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Much indeed has been written on the subject of the Lord's Supper, from which the followers of Jesus may derive great spiritual good. Still the desirableness of a Compendium, condensed yet sufficiently full, seems to exist. To what extent the author of the following work has been successful in supplyii.g what he believes lacking, he does not venture even to suppose. The conviction of its being required, led him, some years ago, to attempt to supply it. In dv>ing so, he has kept in view the importance of compre- hensiveness and conciseness. Circumstances have prevented him from submitting it to the Christian public till now. As it is only the devout Communicant that can be accept- able to the Master of the sacred festival, the writer has sin- cerely sought to cherish in the reader a devotional spirit. IV A clear, brief, and scriptural digest of the truths most im- portant to be known, is offered in the following pages, with expository and hortatory remarks. This is associated with a series of Meditations or Discourses, based on the narrative of the Gospels. Each chapter is preceded and closed with a Prayer con- ducive to the profit of Christian Communicants. A chapter is added, treating of the institution, subjects, and mode of Baptism. f G. M. Fbroi'8, C. W., March !), 1864. )8t im- 8, with with a rrative CONTENTS. r con- bjects, H. I. C\UB Our Lord's dwlre for the last I'Msovor.— ImproiHive manifl>st«tion of His human nature.— How our nature longs for danger or encounter when luch must be met before highly-prized enjoyment can bo realized.— TIih ft»lly experienced by "the Son of Man. "-The Institution of the Lord's Supper.— Tho time of It affecting.— The loving command to celebrate It.— The example of Israel in applying tho blood of tho raschal lamb to each dwelling.— The kind feelings with which the I'aw.sover was wont to be observed, suggestive of the lovo that should characterize our Communion. —The transition from the Tassover to tho Christian Ibstival » II. The death of Jesus.— The accompli.shmcnt of which tho Passover had typi- fied.— The doctrine of propitiation embodied in a new and nobler ordi nance.— Nature of a Sacrament.- Nccoaaity of •'sensible signs."— .ludas not present at the first celebration of the Supper.— Probably the Master of the fea«t waited for his absence, In order to bej of woe.— The lessons taught by the subject. ... Si VIII. Jesus bound.— When taken to Annas, He was sent by him to Caiaphas, the acting high priest, in whose palace the Sanhedrim were convened.— They were determined to put Jesus to de-'h by false witne.sses.- Seldom want- ing those who, for an adequate br vill perjure themselves.— The num- ber of witnesses the smallest that vvas legal.— Impossibility of obtaining adequate evidence against Jesus.- The unjust and illegal method had re- course t», to Induce self-crimination.— Our Lord avowed that God was His Father, which the Sanhedrim understood to be making Himself equal with God.— The insults offered Him.— His condemnation.— The reply of Christ to the high priest.-l'etor's denial of Christ.-His restoration 100 IX. The probably brief adjournment of the Council after finding Jesus guilty of blasphemy.— The meeting at night probably illegal.— Hence the necessity of the convention in the morning. —Resolved upon the death of J«us,then took Him in fetters to Pilot for civil condemnation.— The terrible end of Judas.-The chief priests by implication admit the innocence of Christ in allowing that he had been condemned in consequence of a bribe.— Their punctiliousness.- Pilate's demeanour to Jesus.- His conviction of the per- fect innocence of the acouscd.-His sending Him toHerod.-Herod's deal- . ing with Him.— Pilate's wife.— His vain device of washing his hands to excuse himself while allowing Jesus to be condemned .-The imprecations of the raultitude.-Unhappincss of having wicked guides.-Inlinite impor- • tance of a full surrender of the soul to Christ 120 X. Pilate's acquaintance with the liistory of our Lord.- With a view to save the life of tlio prisoner, he proposed and administered corporal scourging.— In response to the brutal cry of "crucify him," Jnsus was handed over to tho soldiery.- The cohort present uncommonly ruthless, and they exhaust- ed their cruelty upon the sufferer.-Pilate's five or seven efforts to have the life of Jesus spared.-His finally acceding to the wishes of Christ's onemies.-This was done on the day of" the preparation of the Passover." —Execution immediately after condemnation.— Golgoth«.-The death of the cros-i.^Simon of Cyrene.— Ko fumalc among the persecutors and mur- derers of Christ.— The address of Jesus to the kind " daughters of Jeru- «alem."-He declined to drink the benevolent potion offered Him.-How VUl much had been crowded into a few houre.-The prayer of Jmus for His ene- inies.— Pilate's inscription on the top of the eross.-The division of the raiment of *«u8.— The spectators of the tragedy and their demeanour.— The supernatural darltness, and the end it served.— Forsaken of God.— The peace that possessed Messiah's soul ero He died 137 XI. Attendant miraclos.-The vail of the temple rent.-Thc termination of the Mosaic dlsponsation.-The time admiraole.— The ninth hour, when our Lord dismissed His Spirit.-The opening of the graves.-The saved male- faotor.-The Centurion and soldiers, the women and others.-Tho honour done to women by the Evangelists.-The Jewish law requiring that dead bodies should not remain after night.-The Governor readily acceding, the bodies of the condemned are removed speedily, it being the second Aa.y after "the feast," and given to their friends.-A friend, Joseph of Arimathea, asks and receives the body of Jesus.-Nioodemus associated with him.-Lesson to us from their fidelity and love.-Joseph's new tomb. -The flineral procession.-The predicted risuig again as it told upon friends and foes 15& XII. The reeurrection of Jpsus.-The earthquake.-The angels.-The Roman guard -The chief priosts.-Mary Magdalene.-Visit of Peter and John to the empty tomb.-Appearing of Christ to Mary Magdalene.-First meeUng with the other woraen.-The two disciples going to Emmaus.-Christ's manifestation to Peter and to the other diseiples.-The absence of Thomas -He did not dare to be absent " eight days after."-The fishing party at the lake of Galilee.-Jesus seen of five hundred brethren at once in Ga- lUee.-Other interviews with disciples.-The ascension from the Mount of Olives 176 XIII. Bestoration of the lapsed ones.-Chrisfs mediatorial sway.-The influence of redemption probably not limited to this worid.-We know of no order of intelligent creatures that have not been affected by sin.-Angels as woU as men may be interested.-Our Lord's commission to disciples to baptize.- Headship of Christ.-Subjccts at. l mode of baptism .-The gracious promise. 199 Paok brHisene* lion of the Doanour— God.-The 18T I '4 INSTITUTION OP TUB Ion of the when our ived male- he honour that dead acoeding, he second Joseph of associated icw tomb, on friends 16& an guard, in to the meeting —Christ's ' Thomas, r party at ice in Ga- Uount of 176 luence of I order of IS wcUas aptize.— promise. SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. OUR Lord 8 dos.ro for the last I'assovor.-lmpressivc manifestation of His human i>ature.-Howour nature longs for dangor or encounter when such musTbe met hetore highly prized enjoyment can be realized.-This f>Mly expcr M.^ed by ''The Son of Man."-ihe institution of the Lord's Supper.-TlKf time of tV^^^^^^ J he lovng command to celebrate it.-The example of Israd in applyingre bioo"^ of the Paschal hunb to each dwelling.-The kind teelings with w^^ficMhe i^assZl was wont e be observed, suggestive of the love that should charac h 1 ou^Com munion.-The transition from the Passover to the Christian U.UyT PKAYER. Almighty and most merciful Father, we desire to worshin Ihee m spirit and m truth Thou art the God of salvation^ Gn^ us to know Thee as the God of our salvation. Blessed TW^i^'T^^^^'' ^''* ""^'^^"^ T^y^^lf i» Christ Jesus. Snii r if""?' ^' "'* ^;i^^8 that any should perish, but tl^ Th'^^^ *"'•" .":?^ ^^^^' ^"•^ ^^^«- Thou hast " se S- wZ ^'ir.^ted ()ne, to be « a propitiation through faith m his blood' for the sins of every contrite sinner. In the spirit of godly contrition would we now draw nigh unto I to'dZ/'fr^'",! ^"'^V^^^l suppHcating grace to%nabIe tW..^/ /'"""u" '"'^H'*^' ^^ ^^^ ^ Jesus alone as the ground of our hope and confidence before Thee. mav we be accepted in the Beloved ; and may the Spirit of the Th'^ea'tn is hot " "' ^' "'' '' '^^^"'"^ ^^^^^^ rne^^Z^T^^'^^^t^^^^^ - ^^ true souls. Bless, for this purpose, our reading and remembrance 10 of the truths to which we are about to direct our attention ► May the solemn subject of Thy death, as commemorated in the Holy Communion, in our consideration of it, prove salu- tary and sanctifying to our souls. May the blissful operations of thy Spirit be largely experienced by us. May this little book which we are about to read be rendered conducive to our edification. May it instrumentally aid us in examining ourselves, and so eating of that bread and drinking of that cup. by which are represented thy broken body and shed blood, in a manner well pleasing in Thy sight. Prepare us, good Lord, so that j\ir sacramental communion may be with the Father, and with the King of Zion. May Thy banner of love overspread us. And now, Lord, what wait we for? Our hope is in Thee. Deal bountifully with us. May we be increasingly devout, humbled, and advanced in all goodness. Fill us with peace and joy in believing. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, shall be all the praise, world without end. Amen. "With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer, for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."* Such was the solemnizing assurance of the blessed Redeemer to his disciples, when seated at the last Paschal supper. With most earnest and intensely longing desire, had He anticipated and waited for this august occasion. The Passover had now fulfilled the purpose of its institution. This was its last, — its final celebration. _ The true lamb, " the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world," was about to be actually slain. The conclusive observance of the typical ordinance was to be also rendered transitionary, — ushering in a new and more exalted ordinance, commemorative of the comple- tion of that transcendantly glorious event to which the ante- cedent solemnity had pointed. A' i •Luke 22: 15, 16 i 11 r attention » smorated in prove salu- operations y this little mducive to examining ng of that and shed Prepare us, lay be with ^ banner of hope is in icreasingly ^ill us with e Son, and thout end. I' with you J more eat ,"* Such deemer to er. With mticipated T had now 3 last, — its God that 36 actually ordinance ; in a new le comple- 1 the ante- " With r^esire," said the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, •' have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." There is something most attractive and impressive m this manifestation of the holy human nature of the man Christ Jesus. It furnishes one of the many evi- dences presented to us in His life of the truth of the inspired statement:— "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."