purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Such was the substance of John the Baptist's preaching, by which he awakened men to a sense of their danger and a concern for their souls; that the Saviour might be welcome to them, when, a few months afterwards, he entered upon his ministry. Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 66 But the word of the preacher never profits unless we take it to ourselves; and Satan is always ready to satisfy our corrupt hearts with a reason why we should not take it to ourselves. The Jews trusted to the favour of God towards their nation; and had a common saying, that no descendant of Abraham should finally perish. They are warned accordingly, Think not to say among yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. If he had need of a people to serve him, he could find or make one any where. There is equal reason for Christians to beware lest they trust in their Christian name, their outward advantages, their pure church and its sacraments; and so take a comfort to their hearts to which they have no scriptural claim. The Jews were descended from Abraham: were "a chosen nation, a peculiar people." Yet unless they "did the works of Abraham," and lived as a holy nation, they had no exemption from the wrath to come. WE are called by the name of Christ, we belong to a Christian church: but unless we have more than this: unless the faith and the Spirit of Christ reside in our hearts, he "profiteth us nothing; we are yet in our sins." Success attended John's preaching, even beyond his hopes. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? It was the "Lord's doing, and it was marvellous in his eyes." The Pharisees, he knew, were filled with self-righteousness, and seemed to themselves to "need no repentance." The Sadducees denied a resurrection, and could therefore dread no wrath to come. But God had touched these hearts by his grace, and many of them also came to his baptism. May our hearts continually feel the effect of the same sovereign power! But John knew that the heart may be touched, yet not subdued. Men are often led by the talents of a preacher, or the example of others, to "receive the word with joy," who still "bring no fruit to perfection." It is one thing to feel the emotions of sorrow and alarm: but another thing to "overcome the world," and "endure unto the end, striving against sin." Therefore he adds, Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation" has this object, that men should lead godly, righteous, and sober lives; such lives as are a preparation for heaven. He who will come at last to take account of every man's works, will use an awful scrutiny. His fan' is in his hand, to distinguish between the wheat and the chaff in 7 For the same metaphor, see Isa. xli. 16; Jerem. xv. 7, and li. 2. 66 his church, and separate the one from the other. He will thoroughly purge his floor :- 'gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity;" "he will sift the house of Israel, like as corn is sifted in a sieve; yet shall not the least grain of it fall upon the earth:" not the least of those who have believed in him, and brought forth fruits meet for repentance, shall perish. And now also the Lastly, the Baptist warns his hearers to avoid another snare, which too often proves fatal to the soul. The evil seems distant; too distant to be dreaded. But even while we are trusting to this, and delaying, the danger may be close at hand. axe is laid to the root of the trees. laid to the root of the tree, its destruction is nigh, and nothing but a change in the mind of him who lifts the axe, can save it. So at this moment destruction was near the Jewish nation, "even at the doors," all thoughtless and unconscious as they were. And so, as death is always nigh to every individual, destruction is always nigh to every sinner. The axe is constantly at the root of every mortal man; no one can tell when it may strike; but every one may reckon that it must strike soon. See, therefore, that the tree is sound, and proving its soundness by its fruits for every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 8 Amos ix. 9. LECTURE VI. BAPTISM OF JESUS. MATT. iii. 13-17. 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? It was part of the mysterious plan now about to be developed for man's redemption, that Christ should remain unnoticed in the province of Galilee till this time, when he was "about thirty years of age." 1 So it had been written," He shall grow up as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground." 2 The Baptist was aware who he was who now approached him; and he forbad him with these striking words,—I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? As much as to say, I am performing an office which assumes superiority in character and authority;-God has made me "great in his sight;" -has given me such authority over my sinful brethren. But comest thou to me, who art not one of these, and hast no sins to confess and repent of? Again: Comest thou to me, who have need to be bap tized of thee? I have need to be baptized of thee, for thou art the "Lamb of God, which takest away the sins of the world ;" and I am one of that world of sinners. "Among them that were born of woman there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist:" yet such was his humility. We had an example of it before, in his declaring to the people, He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He claims nothing: he even represses the homage paid to him. And from that time to this it has been found, that those who possess the fullest measure of the Spirit of God, have been the first to see their need of more; that the best and holiest of men have had the deepest sense of their unworthiness; and have most cordially assented to the scripture," which has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." 3 Imprint, O Lord, this truth upon our hearts! Not only when we have transgressed against thee, but in the best works by which we strive to serve thee, we have need to be baptized of thee. 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.* Our blessed Lord here, while he insists on what became him in his own peculiar character, leaves a 3 Gal. iii. 23. The pronoun here is the plural, uas in which form, it is observed, Jesus never speaks of himself. |