ent he gets from a few children, of
whom he is justified. I say, it concerns you greatly to observe this,--for
Christ observed it very narrowly,--what success both his forerunner and
himself had. Christ begins here to expostulate with the multitudes, and
with the scribes and Pharisees about it. But ere all be done he will
complain to the Father. He now complains unto you, that he gets not ready
acceptance amongst you, if it be possible that you may repent of the great
injury done to the Son of God, no not so much to Christ, as your own
souls, for "all who hate me love death, and he that sinneth against me
wrongeth his own soul," Prov. viii. 36. Wo unto your souls, for you have
not hurt Christ, by so much despising him. Ye have not prejudiced the
gospel, but ye have rewarded evil to yourselves, Isa. iii. 9. I say,
Christ now complains of you to yourselves, if so be you will bethink
yourselves in earnest, and return to yourselves, but if ye will not, he
will at length complain to the Father. When he renders up the kingdom, and
gives an account of his administration unto God, he will report what
entertainment ye gave his word. For he will say, "I have laboured in vain,
and spent my strength for nought with such a man. All threatenings, all
entreaties would not prevail with him to forsake his drunkenness, his
swearing, his covetousness, his oppressions," &c. You know Christ's last
long prayer, John xvii. He gives an account in it what acceptance he had
among men, when he is finishing his ministry. These are the men he now
speaks unto in the text, "Whereunto shall I liken this generation?" Thus
he speaks of them to his Father. "O righteous Father, the world hath not
known thee, but I have known thee." Well then, this is not so light a
matter as ye apprehend. Ye come to hear daily, but know ye not that ye
shall give an account of your hearing? Know ye not that there is one who
observes and marks all the impressions which the word makes on your
consciences? He knows all the blows of the sword of the word, that returns
making no impression on your consciences. Christ says to the multitudes
here, "And what went ye out for to see?" I pray you what went ye out to
see, seeing ye have not believed his report? Why went ye out unto the
wilderness? Know ye who spake, or in whose authority? May we not speak in
these terms unto you, when we consider the little fruit of the gospel?
What do you come to see, and what do ye come to hear every S