* Nothing can be more natural than to wish for the accomplish- ment of any perilous or painful undertaking. The objec fc which we have long sought to attain, for which many an anxious si-^h has been breathed, and many an arduous effort expended, be- comes more and more interesting and inviting as we approximate to its achievement. The result which can only be arrived at after much pain-staking, patient and persevering toil, is souf^ht tor with incalculably greater eagerness and ardour, in pro- portion as the expectant comes nearer the looked-for reahty. And if, immediately before conclusive victory, there should interpose some dread obstruction or enemy, more alarming than any with which we have hitherto contended, upon that chiefly will the mind rest, thither it will constantly desire to arrive, in order that it may be encountered and overcome. The traveller who has undertaken a hazardous and protracted journey, that he may behold and embrace those who are dearest on earth to him, feels a deepening solicitude as he draws nigh the place of their habitation. He may have to pass some dangerous strait, some boisterous channel, some rocky shore with its reefs and its breakers, ere his eye can rest upon the loved locaUty, and the aspiration of his heart can be gratified. How frequently and how intensely will the thoughts pass on to the day of his arrival there ! What a glow of satisfaction overspreads his cheek ! how the eye brightens with hope, and the whole soul thrills with delight, ♦Hebrews 2: 17, 12 when the scenery is being nearcd, or is beheld even in the distance ! True, he knows the danger to which ho is now to be exposed ; but he knows, too, that until that danger is met, his hopes cannot be fulfilled. Hence his irresistible craving to witness the terrible sight. For beyond that stormy sea and that threatening coast, lies the spot where already he is in affection and imagination. Thus, with irre- pressible emotion, does he welcome, that he may triumph over the remaining obstacle. These well-known workings and associations of human nature may aid us in understanding and appreciating the feelings of" the man of sorrow," as he uttered the words, " With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you, before I suffer." He had never for a moment lost sight of what he had undertaken,— the bringing of many sons and daugh- ters unto glory, from among the ruined and hell-deserving children of men. In achieving such a beatific issue, the glory of the Father would be evidenced. From childhood he had ceaselessly gone about this, his Father's business. He could now say : " Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world : thine they were, and thou gavest them me ; and they have kept thy word."* But He who was made " sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," knew that "it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."! And now the terrific night had arrived, to be followed by its still more terrible day, when the Substi- tute of sinners must endure what the justice of a holy God demanded for sin. Thus it was written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to enter into his glory. For this hour had "the Son of man" waited, with intense interest and anxiety. The time had come to which Jesus had all aloag 1 7 I •John 17: 6, 6. t Hebrews 2 : 10. even in the is now to i danger is irresistible eyond that i spot where 1, with irre- • ■ ly triumph i 1 1 of human ciating the the words, r with you, ght of what md daugh- 1-deserving !, the glory ?od he had He could ; own self world was. bou gavest ivest them 3 who was hteousness om are all many sons m perfect -d arrived, he Substi- holy God it behoved this hour lerest and all aloag 13 looked forward— that time so emphatically awful ! And what was then transpiring ? With Divine prescience, " the Lamb of God " clearly perceived the penalty which he must pay iu Gethsemane's garden and on Calvary's cross, for transgres- sion. His agony and bloody sweat; the conflict to be^sus- tamed when assailed by men and devils, with ra-^e and malignity unparalleled ; the hiding of his Father's counte- nance—nay, the being " forsaken" for a season by God,m$ God ;— all this, with all that it implies, were perspicuously present to the view of the holy Sufferer. What now, then was his language? what the emotion of his snirit ?' We' know that in the garden of his agony " he fell on his face and prayed saying, my Father, if it be possible let tais cup pass from me : nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And again, « my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done." But does not all this most afiectingly shew us two things -—First that as a partaker of human nature, our Redeemer was ter- rified at the unutterable prospect now before him, and so would be shielded from it, if the grand purpose of His coming to the world could be adequately effected without his drink- ing to the dregs this bitter cup; and, secondly, that his resolution was immovable, to accomplish that end for which he had been manifested in the flesh ? "Now," He exclaims " IS my soul troubled ; and what shall I say ? Father save me from this hour : but for this cause came I unto this hour. What then was the feeling that predominated in the breast of Him who had engaged to become our Substitute and Sm-off-ering ? _ Was it that of regret at having placed Himself in the position that now drew upon Him such suffer- mg { Verily, no. Doubtless had he desired or sou-ht deUv- erance, all His prayer would have been granted by his leather. But it was not so with Him who had enga<4d to pay the ransom price of our redemption. For how then°could the Scriptures have been fulfilled, and the gracious purposes ot the God, whose love is from everlasting to everlastine have been implemented ? Listen to the accents of fervenJ affection and profound solemnity that flow from his lips 14 They may almost be said to imply the sensation of joyfulness. " With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the khigdora of God." Such were the yearnings of " Christ our Passover," when about to be " sacrificed for us." " Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God and went to God," faltered not as the last trial approached. When the cUmax of woe, flowing from the righteous curse of a righteous God upon man's accursed transgression, presented itself to his contemplation, and beg. a to take possession . of his soul, "the Son of Man" instinctively shrunk. He had not been, verily, of " the seed of Abraham," had it been otherwise. But he was too well aware of the requisition of the holy law and justice of God, and he was too cordially intent upon finishing the work given Him to do, to seek a release or deliverance. When humanity, therefore, would shrink, He recalls to mind his gracious determination in undertaking to become the Saviour of the guilty, — " but for this cause came I unto this hour." Awful hour of most dread and dark suffering 1 Oh, how unparal- leled ! What endurings did not our Surety experience, as "the propitiation for our sins ! " Yet, though " it pleased the Lord to bruise him," and put him to grief, there was the most marked and admirable harmony subsisting between the Father and the Son. Observe that sensible interposition manifested on the part of Jehovah, Avhen the celestial mes- senger IS sent as a token of love and omnipotence from the throne of the Eternal, in the very midst of weakness and prostration: "And there appeared an angel unto him, strengthening him."* Thus reanimated and nerved anew, we behold Him rising from the cold earth, and, after havmg provided for the safety of his disciples, deliver himself up to the ruffian band who were charged by impious authority with his apprehension. •Luke 22 : 43, jl» lo if Joy fulness, v^er with you my more eat d." over," when ing that the that he was ; as the last ing from the 's accursed )lation, and ti of Man " f " the seed ^vas too well ice of God, work given ti humanity, lis gracious iour of the r." Awful •w unparal- )eriencc, as ' it pleased ;re was the etween the iterposition lestial mes- e from the ikness and unto him, ved anew, ■ter having iself up to lority with It was on " the same night in which lie was betrayed" that the Great Head of the Church instituted the sacrament of the Supper. IIow affecting the time ! Jesus had a vivid anticipa- tion of the terrific assaultof all his enemies, lie knew tha^ earth and hell were combined agahist Ilira. He was perfectly aware that even God, his Father, would pour out the vials of his Divine wrath upon Him, as bearing the sins of a guilty and ruined world. Yes, the heathen were to rage, and tlie people imagine a vain thing ; the kings of the earth would set them- selves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed ; even the chosen and genuine dis- ciples who had hitherto, in the face of all opposition, adhered to their beloved Master, would now, this night, prove cow- ardly and backsliding, — one of them, as if he were of the same spirit with the traitor Judas, denying that he knew the man, and rU of them, Avithout exception, forsaking him and fleeing; the hosts of apostate angels, with their mighty and malignant leader at their head, would, with all their combined mahce, ^jower and ingenuity, make a most desperate onslaught upon " the seed of the woman." The serpent Avould take care to bruise his heel, as He would bruise the serpent's head. Nor was this all. ' The hiding of his Father's counte- nance, — the being " forsaken " by Him, was now at hand. And yet, with the solemn consciousness that all this was even now at the door, He who loved his own from everlasting to everlasting, could, with all earnestness, truth and affection, say "on the same night,"—" With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer." Surely the circumstances, and the time of its institution, invest the ordinance of the Lord's Supper with especial interest, solemnity, and importance. He whose love we commemorate addresses every genuine disciple, — " this do in remembrance of me." Let the believer devoutly ponder the blissfulness of this Sacrament. " The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true."* Experi- ReT. 19: 10. John 3: 33. 16 the truth of the msp.re.l soer's beautiful prediction,-- And a m^n shall be as an hidin. place from theVind, and a cover from the ompest ; as rivers of water in a dry place as the shadow of a great rock in a woary land." -K him that hath shall be g ven." To everv nn>. fl,«f „«« • t ^ "the hrpn.1 nf Kpl " • ^^^7, "'*^* receives Jesus as the bread ot hfe, is provided "a feast of fat thincs " Whoever has accepted of the " living water " which Immanuel supplies, 18 invited to participate o? the " wine and milk " purchased by the incarnate Son of God. 1,1 in the om munion of His body and blood, not a few of h L members' have reahzod the closest, sweetest, holiest nearness^o Him vouchsafed to them upon earth. Oh how elevating y^t humbling! how exhihrating, yet profoundly solemn is it^o be able by faith to say : '• Ho brought me to the bam uet n^ house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me wUh flagons, comfor me with citrons : for I am sick oHo^e. lUs MUiand IS under my head, and his right hand doth embrace It was upon the occasion of celebrating the passover with sitr' Th J wZ f ";' r'*'"*i- *^^ sacLroft oupper. ihe Jewish festival, according to Divine annoinf ment, was annually held to keep up the remembrance Tthe oving-kmdness of the Lord to Israel. When he was abo„f to effect the deliverance of His peoole from T?! .• bondage, with a mighty hand, and anTutrethed a^'A"? cameto pass that at midnight the Lord smote all he firsl born m the land of Egypt, from the first-born of P la aoh thaV fiat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive Sat wa, in the dungeon; and all the first-born of catti .t On The "duS '\ntf ' family had been ii! the let^ Jehovah TtvTf ^t 1 ''^'^P^^ '''^^ *h« ^•'^ndate of flT J • 'i u ""^^^ ^'f P^'"^*^ through Egypt the blood of the slam lamb was struck on the two iide posts and on fl?. upper door-posts of every dwelling of Si! Had a^^ Isaiah 32: 2. t Solomon's Song, 2 : 4. t Exodus 12; 29. ;lit to know n,— '« Ami 1(1 a covert ace, as the him that ;s Jesus as t things." Immanuel md milk " 1 the com- mcmbers is to Him, iting, yet n, is it to antjueting me with ove. His I embrace over with (nt of the ! appoint- ee of the ^as about Egyptian arm, " it the first- raoh that that was On the ;he least idate of blood of 1 on the 'ad any 12: 29. I 17 disregarded or neglected the awful behest respoctii)g the blood of the lamb, the first-born of such household would have perished ; and such contempt would have deserved tiie righteous retribution. The iinpietv of the omissioTi, and its presumption, would liave raeritod and drawn down the ven- geance of an angry God. lint none incurred the terrific penalty,— all comi)lied witli the torms of safety. How salutary and impressive is the example of Israel on that portentous night ! It was the blood actually sprinkled that constituted the Divinely-apiminted symbol of preservation And what else than the blood of Jesus, approprir.ted by faitli on the part of the sinner, doth God require to ensure the salvation of the soul 'i As on the night of the passover it was the blood of the lamb undoubtedly sprinkled that saved the dwellers m Goshen, so now it is the contact of the blood Jesus, " our Passover," with the sinful soul of the trem- bhng believer, that infallibly saves the soul. " I can easily conceive,'; says a distinguished writer," the mingled feeling and emotions of Israel that night. 