Jesus now honours John with his testimony: and calls upon all who have ears to hear, to perceive and understand, that he was "that prophet:" that Elias which was for to come; to be sent "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” 2 If they would receive it, that " Elijah was come already," and the prophecy was fulfilled.

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Until John, all the prophets and the law prophesied. Prophecy was now completed: and John did not foretel the future, but proclaimed what was present: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." And therefore as a teacher, himself "taught of God:" as "a burning and a shining light," sent to enlighten the souls of men; as God's messenger bearing a most important office, there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist. Notwithstanding, the least minister in Christ's own kingdom was greater than he, not in himself, not in dignity or authority, but in what he taught; and the least disciple, in what he learnt and knew. He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

By the kingdom of heaven is not here meant "the kingdom of God" in heaven, the kingdom of heavenly glory; but the dispensation of the gospel on earth, the kingdom which our Lord was now establishing, which is to lead to heaven. And if we ask why such great things are said of the least minister in this kingdom, or the humblest disciple, we can discover sufficient reason.

John could preach the law, the discipline which leads to Christ as the Redeemer. But the apostles could preach "Christ crucified," who "hath re

2 Mal. iv. 5.

3 John i. 29.

deemed us from the curse of the law," having borne the curse for us.

John could say, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." But Peter and James could say, "Repent, and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'

John could exhort his disciples, that they "bring forth fruits meet for repentance." But the apostles could say, Yield yourselves unto God, "for sin shall not have dominion over you." Ye shall be enabled to "do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you." "He that hath begun a good work in you, shall perform it unto the end."6

John was, in truth, the herald of the gospel. He sounded as it were the trumpet of jubilee; summoned the people to hear the glad tidings of redemption. But to him was committed the ministry of repentance. "The ministry of reconciliation was to follow. To those who succeeded him, "it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God," "according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." 8 Unto them it was given, themselves "to know and to proclaim to others, the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge;" to "be filled with all the fulness of God."

Still John was great, so that a greater had not risen among them born of women. He "went before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias," 9 warning men "to flee from the wrath to come:" to

flee as for their lives. For from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. "Every man presseth into it :" like a crowd bursting into a house, like an army taking a city. And those who will enter, must "press in:" it is no time for hesitation or delay: none must hope without pains and labour to attain the gifts and promises of God: they who "strive" shall succeed. The violent seize the kingdom: take it by force: those who will not be denied, but wrestle in prayer, and labour in mortification, and "resist unto blood, striving against sin."

So it was with some: in so much that John was astonished, and "said to the multitudes who came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come!" ?

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But the case was very different with another part of the same generation. Instead of earnestly contending for the kingdom of heaven, and eagerly rushing to claim the blessings offered them, they were finding reasons why they should neglect the message, and despise the messenger.

16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows.

17. And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine bibber, a friend of Luke iii. 17.

Luke xvi. 16.

publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

They whose eyes were blinded that they could not see, whose ears were closed that "hearing they heard not," found both in the character of John, and in the conduct of Jesus, something to condemn. John came neither eating nor drinking: living apart from others, seeking the solitude and enduring the privations of the wilderness. And they say, He hath a devil, and is mad. The Son of man came eating and drinking: frequenting the haunts of men, warning them in their streets, and instructing them at their feasts and assemblies. They accuse him, as the friend of publicans and sinners.

And so it is too often found, that religion is the last thing concerning which men are disposed to judge with candour, or even to follow the conclusions of a sound understanding. They are like perverse children, who will neither dance with the cheerful, nor mourn with the sorrowful: who refuse to be pleased, whether their companions are serious or gay. They will find fault with every way in which religion is represented to them. One while, it is too easy, and gives encouragement to vice: or else it is too severe, and incompatible with the business of the world. So the Jews complained of John the Baptist for his austerity and seclusion; and murmured against Jesus, because he held intercourse with mankind.

In the mean time, Wisdom is justified of her children. The wise children are those who see the truth, and pursue it. These approve their own choice, are satisfied with the resolution which they

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have made, to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." And as these justify wisdom, so does wisdom justify them. It rewards them now with "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost:" and it will hereafter reward them with "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away."

LECTURE LI.

DANGER OF REJECTING THE GOSPEL.

MATT. xi. 20-30.

20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

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22. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

3 Rom. xiv. 17.

Tyre is called in Isaiah a "crowned city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth." (xxiii. 8.) Sidon was also famed for its wealth and luxury. And the destruction of both these cities was foretold by the prophets, as a judgment from God.