell down at his feet and worshipped him:-embrace him-as did Simeon, when he was about to die; and behold him where he unveils all the splendors of his face, and fills the temple of God with light, life, and his unclouded presence!

LECTURE XIII.

THE CHARACTER OF THE WRITERS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

1 JOHN I, 1-3.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

HEB. XI, 36-38.

And others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawon asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented: (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth.

WHAT a sensation must the ascension of the Savior have excited in heaven and upon earth! what interest in the bosoms of some, what emotions of fear and of rage in the hearts of others! what were the reflections

« PreviousContinue »