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the judgment day； to Epicureans and Stoics；these are facts which we
have recorded fully in his address on Mars' Hill。
But is there nothing more than this to be learnt about the Apostle's
dealings with the idolatrous city？ Is there nothing more distinctive
and peculiar to Christianity which St。 Paul brought forward at Athens？
There is indeed more。 There is a sentence in the 18th verse of the
chapter we are looking at； which ought to be written in letters of
gold；a sentence which ought to silence for ever the impudent
assertion； which some have dared to make； that the great Apostle of the
Gentiles was sometimes content to be a mere teacher of deism or natural
theology！ We are told in the 18th verse that one thing which arrested
the attention of the Athenians was the fact； that St。 Paul 〃preached
Jesus and the resurrection。〃
Jesus and the resurrection！ What a mine of matter that sentence
contained！ What a plete summary of the Christian faith might be
drawn from those words！ That they are only meant to be a summary； I
have no doubt。 I pity those who would cramp and pare down their
meaning； and interpret them as nothing more than Christ's prophetical
office and example。 I think it incredible that the very Apostle who a
few days after went to Corinth； 〃determined to know nothing but Christ
crucified；〃 or the doctrine of the cross； would keep back the cross
from Athenian ears。 I believe that 〃Jesus and the resurrection〃 is a
sentence which stands for the whole gospel。 The Founder's name； and one
of the foundation facts of the gospel； stand before us for the whole of
Christianity。
What； then； does this sentence mean？ What are we to understand St。 Paul
preached？
（a） St。 Paul at Athens preached the person of the Lord Jesus；His
divinity； His incarnation； His mission into the world to save sinners；
His life； and death； and ascension up to heaven； His character； His
teaching； His amazing love to the souls of men。
（b） St。 Paul at Athens preached the work of the Lord Jesus；…His
sacrifice upon the cross； His vicarious satisfaction for sin； His
substitution as the just for the unjust； the full redemption He has
procured for all； and specially effected for all who believe； the
plete victory He has obtained for lost man over sin； death； and
hell。
（c） St。 Paul at Athens preached the offices of the Lord Jesus； has the
one Mediator between God and all mankind； as the great Physician for
all sin…sick souls； as the Rest…giver and Peace…maker for all
heavy…laden hearts； as the Friend of the friendless； the High Priest
and Advocate of all who mit their souls into His hands； the
Ransom…payer of captives； the Light and Guide of all wandering from
God。
（d） St。 Paul at Athens preached the terms which the Lord Jesus had
manded His servants to proclaim to all the world；His readiness and
willingness to receive at once the chief of sinners； His ability to
save to the uttermost all who e unto God by Him； the full； present；
and immediate forgiveness which He offers to all who believe； the
plete cleansing in His blood from all manner of sin； faith； or
simple trust of heart； the one thing required of all who feel their
sins and desire to be saved； entire justification without works； or
doing； or deeds of law for all who believe。
（e） Last； but not least； St。 Paul preached at Athens the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus。 He preached it as the miraculous fact on which Jesus
Himself staked the whole credibility of His mission； and as a fact
proved by such abounding evidence that no caviller at miracles has ever
yet honestly dared to meetsHe preached it as a fact； which was the
very top…stone of the whole work of redemption； proving that what
Christ undertook He fully acplished； that the ransom was accepted；
the atonement pleted； and the prison doors thrown open for ever。He
preached it as a fact； proving beyond doubt the possibility and
certainty of our own resurrection in the flesh； and settling for ever
the great question； 〃Can God raise the dead？〃
These things and many like them； I cannot doubt； St。 Paul preached at
Athens。 I cannot for one moment suppose that he taught one thing at one
place and one at another。 The Holy Ghost supplies the substance of his
preaching in that rich sentence； 〃Jesus and the resurrection。〃 The same
Holy Ghost has told us fully how he handled these subjects at Antioch
