23 OCTOBER (PREACHED 1770)
A right knowledge of sin
‘And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.’ Luke 9:35
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Revelation 5:1–14
On the knowledge of this character of Christ depends the right knowledge of the sinfulness of sin. Conceive of him for a moment as he stood transfigured in glory upon the mount and attested by a voice from heaven. And then follow him in your thoughts to those sufferings which he soon after endured. Think of him in his agony in the garden—see him the sport of servants and soldiers, see him buffeted and spit upon and at last hanging upon the cross, surrounded with his enemies who mocked his torments. Would any of you, being evil, treat a son, a beloved son, in this manner, or permit him to be so treated, if it was in your power to prevent it? And can you think that the great God would deliver up his only Son, who had always pleased him, to endure such things without an important reason? O sin, how exceeding sinful, when viewed in this light. He had, of his enormous love, given his Son to stand for sinners, and when sin was found charged upon him, though he was the beloved Son, he was not spared. Here let me drop a word:
(i) to you who go on in your sins. If God spared not his own Son, can you presume that he will spare you?
(ii) to you that are seeking to establish your own righteousness. Are you prepared to meet this holy God, who dealt thus with his own Son? Will you reject this atonement to trust to the work of your own hands?
(iii) to believers. You know there is much evil in your natures and many temptations and snares in the world. See here your best preservative against sin. The Lord help you the next time you are in danger, to remember what your sins cost Jesus. Sure, if this had not been out of your thoughts, you would not have given way in one or another instance, the remembrance of which now fills you with shame.
FOR MEDITATION: Yes, my soul, for thee, wretched sinner, a vile miserable apostate, did this wonderful Saviour leave the fullness of all glory and happiness to redeem thee from destruction, and took upon him the form of a servant, that thou mightest receive the adoption of a son.
Diary, Sunday 1 July 1752
SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 9 [3/4]
Milo 