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the justice of God arrest us, or his holy law condemn us? Behold, Jesus gives up himself in our stead, and says respecting us, "Let these go their way." Isaac was not more certainly doomed to death in the purpose of his father, than we were by reason of our iniquities: but Jesus, like the ram, is accepted in our stead, and we rise to a life of immortality and glory. Let us ever view Jesus in this light; —— let us regard him as our surety and substitute; - nor doubt, but that through his willing sacrifice, and authoritative mediation, our souls shall live for ever.]

2. As an avenger of his enemies1___

[We have seen what Christ did when he was about to surrender up himself, and to stand as a criminal at man's tribunal: what then will he not do when he shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and summon the universe to his tribunal? If an armed band were smitten to the ground by the power of his word in the hour of his deepest humiliation, how shall an individual, unarmed, resist him in the day when he shall sit on his throne of judgment? When he shall say, "I am he," whom thou despisedst, "I am he," whose invitations thou didst slight, and on whose blood thou didst trample; what confusion will cover us! what terror will seize us! and how irresistible will be the power that shall consign us over to perdition! Surely, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." O let us seek Jesus, not to betray and dishonour him, but rather to serve and glorify him with our whole

hearts.]

3. As a protector of his people

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[As his people were beset with enemies at that time, so are they in every age, and every place. Malignant as they were who came to apprehend our Lord, they were but instruments in the hands of that malicious fiend who seeks to destroy us. But all the hosts of hell are as much subject to the power of Jesus, as Judas and the soldiers were. "Not any weapon formed against us can prosper," if only we put our trust in him-- - Let us then flee to him; and he will hide us under the shadow of his wings- As birds flying to protect their young, so will the Lord defend us. And as the attendant angel passed between the destroyer and the houses sprinkled with blood, so will the Lord pass over to preserve us from the assaults of our enemies1. Let us rely on him, and we shall find him a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall*.]

h Isai. i. 24.

i Isai. xxxi. 5.

k Isai. xxv. 4.

MDCCXVIII.

JESUS SMITTEN IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S PALACE.

John xviii. 19-23. The high-priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high-priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

THE Holy Scriptures are generally considered as containing only matter of historic record; whereas in reality, with the difference only of some outward circumstances, they exhibit a faithful picture of all that is passing at this present day, in ourselves, and in the world around us. Religion is the same now as it always was; and human nature is still the same; and consequently the operations of religion also are the same, whether in those who hate, or those who embrace, it. In the history before us, we must, doubtless, primarily regard our blessed Lord as suffering what God in his determinate counsels had ordained him to suffer for the sins of men: but, if we would reap the full benefit from these occurrences, we must view them in their general aspect, as shewing us,

I. How religion is opposed

Few will admit at all that religion is opposed in the present day but daily experience proves that it is still, precisely as in former ages, opposed,

1. With inveterate prejudice--

[The interrogations put to Jesus by the high-priest had the appearance of candour (for the bitterest enemies of Christianity wish to maintain somewhat of the semblance of justice); but they proceeded from nothing but a desire to elicit something from Jesus which should serve as a ground of accusation against him. This was clearly perceived by our blessed Lord; and therefore, instead of suffering himself to be thus ensnared

by his blood-thirsty persecutor, he referred him to the very people who were seeking his destruction, that he might learn from them the crimes which they had to lay to his charge. Had the high-priest been sincerely desirous of knowing, from Jesus himself, what his doctrines were, and what he expected of his Disciples, that he might guard the more effectually against any misrepresentations or mistakes, and administer justice with impartiality, our Lord would not have withheld from him the necessary information. But the high-priest had no such objects in view: his design was only to find an occasion against Jesus, either on account of something which should proceed out of his mouth, or as concealing truths which he dared not

to avow.

And do we not here see the spirit in which inquiries are still made at this very hour, in relation both to the doctrines of the Gospel, and to the people who profess it? In what a captious way are questions continually put to religious characters, by those who hate the doctrines of the Gospel! The object of the inquirers is, not to gain such a knowledge as shall convince and satisfy their minds, but to draw forth some answer, which shall either really, or in appearance at least, justify their rejection of all true religion. So also in relation to the followers of Christ; their enemies have no wish to hear any thing in their favour: all that they want, is, to collect anecdotes to the disadvantage of those who profess godliness, and to find reasons for holding them up to derision and reproach. The very same spirit which urged on the enemies of Daniel, wrought also in the enemies of Jesus", and still reigns, though often cloked under the most specious garb, in all who embrace not the Gospel of Christ.]

