s light, and two, the greatest persons in the Old Testament, came
out of heaven, as it were, to yield up the administration of shadows to
his substance. And we saw the heaven opening in the sight of many
thousands, and heard a testimony given him from heaven, "This is my
beloved Son, hear him." And then, when he was buried, and our hope with
him, we saw him risen again, and our hope did rise with him, and then some
of us handled his sides to get full persuasion, and all of us ate and
drank, and conversed with him forty days. And to make a period, at length
we saw him ascending up to heaven, and a cloud receiving him as a chariot,
to take him out of our sight. Thus, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, as of the only begotten Son of God."

But besides that which the life and death of Jesus Christ carries engraven
in it of divinity, there is one miracle, which may be said to transcend
all that ever was done, and it is one continued wonder since his
resurrection, even the virtue and power of that crucified Saviour to
conquer the world, by such unsuitable, yea, contrary means and
instruments. Heathenish religion was spread indeed universally through the
world, but that was not one religion, but one name. For as many nations,
as many fancied gods, and in one nation many. And true it is that
Mahometanism hath spread itself far. But by what means? Only by the power
of the sword, and the terror of an empire.(232) But here is a doctrine
contrary to all the received customs and inbred opinions of men, without
any such means prevailing throughout the world. Cyrus,(233) when he was
about to conquer neighbouring nations, gave out a proclamation, "If any
will follow me, if he be a foot man, I will make him an horse-man, if he
have a village, I will give him a city, if a city, I will bestow on him a
country;" &c. Now mark how contrary the proceeding of our Lord is . "Go
and preach, (saith he) repent ye, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Here
is his proclamation, "Repent ye." And, "If any man will be my disciple,
let him take up his cross and follow me, and deny himself." What
disproportioned means! And yet how infinitely greater success! Cyrus could
not gain the Lacedemonians to his side for all that, but Christ, though
poor, despised, and contemptible while alive, and at length thought to be
quite vanquished by the most shameful death, when he is lifted up upon the
cross to the view and reproach o