Lecture XII: Capernaum
in you, had been done and Sidon, they would have long ago in sackcloth and awes. But I say unto you. It shall bei tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than, for jot. And thou, Oapemaum which art exalted unto hven, shalt bebrofly down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this dvf. Bvl I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.** — Matt. xL 20-24.
On the north-west border of the Lake of Galilee, there is s beautiful little plain, which was called in ancient timet the land of Gennesaret.” It is in the shape of a cresoeot and is about four miles in length, and two in breadth at its broadest part. It has two fine streams, which rush down from the mountains; and it has besides two large fountainSi so that it is well watered and very fertile. On that little plain stood long ago the three cities of Chorasnn, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. At the northern comer, almost at the sesi there is a fine fountain, and beside it a heap of ruins hslf buried by the reeds and thorny bushes that spread over them. This is believed to mark the site of Capemann. Of the other two not a yestige remains, and no man can tell in what part of the plain they stood* And yet it was there in that little plain that Jesus did most of his mightf works. But the woe which he pronounced over tnem has &Uen witYi sVknt W. It is more tolerable for Tyxe bh Vsi said a; and Capernaum, long exalted to heaven, has been bromght down to hell. Tell me, brethren, is there no voice of warning rises from these blasted ruins addressed to this favoured land? Is there no warning here for jou and me? You, too, have been favoured like Capernaum, and if jou do not repent, you will be brought down to hell.
I. Capernaum was exalted to heaven.
The reason why Capernaum is said to have been exalted to heaven, was because of Christ’s preaching, and performing so many of his miracles there. When the people of Nazareth rejected him, and wanted to oast him over a precipice, “he came and dwelt in Capernaum.” Whenever he came to Galilee, he seems to have dwelt in Capernaum. It was his home more than any town on earth, so that it ih frequently called ‘^ his own city.” — Matt. ix. 1. He seems to have loved that spot more than other places. (1.) Here he performed most of his miracles. He healed the cen«^ tmion’s servant here. — Matt. viii. 5. Here he raised up laims’ daughter, and cured the woman of the issue of Uood. Here they brought their sick friends, and laid them iown at his feet, and he healed them all. (2.) Jesus jnreached here. He spoke the most of his parables here. rhe parable of the sower, and those that follow, were npoken in the hearing of the people of Capernaum. (8.) He prayed here, — Mark i, 35. So that it was a glorious opportunity to be saved. It was a day of salvation. It was Eui effectual door. The gate of heaveti was, as it were, diiown open there* The Son of God, and the Saviour of the irorld, was living among them — healing and preaching among them. (4>.) Because the Holy Spirit descended here. The Holy Spirit is the author of conversion in the soul, and without his work even the preaching of Christ does not convert Bools. Now we know that the preaching of Christ in Galilee was not in vain. Though many were not converted, yet some were. Where did the centurion get that great faith which made Jesus marvel? Where did the woman, who came at last to Christ, get grace to leave all other physicians? Doubtiess there were many drops of the Spirit given around that silent lake. Although the Spirit was not fully given, because Christ was not yet glorified, yet drops of the Spirit were given, upon the credit of his laying doYrii h% Vsi ransoni, Many a time when Jesus rose a great ^wV!Le^1oi ‘af, tmd vrent up into some of the deep lavVn^ o
502 LVCTURB Xlf.
monntaiitt around, he obtained sbowen of the Spirit, which came down at evening as he taught the people out of the boat on the lake* I believe there are many in heaven tbit were born again during these sermons, under the open canopy of heaven, beside the Lake of Galilee. It wa» this that exalted Capernaum to heaven — the presence of the Saviour, and the falling of the Spirit.
Scotland, in like manner, has been exalted to heaven.
