Sermons on the Gospels for the Sundays and Principal Festivals of the Church-Year Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. Matt. 11, 2-10. 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? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew 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. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they 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? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, 1 say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee. N this gospel there are two points demanding our notice; first, that John sends his disciples out of prison unto Christ, to hear Him and see His miracles, and receive Him as the true Messiah or Christ. This should encourage us also willingly to hear the words of our dear Lord Jesus, and to regard it as the greatest treasure, in which indeed is our salvation. The other point is, that our Savior not only so highly praises John the Baptist, as a pattern for the preachers, since he so faithfully performed the duties of his office that, even when he was in prison and could not any more preach himself, he sent his disciples to Christ, but also rebukes the unbelief of the Jews, because they so lightly esteemed this preacher, and paid no heed to his...