Second part of Sermon III. for the Third Sunday in Advent.
1 Cor. iv. 1-5. St. Matt. xi. 2-10.
But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works
which
the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do,
bear witness of Me that the FATHER hath sent Me.
—ST. JOHN.
v. 36.
(for the first part, on the Epistle.)
...Let us then next consider the Gospel for to-day. Now when John
had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
and said unto Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?
There is no intimation given us in the Gospels whether the Baptist
himself had any doubts or not, and therefore it may be well that we should
leave the question undecided as Scripture has left it. It is indeed possible
that it might have been as it was with St. Peter and the disciples after
having confessed Christ to be the Son of God, having heard His discourses
and seen His miracles, and been constantly with Him for three years, yet
in the hour of trial did their faith waver, and they began to sink in the
deep waters; so John the Baptist, although he had borne witness to Christ,
yet when in prison and about to die, and having not seen, but only beard
of His works by uncertain rumours, he might have had some misgivings and
doubts. But it is far more probable, as the Church has always supposed,
as it were with one consent, (Note: With the exception of
Tertullian alone among ancient writers. See Tertull., Ox. Tran., note,
p. 267.) that there was no doubt or wavering in John the Baptist,
but that he wished by these inquiries to have his disciples instructed
by seeing and hearing our Lord Himself; and that as he was now in prison,
and soon to be taken from them, they might thus become the disciples of
Christ. As St. Paul "became weak that he might gain the weak," so the holy
Baptist appears as if he himself were doubting in order that he might confirm
the faith of others. He could no longer point out the Lamb of God to them
as he had done, nor rejoice in hearing His voice; but those who were most
attached to him, and who were ready to do anything for his sake, he could
thus induce to hear the Bridegroom's voice, that hearing they might know,
and with their own eyes behold Him Who was "fairer than the children of
men," and Whose lips were "full of grace."
They came and beheld His wonderful works, the manifestation of God--for
many miracles were wrought at the same hour--and thus their inquiry was,
as it were, already answered before they had spoken. Jesus answered
and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear
and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have
the Gospel preached to them. These were many and great "works which
none other man did," and such emanations of Godhead that to disbelieve
them were "sin." (St. John xv. 24.) Moreover, these miracles were
precisely the fulfilment of those things which the Prophet Isaiah had said
the Messiah should perform; and it might be understood that He wished to
point out to them that He was Himself "He that should come," as bearing
the tokens which the Prophet described. But it is much more than this;
a good man has a deep sense of the power and of the goodness of God; he
is taught this by the Spirit, by the Father in Heaven; and all these things
were therefore to a good man the sure evidences of God. For what power,
what goodness could be greater than these ? And not only this, but at all
times after their degree, works of this kind, of humility and compassion,
are the fruits of the Spirit; they can only be learned at the fountain-head
of all Love and Goodness, from God Himself. They constrain, they draw,
they allure others to the love of the Faith, they open their hearts and
ears to hear what God would teach them. These works of our Blessed Lord
contain the manifestation of God to His sinful creatures; they show us
what God is; that "God is love," else we could not approach Him; and if
there is anything left in the corrupt heart of man capable of amendment
they must reach it. Not in the whirlwind, not in the earthquake, not in
the fire, but in the still small voice of human condescensions, of God
made Man, whispering to the secret spirit of forgiveness and peace. To
see God in Jesus Christ, and not to love Him, this itself is condemnation.
And yet what is the evil which Satan works in the heart of fallen man but
this, that the very sight of Divine goodness is an offence to him? Therefore,
to this very description of His works our Lord adds that very mysterious
and remarkable expression, And blessed is he whosoever shall not be
offended in Me. Offended in Thee! O gracious Lord, what words are these?
Offended in Thee, because Thou givest sight to the blind! Offended in Thee,
because Thou raisest the dead ! Offended in Thee, because Thou givest the
treasures of Heaven to the poor! Yet so it was, when He gave sight to the
man born blind, they said, "He hath a devil ;" (St. John x. 20.) when He
raised Lazarus from the dead, the Pharisees, on hearing of it, immediately
held a council to slay Him. (St. John xi. 47.) Because He blessed and received
the poor, they derided Him. But wisdom is justified of her own children;
they see and acknowledge His goodness; they are not offended, not made
to fall, but raised and lifted up from the ground, and strengthened in
straight paths by beholding Him. These are "not offended," and, therefore,
they are "blessed."
And thus as they were won over to Christ by the manifestation of His
works, so is it now with the Spirit in His kingdom; His power is known
by His fruits in good men, tokens of Him "Who alone worketh great marvels;"
the lives of holy, self-denying Ministers preach more powerfully than their
words; nay, give power to all their words and ministrations; by their fruits
they are known; their light cannot be hid; whether they will or no, but
still more strongly if they will it not, their life shines; and thus wherever
the Word is sown in this bad world it multiplies.