1. By the preaching of the Gospel. We have not had the personal presence oi Christ, like Capernaum, but we have had the same message which he carried. Faithful ministers come from Christ. They are his gift. Thej are sent by him. Wherever they go, they go in his name; so that Christ may be said to dwell where they dwelL Never, since 1560, has Scotland wanted faithful pastors. There yrere nearly a hundred years of spiritual death, but even then there were here and there a believing remnant I suppose this town has never since then wanted some fiiithful pastors, even in its worst times. Dundee has been exalted to heaven. When Christ went to Sychar, he stayed only two days among them; and yet many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him. These were two days of merciful visitation. Jesus spent but a single day in the coasts of Syrophenicia, and yet that was the birth-day of the Syio-Shenician woman’s soul. You have had a thousand sach ays of mercy, yet how few of you have improved them! If you take up a map of the world, it is wonderful to maA how few spots have a preached Gospel. Almost all Asoa is sunk under the wicked delusions of Mahomet, or under the idolatries of Paganism. Africa is given over to Mahomet and witchcraft. South America to idolatry and Popery. Europe is, for the most part, covered with the thick daricness of Popery. Oh! what grace is it to pass over the fairest provinces of the world, and come to this bleak island, with an open Bible, a quiet Sabbath, and a preached Gospel! My friends, you will never know till eternity the greatness of the mercy of having a regularly preached Gospel. It is the gate of heaven thrown open.
2. By the pouring otU of the Spirit, We have had more of the Uoly Spirit poured out than ever Capernaum. had. I do not know that any country in the world has been visited in this vray b& ^icAllacsid has been. The first remarkable time in. ^coVXasi n^-^ ^torai X^’^ti Rfc-^’^^^>s«a. for five years theie -waa an oco^tAsstw ^W^eoc^ec^s
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Scotland* Under the ministry of David Dickson at Irvine and Stewarton, hundreds were brought to Christ; and under John Livingston, at Kirk of Shotts, five hundred in one day. The second time of love was exactly a hundred years ag0|» in 1742, when the windows of. heaven were opened over Kilsyth and Cambuslang, and about twenty or thirty other parts of Scotland shared in the blessing. The third time of love in Scotland was from 1798 to 1 800, when the parish of Moulin and some neighbouring parishes were visited in a remarkable manner. The kut 18 in our own day, beginning in 1839* when God opened. the windows of heaven and poured down a blessing, till there was no room to receive it This congregation has been exalted to heaven. You have had such an oppor* tunity of being saved as you may never have again. Christ has done mighty works in the midst of you. £very sinner converted is a greater miracle than all external miracles put together.
3. By the Spirit bein poured on your heart. No doubt this was the case with many in Capernaum. The Holy Spirit strove with them; but they vexed him, so that he was tamed to be their enemy, and fought against them. This has been the case with some of you. The Spirit has Ibeen poured on you, convincing you of sin — making you lie. in the djpt because of sin — giving you glances of desire after Christ. Ah! this is an amazing opportunity for being saved. If ever any man was at heaven’s gates, it is that man with whom the Spirit has been striving.
IL Capemcwm repented no- — Verse 20.
It would be interesting to know, the secret history of the people of Capernaum. When Christ came among them, they were “a people that sat in darkness — in the region ana shadow of death.” A few were taken out of them — jewels for the Redeemer’s crown; but the most repented
not.
1. 8(nM fiOOzUd not go to hear. Their neighbours told them that a great prophet had come to dwell in their town — that he spoke as never man spake — that gracious words proceeded out of his mouth — that he spoke with majesty, and heavenly power, and holy love — that he healed all that came. They heard of the centurion s servant being healed, of Jairus’ daughter being raised, and the nobleman’s son. llie whole town rang again. Their neighboxis waJA^“^’^* you not go and hear him? Hiey made light of it, and went their ways — one to his iarm, another to his merchandise. “I naTe bought fire yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.” And so they repented not In darkness he foond them-’^-4n darknesi he left them.
