SERMON XXXV: 4Q$ ß. It is evident, from many expressions in the evangelists, . that it was not the design of Christ, in hisown life-time, to pub lish the grace and glory of the gospel; in so clear, so distinct, and so complete a manner, as he designed to have it publishedby his apostles after he was gone to heaven. The design of his own public ministry was rather to prepare theway for the settingup of his ownkingdom itithe world, than to set it up in the full glory of it in his own person. According to this view of things, his preaching was formed ; Repent, ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; Mat. iv. 17. That is, the gospel state approaches, or hath approached to you. The prayer he taught his disciples standson the same foot, wherein they are instructed to pray, Thy kingdom come; Mat. vi. 10. Therefore when he spake to the multitude, of the special glories of his gospel, and especially of his atoning-sacrifice, it-was generally in parables; and when he instructed his disciples more particularly inprivate, lie gave them but hints of it, and told them that they should publish thesethings upon the house-tops after the Son of man should rise from the dead; but not before. Even just before his death, hit own diseiples themselves could not bear many things that he had to teach them ; Johnxvi. 12 These things were reserved therefore for the forty days communication with them'after his resurrection, when he spoke with themof things pertaining to the kingdomof God; Acts i. 3. and more especially forthe teachings of his own Spirit, which he poured out upon them after he went to heaven. By these means they were more completelyfurnished for theirministry; andlearn- ed the doctrines of thegospel, in a more perfect manner than ever our Lord himself taught them in his life-time.' Thus it appears that though Christ was the founder of a new religion among men, yet there is good'reason to be given, why he did not teach plainly and publicly some of the chief doctrines of this religion, during his own life on earth, viz. because these doctrines were built onhis death, his rising again; and ascending to heaven, which events were then unaccomplisheda. Thence we may infer, as we pass along, that if we would learn the plainest and fullest account of the gospel of. Christ, it is not enough for us to consult merely his public sermons, or the historiesof his life, which are called thefour gospels, but wemust read carefully the writings of the apostles after he went to hea- ven; for, during the life of Christ, neither did he preach, nor did * i grant there aresome other ingenious and probable reasons offered by the author of Miscellanea Sacra, why Christ did not communicate his gospel socom- pletely to his disciples in his own life-time ; Essay 1, p. 156 -49. but what t have mentioned is sufficient for my purpose. VOL. I. k
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=