Sermons

THE CONTEMPORARY PULPIT LIBRARY
by the late right rev. J. B. LIGHTFOOT, D.D., D.C.L., Lord Bishop of Durham.
NEW YORK: THOMAS WHITTAKER, 2 AND 3, BIBLE HOUSE. 1890.
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Sermons by the late RIGHT REV. J. B. LIGHTFOOT, D.D., D.C.L., Lord Bishop of Durham.
Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. —Gen. xxviii. 16.
An unobtrusive, unimpressive scene, almost indistinguishable, even to the curious eye of the archæologist, in the maze of undistinguished hills which encompass it —with nothing to attract the eye, and nothing to fire the imagination; large slabs of bare rock traversed by a well-worn thoroughfare; no religio loci, no awful shades, no lofty hills. So is the site of Bethel described by the modern traveller. Yet this was none other than the House of God; this was the very gate of heaven.
An unimpressive scene in itself, but appearing still more commonplace, when contrasted with the famous shrines of heathendom—the rock fortress of the Athene, or the pleasant groves of Daphne, or the cloven peak of Parnassus, or the sea-girt sanctuary of Delos. No beauty, no grandeur, nothing of loveliness and nothing of awe, nothing exceptional of any kind which can explain or justify its selection. Was there not ground for the wanderer's surprise on that memorable night? Why should this one spot be chosen to plant the foot of the ladder which connected heaven and earth? Why in this bleak wilderness? Why amidst these bare rocks? Why here of all places in the world? Yes, why here?
The paradox of Bethel is the paradox of the Gospel—is the paradox of God's spiritual dispensations at all times. The Incarnation itself was the supreme manifestation of this paradox. The building up of the Church was the proper sequel to the Incarnation.
Look at the accompaniments of the Incarnation. Could any environment of circumstances well have been imagined more incongruous, more alien to this unique event in human history, this supreme revelation of God's wisdom, and power, and beneficence? An obscure corner of the Roman world—an insignificant and down-trodden race, scorned and hated by the rest of mankind—an ox-stall for a nursery, and a carpenter's shop for a school—what is wanting to complete the paradox? Yes, there is still one feature to be added to the picture—the crowning incongruity of all—the felon's death on the cross. Said not the prophet rightly, when he foretold that there should be nothing lovely in His life and circumstances, as men count loveliness; no form or comeliness; no beauty that we should desire him ?