A sermon on Acts xxviii, 22 showing, that the Christian religion is not a…A sermon on Acts xxviii, 22 shewing, that the Christian religion is not a…

1. Jesus Christ, the Author of our Religion, is every where spoken against. When the First-begotten was brought into the World, old Simeon, among other great things, pronounced this concerning him, that he was a sign which should be spoken against, and by that means was set for the fall of many, Luke 2.34. when he was here upon Earth he was spoken against. The Stone, ¹which was designed to be the Head of the Corner, was rejected, and set at naught by the Builders. It was not the least of his Sufferings in the days of his flesh, that he endured the contradiction of Sinners against himself, Heb. 12.3. They spoke against his Person as mean and contemptible,² and one that had no form, nor comeliness: They spoke against his Preaching as false and deceiving, John 7.12. as factious and seditious, Luke 23.2. as senseless and ridiculous, for the Pharisees derided him for it, Luke 16.14. They spake against his Miracles as done in Confederacy with Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils, Mat. 12.24. They spoke against his Morals, charging him with Blasphemy against God, Profanation of the Sabbath-day; and all the instances of Debauchery which were ⟨p. 12⟩usually met with in a Gluttonous Man, a Winebibber, and a Friend of Publicans and Sinners, Mat. 11.19. They spoke against his Followers as a company of ignorant despicable People, John 7.48.49. When he was in his Sufferings, pass through all the steps and stages of them, and you will find him every where spoken against, They reproached him in all his Offices, In his Office of Teaching, when they challenged him to tell who smote him: In his Office of Saving, when they challenged him to save himself as he had saved others. In his Office of Ruling, when they challenged him to prove himself the King of the Jews by coming down from the Cross. The common People spoke against him,