CHAPTER I.

THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

THE cross of Christ has been in all ages a stumbling-block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek. This was declared by the great apostle of the Gentiles, "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." And so we find declared by the prophet Isaiah, "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not ;" yet the salvation of immortal souls, and the glory of God depended upon it. As the cross of Christ was the way to his glory, "ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" So his cross is the way to our enjoyment of glory. This was the cause of the apostle's glorying in the cross, "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." He was sensible that without the cross there could be no crown. As He rose for our justification, so he died for our offences. It was on the cross that Christ as the great High Priest offered Himself as the great atoning Sacrifice. On the cross He exhibited his Godhead and manhood; as man in suffering, and God in supporting Him under it; and as God-man He triumphed on the cross over sin and the sinner-this we will endeavour to prove, God enabling us. That Christ triumphed on the cross is declared by the holy apostle; "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them, openly triumphing over them in himself." Col. ii. 14, 15.

There were a combination of circumstances in connection with Christ on the cross which testifies his glory and Majesty, and that as God-man.

1st. What a wonderful circumstance was that superscription written by Pilate over his head upon the cross. "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." The cause why titles were set over the heads of malefactors, was, that beholders might know the reason of the punishment, and be admonished, and warned

E

thereby, also to show the disapprobation of the crime. This doubtless was Pilate's motive, and to follow the Roman custom. But when I come to consider two, things in this superscription, I am bound to look to a higher cause and that is God himself. As the crucifixion of Christ was according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, so was the superscription, determined and overruled by the invisible and constraining power of God over Pilate, "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." In this superscription we have the sum and substance of the whole Gospel. 1st. When we consider the matter, and 2nd., the manner of the superscription,

King of the Jews." The same title which

1. The matter, "Jesus of Nazareth, the Here we have Christ declared as the Saviour. Mary received of the angels, "His name shall be called Jesus," and the reason is given, "for He shall save his people from their sins.” This title was preached by the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, Psalm xviii. 1, xliii. 11, xlv. 21. "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress, and my Deliverer, my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust, my Buckler, and the Horn of my salvation. In thy salvation how greatly shall He rejoice. And He shall send them a Saviour, and a great One, and he shall deliver them; I am the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour, a just God and a Saviour."

The apostles held forth Christ as the Saviour of sinners. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Unto you first, God having raised up nis Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you.” What a glorious part of the gospel have we then, in this superscription, salvation by Christ. The title Jesus, includes his priestly and prophetic office. "He that is sent to save, is also sent to bless," Acts iii. 24. The next thing we find in this superscription is King of the Jews. This also is a glorious part of the Gospel, the kingly office of Christ. How blessedly is He spoken of as King in the Old Testament, "Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion." He is declared the King of kings, and Lord of lords; angels and saints proclaim Him such. "Worthy is the Lamb, that was slain toreceive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

How mysterious is the constraining power of God, to make ungodly men proclaim his truth contrary to their inclination and will. It was not from his love to Christ that Pilate set up these glorious titles. He that made man, can do with him as seemeth good in his sight, Acts v. 31. He can compel a Caiaphas to preach Christ's passion, as suffering instead of his people, in order to deliver them from eternal perdition. "That it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not; and this he spake not of himself, but being High Priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation." Balaam the false prophet was constrained to preach the perfection of the church in Christ. "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel." What a glorious truth is here declared by Balaam, the completeness and perfection of the Church, as she stands justified in the righteousness of Christ before God. "This is the Lord's doings, and marvellous in our eyes." When He works none can hinder; "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." We may say of the Gospel, as the Psalmist says of the sun, "Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race." The Gospel under the influence of the Spirit of God is as irresistible as the light of the sun. Men may

preach the truth of the Gospel, and at the same time be destitute of the power in their own souls. It is possible to have a great light like the sun, without life. How important it is for preachers especially to know whether they are quickened characters; what an awful thing, for a man to preach the Gospel, and at last prove a Pilate, a Caiaphas, or a Balaam. Here is also sweet encouragement for sensible sinners, if thou art a gracious soul, a sufferer for Christ, his cross bearer; if thou art disgraced by the world, God will honour you; He will work all things for your good; men are at his command; their hearts at his disposal. He can make your enemies feed you, bless you, and do you good.