1 can conceive thai knowing the judgment, and having adopted the defence, some doubted that evening if even the Idood would shield them, and as they doubted, tlieir dread of the approachinsr night became more terrible ; but I can conceive that there ming ed with that dread the recollection that tlie God of Israel had ever been true to his promise, and the hope that He would even then be their refuge: and when mornin- dawned, the safety that they tasted awoke songs of 'rratitude and joy, such as had never been heard in Egypt before It seems to me that we have an instructive lesson in all this If Christ be our Passover, a Christian's safety is not shaken by the fears, the doubts, the dismay that he sometimes feels, ihe tears of the inhabitant Avithin did not make the an-^el cross the blood-besprinkled threshold and smite him. Tlie satety of the Israelite rested not upon the strength of his taith nor upon the intensity of his peace, but upon the naked lact that the blood was sprinkled on the threshold. So it is, blessed be God, with us. Wlien you begin to fear that you will not he saved, your salvation is not shaken in the least 18 degree hy that. When you hegin to bo acitate.l nernlovn.l ami alanne, you dishonour Go^hand in,^,r?yot ^^£00 •' o:::c:^^^:::ss^i-^!^^'-p'«^ct,thKs:^ n the recurrence of the ,.assover,-the most IS. • the three great estivals of the cliosen people. A™in t fefea of weeks an,l the feast of tabernacl -a, so in ^. s a iale who possibly could, were enjoined to 'go up to Je Lalem from all parts of the land. The sacrificial lau bs were ffS at the temple by the priests. And in every house ffmiTv domestic assemblage, there was a feast upo^ t i s'acrS' Of an unblemished lamb, slain and roaster, all present mr' took, with the appropriate accompaniments. Amo,: ^tl ^ vast multitudes that resorted to the city of / on'stoTemnitie Climated. Every house was m a measure open to stranc^ers- W "iroldT/lf"^' '^"'^^^ '' the\sametimi;;i"; x-drtnc. ijie old and the voun" were r>ro«ionf fi,«. . • ux^ Jght, mollified by common friends in the ran'^e of the r kindred ; and as they looked upon the lamb, an f par tookTf It alike, they became imbued with its sprit as well as nourished by its substance."! ^ ' ^^ peSsImnt^f rl^'Vr- i-"*'"" ^^*«'' ^"^^''^^"^ '^' "^or. periect solemmty ot the Christian sacrPMocf u nv sublini.. the type ! How suitable a precedent 01 the xVew Testament ■■ -^rhe Communicant's Manual," page 117, by Dr. Gumming, t Dr. King- . . ihs Lord's Supper. ^ «»* c(l, porplexod, ir own peace ; 3t, that Christ Dm the house to generation impressive oi' Vs in the feast his, all males to Jerusalem 1 were offered louso, family, his sacrifice, present par- Among the s solemnities, herished and to strangers ; le Almighty -the spright- riie rich and owncast, the together in >, but not to ige of their I partook of as well as 1^ the morr' ' w sublime '• Testament gs, and dis- ■ated ! How celebration autiful sim- iing. 19 i.licity and saving efficacy (^f appn.priating faith,— of that holy faith which takes hold of Christ and the everlasting oovonant, well ordered in all things and sun", as " all our desire." And how calculated to enforce and stimulate the exercise of thai " charity " without which wc arc '• n.»tliing." " Little children,"' says the l^j.irit of grace, by the disci[)le whom Jesus loved, " love one another." Destitute of this saictified affection— this sacred operation of the social ele- irent that binds Christian to Christian, and all Christians together as members of the one body of Christ— we are i nt even the least of those genuine " little ones who believe in Jesus." Symj.athy then, or fellow-feeling, cordial attacii- ment, the bearing one another's burdens, rejoicing with those that rejoice, and weeping with those who weep ; that lovely spirit that enables its possessor to forgive and mantle a nmlti- tude of offences received ; that lively interest in the eternal and temporal weal of odr brother and of our sister, of which we have many a model specimen in the great Apostle of the Ixentiles ;— all those lineaments of the child of (Jod should be apparent and increasingly sought after, in every disciple ot the Master of the feast, who would worthily show forth the Lord's (leuth till He come again. It was after and at the celebration of the feast of unleavened bread, that the dying Redeemer was pleased, by a kind of transition most aj.tly pointing out the connection, to introduce and command to be observed the Christian festival, that will perpetuate, until his second advent, the remembrance of His love, and that sacramental communion with him, which it is the blessed privilege of His friends to enjoy during the ml- gnmage of this mortal life, and the existence of this present dispensation. The time and the mode of the introduction of the feupi,er of our Lord, the princii)les upon which it t)roceeds, and the objects which it is designed to accomplish,— all admirably set foT-th its harmony with the prior and prepara- tory ordinance. We behold in it the wise gradatioi by >vhich the glorious Head of the Church adapted its obser- vances to the different stages of its advancement. And while we mark the Divine wisdom so perspicuous in the enjoined J 20 solemnities ox' the Church of God, both in its minority and in taenuty ot that Church m all ages By the common fnUK a 1 Its members from the commencement t he clTofte history of mankmd; by their alike taking hold of the heaven provided sacnfice for sin ; by their love'and deltt to X" (xod of Israel; by the benevolence and holiness of their lives and by that charity which is the -bond of perfec ness ''-we witness n. all, collectively, and in each, imlividual y-from SS'WI *r *^' '^^-^/^'-vers,^'the ud^^f'r bpirit, -that oneness with their adoral)le Head and with each other as members of Ilim and of o..pi^fiL v u constitutes them '' the body o/ C™ rS^ ^iX^^^py^^e ^ they ;^-ho pertam to this spiritual fellowship ! £w thrice happy IS each one who, by the Spirit of reocnerat on and adoption, is taught to call Jesus, Lord ! ''"'""'^^'^'^ """"^ PRAYER. Most Blessed God, we thank Thee that Thou hast per- con temi nofT r ^^r^hts -Id hearts to the solemn contemplation of the love and sacrifice of our Divine Redeemer If we have been enabled in a truly devout spirit to enTacre m this exercise, to Thy name do we give all the praise E t. ^^j r ^^ , ^' ^"'^"^ '^ '^' faithful precursory of a brij^^^ 'and i) ^tTr T' *'"^'^^* ^« ^"^^^ as acquainted with the .reat fact in It VT'^y- ^'^''y ^ere - -that Messiah mustl'* I^t off but n.f 7^'^ redemption, marvellous consummation on^/'h.f "^* ^'' ""^««^*-" This about to be accomplished in the s,^l' ^'Tf^' ^^'^^ ^^^ Henceforth therefore the' Ictrin/T^'^-^.^'^^^^^f ^^sus. embodied in another aZ nob™ ritlpF'^T- ^'^^'^^^ ^« the Head of the Church was pleased "to ^T *i"' P"^P««« ordinance suited to that gospel era t}^./''?!?"'" ^ ^^^ reached. That ordinance I the S ^ ^.^^ ^^^ ^^en wherein the death and f '.p ) f ^^^'^ent of the Supper Redeemer are sftrth' It peTttsTth *'A" •'^•^*^' ^''"r durmg the whole of the Sln^Z^ the Christian Church mgs," which are "to all pelt" "' T • ^\^ "^^^^ ^'^• will be devoutly observed bvtbp%- '. ^''^^ *'"'"^'^^^- It come again." With x^'arTto tht'''''''' f ^^"f " '^^ «« nous gospel, with which^ i ^f^ tfd ,r'^^^*^' ^'" ' exclaim w th Israeli r^Jnno „ ^"^^^fed, how well may we "Blessed is t^X^rZi^^^^ Psalmis^!! shall walk, Lord^Tn the h'ht ofTK *^' ^'^^"^ ''''< t^ey " And as they were eatin? T.! ? ^"\»^^nance."* "^ it, and brake h^ZZThlZV'V''^^ ^"^ ^^«««ed eat ; this is my'body.^ AndH^ took t^^'"' '?^ '''^' ^^^^^ and gave it to them, sayiW DriS ,^^^ ^T ^^^"'^^ n^y blood of the ne; dt^^^ ^"^^ ^l^^ Psalm 89; It from Him. He fore did the man " that awful crisis ^ed himself— the d given him to ith of the cross soul as an offer- issover had ever of the faithful, ught to look as y- Thej were of redemption, himself." This ised, was now death of Jesus, ition should be r this purpose Produce a new lad now been 'f the Supper, death, of our •istian Church le "glad tid- beralded. It irist " till He S) ' — the glo- well may we Psalmist, — sound, they ice."* ^ and blessed J said, Take, ?ave thanks, ^ov this is )r many for 25 .Irink it new with you in n,y Farer's^'ld™ "'^j''™ I they W^aung an hymn, they «nt out inT ihel^o^u^f t^ nothing lias over been more ohsoured ,^Ir„l„ i ™- J'"' stood and perverted, than it ha7bce„.>'r&e™^^^^ of childhke snnplicity and teachableness with St!' ""•"' and desire, will form a good nrcnaraS fl, If ■ ■'^ sincerity and scriptural views of ft ; anKrTeebrlr.lf '"'"« T"'''"' joyful, and profitable manner. iLwdSliV" u '"?"'"' we should enter into the spirit of the Lrfif''.??''^^'/ heart-stirnng aspiration, _« O send o„t fi r ®i"'8'""' thy truth; let them leLd me let tlm^ i -^ ''«"" ''"•' % holy hill, and to thy tab"m cl ,' Th™':SS°r'' 't who ht b e^tou-g'ht ^t^rda^r'-'-S" ^^^ot H^t of zion-s King, ctNrLi a"r;srtotr'f."r «th thee IS the fountain of life; i„ thytfg^^Si ™ t aUowed in th^ Sirerhnf ^ fi?'' P^""'^ ^ ^ «*a*e of life craments w th Ssm aid thfl T f' ^'^' "^*"^« ^^ ««- have not any Sle sitn or . f'^'^ ' ®"PP/'' ^«^ ^^at they (Article xxv^f the 39Artkle r^^^ ''^'^'''^ '^ ^'^- ' Matthew 26 : 26, &c. t Scott, t Psalm 43 : 3, 4 Psalm 36 : 8»* 't. 26 antichrist. He who " s'ittSht *t ^.'"*'! ''T"'^ '» ""e an himself that ho s God " by hTs lV'T„'!,''^ '^i' *™"« he is the renresentativp ,„7.i, ■ ^ »» demonstrates that antichrirt7 scrip tare He h^ TT'^'r °*' "'^ S'^^' ever will seek t^ pThimsdf ,n the li'^f r^K ?'=''""8 and shall be consumed bv theT Li " -tfc «f.?hnst, until he &ra?dfedf^==^ joined b/Him. 'a s^^r^e^Vist ^'VaeTrd ^7 «cuntry. It exnresses tb\> v„„. v 1 .^ «™"^ ^'^ Ws Jesus &,rist taK tlXwn o?w?s dvX' Of"! °' VOWS we are from timA +n f^,v,^ "/» sajvation. Uf these dispensation of r Suppol • e"crv tZ'^'^^ '^ ?f • "^""^S " rruTbif^ "' ^-°' °" - adX™ rtin^^oi,:'!: God and moarhaUowS b thTirl? "'f"^^""" ?PP™'«d by * Galatians 3:1. 5 instituted by presence and as ever been las at any time 'ved to be an God, shewing onstrates that of the great 3 seeking and irist, until ho of his mouth, ling." Arro- 1 belong alone *ly points out I'ord of truth, ne ceremony mtion to holy Appropriate 1 the liord's 'vance is en- Lord. The 1 and obliga- leral and his ad soldier of 1. Of these le recurring iking of it is to obey the vidently set a solemnity To know eceiving its ^pointed by us Israelite alone vraa 27 awe-inspiring. But when we bear in mind that Jesus wifh the on^niscience of his Divine nature, c?ear ly perc v^d tS that would transpire in the course of a few houVsTn conn'^^ tion with Himself as the au-ust Sufferer and nil V«^ rioTrdeqtTelyToVt"^^ " ' ''"^''^ ^' ^^^^^ - It was thus that after celebrating with his discinles tbp to indicate that Ho P^^f ^V^^^^n^tJ and expressiveness as ZiTn^A' ^^"^ ^^'. ""^"''^ *« consecrate it to some new he even was come, he sat down with thT twelve " And ^nd wittme t\r.'^'ir''-"''' thtt dipp^th^L nana witn me m the d;sh, the same shall betrav mp » But that Judas had withdrawn previous to the Scel^hr; Verilv v^rnl T ''^^]'^ "^ 'P^"*' ^°d testified and said! ml%C{dP-''?'