THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY. WE all ought to put this question to ourselves. Ignorance is the essence of pride and vanity. Nosce teipsum is a lesson sent down from heaven. Our design is to excite you to the love and practice of humility. Consider (I.) Nothing is more just, nothing more reasonable than that we should be profoundly humble both in spirit and in heart. (II.) Nothing is more acceptable to God, or more necessary to salvation than that we should be profoundly humble. See BOYS, JOHN, D.D. Works 105. W. GAHAN. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. JOHN denies that he is Elias. Christ declares that he is. These differing assertions may be reconciled if we consider (I.) The prophecy which is the foundation of this opinion-Mal. iii., 1 and 4, 5, 6. (1) This did not mean the person of Elijah. (2) Notice his office or business. (3) The time of his ministry The sum of this prophecy seems to be that before the destruction of Jerusalem there should come an eminent messenger from God to prepare the way of the Messiah, who should in spirit, &c., greatly resemble Elijah. (II.) The application made of this prophecy to John by the blessed Saviour.-Luke i., 15, 17 Matt. xi., 10, and xvii., 10, 13. (111.) The Baptist's answer and its argument, both with Malachi's prediction and our Lord's application. (a) John replied to the meaning they attached to the prophecy. (b) Consider the preparation which it was foretold this person should make, and how this was actually fulfilled. Let us conclude with a few practical reflections. We have here an excellent patter of true humility. (1) He returns negative answers to the questions that would have raised him in honour and esteem. (2) He is not jealous of his utmost right. (3) Not envious or emulous, but rejoicing in the greater gifts and higher work of others. THE cry of our text contains five words, let us behold five things (I.) The object, "a Lamb." Do not miss the article, not an iota to fail. Surely not an article. The lamb in the law, &c. Why a lamb? Because (a), Innocent; (b), Meek. (II.) The owner, God's Lamb. The offerings in Scripture are called by their name who presented them. Christ is God's Lamb because He offers Him. (III.) His act or office, " to bear." He hath borne our sin, and punishment. Not only borne, but taken away. How does He bear? "In His own body," &c. IV. The burden, "Sin," &c. Sin is the heaviest thing in the world. (V.) Now you have seen its weight, note its bulk, "The sin of the world." Come to Christ ye heavy laden ones, He has borne your burdens. Will you not be freed? R. CLERKE. Or, the rich man and Lazarus. I come now to make out the truth of what is here asserted in the text. And for the full clearing of this matter, I shall speak to these two propositions. (I.) That it is unreasonable to expect that God should do more for the conviction of men than to afford them a standing revelation of his mind and will, such as that of the holy Scriptures is. And if so, then, (II) That upon the whole matter it is very improbable, that those who reject this public revelation of God, should be effectually convinced, though one should speak to them from the dead. Abp. TILLOTSON. THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY. WE all ought to put this question to ourselves. Ignorance is the essence of pride and vanity. Nosce teipsum is a lesson sent down from heaven. Our design is to excite you to the love and practice of humility. Consider (I.) Nothing is more just, nothing more reasonable than that we should be profoundly humble both in spirit and in heart. (II.) Nothing is more acceptable to God, or more necessary to salvation than that we should be profoundly humble. W. GAHAN. DE LA RUE, C. T. quises. Sur la passion dominante. Sər. i., 32. BOFFEUT. L'Adent 3. Sur le faux honneur, Ser. 2, 3, 18. GAHAN, W. Adv. 3. The Virtue of Humility. Ser. 15. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. JOHN denies that he is Elias. Christ declares that he is. These differing assertions may be reconciled if we consider (I.) The prophecy which is the foundation of this opinion-Mal. iii., 1 and 4, 5, 6. (1) This did not mean the person of Elijah. (2) Notice his office or business. (3) The time of his ministry The sum of this prophecy seems to be that before the destruction of Jerusalem there should come an eminent messenger from God to prepare the way of the Messiah, who should in spirit, &c., greatly resemble Elijah. (II.) The application made of this prophecy to John by the blessed Saviour.-Luke i., 15, 17. Matt. xi., 10, and xvii., 10, 13. (111.) The Baptist's answer and its argument, both with Malachi's prediction and our Lord's application. (a) John replied to the meaning they attached to the prophecy. (b) Consider the preparation which it was foretold this person should make, and how this was actually fulfilled. Let us conclude with a few practical reflections. We have here an excellent patter of true humility. (1) He returns negative answers to the questions that would have raised him in honour and esteem. (2) He is not jealous of his utmost right. (3) Not envious or emulous, but rejoicing in the greater gifts and higher work of others. GEO. STANHOPE, D.D. Or, the rich man and Lazarus. I come now to make out the truth of what is here asserted in the text. And for the full clearing of this matter, I shall speak to these two propositions. (I.) That it is unreasonable to expect that God should do more for the conviction of men than to afford them a standing revelation of his mind and will, such as that of the holy Scriptures is. And if so, then, (II) That upon the whole matter it is very improbable, that those who reject this public revelation of God, should be effectually convinced, though one should speak to them from the dead. Abp. TILLOTSON. THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY. WE all onght to put this question to ourselves. Ignorance is the essence of pride and vanity. Nosce teipsum is a lesson sent down from heaven. Our design is to excite you to the love and practice of humility. Consider (I.) Nothing is more just, nothing more reasonable than that we should be profoundly humble both in spirit and in heart. (II.) Nothing is more acceptable to God, or more necessary to salvation than that we should be profoundly humble. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. JOHN denies that he is Elias. Christ declares that he is. These differing assertions may be reconciled if we consider (I.) The prophecy which is the foundation of this opinion-Mal. iii., 1 and 4, 5, 6. (1) This did not mean the person of Elijah. (2) Notice his office or business. (3) The time of his ministry The sum of this prophecy seems to be that before the destruction of Jerusalem there should come an eminent messenger from God to prepare the way of the Messiah, who should in spirit, &c., greatly resemble Elijah. (II.) The application made of this prophecy to John by the blessed Saviour.-Luke i., 15, 17 Matt. xi., 10, and xvii., 10, 13. (111.) The Baptist's answer and its argument, both with Malachi's prediction and our Lord's application. (a) John replied to the meaning they attached to the prophecy. (b) Consider the preparation which it was foretold this person should make, and how this was actually fulfilled. Let us conclude with a few practical reflections. We have here an excellent patter of true humility. (1) He returns negative answers to the questions that would have raised him in honour and esteem. (2) He is not jealous of his utmost right. (3) Not envious or emulous, but rejoicing in the greater gifts and higher work of others. See also GEO. STANHOPE, D.D. STANHOPE, G., D.D. Gospel of Adv. NARDIN, T. F. L'ambassade des Juiss a Jean Baptiste. er 1, 108. THE LAMB OF GOD. John i. 29. THE cry of our text contains five words, let us behold five things (I.) The object," a Lamb." Do not miss the article, not an iota to fail. Surely not an article. The lamb in the law, &c. Why a lamb? Because (a), Innocent; (b), Meek. (II.) The owner, God's Lamb. The offerings in Scripture are called by their name who presented them. Christ is God's Lamb because He offers Him. (III.) His act or office, "to bear." He hath borne our sin, and punishment. Not only borne, but taken away. How does He bear? "In His own body," &c. |