That people had many peculiar advantages for knowing Christ, and many special evidences of his truth.  “To them were committed the oracles of God.”  They had the prophets who testified of Christ.  To them did he appeal, and by them call on the Jews to try his claims to the Messiasship—­“Search the scriptures; they are they which testify of me.”  That people also witnessed his miracles, “which were such as no man could do except God were with him.”  They witnessed the wonders which attended his birth—­those which attended, and followed his death—­many of that nation, who had seen his crucifixion, and the soldier’s spear pierce his heart while he hung on the cross, saw him alive after his passion; and a sufficient number, mostly, if not wholly Jews, witnessed his ascension.  Yet as a people they rejected him, and continued in unbelief!  Not only denied him before Pilate, but notwithstanding the teaching and miracles of the apostles, persevered in their denial of him, and perished in it!  This was foretold.  Christ warned them of the event of their infidelity—­“If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall perish in your sins.”  But they would not hear.

By the Gentiles the gospel was more kindly received.  Though devoid of that knowledge of God and true religion which might have prepared them for the reception of it, when they witnessed the mighty works, wrought by those who preached it, they believed.  Miracles are appeals to the senses of mankind.  And when those who had worshipped dumb idols, beheld the wonders wrought by the ministers of Christ, they perceived that they were sent of God, and became obedient to the faith.  Then did “many come from the east and west, and set down in the kingdom of God; while the children of the kingdom were call out.”  Christianity spread abroad.  “The heathen were given to the Son for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession.”  For several ages, most who were educated in Christian lands, and blessed with revelation, professed to believe the gospel.  But in later ages there hath been a falling away, agreeably to the predictions which went before, and many deny the truth of the gospel, and reject it as fabulous.

II.  Christ may be denied in works.  He is so by some who in words confess him.

Those who enroll themselves among Christ’s disciples, thereby engage to be his followers.  This is enjoined and made a term of acceptance.  “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me—­whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

To follow Christ is to cultivate his temper, and tread in his steps.  “Christ was meek and lowly in heart.”  He did God’s commandments.  It was “his meat to do the will of him that sent him.”  Those who are his disciples have learnt of him.  The same mind is in them, which is in him.  When this divine temper is wrought into the soul, it appears in the life.  Those who have his spirit, walk as he walked.