Luke 10:23-24 And he turned him to his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see:… It is a common, but very just observation, that we are seldom duly sensible of the value of our blessings till we are deprived of them. This remark is applicable to our case, under the Christian dispensation. How few persons bless God that they dwell in the "days of the Son of Man"! The way to know how much we are distinguished, is, carefully to compare our situation with that of our fellow-creatures. I. Let us survey the state of the HEATHEN WORLD. Place yourself, for a moment, amongst them, and consider what would then be your situation with respect to knowledge and virtue. 1. As to knowledge — everything among the heathens was obscure and uncertain. 2. In the heathen world also vice dreadfully prevailed. And what authority was there to check its prevalence? What principles strong enough to enable men to resist it? Their worship was base and degrading, offered in general to idols representing beings who were described as the patrons of corruption. II. But let us turn our eyes from the state of the heathens, to the fairer view of those who were in some measure enlightened by Divine knowledge. To speak first of the PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION — One great instance of its inferiority was its want of clear and sufficient authority. Probably the laws and observances enjoined by it were first communicated by God to Adam, and transmitted by him to his children. Now it is easy to see that such a religion would become more and more obscure, imperfect, and corrupt in every succeeding generation. Many things would be forgotten, many misunderstood, many improperly added. On the Mosaic DISPENSATION we now proceed to offer a few remarks. It may be considered as having been inferior to the Christian in the following particulars. 1. It was chiefly composed of types and shadows, of forms and ceremonies. 2. The Jewish dispensation abounded with severe and burdensome impositions. 3. The Mosaic dispensation is inferior to the Christian, inasmuch as the latter is founded upon better promises — better, as being of a more sublime and excellent nature, as being promises of spiritual and eternal things; such as grace, pardon, peace, and eternal life. 4. Another remarkable circumstance, in which the superiority of our dispensation consists, is, the larger and more abundant communication of the Holy Spirit. 5. Further: The Christian dispensation excels the Mosaic in the manner of its establishment. 6. The Christian dispensation is superior to the Jewish, in respect to the spirit of its institution. The spirit of the gospel is a spirit of liberty. (John Venn, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: |
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