DISCOVISE L 137 God; beóause they were Abraham's seed; but there were very féw instances of conversion and regeneration under all their ministry. 3. Let us consider the effect that it had upon the enemies of Christ. It is evident that it convinced almost all of them in- wardly, and many of them in their discourses with Christ were reduced to silence and shame; they had not one word to reply. They went away, not daring to ask him any more ensnaring questions, for their mouths were stopped ; Mat. xxii. 46. The most impudent and the most learned of them fell together under his reproof, and the repetitions of the doctrines from his mouth they could not sustain. Some of his enemies who heard his discourses had their tempers a little softened towards him ; those that designed to apprehend him, and went with that design, were inwardly restrained from touching him. So the officers in my text. Others again rose into a violent rage and envy, that their corrupt doctrines and their evil deeds were brought to light, and exposed before the people, and they hated him with more ran- cour, and pursued him even to the death. III. I proceed now in the last place to make some inferen- ces for our instruction, and for our practice. We will begin with lessons of instruction. Lesson I. And the firstis this, " that men may preach with- out commission from a national established church, and yet be owned of God." Such was the case of our Lord Jesus Christ in my text, and God discovered to the world how far he honour- ed him. Christ appeared like an upstart without a commission, for he was not sent forth from any of the schools of the prophets, or from under any of their public forms of teaching : Therefore they say concerning him, as for this man we know not whence he is ; John ix. 29. He was looked upon as a schismatic in those days,' as a sort of separatist from the established church, and all. those that followed him, were opposed under that pretence. It was thought a sufficient refutation of his commission to preach ; Have any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees believed on him John vii. 48. But God sent a divine testimony into the hearts of those that heard him, and made them cry out, Never man spuke like this man. It is no matter whence he comes, says the man, who felt his per opening his eyes, it is no matter whether he has authority from you, or no ; for his miracles and his doctrine give sufficient attestation to his charàcter, and his divine autho- rity. When Peter and John, after the death of their master proceeded to publish the same doctrine which Christ had done, how were they railed at, and how furiously persecuted by the rulers of the Jewish church : But God was with them, and by their ministry lie converted thousands. Look into Acts iv. 17, 18. and following. Let us, say the rulers of the Jews, let us
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