2. With licentious violence

[Nothing could be more honourable than our Lord's appeal to those who surrounded him; since they had all heard his discourses continually in the temple, and were thoroughly disposed to bring their accusations against him, if they were able to lay any thing to his charge. Yet behold, this appeal, instead of being received as a declaration of his innocence, was resented as an indignity offered to the high-priest; and that too in a way which was contrary to all law, or equity, or common humanity: in a court of justice itself, an officer of that court, in the very presence of the judge, struck the prisoner, not only uncondemned, but unheard, yea, and before even an accusation had been brought against him! In what court under heaven would such injustice be tolerated in a common cause? Yet was this passed over without any testimony

a Dan. vi. 4, 5. b Luke xi. 54.

e 2 Cor. xi. 12.

of disapprobation, either from the judge, or from any of his attendants!

And do we not here see how the rights of God's people are trampled on by all who choose to persecute and oppress them? Yes verily, the most injurious treatment may be shewn to them, and none will stand up to vindicate their cause. They are neither judged, nor protected by the same laws as other men. Against a godly man acting for his Lord and Saviour, any one may rise, and may insult and injure him, not only with impunity, but with the approbation of many; whilst, if the very same line of conduct were pursued by a professor of godliness against a man of this world, a fire would be kindled in every breast, and a general indignation excited against the offending person. We cannot descend to particulars; but the observation of every man may furnish them in abundance: and, if any one be acquainted with instances of such licentious violence, we desire him only to look at the means which are used to cramp the efforts of the godly, and to arrest the progress of vital godliness; and then to ask himself, What he would think of religious persons, if they were to adopt such measures against the opposers of the Gospel as the opposers of the Gospel adopt towards them? And we will venture to say, that a very few minutes' consideration shall convince him, that "those who are born after the flesh do still persecute those who are born after the Spirit," and that the descendants of Cain, of Ishmael, and of Doeg, are not by any means. extinct.]

3. With hypocritical pretences—

[This officer professed a high regard for order and decorum; but a greater act of indecorum can scarcely be conceived than that which he himself committed at that very time; since the taking for granted that the judge who sat there, to administer justice, would suffer all the rights of justice to be so violated in his very presence, was as severe a reflection upon the judge as could well be cast on a human being. Yet this was the man who complained of a want of order and decorum in our blessed Lord, and made that a plea for the outrage which he himself committed. What hypocrisy was here! yet it is no other than what is practised every day by those who hate the Gospel, and labour to obstruct its progress. Need we go to Rome to hear the plea, that, from the labours of Christ's faithful servants, the Church is in danger? With what sanctimonious zeal will many cry out against lectures on a Sabbath evening, as injurious to morality; whilst they never lift up a voice against the theatres, in which so much iniquity abounds! And what concern will many express about the peace of men's minds as disturbed by the Gospel, when they have never, on any

155 occasion whatever, shewn any regard for the spiritual interests of others, or even for the welfare of their own souls! I mean not to say, that the welfare of the Church, and the interests of morality, and the peace of men's minds, ought to be deemed of small importance; for they ought, beyond a doubt, to be regarded with the utmost care and tenderness: but this I say, that they are not uncommonly made a pretext for opposing religion, by persons who on any other occasion would shew no regard for them at all. Rather than not prevail to destroy the Lord Jesus, the Jews would cry out, " If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend:" when they would not have hesitated to throw off Cæsar's yoke at any moment, if they could have attempted it with any prospect of success. Their loyalty was but a pretext; their only object being to ensure the condemnation of one, whose innocence the very judge himself had repeatedly proclaimed. The truth is, that the godly are a prey, which every man is at liberty to hunt down; and in the taking of which he is at liberty to use any means which his ingenuity may devise.]

But whilst in the conduct of the Jews we see how religion is opposed, we see, in the conduct of our Lord, II. How it is to be maintained

None of the weapons which are made use of by the enemies of religion, are to be employed by its friends. If they contend with evil, we are to contend with good, and to "overcome evil with good." The cause of Christ must be maintained,

1. With undaunted firmness—

[Our blessed Lord was not intimidated by this rude assault; but, as one who felt that he was possessed of a good conscience, and a good cause, he firmly expostulated with his adversary: "If I have done evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" Now this shews us, that we are not called to submit to injuries without maintaining that we have still the same rights as other men, and that, when those rights are violated, we have just reason to complain. St. Paul, when a Roman Centurion had bound him with thongs, and was about to scourge him, asserted his right, as a Roman citizen, to be regarded as innocent, till his guilt had been proved in a court of justice': and at another time, after having been unjustly beaten and imprisoned, he would not leave the prison till the magistrates, who had so treated him, should "come to fetch him out." Thus we may avoid injuries

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