As to the first of those points, remember only how, from the very beginning, God had revealed Himself—­that men might know the One living and true God; and worship and serve Him alone with heart, soul, and strength.  This was the lesson of all lessons.  This was the mighty theme of all God’s teaching and training of His people, from Adam to Christ, by patriarchs, kings, and prophets; by national blessings and national judgments; by captivities and restorations.  On the other hand, the sin of all sins was idolatry; rot the bowing down to stocks or stones merely, but the giving, in any degree, that glory to another which belonged exclusively to the One living and true God.  Had not their whole history been determined by their adherence to God, or their falling away to idolatry?  Enter, then, into the Jewish mind with reference to this training, think how hallowed God’s name was above every other name—­how enshrined it was in the very holy of holies of the national faith, and how it had become so only after a discipline of much suffering, prolonged through many centuries, until at last idolatry had been banished on the return from Babylon;—­think! of this while you read those utterances I have quoted of a Jew to Jews.  Do you wonder that they called Him a blasphemer? for so, indeed, He certainly was unless He was Divine.

But could such a one have been a blasphemer?  Was it morally possible that He could have uttered what He did about Himself, unless it was true?  To establish His high claims, it might be sufficient to appeal to His miracles, and assert that no such works of power and love could have been done but by one who verily had God with him; as He himself said,—­“Believe me for the very works’ sake.  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.”  Or I might appeal to the witness God gave to His Son at His baptism, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and, above all, when He raised Him from the dead, and thereby declared “Him to be the Son of God with power.”  But, putting aside all this evidence, I ask you to contemplate the moral character of Jesus, and say, Is it not as impossible that such a person could have spoken untruly or blasphemously regarding God, as that God himself can be aught else than true and holy?  Do not let us evade this awful question of Christ’s character—­He was an impostor unless he was Divine!  Either Christ never uttered those things regarding Himself which are here recorded, and so the history which we have assumed as true is false in fact; or, having uttered them, He spoke falsehood, and was a blasphemer, or spoke the truth, and was Divine.  To deny the Divinity of His Person is to deny the truth of His character.