SERMONS. SERMON I. CHRIST THE SAME FOR EVER. HEBREWS xiii. 8. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." WHEN the apostles Peter and John were examined before the high priest and rulers of the Jews concerning the miracle which they had wrought in healing a man lame from his birth at the beautiful gate of the temple, " Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer, ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of name of Jesus Christ of Israel, that by the B 10 Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."* If this be true; if Christ is indeed the Lord of all power and might; and there is none besides able to stand between us sinners, and our offended God; or effectually to take our part and help us then it must be of immense importance to us to be certified after what manner he bears us in his heart, and stands affected towards us. But this, I think, can in no other way be learned so well, as by investigation of our Lord's history, and consideration of his behaviour towards men whilst he dwelt amongst them upon earth. The apostle tells us, that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" that is, he is at this moment, and shall be to eternity, just what he was in time past. We have an authentic and infallible record of what he was in time past, and in that record, an exact and lively picture of his mind and disposition with respect to sin *Acts iv. 8-12. ners. Let us then look to the gospel history, which is that record, for instruction. I. I will lay before you some few particulars of Christ's demeanour towards sinners during his abode on earth. II. And thence we may infer, for our comfort and direction, what we are privileged to look for at his hands now and always. I take it for granted, that you believe the Lord Jesus to be no less than "God, blessed for ever;" and that in his character also as Mediator, he is made "head over all things to the church, which is his body." I shall not therefore produce any instances of his almighty power, but only of his willingness to exert that power for the benefit of mankind. If it can be shown from the history of his life, that whilst he dwelt on earth, he exhibited in his actions a boundless love towards sinful men, and we believe, at the same time, the apostle's declaration, that he is "the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" it will follow, that as he is "able to save unto the uttermost them that come to God by him,"* so is he infinitely willing, and will cast out none. 1. Observe then, in the first place, what was his conduct towards mankind in general; *Heb. vii. 25. towards those, I mean, who had very imperfect views of him as the Saviour, or none at all; who though they did not persecute him, yet did not believe in him or value him, but at the best were only inquiring, and still were unresolved, whether he was the true light or not. He compassionated the temporal distresses and bodily wants of every one of them. "I have compassion on the multitude, (he says to his disciples,) because they continue with me three days, and have nothing to eat and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint by the way."* "* On two occasions therefore, he did for them what he would never do for himself, he wrought a miracle for their relief. When he required any thing from those on whose behalf he exerted his almighty power, it was faith, and nothing more :-" Believe ye that I am able to do this? according to your faith be it unto you." require so much as this. raised the widow's son at been so much as asked to do so. He pitied the distress of the ten lepers, and healed them all, although he knew that only one would be found among them thankfully to acknowledge the obligation. "He went about all Galilee, * Matt. xv. 32. But often he did not He appears to have + Matt. ix. 28, 29. (says St. Matthew,) teaching in their synagogues, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people. They brought unto him all sick people, that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those that were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."* He never, in so much as a single instance, rejected the cry of distress, whencesoever it might come. When the men of Gennesaret had knowledge of him, they "sent out into all that country round about; and brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole."+ If he pitied the temporal distresses of mankind, much more did he pity their spiritual maladies. If they felt them themselves, he was always ready to administer relief; and all that zeal could do, he did, even where they felt them not. He discoursed with publicans and sinners freely, though the proud Pharisees were scandalized. He was much "displeased with those who would not suffer little children to be brought unto him, that he should put his Matt. xiv. 35, 36. * Matt. iv. 23, 24. |