^n^f'^^ ^^^ '^yo^ «hall betray wh^m h.. Y ^'xrP^^' ^^^''^^ «»® <^n another, doubting of In f K- T^^; ^^'^ *^«^« ^as leaning on Jesus' bofom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter ZT wTom^trake' "tT 'l^-^'^^^S^^^ ^^^" ^^'^^oi Mm LordTho is if' llir^ '" ^Tt ^'•'''^ '"^'^ ^^^ oKoi „• , • '^^^^^ answered. He it is to whom T shaU give a sop, when I have dipped it And when h« h J dipped the sop, he gave it to Jurl^ TacarioMhe T.r - - And after the snn Safo^ entered^-" '" - '^"^^^' unto him, That thou doest, do quickly Now Then said Jesua no man at the ■f 28 table knew for what intent he snaie fJiJc „r.*. u- some of them thought, because VS had the bt « "t T ^'' had said unto him Bnv fl,nan *u; Tl I ,^' "^^* J<^su» against the feast or tYat hfi. if *^'* ^'' ^"^^ ^««d of For. He the^'halgt v ffe Z^Z'''"'''' 1^ 'Y out: and it was night.5^ (Joh^lS 21 sVT Vr^'t"*^'^ traitor had previoutlj ascertained the nurnosl J I" T^T^ visit that night the favourite retreat of & ^' ^^"^ *** other side of the brook CedronT^-ff ^^^^^f^^no on the what he -.have conSred'an^;^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ and diabolical dete^nination^e quXcUL 11 ?'"■"*! companionship of the Passover in Sill . i. ^^^^I'^'^J and the least possible delay'ru^Tiist^^^^^^^^ while he was obtaining and conducting hi. " ifT ; ''"^ officers from the chief^priests and Phai ^^ '' thatl^!? '"'* Redeemer celebrated the communion of S« *T ""^l',^'"^ with His chosen friends addreredTv.1 • .^"^^ f"^ '^^^^^ tender discourse written in £phli ?r'f '"'"^^ ^^ them His intercesl^/praver anS?nr ^ •'^t"' '^"^^^ ^^^ dreadful agon, of so^l Xh ^fa^tSi^^^l'^^lf^ swea. was as it were great drops of blood flngt:^^^;^ upon which the Saviour of siXs^^^^il^T So ?f f '^ being allowed to retard or interfere wSth:«. ^' ^'T Hiost suppose that for the withdlwal o^ " the ^'^^ dition," the great Master of iha faca^ u a • ^ ^* P®^" that He might witH s^l, Lo T • i*^ ^"^'""'^^ ^^^^^ were eating, Jesus took bread «m1 w ? -I ^?^ ^^ *% _ _ . .ae parpose ot most solemn and holj eom^- f f him. For g, that Jesus have need of >thing to the iniinediatelj Hie unhappy ' lus Lord to oano on the incensed by h desperate 3stivity and might, with ne. It was of men and t the divine 7 and blood solemn and offered for garden the ? that " his own to the nplied, did i salvation > far from fe may al- >n of per- Ij waited, ence that ent of the hia light, itthew, — , Master, as they ;ave it to 1 thank»> oly cobclt. 29 munion,— to promote intimate oneness between the Head and members of the mystical body, and consequently increased holiness. He " blessed " this sign and seal of the benefits that flow from his atonmg death. What He as the Fountain ot b essmg could impart, his servants are privileged, in faith and love, to supplicate and receive. Having blessed and broken the bread, Jesus gave it to the disciples, not as apostles, not even as ministers of his Word, but simply m their character of his friends and followers. He regarded them as his family. As such He had kept the Jr-assover With them. And viewing them in the same beautiful relation, He celebrated with them the Passover of his own death. As communicants there are no clergy and no laitv among the members of Christ. All partake of the significant emblems, and realize sacred fellowship in virtue of the faith that savesahe hell-ueserving sinner, and knits the soul to Jesus in the eternal alliance. Having dispensed the bread which symbolically spiritually sacramentally, was his " body," He who was about io lay down his bfe a ransom for many, then " took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying. Drink ye all of it : for this IS my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.* The Jews were wont to designate the Paschal cup " the cup of blessing." And we tnd the expressive phraseology applied to the type, appropri- ated by the inspired apostle for the glorious antitype,—" The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ?"t In the words " Drink ye all of it," we observe that the loving command is not only as comprehensive and inclusive as_ that enioining the eating of the bread, but even more pomted. We are thus taught that this part of the celebra- tion must, in no case be omitted. Did the Author of the Sacra- ment foresee that the presumptuous and impious practice ot withholding the cup from the laity would obtain in the protessmg Church ? How significant and forcible his mandate • Matthew 26'. f I Corinthians 10 : 16. 30 I^ordJesusChristXthor^fflZ)^ °"^ ""^^ truly loves the Wa Church. It spi aii^^^ ?'''' 'P'''^^' Christianin that passeth all uSrstan^^^^^^^^ ^P'^' ^'^^'^ a love m^y disregard wiU tpIS ''!f i^^- 1'^'^"^-^^-^"^^^ "«"« tlnsis my hloodoftheXT'Lto^^^^^^ '" ^^ ^* ' ^^^ IS shed for many for the rlnt ?of >^,^^^^"^ ^^^^^ and a testamenfcTmpZ'tfo dtt^TT"^^ ^ *^«*ament! shedding of our TestSor\ bLd ' for to' ''''"'''• ^^ *^« the covenant of mcrcv ami <,ni7nf ^^^V^mission of sins," confirmed, and thTrSit of l^^^^tion was finally and for ever ■fully established if' ^l ZZL-'^'T ''„ ''^"' '''' ^^^^^t precursor and the p£d4 of aHo'' ■'?'/"' ^'^'^^^ the blessings in the «ouK °?TWfo5'^' spiritual and heavenly we have peace with God thtl f ^^^'"^^ justified by faith. Whom God iustTfies H. i ^^ '"'.^°'^ J««"« Christ " All Israelite indeed mavt.t' T'f'^ "^^ ^hAs. Eytj "Thou Shalt giidei:^^^^^^^^^^^ ,with the Psalmis^ receivemetog1;>ry."(P3.S 73.^47^^^' ^"^ ^^^^^^ards nuel"trtl;ou:l;L^ItTe^:'£"»"^ *^^^^-^ ^^ ^-a. upon better promises"' vZ ,^X^ covenant established which God madT ^-th Adam ^a^' ^T- '/ ^^^^ ^«^«"ant along with their first federal h^^d P f^^'^'l ""''' ^"^^^d sovereign love and grace a l th^ V'^n^"* ^^ *^l «o^«»ant of saved from sin and all TA nV ^^^^ov^evs of the Lamb are Divine I,age r^tatdlrtS^ran f'""^' ^^ *^« for glory, honor, and imraorHl L vL',' • ^''^ are made meet of God's everla tb. faTr hal {^ ^''' '""'"""* after man's fall, ^e hive it in .? "'^J^''^ immediately * Gen. 3 : 15. 'inkyc all of ^Jy loves tho e Christian in -, with a love ^ which none '1 of it ; for nant) which he bi'jflsings r, as hy the r of the new I testament, >r- By the on of sins," nd for ever its benefits behold the d heavenljr dby faith, rist." All '8. Every ) Psalmist, afterwards of Emma- istablished covenant ■e ruined 'venant of IJamb are have the ade meet covenant nediately lat " the pent;"* 31 and successively, as lime rolled on, and dispensation followed dispensation— downwards through the patriarchal and Mosaic econoinio3,^m the prophecies, institutions, and promises of " the holy Scriptures," the " good news" of the covenant of redemption, became increasingly clear, explicit, and, full, until the beatific day arrived of iMessiah's advent and Messiah's death. The grand event of the consummation of the death of Christ has both an anticipatory and a retrospective influence upon the children of God. To those who lived anterior to the haviour's day. His death was prefigund by the blood of ammals slam in sacrifice. Through the medium of these, the enlightened believer beheld and relied upon that great sacri- fice for sin, which the promised Redeemer should offer up of hmself once for all. Those who live subsequently to the death of Hira who 13 " the propitiation for our sins," commemorate It, in the communion of bread and the blood of the grape. In " the cup of blessing," faith beholds the blood of the New lestament, which is shed for many for " the remission of sins." How admirable is the relationship of the Passover and the feupper of the Lord ! And how beautiful the transition from the darker to the more perspicuous Sacrament. They remind us ot and aptly symbolise the gradual advancement and full development of the plan of redeeming love. The one shadows forth the accomplishment of redempti-jii ; the other contemplates and celebrates it as finished. The former con- sists m " waiting for the kingdom of God,"—" desiring the days of the Son of Man" ; the latter comports with thai brighter and happier state for which kings and prophets and righteous men had waited and longed when " the kingdom of God" IS come. ° After the blessed Emmanuel had given to his chosen and endeared disciples " the cup," accompanying it with words unfo Idmg Its solemn import. He added, " but I say unto you, 1 will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Ut the meaning of this intimation there have been various expositions. Dr. Hammond paraphrases it,—" It is not long 82 partake of thoae ioyg which n!l ??* /" ^'"*^^»' ^^'^ expressed hy no^'l^l^^'trTllTtV' '^'"^^^'^^'^ that Jesus would never airaln nlf^ ^ ;. r"^"«fe'<^ "iiplies that its last celebratIorriIimwthr%^^^^^^ ^"^^^^^^^ been completed. But ?he allusion To u I" ^?""^'^''«' h'^d now immediately after it^^^n^ IT Vu *nf ('"'"^ot'the vine," conelusively shew thaTtho ni'" *^«,.<^''"«t'an Sacrament, intended. The filorou jLte^^^^^ ^^P^cially understood as tellinX lovn^ f ' ^V 1^'^'*'''^' "^^ ^^en be during the preseS;eltn!q t' nle'sYmr '' ""''''' they had just done, his bodily pr£ce t^fha '"'^V^o^,^ holy communion. Henceforw.rrl tt! , , i*^ ^^^"^ ^» *his Spirit outpoured hL mlml "^ iT"'"^ ^« ^''^sent by his But the nCd of'the Ohrch nl T'^ r\'' ^'^ ''^^ ^^^^ upon a renewal of rrsona"intor<^n '"'^^'f ^^^ ^^^^^ *« ««"»* holy festival,-to LEa fl t r'1 ' fommunion in this see Him as He is,'' an?not mereX ^y f^ith" 'l^r?/' ^^^" to a bright, blessed h^nfifln i"'^''^ ,'~~*^ ^'^^'^ forward again,''^to^ ' he daV whe^^^^^ i??-","« ^h'-^" 'ome vine" new with them b hi P«r" ^-^f *'^" ^'"•^^^ ^^ ^^e Jesus seen: to refei t^ a ne ro /n f ', ^'?«^^"'"- ^-^^us does He shall have deWd^^n Ifi,'''.^'"**" " *^'« ^«d when Father; when he shall ha?e Jn^l^^^^^^ '", ^^^' «^^" the rity and power. '-•*XprobSlv3n.'^'^^^^^ s::*^^^^--'^Ssrt^/^ti:^t;^ of the Gentiles,-' For as often .?'' ^^l ^P''^^ *?«««« drink this cup, y'e do shew tho T a' l!" ?u *^"' ^^^^d, and How suitablefhC salut^^v tL /I' .'^!'*'' *^" ^« ««««-"t •I Cor. 16:24. f I Cor. U : 26. clobrate this or in hoaven, ane figuratively 'guago implies vish Paasover, wera, had now t of the vine," in Sacrament, vas especially ' may then be would never, me manner as them in this 'resent by his [im by faith. >ody to count lunion in this overs " shall look forward shall come > fruit of the Thus does le end when d, even the id all autho- " millennial the sacred 3 revelation . [•istian com- ?ht in this 'ed apostle bread, and B come."f ?n by that ne of the 38 first communicants, " What manner of persons ought yo to be in all holy conversation and godliness."* After this " communion of saints," of genuine disciples with each other and with their Lord, and llis communion with them, the service was concluded by singing a hymn of praise. That hymn we may well suppose was the great hallelujah com- prising from the ll;Uh to the end of the 118th Psalm. It had usually terminated the observances of tlie Passover. And no termination could have been so well adapted and so edi- fying as the giving praise to Jehovali in the solemn strains of the spirit-guided Psalmist of the Churcli of God. what a singing to the praise of God was tlie singing of that Jivmn ! Let us only reflect upon the Master and his dis- ples. What singers, what glory to God have we hero ! There never ascended to the tlu-one of the Etenial such music as that which proceeded alike from the heart and the lips of Jesus and the eleven. Verily the Father was glo- rified by this offering of praise. To reflect upon it is thrilling. Its associations and suggestions we cannot .express. Let the meditative and devout communicant dwell uj)on the theme, and rejoice in the Lord with thanksgiving and prayer. Let us with spirituality and fervour cultivate the holy exercise of singing to the Lord. Such music even Jesus practised, and we doubt not his holy human soul and frail human frame, were nerved, soothed, and elevated by it. When " the Son of Man " had thus glorified God his Father, by the appropriate termination of the sacred institu- tion. He with his disciples, proceeded to the scene of his agony, and of his betrayal and apprehension. " And when they had sung an hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives." Let us learn, after piously, with solemnity and joy, obeying the dying command of our Lord, and doing what He has enjoined in remembrance of Him, to go forth to duty and suffering. Let the influence of this and every sacred ordinance be to render us increasingly devoted to God. In this way we shall imitate the example and be ani- • II Peter 3:11. 