2. SwM foent for a while. They wondered when ihej saw his miracles. They followed him from place to place. They sat down on the grass to eat the bread he gave. They stood on the shore and listened to his preaching, and for a while they seemed taken with it. But when he pressed them that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood — a personal closing with Christ — they said, “This is a hard saying, who can bear it?” They went back, and walked no more with Jesus. They repented not.
3. Siyme followed him all the time. They would not miss a sermon by the lake for all the world. They ran on foot round the lake when he sailed to the other aide. They Mood breathless to hear; and yet they lived in some damning sin. They were hearers of the Word — not doers. Th repented not. So it is in this place. If Christ were now where I am, he would upbraid this nation, because it has repented not. Instead of repenting, our nation is evidently,
Jike Capernaum, becoming more dark and vricked.
But with regard to this place, (1.) How mtiny wHl net ccAne to hear but live on in their unrepented sins! Although God has opened his house of mercy here — althoii|^ the door is Open — notwithstanding all that €fod has done in this place — notwithstanding all the souls that have been saved — notwithstanding sJl the mighty works Jesus has done, multitudes have never come. They repent not The taverns are as many as ever — these dens of iniquity are not diminished — the number of brawlers on the Saturday night and Sabbath is not smaller. If Jesus were here, he would upbraid you. (2.) iShme have come and gone away offended. Many came for a while, but when pressed to close with Jesus, were oflRended. It seems as if ministers must not speak e truth now-a-days, hut mince their words, and make them sweet and sugary, that sinners may swallow them without offending their palate. IVe must not call black, black, and bitter, bitter, or some will be offended. All this shows that you have not repented. (3.) Somie have done many ihinge but. still have not repented. Some follow from sermon to sermon, and like
Ab multitades that stood by the lake, drink in the word needilj. You have wondered at Christ’s mighty works; hut still you have not left your sin — your idol — your unlawfid attachment. You are still a covetous man and an id<dater, who shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You repent not.
III. Gapemaum teas brought down to hell.
The inhabitants of these cities have long since passed away, and now the woe of Christ has taken hold of them* You must either have Christ’s blessing or his woe. These cities were to sink lower than other cities — Slower than Tyre and Sidon — lower than Sodom.
The whole Bible shows that there will be degrees of (Buffering in hell. Some will suffer more, some less, and yet all eternally. Just as there are degrees of blessedness in heaven; some being scarcely saved — some having an abundant entrance- — others having an exceeding weight of eternal glory; one having authority over five cities, another over ten cities — -all vessels being full of glory and joy, but some being more capacious. So in hell, there will be degrees of agony. ^’ He that knew his Lord’s will, and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did it not, shall be beaten with few stripes.’^ Those who have sinned against Gospel light shall receive greater damnation. The people of Capernaum went £ai deeper into the lake than the people of Tyre and Sidon and Sodom. “It shall be mere tolerable.” The hell of these people will be infinitely dreadful, but it will be more tolerable than yours.
I. According to justice. It is to satisfy justice that there is a hell at all: “Because the righteous Lord loveth righteousness.” If it be just that there be a hell, then justice demands that those who have sinned against greater light, should have a deeper place. So that as surely as Gospel sinners go to hell, so surely will they go to thq deepest place of all. 2. According to trzUh. God says it will be so; therefore it must be so. Some people please themselves with the fancy that there is no hell — that God is too kind and merciful. But is he a true God? If he be a true God, then there is a hell, and the deepest part is for Gospel sinners. 3. In the nature of things. One of the bitterest parts of a sinner« eternity will be meniory. As it will increase the joy of God s people when they sing the song of Moses, so it will increase the misery of tht damned, when they remember all God s kindness and their own sin. And, oh I what kind of memory will you hare who hare lired on under this ministry miconverted and unsaved? Oh! if you could pluck memory from its seat. OhI if you could blot out the memory of these quiet Sabbaths. Alas! it may not be. ^’ It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you* And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which haye been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would hare remained until this day.”