ity. The Jews scattered amongst that people, required a sign from heaven to introduce a Messiah who should erect a temporal kingdom, and make them victorious over their enemies; whilst the Greeks, who were the body of the inhabitants, sought for the display of human wisdom and philosophy, the ornaments of eloquence, and the charms of address. To the first, therefore, the preaching of the Cross was an offence and stumbling-block; to the second it appeared as foolishness. But still the Apostle was not ashamed of his cause, because he knew that to them who were called, both Jews and Greeks, it would appear to be, what it really was, a stupendous exhibition of the power of God and of the wisdom of God.

It will be my endeavour from this text to show, that the Crucifixion of Christ is that mystery of religion in which God mainly displays his POWER and his WISDOM, notwithstanding the weakness and folly which men erroneously connect with this event.

I. THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THAT MYSTERY OF RELIGION IN WHICH GOD MAINLY DISPLAYS

HIS POWER.

I acknowledge indeed, that to the eye of human reason the crucifixion of Christ appears TO BE AN EVIDENCE OF WEAKNESS. I concede this. with the Apostle. It is, so to speak, the

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weakness of God. The divine power is hidden. Many circumstances connected with the appearance of Christ upon earth, were marked by a character of feebleness. He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Especially, his last agony and death were ignominious and mysterious. What power was manifested in the painful and accursed death of the cross? What against the successful accusations of the Jews? What amidst the dying sorrows of the Saviour? What in the crucifixion between two thieves, in the taunts and reproaches of the Jews, and in the confusion and dismay of his few trembling disciples ? Is this the Messiah of whom the Prophets spoke? This the Saviour of mankind? This the consolation of Israel? Can we wonder that the Jew, filled with the prejudices of his nation, and estimating the credentials of a Messiah from a false view of the predictions of glory and triumph which were to attend him, stumbled and was offended at the mystery of the crucifixion ?

And though the external offence of the Cross has in a great measure ceased among Christians, yet, what may be termed, The doctrine of the Cross, the doctrine which establishes the crucifixion as the only means of pardon, peace, and holiness, in opposition to the works of the law, still appears weak and inefficient to the eye of worldly persons. What, they ask, is there to

reform and justify and sanctify men in this mysterious truth? Why should this be mainly insisted upon? Is not such preaching a feeble and doubtful means of bringing men to religion and the true obedience of God? May not the doctrine be considered as sufficiently implied, though it is not continually insisted on? and are not moral duties, in fact, the only intelligible and efficacious topic of popular instruction? Thus the cross of Christ is still a stumbling-block to the self-righteous. They still shrink from fully admitting salvation to be of grace. They still consider the laboured details of ethics to be the most promising method of advancing piety. It is still to them a weak and dangerous scheme to preach nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

But in this mystery there is in truth THE GREATEST DISPLAY OF THE POWER OF GOD.

This will appear if we consider THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRUCIFIXION ITSELF. It is weak indeed if you view it only in its external appearances; but not so, if you recollect the moral greatness of the sufferer, who predicted every part of his passion, and yet endured it with perfect willingness; nay, displayed under it all the graces of meekness, resignation, patience, tenderness to his parent, and forgiveness of his enemies-not so, if you call to mind the convulsion of all nature at his death, the preternatural

darkness, the rending of the rocks, the earthquake, and the opening graves-not so, if you remember that in the very midst of his agony, the Redeemer pardoned a dying malefactor; and as he yielded up the ghost compelled the Roman centurion to exclaim, Truly this was the Son of God. If you weigh these extraordinary events, you will begin to perceive the power of the Cross.

But this will be more evident if you consider the END for which his sufferings were endured, an end foretold by all the Prophets since the world began, the redemption of mankind by his offering of himself a sacrifice for sin, the just for the unjust to bring us to God. This stupendous design of mercy changes at once our estimate of the whole scene, and leads us to view the crucifixion itself as an illustrious display of divine power. Even on the cross our Saviour really travelled in the greatness of his strength. And this fully ap→ peared in HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE GRAVE. Then was our Lord raised by the glory of the Father: then was he declared the Son of God with power: then did he arise as a triumphant conqueror over death and hell; and the glories of the resurrection reflected a glory on the

cross.

But THE POWER WITH WHICH THE APOSTLES WERE ENDUED BY THE HOLY GHOST, again, demonstrates this, They were illiterate and

simple men; but a divine power fitted them for the high office of preaching the cross of Christ, bestowed on them the miraculous gift of tongues and a supernatural courage, and carried them through all their dangers in testifying the death and resurrection of their Master to a sinful world. Here we perceive the display of the power of God.

But we shall behold it still more clearly if we consider THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN THE WORLD. In this the excellency of the power appeared to be of God and not of men. The doctrine was contrary to the commonly received notions of mankind. It opposed all their passions and prejudices. It demanded the renunciation of established customs and habits. It exposed its followers to privations and difficulties. It was preached by men unknown to fame, and in a manner the most artless and unassuming. And yet it spread most rapidly over the whole known world, and established itself on the ruins of Pagan and Jewish superstition. It thus appeared to be the rod of God's strength, the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. "I see the Apostles go forth. Do they bring with them, as worldly conquerors, numerous cohorts? Do we see in their hands a glittering sword? Do they employ with ostentation the insinuating arts of the orator? No. What then are their arms? The Cross. They set forth, they arrive, they appear, they triumph.