84 ?'^''^s'^^^^^^^^ things the example that is able to keepTfrom^i^^^f »/; " ^'''' "«*<> ^^ ess before the presence of hSS'v^i*' ^''T' "« ^^^^^ the onlj wise God, our Saviour hoL ^f^eedrng joy : to ^on and power, both now and ever! ^SJl* "^^J^^^^' ^'^^^ PRAYER. dmw^^^^^^ we again Thee that through our exalted S!" ,f^ P^a^se and adore we have boldness M .? .^^^ *^® ^on of thy love - Lord the MMir^sTronf^ '"7 presence/ oTe' Thee What manner of love t t Sftb I'Tl '"^ «'^"fi«« us that we should be th^ tw i "^ ^^*^ ^^«*<^^ed upon and glorified children of God ^t' ''^'''T''^^ «anctifi^ed, our hu^ilit^ rnay we reaJize „?f 'P^"' ^^^venly Pather C^odofoursalvationandthpRfS ^^'"/ gratitude to the love before intense at t beho?d"'rf T ^^"^^ «^^3^«"r crucified for us. Mav rilfl ^^™* ^^^ Passover " Holy Ghost in all tS y^nTZ":'-^'''' '""^ J«^ ^^ ^^^e hfe be hid with Chris in Got "'^La T ''t'' ^^^ '^' ^|^;^,all appear, then shalfwe a^ ;^p:ar^rh/r ^^ 7;^ie''cZTt/:^^^^^ Christ, the becometh saints. May hev stSf ^h"'*^ -^^ ^^''^ ^a'lk a* with their Head and^^wk? each if "^ ^''^^'^*^^» ^^'^' "^ty Jody. May they do soTthH ^'' ^' '^"'^^'''^ of hia Wood, rmd may they livP in '""^'5"™ of his body and second coming^ Teen them f ""^'' ^^' ^"^^^^^^ of h^s May they be ever sobe? and w.tr ? '"^^^^^* temptation, evmce, while in the To'rld thTf fl " ' P'^^'"' ^«^ ^^^J ngs the example ■' Now unto Him present us fault- ceedingjoj: to majesty, domin- )u]d we again aise and adore n of thy love, esence. Give and glorifies )estowed upon ed, sanctified, venlj Father, iitude to the uJs; may our r Passover " i joy in the s. May our e who is our ivith him in Christ, the aith walk as- ■ their unity bers of hi& ' body and 3nce of his temptation. May they the world. fervently.. 85 And may they be ready and disposed for every good word and work, not only to Christians, but to the unbelieving and enemies. Have mercy, we beseech Thee, upon multitudes now ready to perish. Pluck them as brands from the burning, and make them, in the sovereignty of thy grace, partakers of the great redemption. Bless the labours of every Christian missionary. Sustain and encourage all faithful ministers of the glorious gospel. Give success to every consecrated laborer for the good of souls. We commend unto Thee, holy Father, thy afflicted ones. May they be profited, and not faint when they are tried. Reveal Thyself to them as the wise, the compassionate, the tender and the loving Parent, even when Thou afflictest or scourgest. May the mourning seed of Jacob rejoice to re- member that they shall not seek thy face in vain, and that when Thou bringest them into the furnace, it is as a Fefiner and Purifier. We now leave us in thy loving and wise keeping. May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. «pon every Christian to obey ChrM 1 rnr! i°«*""tion.-The obligation rSaJ ab^ com„,u„ica„t „,ust be '' born Iglin '^ Th". ' T '^'^ ^''^ fea^tlrhe ^""^* tobeabaentiromtl,eCommunionJ^^Babes~^^^^ <''inst 8, should be there. "^^ '^** ^''•o''Kmen,"_a]iwhoaretrS PRAYER. witf ^e^e^re'a'd loTe Z ^f^"' ^^ r« -*<> ^bee stool. We are assured that^t T "^f,"^^''^^ at thj foot- and sinful Creatures^ ' o 41 £ TW ' *fe ^«P«nde.. Ood and we will praise The?- Thl? . ^^°" »^* ^ur will exalt thy name toLhTv w \^'^ T ^"^ and we hast been pleied to put a ', - •^^''' '' *^^* ^^°" of thjr redeeming lov^e ^17.^ '°*' "'^J ^^'^*^ ^^''^"se for all his goodness/mist rpeciallvfr/r^''" ^ *^« ^^^^ ^■^^^^^'^^^^^^^ ^.ecleem^r we have our offended Father afd lifp 1 ' 'f <^»ilV'^ation with Thee freeand full access thatwe hat toS^^ ^^ ^« *^« have humble and believin/boldne.. f. ^"""^ ^''"- "^^ presence through our bless!,! »T ! ""i^^"^® ^^^^ into thy truth and the ife.'' NowtordT*' ^^ '' " *^' ^^^^ *^^ smg to be upon us as we proceed .J' f *^«^*.% ^ch bles- 87 )n the transfer of guut B of "the holy Scrip. 1 ho doctrine of trana- rhe obligation resting iefea«t.-The accept- JuldnotfeelatHberty ii"— all who are truly and opens to us the Scriptures bjr his Spirit. May we ad- vance in knowledge and every grace of the Christian char- acter. May " the very God of peace sanctify us wholly ; and our whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blame- less unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." We pray holy Father that it may please Thee " shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect." From the East, West, North, and South, may many be ingathered into the fold of the good Shepherd who giveth his life for the sheep. •Send thy light and thy truth to every land. May the people praise Thee, Lord, may all the people praise Thee. All that we ask is in our Redeemer's name. Amen. >me unto Thee ip at thy foot- thy dependect Thou art our • God and we lee that Thou nouth because • to the Lord speakable gift save us from )mer we have on with Thee ejoice in the ^ Him. We sven into thy the way, the hy rich bles- ite upon the love, gnd as lood. May us his love The sacraments of the Church of God are sealing ordi- nances. Appointed by the authority of the Divine Head of the Church, they are designed to form sensible tokens of the communication of the blessings of the covenant of redemp- tion to believers. Hence, " Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised."* The same language is applicable to the believing recipient of either of the sacra- ments of the Christian dispensation. This is eminently the case as respects the Supper of our Lord, wherein the love of God to His ransomed children, sealed to them by the death of his Son, is most expressively set forth by the symbol of Christ's broken body and shed blood. In the reception of a sacrament, the disciples of Jesus signify their acceptance of the covenant of grace upon the terms proposed in the word of God. Among men a solemn compact is frequently concluded by some significant action and interchange. So in the giving and receivhig that obtain in the Christian solemnity, the ccenant of salvation is decisively avowed on the part of the gracious Saviour and his ransomed people. It is an outward and ostensible sacramen- tal ratification of the engagements entered into between the * Romans 4 : lU m l;>^^' ..y-^'^ 38 «nm:„MrarLfv"^ 5^ Wood-bought ones Th„, « tostrengt en and ir^crCtCtl'^^ f ,}'''< aediatio^^ to obhge thorn to obedience -to tiff ' ""? "" »""=■■ graces • 'avthn "" "■■'' ™tl.out."« '"pi'° *'"n«uish them »ess to the sinner, i, mo,? Sp,"llt ®"''»«'»"''s righteo^' 'The cup of blessing wlSTbr^ ^^ •*"'''' '•"'^^oaled »on of the Hood of dfmstf The bJ^L;^ ", !■»' ""= <=<"°™- It not the communion of +v. i, , '^^^^ ^^"ch we br^ot • hath made Him o be Lf ^'^^ f <^^"«t ?"t " For k' i-^ design :;r„perS; r"'»% "oautifu, td ^sZ^^^ ?f^mt[t:£t«?^«*-eisspo.e„ ;?t«lligent student of "To 1?^ « "*>, "> *» devout S t™a .t"*''*'^ '^^- of hetibfer", ^'"^ ''^ truth there assumes the dress of „2 "/"^are how frequents of wntmg prevalent at theteriS f^'""'- I'™the3j ThaTitPSr'/ " *« ^'C^l God "™°« *« P^°p"t ihat It stiU characterizes Eastern H ''f"' "ommittsd !?i^!l^J^^li^*vt^d7eS!£ • Larger Catechism. ' ' + I Ooriathiaas io ; ig. ^es Thus, ^^a f>J Christ in hig those that are his mediation ; If other graces ; erish their love stinguish them "any of you," :o Christ have . sferofthesin- ite'srighteous- ed and sealed, t the commu- » we break, is t "f'orHe sin ; that we solemn, more for celebrat- and edifying ^ew Testa- salutaiy in ce is spoken [devout and ^very atten- frequently ts the mode e people to committed. -U known. frigid and mt of ben- chers than ti 89 ■otherwise we covild have done ? Instinctively we apply to ourselves the character imagined in the parable. And the well chosen figure conveys to our mind the idea in with double force and double beauty. Our Lord very habitually had recourse to this method of instruction. How natural is it to hear even the Groat Master of Israel exclaiming,—" Wliereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?" With what admirable energy and iteration does the Divine Husbandman employ this style within the compass of a single chapter or a few verses ?* The veriest child in intellect can understand the exquisite skill and aptitude of the allegorical vision of the mighty monarch of the then mightiest monarchy upon earth, as interpreted by the lips of the pious stranger "who was separated from his brethren,"— " The good kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are I ; ven years ; the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine."! Who does not intuitively di^em the drift of the awe inspiring Isaiah as we read ' The voice said cry, and he said, what shall I cry ? All flesh 13 grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field."! What Israelite needed to have explained to him the propriety of applying to the Paschal Iamb such words as, "it is the Lord's Passover."|| And what spi. ntual Israehte instructed by such frequent use of figurative language m the word of God can fail of discovering the ob- vious meaning of the P' of God who gave himself to be the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," when as the dying Redeemer He says to his followers, "take eat this IS my body ;" or having taken the cup, " Drink, ye all of It, for this IS my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins ?" How manifestly ^d necessarily symbolical the glorious asseverations ! Every unsophisticated and undeluded mind at once apprehends the • See Matthew 13. I Isaiah 40 : 6. t Genesis 41 : II Ex. 12 : 11. 26. ■^ 40 and nourishing of all food by whi.^'^.f '~*^''^* "^''^ "«eful tained,-the emblem ofthe Sv of TT' ^' T^^^'^ "^^ '« «"«" of life " to the souI^-ifTfe s^titlfr;'^ ^' ," ^^^ ^'^^^ bread of God which come h dou^ J ^"^\eternaI,-of " the ife unto the world."* Qfthi" r'™ ^''''?" ^"^ S^^'eth "quickened" communicant bv f-^^' ".^^^a^'" everj e evating felicitous, honorable '^ Fof .ft'''T^''' Ho^ this bread shall Hve for ever "+ p r ^^ *^'^<^ ^^^eth of let the pouring out of " wine th If ^fZ"'^ communicant, man " in the°holy ordinance of tbo *^ ^^"'^ *^^ ^'^'^ «^ point you to the blood which .iS '"P^'' "^"^* ^^^emnly enables you to rejoice th/: •''''"''"^: ^^'^ ^om all sin, have peai with Orthrothtrl^^^^^^^ ^^/?^^^' "/- as you with loving fealtv owS ^°'^/<^sus Christ." And of the feast, and drink {omThev.'^'S^'i' "i " ^^' ^^^ter " after fuller and more expeSenta^ t^'^ 'V^^ efficacy of that blood to o^. acquamtance with the " Blessed are they which do ^^ ^'" /^^"» a" Jour sin eousness, for tl/yshaH b fe'/^'.*^jl ^^^ "S^t- finitely gracious s'aviour exdaims a I orr, .. ^^' !^'^' ^«- he that Cometh to me shill n? ' i ^"^ *^® ^''^^^ of life ; lieveth on me shall never tL^t'r,^ ^"^"S^^' ^"^ ^^ that be! awS Lt^ slft^dtS b ^*^ /-^ -^^-' to Let it do sc in the ransomed and ri^' ^°.^i'^"^ g^^*^*"^^' b7 faith through the sicHo fb! .t ^^•^^*.'^ '^""^^^ booking disposition to unite vviKvervo^^^^^^^^ '^^^^^^ ' ^^^ ^^^^ t^f priatiixg the song of praLe^^^^^^^^ T''''^ '^""^^ ^^ ^PP^o- whom Je3„ ,,,/d, warSlK retrd^th?' T'^^' of the true church of Christ- " TTnfnl- .? x ?^ sentiment * John 6: 33. t Matthew 5, t John 6 : 58. II John 6 : 35. ' good Shepherd n let the devout ^at most useful tural life is sus- is " the Bread maI,--of " th& 'en and giveth bread," every cipates. How that eateth of communicant, id the heart of most solemnly from all sin, (( y faith, 'hrist." inl the Master " !ie soul aspire nee with the all your sin. t after right- he same in- read of life ; he that be- emblema, to J gratitude ! ner, looking and feel the 3r in appro- 3d disciple, > sentiment i^ed us, and th made us 41 ' kin^ and priests tato God and his Father ; to him be elorv and dommion, for ever and ever. Amen"* '"™ ''^ S'°^ A.