But, again, there is another point to be considered in the Gospel for
to-day. Those whom Christ hath sent to prepare the way for His coming "receive
not honour from men;" their faith may be doubted of men; they may leave
their very name under a cloud; but Christ at His coming shall confess their
name before men; shall bear witness to them as they have confessed His
name, and borne witness to Him among men. And so was it now with His first
messenger and herald, the holy Baptist.
And as they--the messengers of John--departed, Jesus began
to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness
to see? a reed shaken with the wind? John the Baptist was much revered
by the multitude; and no doubt the coming of these two disciples from him
in prison arrested very deep and solemn attention; and now, when they had
departed, we may suppose there was a thoughtful pause and some anxious
doubts in those around respecting the meaning of this his inquiry. Our
Lord, therefore, seems to say, John came not down among you as I have done,
amidst the habitations and the habits of men, but you went forth unto him
in the wilderness; and with your own eyes you saw him, and can bear testimony
to his character. He was not like the reed shaken by every wind, you well
know; but was one most steadfast-a burning and a shining light, whose constant
flame wavered not. His sanctity and his constancy you doubt not. I appeal
not only to My own works, but to his testimony also, that I am He Who was
to come from God.
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?
Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. That
is, you were drawn to him in the wilderness--and thither went forth to
see him--from the report of the great strictness and severity of his life
; and you saw him, one like the prophets of old, but surpassing all of
them, clothed with nothing but a rough garment of camels' hair, and in
every way suitable to that place in which he appeared, "a voice in the
wilderness," very unlike the softness and luxury of a king's court. Though
he did no miracle, yet his holy life and his words proved to you, and ye
doubted not, that he was a Prophet come from God. He bare witness; to his
testimony I appeal.
But what went ye out for to see ? it was no ordinary sight--a
prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For the prophets
only saw afar off, but he close at hand; he not only foretold His coming,
but attended on the very Presence of the King, and was beyond all the prophets
well worthy to do so; he was not only himself a prophet, but the subject
of prophecy, one of 'whom the prophets themselves wrote. For this is he
of whom it is written in the Prophet Malachi, at the very close of the
Old Testament, which seemed to die away with the prophecy of his coming
on its tongue. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger
before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee. Here is our
Lord's testimony to His own faithful messenger. He was then the "faithful
and wise steward" whom the Lord found watching and waiting for Him at His
coming.
To conclude: what was done in the Old Testament by single persons as
setting forth that Holy One 'Which was to come from God, is since Christ's
coming shown in many. The one king, as David, one prophet from time to
time prepared the way; but now many messengers are gone forth to speak
of Christ's coming-of His coming not alone, as before, but with ten thousands
of His Saints. The little one hath become a thousand now in the many heralds
of His approach. They go forth as a great cloud of witnesses. And oh, that
Christ might at His coming bear witness Himself to their faithfulness,
as He did before to His steadfast messenger, that they might in like manner
confess Him and He might confess them. But ah, my brethren, what a heavy
burden is this! to prepare the way for His coming Whose manifestation will
be as fire. Who is sufficient for such a weight--so momentous a charge?
who will not sink under it at last? John was greater than all the prophets;
but our Lord has said that the least in His kingdom, i. e. in His Church,
is greater than he,--greater because he is made a member of Christ and
a child of God. How great, therefore, must be the charge of those who are
shepherds of that flock which He prizes so dear, the least of which are
to Him as the apple of His eye! how great the responsibility of those who
dispense His mysteries, and prepare all men to meet Him in the terrible
Judgment!
But Priests and people are bound up in one lot; they both must fall
or stand together: neither can judge or accuse the other, for both partake
of each other's sins. If the Priests are evil and careless, it is because
the people pray not for them; if the people fall away, it is because the
Priests have not prayed and watched for them.
Hence there is great consolation in speaking on this subject of the
awful terrors of the Priests' responsibility on this Sunday, because in
this week the people are in an especial manner called upon to pray for
them. The Collect for this week is altogether a prayer for them: the Ember
Days of this week are set apart on purpose to fast and pray for them. The
awful sound of the Advent trumpet calls on all men to pray for them; for
if others cannot stand in that judgment, how shall they who have so much
more to account for? The love and mercies of Christmastime tenderly appeal
to all men to pray for their Pastors.
We complain of the want of Bishops and Clergy; we complain of their
great feebleness, and, of what is worse; we complain of the crippled condition
of the Church; of thousands and of tens of thousands daily perishing for
lack of knowledge and from the deficiencies of Pastoral energy and care;
but they who thus complain do not consider how much of all this remains
at their own door; for no doubt the real cause which lies at the bottom
of all this is that the people do not pray; do not pray as they are required
to do for their own Pastor, and for their own Bishop, and for the Church
generally, that the Ministers and Stewards of Christ's mysteries may prepare
the way before Him. For how did our Lord Himself meet this great want when
He was moved with compassion at the sight? His words were, "Pray ye the
Lord of the Harvest." He knew of no other way but this neither shall we
find it.