in Pisidia； at Philippi； at Corinth； and Ephesus。 The Acts and the
Epistles speak out on this point with no uncertain sound。 I believe
that 〃Jesus and the resurrection〃 means；Jesus and the redemption He
effected by His death and rising from the grave； His atoning blood； His
cross； His substitution； His mediation； His triumphant entrance into
heaven； and the consequent full and plete salvation of all sinners
who believe in Him。 This is the doctrine St。 Paul preached。 This is the
work St。 Paul did when he was at Athens。
Now； have we nothing to learn from these doings of the great Apostle of
the Gentiles？ There are lessons of deep importance to which I venture
briefly to invite the attention of all who read this paper。 I say
briefly。 I only throw them out； as seeds for private thought。
（a） Learn； for one thing； a doctrinal lesson from St。 Paul's doings at
Athens。 The grand subject of our teaching； in every place； ought to be
Jesus Christ。 However learned or however unlearned； however high…born
or however humble our audience； Christ
crucifiedChristChristChristcrucified； rising； interceding；
redeeming； pardoning； receiving； savingChrist must be the grand theme
of our teaching。 We shall never mend this gospel。 We shall never find
any other subject which will do so much good。 We must sow as St。 Paul
sowed； if we would reap as St。 Paul reaped。
（b） Learn； for another thing； a practical lesson from St。 Paul's doings
at Athens。 We must never be afraid to stand alone and be solitary
witnesses for Christ； if need be； alone in a vast ungodly parish； in
our own land；…alone in East London； in Liverpool； in Manchester；alone
in Delhi； or Benares； or Pekin；it matters not。 We need not hold our
peace； if God's truth be on our side。 One Paul at Athens； one
Athanasius against the world； one Wycliffe against a host of Romish
prelates； one Luther at Worms； these； these； are lighthouses before our
eyes。 God sees not as man sees。 We must not stand still to count heads
and number the people。 One man； with Christ in his heart and the Bible
in his hands； is stronger than a myriad of idolaters。
（c） Learn for another thing； the importance； let me rather say the
necessity； of asserting boldly the supernatural element as an essential
part of the Christian religion。 I need not tell many who read these
pages that unbelievers and sceptics abound in these days； who make a
dead set at the miracles of the Bible； and are incessantly trying to
throw them overboard as useless lumber； or to prove by ingenious
explanations that they are fables and no miracles at all： Let us never
be afraid to resist such teaching steadily； and to take our stand by
the side of St。 Paul。 Like him； let us point to the resurrection of
Christ； and confidently challenge all fair and reasonable men to refute
the evidence by which it is supported。 The enemies of supernatural
religion have never refuted that evidence； and they never will。 If
Christ was not raised from the dead； the conduct and teaching of the
Apostles after He left the world is an unsolved problem and a perfect
mystery； which no man in his senses can account for。 But if； as we
believe； the resurrection of Christ is an undeniable fact which cannot
be disproved； the whole fabric of sceptical arguments against
supernatural religion is undermined； and must fall to the ground。 The
stupendous miracle of the resurrection of Christ once admitted； it is
sheer nonsense to tell us that any other smaller miracle in the Bible
is incredible or impossible。
（d）：Learn； for one thing more； a lesson of encouragement to faith from
St。 Paul's doings at Athens。 If we preach the gospel； we may preach
with perfect confidence that it will do good。 That solitary Jew of
Tarsus who stood up alone on Mars' Hill appeared at the time to do
little or nothing。 He passed on his way； and seemed to have made a
failure。 The Stoics and Epicureans probably laughed and sneered as if
the day was their own。 But that solitary Jew was lighting a candle that
has never since been put out。 The Word that he proclaimed in Athens
grew and multiplied； and became a great tree。 That little leaven
ultimately leavened the whole of Greece。 The gospel that Paul preached
triumphed over idolatry。 The empty Parthenon stands； to this day； a
proof that Athenian theology is dead and gone。 Yes； if we sow good
seed； we may sow it in tears； but we shall yet 〃e again with joy；
bringing our sheaves