^rj^'% *"/ everlasting remembrance is the sacrificial death of our Hedeeraer ! It calls, by considerations the moat weighty, and associations the most solemn, for ceaseless Tom age, adoring love, entire devotedness. ' How g and le termmation of the work which the Father hld^entrus ed to the Son ! How capable of calling up, under the operat on of the Spirit of grace, with ever increasing ardour and tt«^'?^T^/"" ^tu*^^ '^' ^'''^ «"d flowiifg emot" ns of the sou The love ce ebrated in the Christian Passover wiU be vindly remembered by the followers of the Lamb un U fZ A^ '^'" '?°^' ^°r • ^^^'^ *his second comin' thdr wTtch err- '* -".'"'^ *^^'^' ^^"« "p«« ti^e- to watch, lor It their aspirations after perfect holiness and felicity, as well as the promises of scripture, teach them t^ saying— 'I am the way, the truth, and the life." Hope rejoices m the anticipation of the beatific period, when we shaU see " face to face," and be like unto Jesur And adonng love is delighted to hear the voice of Emmanuel-" I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the enZl saith tne Almighty How salutary and appropriate is the ex- hortation of the apostle to every intending communicant conveyed also in the oriental dre^s, to which refer^nc^hi been made: "Purge out the old leaven that ye may bH new lump, as ye are unleavened ; for even Christ, our pl! over, ,8 sacri'Iced for us: therefore let us keep th^ feLt ^t mth old laaven, neither with the leaven of malice an rwick' ^ne83,^but with the unleavened bread of sincerity Ln\ insSon ^«'nTnf .? °^ *^' ^^^'^ f *^« ^^^y a«d beautiful mshtution, and of the necessary and obviouj meanin- of the statements of the Word of God in connection with ft,t ^ doctrine of transubstantiation ! The t ruths respec^'ng S • Eevelation 1 : 6, 6. f I Corinthians 8: 7,8. ^ "' 42 •commemoration and communion of tho body and blood of Christ, are by the mspired writers unfolded with perspicuous simplicity. Yet does this anti-christian theory ^a^sert that JL tr'^"'^* 7^'' t *^"'^' ^^^"y' ^«d substantially the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of of the whole substance of the bread into tho body, and of the whole substance of wine into the blood." Accordinc. to this teaching after the consecration of the elements, there m;e only the accidents of bread and wine remaining." JVot only 13 this dogma anti-scriptural, it is opposed to the best intelhgence of our rational faculties, and sentient perceptions It "_ affronts Christ, destroys the nature of a sacrament, and gives the lie to our senses." Let it also be remembered that the alleged change is at the option of the officiating priest, who may have no spiritual discernment of the true kingdom of Messiah, and who is little likely to be a «T. hX" "'^^- wu • p^ frequently may it happen that "the Host " which the church of Rome regards as a proper object of adoration, has not been duly dedicated ; in which case the church regards all as a nullity ' fo '^^,^^«^^!«^^'Ceof the Supper and its proper celebration are far otherwise. The apostle of the Gentiles, in recording its appointment and obligations, employs language most clearly figurative and incapable of a literal construction. Three times after narrating the solemn setting apart of the bread and of the wine by the Divine Author of the sacrament, does this inspired writer designate the constituent elements by their pnmary, true, and Uteral appellations. Surely no humble enquirer after truth would ever for a moment fancy that the followmg words, so solemnly impressive, indicated any trans- substantiation : -' For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Where- fore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. J3ut let a inan examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and dnnk of that cup."* What upright and • 1 Corinthians 11 .= 26-28. md blood of I perspicuous i^ assert that mbstantially, d divinity of a conversion 3ody, and of According to ments, there remaining." opposed to md sentient le nature of Let it also he option of discernment ikely to be a happen that as a proper ; in which ibration are 3cording its lost clearly Vhree times, •ead and of ;, does this its by their no humble ey that the any trans- , and drink . Where- cup of the lood of the him eat of )right and 43 devout reader need be at a loss as to the interpretation of this t^ymbohcal writmg? Doubtless it is the blessed privilege oi every such one to rejoice in the now covenant communion, so fehcitously presented by St. Paul. ' While the Christian and the philanthrophist will mourn the permcious nifluence of the Christ-dishonoring invention of transubstantmtion, an extensive knowledge of human nature will prevent our bcmg surprised at its adoption and inculcation. We are called upon to labor for its ejection by praycrfulness, - holding forth the word of life," with tile meekness of heavenly wisdom, and zealous exertions prompted by true love to mankmd. Such a spirit our Master delights to honor. Such was the spirit that characterized that most noble ser- vant of Christ who could say^" by manifestation of the ireVhrorGoi"^'*"""^"^ '' '^^'^ "^^"'^ -"---« - In the ordinance of the Supper, believers receive a seal of the remission of their sms for the sake of the atonement made by their Surety ; and in the remission of sin they have J.. .?.! ^K ^?u^ •^'T,Pf '™' ^^ ^" ^^« blessings purchased for them by their Redeemer. By faith they feed upon the Lamb that waa s am for them, and rejoice in their increaamff oneness with Him They experience also holy fellowXp Za '^^^" ^'*^ each other, aa members of the same mystical body. They mutuaUy ammate and invigorate one another when participating of the emblems of his body broken and blood shed ; and we may appeal to them and say : ♦' what Zw? if T'''''u''«^* y' i^ ^' ''' ^^ ^'^y conversation and ^^:^;c::^Ltz7r/o:^f "'-^^ ^^*^ ^- -^^-^^^ fV,i^v t^°*^'? ?'®'*"'S '"P^" ®^«^ real Christian to obey ^e king y and loving mandate of the Lord Jesus to keep TJtT' '' ""'^r^te^- . Surely it ought ever to be felt i oftn! r f ^?^%^bligation resting upon every disciple of ge Master of the festival to " do this in remembrance ot aim. Duty, privileg e, honor, affection — aU concur in • II Corinthians 4 : 2, 44 inducing the followers of the Lamb to obey readilv lo.^n^w derot^onallj, the djnng injunction of Hi^ who W d ?h^^' attd gave Himself for them. We naturally regard LlaS request of a departed friend as sacredly binK wSi what grateful recollection then, what supreme esteem whit proftund reverence, what renewed and lively fidelity' Thai the ransomed fnends of the adorable Saviour accede to hi injunction, and " show forth his death till He come a^ain '' While It :s the most solemn of all celebrations upon eaftT'it IS also the most joyful ; so that wo may appropriate on such an occasion, as by anticipation, the miinial lav of the lofty seer, and say : '« Behold God is my solvation -"t Ini V 7 and not be afraid : for the Lord JeLvaht my strlnitl/and toy song ; he also is become my salvation. ThSfewUh ^oy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation AnJ m that day shall ye say. Praise ti.e Lord cal upon hi^ name, declare his doings among the neonlp W-.^ \- that his name is exalted. . Sinf utretord t ^e'hS done excellent things : this is knor -.-- w„„^o. HUB is KnoT 1 jn al the earth Cr^ out ana shout, thou inhabitant of Zioa : for great fs the Ho^ One of Israel in the midst of thee."* ^ ^^ The nature and design of the Sacram^nf r^f +i,» j require that it shall be°observed b; dlTho ?ove the ffi Jesus ChHst. All in whom this love^ is the ruHnl prinS 1 Sr ''".?• '*' ^f *^' an-pervading feeling of Ihe heTrt should, in this ordinance, commemorate the love stronger fW oT'^ 'I "?/¥ ^°"°^* *h«™ ^ith his blood nfre they can seek and find communion with their living lilZ ancTHis mystical body. All, on the other hrd,nwimtwi ^ye ts not the profoun^est affection of the souL and the ftotive-spnng of action, the paramount incentive te exertion Sfate in^'r^'."1 ^^^%'^ '^' ^""^^ «»«"' should not X^i JJLi? v?!l ^?'y ordinance. Let such first ponder and Sn^'f/anTl'^T' '^ *\^ ^^^^- AuTr'f^S^ C^v ; A :^^ ""^^ "^'^ ^''^^ after me, let him denv Mmse.f and take jip his cross and follow me."t I^wl • Isaiah 1-2 : 2-6. t Matthew 1 6 : 24. ">!■ lily, lonngly, ' loved them gard the lapfc ding. With esteem, what idelity, shall Jcede to his ome again." Don earth, it ate on such of the lofty [ will trust, trength and Jrefore with tion. And II upon his ke mention br He hath arth. Ciy is the Holy he Supper ' the Lord ? principle the heart, e stronger >d. Here ng Head, whom this I, and the > exertion, not parti- •nder and hor of the ^lim deny f If we 45 have not so come, we are yet carnal, lying under the guilt and influence of sin unremitted. We have not broken off our ems by repentance, and are in a state of unregeneracy. We are still unbelievers. But without faith wo cannot " discern tl^ Lord's body." They who go to the table of the Lord without this fruit of the spirit, may profess themselves Chrwtians, but the profession is untrue. And how must the trod of truth detest falsehood in such an unwarranted avowal ! ^ To all then who have not turned from sin unto God, there 18 an implied prohibition in the words and purposes of the mstitution. It is for those of a character essentially different Irom th;.t by which they are distinguished. Before they can .acceptably communicate, it is indispensable that they be ' born again," and evince the obedience of saving faith. At present, the invitations of the gospel are tendered to them. And oh, how ample, free, and pressing are these ! They are Iterated by the word, the Spirit, and the Church of God ; by prophets, evangelists, and apostles— yea, by Immanuel himself. They proclaim—" Ho every one that thirstetb, ■come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come buy wme and milk without money ana without price."* Was the subUme prophet inspired to herald so noble a call ? Listen, also, to a greater than the prophet—" there is no God else beside me ; a just God and a Saviour ; there is none besides me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth : I am God and there 18 none else."! How affecting are the words of pressipg .urgency which are found in the conclusion of the canon of bcripture ! "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let hun that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."! They who have responded to this glorious gospel call are not only at liberty to be present at " ' 'they shoul." not feel themselves at Like the good boatmen- -discipk " the communion," but liberty to be absent. : when unwillin": to cross Isaiah 56 : 1. f Isaiah 45 : 21. % Reyelation 22 :17. 46 Galilee's portentous lake, were <» constrninr^rl " Kt, *u i they cherished to their Master to com2 with iitt?. wardness, unnecessary omission and careless irrLTS? .7' Son Chnst Jesus, and with all whS are one witS S by livbg , The feeble and the strong, the youn^^ and the old tlm fassover. In like manner at the Lord's Sunner • " -Rnhn! m Chnst" should be there with " youn- men '' o^^J uri?' children," as well as " fathprr" I^a^ . ^""^ ^**'® faith. ThewearandthestgwilLrivTd^^^^ t nanee suitable to their state, ofly It therb^tfut Ch^^^^^^^^^ m the regeneration of His Snirit n/rS Tl.nt ^ . ^ welcome ^they are enjolr.ed toTe^her^ iti Z T f ^ lately perf. /to who^ the invi?a£ i. add ess d lu'ch cannot be ..,ind upon earth. Could we attain tn!