For these, or other reasons, the method here employed by Christ to signify his intended favour to the Gentiles, might be most proper. In the mean time, as I said, this intention was not wholly to be concealed: for then the call of the Gentiles might be deemed an afterthought, and not to have been originally in his commission. Accordingly, it is intimated very frequently in our Lord’s discourses to the Jews, and opened more clearly on many occasions to his Apostles; and was, in truth, so much in his view, and so constantly present to him, that, as we now find, it was one of the first, and last things he did, to go into the temple, and, by an expressive sign, to declare his gracious purpose towards the Heathen.
We may, further, observe (so intent was The Divine Providence on gradually unveiling the glory of this mystery[341], as St. Paul terms it) that the moment our blessed Lord expired on the cross, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom: a sign, to some purpose, of that great event which Jesus had foretold, and which God himself held forth to the astonished Jews, as the clearest emblem of his purposed favour to the Gentiles; when the Sanctuary itself, as well as the outermost court of their temple, was thus laid open to the access, and vindicated to the use, of all nations.
Finally, in due time, this purpose was clearly and explicitly made known to Peter, in his famous vision: and thus it pleased God to reveal this adorable mystery, “The salvation of the Gentile world,” (which, though not the immediate, was the most important end of Christ’s commission) by every mode of communication, which he had ever employed in his intercourse with mankind; by the word of prophecy—by similitudes, by the hand of Jesus—by an extraordinary sign from heaven—and by Vision.
After so minute a commentary on this famous act of Christ’s driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple, may I be permitted to conclude, that it, now, stands clear of those difficulties, which have been usually found it?—It was no indecent start of zeal in our Lord: it was no violent invasion of the rights of any: it was no act of civil authority, usurped by him: but a prophetic information, conveyed in a prophetic form, of an event, the most important to mankind, and to the accomplishment of his own office and ministry. It was a calm, rational, inoffensive act; not unworthy the person of our blessed Lord; or, rather, full of that wisdom, which adorned his character, and shone out in all his conduct and conversation.
THE END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME.
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FOOTNOTES:
[1] The substance of this Discourse was delivered in a Sermon at Lincoln’s-Inn, May 15, 1768.
[2] Annal. xii. c. 54. Hist. v. c. 9.
[3] Antiq. Jud. L. xx. c. 5.