Sermons of John Newton - M - Booklet Thirteen - PDF - 29. Gifts Received for the Rebellious and 30. The Publication of the Gospel

Extract

Sermons of John Newton – Booklet Thirteen

29. Gifts Received for the Rebellious and
30. The Publication of the Gospel

29. Gifts Received for the Rebellious “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them” Psalm 68:18. When Joseph exchanged a prison for the chief honour and government of Egypt, the advantage of his exaltation was felt by those who little deserved it (Genesis 45:4, 5). His brethren hated him, and had conspired to kill him. And though he was preserved from death, they were permitted to sell him for a bond-servant. He owed his servitude, imprisonment and sufferings to them; and they were afterwards indebted to him for their lives, subsistence, honour and comfort; God in a wonderful manner overruling their evil conduct, for future good to themselves. Thus Jesus was despised, rejected and sold; and He was actually slain. But He arose, and ascended. The man of sorrows took possession of the throne of glory, and not for Himself only. His honour is the source of happiness to those who were once His enemies, and rebellious against Him. For the sake of such He lived and died.

For their sakes He lives and reigns. He fought, conquered, and triumphed over their enemies. As their representative, He received gifts to bestow upon them. Such gifts as their necessities required, derived from the relation He was pleased to stand in to them, and from the value and dignity of His engagements on their behalf. Such gifts as He alone could communicate, and which alone could restore them to the favour of God, and revive His image in their hearts; so as to make it suitable to His holiness and truth, for the Lord God to return to His polluted temples, and to dwell in them, and among them.
I formerly observed [booklet 11 sermon 26 second paragraph] that this Psalm, and the twenty fourth, were probably composed and first published on the memorable occasion when David, having obtained the victory over his numerous enemies, and settled his …