„pl, . ness for the heavenly temple, we .onuVT:^: ^^^Ta to It. But thore is none such in tfie Church below Zoh were not the eleven first communicants. They "^rl'^endn^ -len they were saved sinners, they were Sistrhf fS but they were still sinful dust\nd^sh j^^^had^^^tj advance, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lo?d And aU who, hke them, follow Jesus, are reauir^^d llfi? I'-u ri love and docility,' to act upon' hTs ch\ g^^^^^^ remembrance of me." ° "** *^ PRAYER. . We praise and adore Thee, Thou once r^m.Jfied »^"^ -r- nsen i.oru, for that " new covenant " which w"as sealed inThe 47 shedding of thy most precious blood. With thankful and contrite spirit, we rejoice to recollect that love of thine evinced in the institution of the Sacrament of the Supper. Enable us with humble worthiness, accepted graciously for the sake of w' at Thou hast done and suffered for us, to par- take of the sealing emblems of thy body and blood. When wo do so, may it ever be under the sealing influence of thy sanctifying Spirit. May our communion contribute, through His indwelling and operations, to an advancement in all those graces which we receive from thy infinite fulness. may we know, in our happy experience, how hallowing and blessed it 18 to commune with Thee in the " breaking of bread." Glorious Redeemer, we beseech Thee to purify and elevate all the branches of thy Church upon earth. O that all thy faithful followers may walk as tiie ransomed of the Lord. When they avow themselves thine at thy holy table, impart vigor to all thy work in their souls, and enable them to advance towards perfc- iiui,. While we supplicate that un- warranted professor uiay be deterred from profaning thine ordinance, and so more imperilling their own souls, we beseech Thee to give all thy flock, alike the feeble and the strong, to realize their felicity, so that, walking in the comfort of the Holy (Jhost, they may be prepared for thy second commg. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, shall be all the praise- and the glory, world without end. Amen. Mm ■if" I f IV. ■ jC4 pXj'f.tL^^^^^^ *Te„t in the .nn.u of the u„i,erse ^eath of the Son of God me'r y S^ X'^ "J„f ''' " e.inces.-m virtue onh"; Jit Tl'*' " •'^'«''™*«<» •» the Saorinont^fTr"°°-^'^" '^' foundation of Church of Eome respecUngituntruthftl th/h .^''^P^'-^'''' teaching of the memorat.ve.-The Calviniatio opinion 8criX». t 1 ''''^'^'"'ce ia merely com- Jhe partakers worshipped the Deity to ^bTitlZT'/'T "P*»° '"^^ "'^^^^ the communicant worships, and haIfelirwsWDlT»h rftf" ''•~^° *^^ Christian feast •nd H s disciples.-Christia„s ha" uZa^d fe lowshf*-"'" ""^'»' "^^''^ !-«'<» Hoiy Communion.-What a powerful ^mTnuSroU^Xr'''' "" *"• PRAYER. ^-oTnZ'l'.^^^^^^^ Jesus Christ, we the footstool of thXt P^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --4 at in and through thy beloved Son It *^^ ^°> "^«^e' that <'iou8ly invitfd to^ know Thee Jn ^'' P"'"? "«^ ^"^ S^a- Fathei. May the S enable^,, -r'""'^''^ ^«^ ««d our adoption, to cry unto Aee M' V £'*'^"^ «^°«^ «f from thine o^n wofd that ihltl iT u^ ^^*^^^' We know •godly sincerity, to obey C wiseYn^,n.r ''^^'^y ^«^ wa^ acknowledge him, Ldt Si ZZtZ:^ ''" *'^ of te&r abltri?^^^^^^ t -^ '^^^^^ plan solemn anImostsui%farsubTecS''^F^ *^^* ^o«* sider, understand andLi fiVl f T , Enable us to con- Bless our meditations. Mav we attain i>nt„ . „i *Proverbs 3 : 6. 49 of the universe.— —In virtue of the the foundation of teaching of the bstantiation held ce is merely com- pon the sacrifice le Christian feast nion of the Lord » another in the ty! i Christ, we ■ worship at name, that id and gra- [ God and ■ul sense of We know Thou wilt licity and fn all thy hs."* ^ Jrous plan that most us to con- before ug 3r,juster, le solemn ordinance. Enable us to exercise that holy faith which worketh by love, and which, will enable us to see Christ our Lord before our eyes, evidently crucified for us. May our feelings be affected, while our sentiments are enlarged and brought into entire conformity with thy revealed truth. May we be indeed edified. What shall we render unto the Lord for all His benefits ? Above all things we praise Thee for thine unspeakable Gift, — ^for Him who came in the name of the Lord to save us. May it be given us to know more and more that He is ours*, and_ that we are His. Justified by faith, may we sweetly realize that peace with God which flows from pardon and acceptance. May "the very God of peace sanctify us wholly." May our " whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."* And the glory we shall ascribe to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. It has been happily said, " that this earth on which we 7nf • g^®^* lesson-book of the universe."! The death ■of Christ forms the most amazing and memorable event re- ■ corded m its anials. It comprises the method of adjustment planned and completed by the God of justice and holiness, by which, m perfect harmony with these attributes, He par- dons sin and renovates the siimer. It presents for our contemplation the gracious purpose of God being completed, with regard to His beheving people. By the suffering of then- Surety, they are emancipated from the bondage of Satan, obtain the remission of the curse pronounced against them as transgressors, and become partakers of the life of Ood m their souls. The ransom-price paid for the redemption of sinners of mankind, evinces at once the unspeakable value of the human so ul, and the extreme difficulty of its restoration. The pro- * I Tbegaalonians 5 : 23. t Dr. Cumming-." Lectures on Daniel," p. 158. 50 ttl ttr^'"'"' '^ ^^' S'"^'^^^ Redeemer: "And he saw Xlt :Tei: mi'alr^f Y there waV:: and his rights 'S Z^Z'^^^'trC'^^Z; uTothTsrad'an'dSut^r^ «" heC^'^aCi n' Peter exhorts Christians, " pass tl,o f Jm. nf ®. ^P°^*^ here in fear. Forasmu h as ye know hat iT '"'''T"^ deemed with corruptible things as silTerlnH IJT ''^^ "'■ vain conversation received hvVrn^u- ? ^^^^'^'^'^ ^^"^ but with the precious bod oY c£" Ta Tl ''"^r ^ blemish and without spot "f ''^""^ "^'^^^^^ healpH "+ uw) -I ' i^^^ ^^^"* his stripes we are misht be in God"|| ''^' **' y"""' f"'* »'«' %« and\'stlfifrfl,"'' ''''™'' '"' P'^'^P'" "« "»' »»ly pardoned s„rs ^^„"'r,^ielfc'^. 'ir'r racter and meotaess Mispensable for the ki„7d"tof'':,'> s^Sl" *", ^"'^ ®P"'' ""> Spirit ofChri tf!hl°^fi- said our Lord to Histoi fe !: JVl;^^\^T^ •Isaiah 59: 16, 17. I Isaiah 53 : 5. 1 1 Peter 1 : iT-lS. 11 I Peter 1; 30, 31. 2r ; " And he saw hat there was no ilvation unto hhn ; For he put on jlmet of salvation 1 of vengeance for '■• The apostle ' your sojourning t ye were not re- d gold, from your •m your fathers; ' a lamb without , the attribute of of the Godhead, of Messiah, the vho appropriates S again, we find exposition of the )r our transgres- chastisement of stripes we are fore the founda- ie last times for id him up from faith and hope ; only pardoned that " holiness —unto the cha- ?dom of glory. < who quickens, Lord for the dient for you," y : for if X go 9. 51. ■5 k i 51 not away, the Comforter will not come unto you : but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John, 16 : 7. But the blessed Redeemer could not, consistently with the purpose for which He had come into this world, return to the Father and assume the sceptre of universal empire, until he should have died the accursed death of the cross, and " given his life a ransom for many," and been demonstrated the Son of God, with power, by the resurrection from the dead. " Ought not Christ to have suflFered these things, and to enter into his glory ?"* After his ascension to the right hand of the Majesty on l-c^h. He received gifts for men that the Lord God n". : : dwell among them." So that his death is the procr ■ . uise of the saving and sanctifying agency of the Holy L*iiust in all believers. We behold in it that the Deity is the impersonation of love : that " God is love." The Father " so loved the world that He gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."t "Thanks be unto God for his un- speakable gift."J Such is the glorious event which the Author and Finisher of our faith has enjoined to be celebrated in the Sacrament of the Supper. In order acc'eptably and with spiritual profit, to comply with His royal mandate — " This do in remem- brance of me," it is essential to hold correct, scriptural, and comprehensive views of its nature and purpose. We have already seen that the teaching of the Church of Rome is antagonistic to the truth respecting this ordinance. Requiring us to believe that the senses bestowed by the God -^f truth upon man, are incapable of discerning the truth in the matter of a sensible object, she holds that the substance of bread and wine is destroyed, and that there is a change or transubstantiation of the elements into the real body and blood, soul and divinity of God's only begotten Son. More- over all this takes place onl^/ should the oflS 'iating priest will it, for should he not in reality concur, though professedly doing so, the transubstantiation is not effected, but is a •Luke 24: 26. f John 3 : 16. t H Corinthians 9 : 15. i 52 nullity. The consecrated "host" w hffar.^A u xi. -^a .crifieche elevating it'rd tl!: J^L^^^f,,^-: holy places made :?tL haJds'vhTch are'fhf^'^ ^^ ^ true ; but into heaven it.<,fl f «Iw *^®. ^^ures of the of G^d for us . nor V. S T V"" iTC^"^ '" *^« Presence the high pnesi enSh bto ft'Jf "^ f^"" himself &ten, as blood of others ;frthenl,^?^^^^ '^''^ ^'^^ ^th the foundation of the lorid h ,. '^''^ ^^'" ^""^''^^ '^<^^ world hath he aleareTto ;»! . ""'' -"'u ^" *^" ^"^ *>f ^^^^ himself."! ^PP^^^^^ *<^ P«* away sm by the sacrifice of were accomplished in th^ir LSf^-r ^**® ^^P^cal sacnfices who " was oncroffe -p] fl K^ i^"*i*^P^--*^« ^^mb of God, priest of tL Lordt anvtf.^"'''^'^*^;"^ ^"^ «^^« being a Christians are prt"s %e pLf "'f *^"? *^"' ^'^ ^^^^^ ^^^ eacrifices which^^lulfo/r 1^^^ '"f^^ '^ a brokpn smVif « k V , " ^"® sacnfices of God are 'God. '' By Him therefor.! S °^ * g^^^s and reconciled I if • "Defects in the celebration of ttie t Hebrews 9 : 24-26. } Psalm 61 : n. •d by the priest e doing homage doctrine tau^t mtered into the I figures of the in the presence limself often, as 'very year with '■ suffered since the end of the he sacrifice of priesthood has ss away rather until all were dows of course pical sacrifices Lamb of God, y." The typi- tly sacrifice of his continual through Him. man being a t in which all it the kind of 3s of God are O God, Thou royal priest- ly Him who is isedec," are id reconciled See of praise hanks to his 51 : 17. 53 name. But to do good and to communicate forget not ; for w^tlt such sacrifices God is well pleased."* The idea of an intrinsic value pertaining to the elements in the Sacrament, unless destroyed by "mortal sin," as it is designated, led to their being taken to the eick and dying. But who, that has been taught by the Spirit of God, will not see that this is leading the sinner away from the only Saviour to a refuge of lies ? The essence of the gospel, addressed to every child of Adam, is : " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and th«u shalt be saved."! And again "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, not uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love."$ Another practice — that of withholding the cup from the laity — arose from the danger of accident in carrying, especi- ally when the distance was great. The authority of Immanuel and the revelation " received of the Lord," by the apostle of the Gentiles, with his inspired comments, prove decisively that this exscinding is anti-christian. Beyond all doubt, no human authority may dare, without incurring the dread displeasure of the Saviour and the Judge of men, to set aside the unalter- able ordinance — " Drink ye all of it." The Lutheran Church retains the view of consubstantiation, aa held by the great Reformer. This does not suppose that the person of Christ is present, but that in virtue of " the communications of properties," it may properly be affirmed that Christ is received in the bread and wine. In favor of this opinion, such scriptural expressions are referred to as — " The Son of God died ;" " The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins ;" — although it was the man Christ JesuB wlio died, and the Divine equal of the Father who could forgive sins. That this doctrine is unwarranted by the oraoles of God, we sliall find oonolusively established as w© advance. Zuinglius, and some of the reformed Churches, hfive held that the observance of the Lord's supper is simply commemo' ratwe. " The communion " spoken of by Paul is, by thope • Hebrews 13 : 15, 16. t Acta 16 : 81. } Gal. 6 : 6. 