The matter of this title is a declaration of the deity and humanity. of Christ, as Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature as the King of saints. The overruling and constraining power of God for the welfare of his saints, and for his own honor and glory.

2nd. The manner of the superscription. Here again is manifest the infinite wisdom of God, in constraining Pilate to write it in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Surely there must be the mind of God in this also. It was foretold by the prophets that the Gospel should be preached in all the world, "There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all

the earth, and their words to the end of the world," Psal. xix. 3, 4. This the apostle applies to the preaching of the Gospel among the Gentiles. "But I say, have they not heard, yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, did not Israel know, first, Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not, I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me, I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. Even us whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. I will call them my people which were not my people, and her beloved, which was not beloved."

These predictions were according to the foreknowledge of God, determined in his everlasting counsel, and were executed by Christ on the cross, in breaking down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile, that He might gather in one, the children of God that were scattered abroad, and that the triumph of Christ on the cross should be preached to all nations; and to this end He commissioned his disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature. The apostle's determination was, to know nothing among men save Christ and Him crucified, which is the glory of the gospel, preached first to the Hebrews, and afterwards to the Greeks and Latins. Indeed, from history we find that there were these three distinct churches, although the former did not last long as a separate church, it being soon amalgamated with the other churches, and by virtue of Christ crucified they were united in one spirit, Christ being the Head of the whole body.

In the manner of the superscription, we may also see the sweet testimony of the Old and New Testament; the original of the former being in Hebrew, and the latter in Greek, and both pointing to Christ, like the two cherubims on the mercy-seat, this being so ⚫blessedly overruled by God to show forth the glory and Majesty of Christ, that He is the One of whom both the Old and New Testament are pointing, in spite of the Jews and Pilate, He is the very Messiah and King of Saints.

This blessed news of Christ crucified is not to be pinned up in a small quarter such as the land of Judea; its majestic voice must be heard through all the earth. The voice of the Gospel is full of power, full of majesty. It broke down the power of Rome pagan; it stopped the mouths of its oracles. By the power of the Spirit, it broke down Rome Papal; and by the same power Romanism will

be entirely demolished, and the gospel spread, from pole to pole. True and experimental knowledge will cover the sea. Although my brethren Jews, as a nation, rejected Christ and despised the gospel, yet thousands through grace believed. Peter was the apostle to the Hebrews; Paul carried the gospel to the Greeks and Latins, or Gentiles, as it is written, " And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown." This great trumpet is the everlasting Gospel, "and they shall come." Mark the word "shall." God does not come as a beggar. If you please, or will you please. He comes with his omnipotent arm, or, as Luther says, With his sweet omnipotence," makes them willing in the day of his power; opens their hearts, as He did Lydia's; binds the strong man, demolishes his castle, defaces his image, beautifies the heart with the graces of the Spirit as a castle for Himself, erects a throne for grace to reign, prepares the heart for a temple wherein He is to be worshipped in spirit and truth. Here the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, dwell. Sinner, is your heart the temple of the Holy Ghost? Art thou a spiritual worshipper? Dost thou believe with that faith which is the operation of God the Holy Ghost? If thou diest in an impenitent state, thou art lost to all eternity.

66

66

The characters described who shall come at the sound of the trumpet, are those that are ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Mark the characters who are brought by the grace of God to Christ. Who are they? not the righteous, What a mercy that Christ is not come to call the righteous! as there are none righteous, so none could be saved. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no not one, there is none that understand and seek God. They are corrupt; they have done abominable works." Herein lies the blessedness of the Gospel, that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. Oh! for a heart to love Him, and a tongue to praise Him. What kind of sinners has Christ come to call? The vilest and basest, yea, the chiefest of sinners. Assyria and Egypt were two idolatrous nations, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise. The psalmist also speaks that the greatest enemies of the church should be brought to Zion at the sound of the trumpet. "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." This refers to the Gospel dispensation, "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me, behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there." These nations who were alienated from the profession of truth shall be