Lectures upon the history of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Front matter

From the collection of Julius Doerner, Chicago Purchased, 1918.

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Preface

In undertaking the present history, the author felt more anxiety, and in committing it to the press he stik feels more hesitation, than on any former occasion. — The narrative of the life of our divine Lord and Master forms the sum and substance of the Gospels. To comment upon this, in a manner at all equal to its requirements, is far beyond the author’s pov^ers ; to comment upon it plainly, and scripturally, and usefully, is all at which he aims ; but for this much labour, and prayer, and time are needed.

If every incident in such a life is to be noticed — and where is the Christian who would willingly part with a single line in the portraiture of his divine Master? — years must pass away before its conclusion. In ordinary times, and the present are not ordinary times, many are the vicissitudes which would occur during the period that such a history, if we are permitted to conclude it, needs must occupy. Many a youthful reader, now entering upon life, perhaps too full of his approaching prospects to give much heed at present to instructions such as these, will, ere they close, be sobered by the stern realities of life, and softened by the influences of God’s good Spirit, to an attention to the things belonging to his peace.” While many an aged Christian, who now delights in the narration of all that

the Beloved” of his soul said, and did, and suffered iv

PREFACE.

while on earth, will, perhaps, before this simple illustration of it is concluded, have ceased from human teachers and their imperfect ministrations ; will have exchanged the written for the lirmg Word; will be dwelling “in the light which no man can approach unto,” and hearing these passages of the mortal life of his Redeemer, perhaps from the lips of those who witnessed them, but certainly in the immediate presence of him, “whom, not having seen, ye love.”

To the sincere Christian, reflections such as these will be productive of anxiety ; it is enough that no holier subject can occupy him here below; no higher subject even in eternity, than to dwell upon the precious words, the mighty deeds, the almighty love of the infinite, the adorabJe Redeemer, the co-equal, co-eternal Son of the living God.

May the prayers of the reader so accompany the efforts of the author, and the grace of God so “ prevent and follow” both, that he may not disgrace the matchless theme, but be enabled to speak of the divine Saviour as one who, although he has never learnt where the favoured son of Zebedee delighted to lay his head, has not been denied “ the crumbs which fall from the Master’s table.”

Upper Chelsea,

January, 1834.

Section I. Lecture I

Matthew i. 18.

“ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.'^

The “mystery of Christ’s holy incarnation.” The birth of the Lord Jesus Chns. The birth of the Saviour announced to the shepherds. The shepherds’ faith and the Shepherd’s bless^

ing 15

LECTURE IT.

“ When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb^

The circumcision of Jesus. Infant baptism. “ Thou shall call his name Jesus.” The presentation in the temple Address to Christian parents. Simeon and Anna. ... 26

LECTURE III.

“ And he went down with them, and came to subject unto them^

The visit of the Magi. The flight into Egypt, in the temple in the midst of the Doctors, parents. Parental discipline.

LECTURE. IV.

“ And when the tempier came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.'^

The baptism of our Lord. The first temptation.

1#

Nazareth, and was

The return. Christ Was subject to his 37

V

Vi

C O IV T E N T S .

LECTURE V.

“ Again the devil tnketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of the7n; and saith unto him, all these things will 1 give thee, if thou wilt fall down aiid worship me''

The second temptation. Faith and presumption. Encouragement. The third temptation. “All these things will I give thee.” 60

LECTURE VI.

“ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God ; thou art the King of Israel."

John the Baptist. His first testimony to Jesus. Calling of Andrew. Of Simon Peter. The future, in mercy, hidden from our eyes. Calling of Philip. Interview with Nathanael. Prejudice. 70

LECTURE VII.

“ And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee,"

The marriage at Cana. First miracle. Address to married persons. The wife’s obedience. The husband’s responsibility. . 81

Section II. ^lecture 1

John ii. 13 — 15.

'•^And the Jews' passover was at hand ; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting ; and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple."

The first Passover after the commencement of our Lord’s ministry. Jesus cleanses the temple. Zeal and discretion equally necessary in all reformation. 96

CONTENTS. vil

LECTURE II.

“ There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Jesus by night''*

The interview with Nicodemus. “ Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” No new doctrine. The Gospel, a “savour of life unto life, or of death unto death,” to all who hear it . 105

LECTURE III.

Jesus answered and said, unto her, If thou knewest the gif t of God, and who it is that sailh to thee, give me to drink, thou wouldesl have asked of him and he would have given thee living water."

Persecution. Jesus “ wearied with his journey.” “The gift of God.” Conversion of the Samaritan woman. . . 116

LECTURE IV.

“ Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way, thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way."

A prophet is not honoured in his own country. Jesus heals the nobleman’s son. Three striking examples of our Lord’s treatment of the ignorant, the sinning, and the suffering. Invitation to these three classes. 126

LECTURE V.

“ And, in the synagogue there teas a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying. Let us alone ; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth J art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art: the Holy One of God."

Our Lord resides in C ipernRum. Demoniacal possession. The unclean spirit bears testimony to Jesus. Our Lord heals Simon’s wife’s mother of a great fever. Address to convalescents. 138

CO:ST E NTS.

viii

LECTURE VI.

Mark ii. 5.

“ When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the Jialsy^ Son^ thy sins be forgiven theey

Jesus heals a leper. Heals the paralytic. Has power on earth to forgive sin. . . . . , . ' . . 147

LECTURE VII.

“ And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom ; and he said unto hi'm. Follow me. And he left all, rose up and followed him,"

The calling of St. Matthew. On conversion. Still a supernatural work — and a decisive work. ..... 158

Section III. Lecture I

“ Jesus saith unto him. Rise, take up thy bed, and walk,"

lesus goes up to Jerusalem to attend the second Passover during • his ministry. Pool of Bethesda. Jesus heals the impotent man. . 170

LECTURE II.

“ Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live,"

Our Lord taken before the Sanhedrim. Accused of Sabbath breaking. Answers the charge. Accused of making himself equal with God. Acknowledges this great truth, and establishes it. Proclaims the general judgment 180

CONTENTS.

\j

LECTURE III.

“ And it came to pass in those days that he went out mto a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples : and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.'*'

Our Lord continues “all night in prayer to God.” Chooses and ordains the twelve Apostles. The Christian’s duty of praying tor ministers. The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus entertained by Simon the Pharisee. A woman who was a sinner, anoints our Lord’s feet. Forgiveness of sin produces love to the Saviour. 191

LECTURE. IV.

Matthew xii. 81.

Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shfdl be forgiven unto men ; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men''

Our Lord cures the blind and dumb demoniac. Answers the charge of casting out devils through Beelzebub. “The sin against the Holy Ghost.” Its nature and prevention. Jesus begins to speak in parables. The storm on the Lake of Gennesaret. , 202

LECTURE V.

“A certain woman, when she heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole."

Christ visits the Gadarenes, and is urged to depart, Jairus beseeches our Lord to go and heal his daughter. The woman healed of an issue of blood. The Lord’s “ hidden ones.” “ Only believe.” Jesus raises Jairus’s daughter. . - . • 213

LECTURE VI.

“ All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that comelh to me I will in no wise cast out."

The third passover during our Lord’s ministry. The people follow Christ, “ because they did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” Jesus the true bread which came down from heaven. On feeding by faith upon the Son of God. “ All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me.” “ No m^m can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” . . . 225

Section IV. Lecture I

“ Then Jesus answered and said unto her^ O woman, great is

thy faith ; he it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter

was made whole from that very hour.'*'’

The third year of our Lord’s ministry. Jesus answers the Pharisees who asked why the disciples ate with unwashen hands. Visits the confines of Tyre and Sidon. Heals the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman. “ Great is thy faith.” Jesus feeds four thousand with seven loaves. 239

LECTURE TI.

John vii. 37.

*^In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.'*'*

Jesus goes towards Dalmanutha. Thence to Bethsaida, and through the villages of Cecsarca Philippi. Peter’s confession. The transfiguration. Jesus sends forth the seventy disciples. Goes up tc Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. Preaches in the temple “about the middle of the feast.” Preaches again on the “ great day of the feast.” 249

LECTURE III.

St. John xi. 43.

^And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.'*'*

The visit of our Lord Jesus Christ at the house of Lazarus. The sickness of Lazarus. His death. His resurrection. Beautiful application of our Church of the words of our Lord, “ I am the resurrection and the life.” 260

LECTURE IV.

Matthew xix. 16.

“ And, behold, one came and said unto him. Good Master, 7vhat good thing shall I do that 1 may have eternal life .^”

Tfie young ruler’s character. His inquiry. The reply of our Lord, and its effect. The striking analogy between this case and many in the present day. ..... 273

CONTENTS.

XI

LECTURE V.

Luke xix. 9.

“ And Jesus said unto him^ This day is salvation come to tins house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham,'^'*

The petition of Salome, James and John. “ Ye know not what ye ask.” Conversation of Zaccheas 287

LECTURE VI.

Mark xiv. 8.

“ She hath done what she couldy

Jesus in the house of Simon the leper. Mary’s offering*. Judas condemns Mary. Our Lord defends her. Are we doing what we can ? Our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Lamentation over the devoted city. .... 299

EXPOSITORY LECTURES.^

LECTURE I.

John xvii. 24.

“ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, he with me where I am, that they may behold my glory^

Object of these lectures. Our Lord Jesus Christ keeps the^assover for the last time. Prays for his disciples. That his heavenly Father may keep them, sanctify them, glorify them. Christ prays not for the world. Daily sanctification necessary to the believer 317

LECTURE II.

John xviii. 8.

“ Jesus answered, I have told you that 1 am he ; If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way."

Our Lord in the garden of Gethsemane. His apprehension. 325 LECTURE III.

John xviii. 19.

“ The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine,"

Our Lord Jesus Christ before Caiaphas. Again before Caiaphas and the assembled Sanhedrim 330

CONTENTS.

xii

LECTURE IV.

John xviii. 38.

Pilate saith unto him^ What is truth

Our Lord Jesus Christ before Pilate. Privately examined. Judicially examined. “ What is truth P’ . . . 334

LECTURE V.

John xix. 12.

“ And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him , but the Tews cried out^ sayings If thou let this man go, thou art not CcBsaPs friendy

The character of Pilate. Lessons to be drawn from Pilate’s conduct. “ Behold the man.” 339

LECTURE VI.

John xix. 17.

“ And he bearing his cross icent forthP

Our Lord Jesus Christ delivered to be crucified. “Bearing* his cross.” Crucified. Commends his mother to the care of the beloved apostle. “ It is finished.” .... 344

LECTURE VII.

John xix. 41, 42.

“ Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden . and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid, there laid they Jesus y

The soldiers break the legs of the malefactors. “ A bone of him hall not be broken.” “ One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side.” Sanctification and justification. Jesus in the sepulchre. 351

LECTURE VIII.

John xx. 13.

“ And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou ? She saith unto them. Because they have taken away my Lord, and 1 know not where they have laid himy

Visit of the women to the sepulchre. Appearance of oiir Lord to Mary Magdalene. The risen Saviour. . . . 350

OF

OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.