Baptists -- Sermons; Sermons, English -- 19th century
One other blessed lesson of deep divinity is to be learnt from our
text: it is this--_since Jesus Christ did really fall into the ground
and die, we may expect much as the result of it_. "If it die, it
bringeth forth much fruit." Some have a little Christ, and they expect
to see little things come of him. I have met with good people who appear
to think that Jesus Christ died for the sound people who worship at Zoar
Chapel, and, perhaps, for a few more who go to Ebenezer in a neighboring
town, and they hope that one day a chosen few--a scanty company indeed
they are, and they do their best by mutual quarrelling to make them
fewer--will glorify God for the salvation of a very small remnant. I
will not blame these dear brethren, but I do wish that their hearts were
enlarged. We do not yet know all the fruit that is to come out of our
Lord Jesus. May there not come a day when the millions of London shall
worship God with one consent? I look for a day when the knowledge of the
glory of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, when
kings shall fall down before the Son of God, and all nations shall call
him blessed. "It is too much to expect," says one; "missions make very
slow progress." I know all that, but missions are not the seed: all that
we look for is to come out of that corn of wheat which fell into the
ground and died: this is to bring forth much fruit. When I think of my
Master's blessed person as perfect Son of God and Son of man; when I
think of the infinite glory which he laid aside, and of the unutterable
pangs he bore, I ask whether angels can compute the value of the
sacrifice he offered. God only knows the love of God that was manifested
in the death of his Son, and do you think that there will be all this
planning and working and sacrifice of infinite love, and then an
insignificant result? It is not like God that it should be so. The
travail of the Son of God shall not bring forth a scanty good. The
result shall be commensurate with the means, and the effect shall be
parallel with the cause. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
Hallelujah! Ay, as the groanings of the cross must have astounded
angels, so shall the results of the cross amaze the seraphim, and make
them admire the excess of glory which has arisen from the shameful death
of their Lord. O beloved, great things are to come out of our Jesus yet.
Courage, you that are dispirited. Be brave, you soldiers of the cross.
Victory awaits your banner. Wait patiently, work hopefully, suffer
joyfully, for the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among
the nations.
Thus have I spoken upon profound divinity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account