DISCOUßSE IV, Ott world to christianity is a matter of glorious wonder, and shall appear to be so in that great day : That those who had been educated to believe many Gods, or no God at all, should re- nounce atheism and idolatry, and adore the true God only ; and those who were taught to sacrifice to idols, and to atone for their own sins with the blood of beasts, should trust in one sacrifice, and the atoning blood of the Son of God. Here shall stand a believing atheist, and there a converted idolater, as monuments of the almighty power of his grace. There shall shine also in that assembly, here and there a prince and a philosopher, thought Trot many wise, not many noble, not many mighty are called; 1 Cor. i. 26. and they shall be matter of wonder and glory : That princes who love no controul, should bow their sceptres and their souls to the royalty and godhead of the poor man of Nazareth : That the heathen philosophers, who had been used only to yield to reason, should submit their understandings to divine revelation, even when it lies something above the powers and discoveries of reason in it. It shall raise our holy wonder too, when we shall behold some of the Jewish priests and pharisees, who became converts to the christian faith, adorning the triumph of that day. The ,Jewish pharisees, who expected a glorious temporal prince for their Messiah, that they should at last own the Son of a carpenter for their Teacher, their Saviour, and their King; that they should veil the pride of their souls; and acknowledge a parcel of poor fishermen for his chief ministers of state, and receive them as ambassadors to the world. That those who thought they were righteous, and boasted in it, should renounce their boastings and their righteousnesses, and learn to expect salvation and life for themselves, from the death and righteousness of another : That they who once called the cross of Christ, folly and weak- ness, should come to see the wisdom and power of God in a crucified roan, and believe him who hung upon a tree, as an ac- cursed creature, to be Emanuel God with us, God manifest in theflesh, and the Saviour of mankind; Mat. i. 23. 1 Tim. iii. 16. Surely, shall men and angels say in that day, "These were the ef'ects of an almighty power, it was the work of God the Sa- viour, and it is marvellous in oar eyes. With united voices shall all the saints confess, Flesh and blood has not revealed this unto f us, but the Spirit o Lard Jesus Christ ; and of Gott the Father. We had perished in our folly, but Christ has keen made wisdom to us ; we were in darkness, and lay under the shadow of death, but Christ has given us light; 1 Cor. i. 43. Eph. v. 14. Came all ye saints of these latter ages, upon whom the end pf the world is çgme, raise your heads with rue, and look far backwards, even to the beginning of time, and the days of G2
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