11:. 54 there k also in i?^ 5 ; "^'"^^'^oratcd in the supper, He brake teTr;:Vmi„J^'*Ttkf'e°lt « • ""''^rs *h is broken f„, ,L„rr?io J™L;t t ^f 2- »J "to deift Tb/ nT"!- *'• ''r« ^^"""^ anticipating hb savs the apostle to the followers nf li?n V t^ L^ ^^*®^' fce^i^'^ t j*-:r :!;:.^rc^^eat o« inte ty :St^Hs? r- • I Corinthiang 11 : 26. 55 ^hat in such participation there was a worshipping of the idol upon whose sacrifice they feasted. A feast upon a sacrifice was so intimately and inseparably connected with the sacri- fice, that to join in it implied communion vith the god to whom it was offered. " Behold Israel after the flesh : are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" A part of the sacrifices ottered in the court of the temple of Jerusalem was consumed on the altar of God, the eating of the remainder was an act of communion with God, to whom they were offered. Hence the force and drift of the subse- quent reasoning of the inspired writer : " What say I then ? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything ? But I say that the thing which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God ; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils : ye cannot be pj,rti*iiers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."* Now the sacrament of the Supper is a feast upon a sacrifice. It is the Christian festival appointed by our blessed Lord, in which his tiae and devoted followers shall commemorate tiU He comes again, his sacrificial death on their account. In its celebration, they pledge themselves to Him as his wholly and eternally. They engage to renounce every idol, and to crucify every sin. They swear allegiance to Him as their Divine Leader, and the Captain of their salvation. They render to Him supreme homage as the glorious Ransomer •who bought their freedom and felicity with his own precious blood, and whose Spirit cleanseth them in its sacred fountain from all impurity. They, by faith, lay hold of him as " the bread of life," — " the hidden manna," by which their souls live, are invigorated, and nourished unto life everlasting. In this way they are one with Jesus. They are His, and He is theirs. Every believer, as a portion of the bride, may say of the Bridegroom — " My beloved is mine, and I am his." The union between Christ and his disciples is real, vital, «nd indissoluble. Yet is it mystical and inexplicable in regard * I OorintbianB 10 : 19-2). 66 cup-ropreseutativo of the blood tlm^ wTsWd- for . remission of sins." And everv liolio ' 1 , • ^^^ *''® embrace, the premSs °"' "°™""^ »■'" W^V dear y beloved, flee from idolatry. vyuerelore, mj !• I Ooplntbiao, 10 , 14, iu. j j,,^ ^ . ^^^ 57 Jfiunwn with each other, as membcrp of hia body. « For we being many arc one head and one body ; for wc are all par- takora of that one bread." Not more certainly arc the .rraing ot wheat that go to make up a loaf of bread so incorporated aa to constitute one mass, or the several parts of the liuman frame, with all their various ramifications and connectiojis one whole body, than arc believers in Jesus members one of another, in virtue of their union with Him. Unitedly, when all shall have been brought by tho Spirit of grace to faith and holiness, they will form "the bride,— the Lam])'s wife." Meanwhile their mutual union is figuratively and most ira- prcssively expressed, when they join in the solemnities of tho Communion table. What a powerful argument docs the consideration of this truth supply to the truechildrer of God that they should lovo one another ! Do wc unite in the Church below to celebrate the feast of love ? Do we hope to be one in the house of *' many mansions,"— in the kingdom of heavenly glory ? Do we regard the spiritual happiness that may be realized at tho Lord's table as an earnest of that " fulness of W " that will abound at the table, never to be drawn ? Then let us remember that "now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; and that the greatest of these is not what many Christians seem practically to believe,— is notfaith.'^hnt the greatest of these is charity." And let us more assiduously, and with a pure heart, fervently cultivate the charity which never faileth," which " beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, eudureth all things." Instead of seekin n.nso.ed ones are .^^thr^int^^^^^^ herd, and their meetneas for dorv i^eri'ootJ a Ai? ^^""^ 8haU be all thine, world without ^.5 Amen ^' ^'"^'^ mt V. Mttdhow 2rt, ST, 3f..-Tho Jlmo and circuri.!.tancPH In whicli t wor* wprr -mokm add to thfir ImpresBlvoncws.-Our LordN n-rritlc suffuringH j»st at hand -Jwua was alono with the rlcven faithlul «postI..s._Lukt.'» acco.int in harnu.ny «itb till, viow.-lnternal cvi.U.nc- ..f Ju.Ias n.,t ImvlnR been pn>«.nf. Murvellou- lo»e of CUrlHt to tho fcleven.-llovT attrectiv.- and iiidearfng the solicitude displayed by him for Ilia f.icndx. -Unhappy «olf.rcIiance neon In l'eter.-,Ie«u.s will corrwst tlito evil,— I'fter's contritioH and rwtoratiou.— l he nafoty ut tlie bullsTer. PRAYER. Most blessed Redeemer, send forth into our souls the g-acious presence and influences of thy holy Spirit. May He render us feelingly alive to that unparalleled love dii played by thyself to us guilty sinners. Without Thee, wo are sinners ready to perish. By thy interposition wc are saved. Make us more and more contrite in sjiirit before Thee. Enable us to die daily unto sin, and to live unto uod. Thou who art « the life " of the ransomed souls, he ITiou our life. May the life that we now live in the flesh bo by the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us Thou art the good Shepherd : « the good shepherd givcth his hte for the sheep." Cause us to realize the full blessedness ot being gathered into thy fold. Save us, good Lord, with an everlasting salvation. Perfect in us the good work of sanctification. In soul, body and spirit, may we bo completely Ihine. May we be strong and lively as believers. We would be ever growing in our esteem of Thee, Thou " chiefest among ten thousand," and attaining more of the grace of self-abasement. Bless our present exercises. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, shall be aU the glory, world without end. Amen. 61 *'Tlicn saitli Jrsua unto them, All yc shall be offondod because of me this ni;^ht : for it is written, 1 will smite the shophenl, and the sheep of the fl.Hjk .hall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answerc' :"] said unto him, Though all m<'H shall be oflfended becMiSc of thee, y<^ will I never be offended. Jesus said unt him, Vc; ly I say unto thee, 'i'hat this night, before the cock c. w, tho shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though * shoul.' die with thee, yet, will I not deny thee. Likewise n, said all the disciples."— Matthew^ 20: 31-35. This interesting passage records a solemn intimation, on the part of the dying Redeemer, to his disciples. In particular, Peter becomes prominent, both from his replies to the predic- tion of the Lord, and from the guilty part acted by him amidst the general defection here foretold. The words seem to have been spoken immediately after the little company, who had celebrated the Christian Passover for the first time, had left the upper chamber in the crowded capital in which they had met, and were proceeding through its dense mass of human beings to the solemn retreat on the farther side of the brook Cedron. "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives." As Ihey were proceeding, "Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended becai'se of me this night." ' ^ The solemnity of the time and circumstances adds iinprcs- siveness to tho passage. 1. Tfn; time waa " the same night in which he was betrayed." That awful hour for which"' the Son of Man " had waited, in which Israel's symbolical and time-honoured passover must be celebrated conclusively, and merged into the higher ordinance of the festival of the Supper, had now fully come. Indeed its terrific termination was at hand. The dark clouds, betokening the most dread of all tempests, were now thickening with rapid accumulation. The moment of arrest, subsequent upon the betrayal of our Lord, was almost come. The Saviour of sinners was now repamng to the scenes of conflict unspeakable, where He must encounter the terrific onslaught of all his combined foes. -Sit ml if:! 62 God and the^iX'/o^rfe^^ *^^ ^^^^^ «f the forsaking of hi^^'Son ^^U^*^^""' countenance-even to patingwithDivbepreLi^^^ ""^ sensitively antici- few steps further an^T In u" "^^ """^ »* ^^ door. A sweat of "g elfiU of bS ^ir^'"J ?"^^^" ^"'^"^^ After this fs endu'r^S bt^dl'1SS\reT in t'T^'t: lowed ret rement • a hnnri r.*" „ J ? "P°" ^^^ hal- 2. The circumstances in which fhp TIr/^,./^c k r spoken were solemn in the Sst dLree .M.? "' ""* separated from the eleven hretw 3. i "^ ""' """ anS genuine membe,: TchA^^S E'^H^"^"^^ srp!L-:::E-i^gi3£te he sat u.™ with the twelve. A^l'th y d ™a t "Vs'^d" Venly I say unto you, that one of you shall betay me lid *Luk«33:3«. fJohnlS: 1,2. 6/ 68 they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord is it I ? And he answered and said, •■ He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of Man goeth as it is writter of him ; but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betraved ! it had been good for that man that he had not been born. Then Judas which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, IS it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said;" the. reply of onr Lord signifying that he was the one. All thi« is recorded by Matthew as having occurred before the institution of the Supper. He appears to refer to the same incidents as those mentioned by the beloved disciple (John 13 : 21, &c.) who writes—" When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, T say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter then beckoned him that he should ask who it should be of whom he spoke. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it ? He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop, Satan entered into him. . . . He then having received the sop, went immediately out : and it was night." The account by Luke of the celebration of the last passover, and of the institution of the Christian Sacrament, may appear to establish the opposite view— that Judas participated in both ordinances. Just after nar.*ating the appointment of the Lord's Supper, the evangelist records the words of Jesus, — " But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom He is be- trayed."* "^ This certainly, at first sight, looks as if the wretched apostle had remained and been present at the last solemnity,— had •Luke 22: 21, 22. 64 received the sacred memorials of his Master's death and love trom tlic hand of that Master. ]iut if we compare the wholj passa^'e with the accounts of the otlier insi)ircd writers and especially if wc coinpan? what the evan^^elist adds, ''And they began to oiKinire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing," with the account of John, alreachr cited, wc shall probably conclude upon good grounds tliat LiAe, having stated generally tlic observance of the Jewish festival and the introduction of its antitype, the tliristian Communion Supper, ?rwr" Though he fall he shall S b? hlnd^*^Ow";/'T*^' }r^ ""^^''^'^''^ ^"^ ^ith his .1. ., . . , ^® *^® ^^^'^ all ye saints : for the Lord pre- erveth the faHhful."t " Like as*; father pitieth his ch Id?en sav. ^"f^'^'Vir. '^''' ^''' ^^-t '-To Israel God says-"! have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy trans- gressions ; and a. a cloud, thy sins : return unto me ; for I have redeemed thee."|| v. , lui x How unhappy is self-reliance in the believer! When we S^''^"'!! T''**''?' ^^^"^ «^^^ weakness, then are we ^eally strong--" strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." When, on tTie other hand, we are stVong in the confidence of our own goodness or ability, we are most truly weak and ready to stumble. So it was with Peter. h{ tt '/i'^K '"' H^*?'*^ *^" ^^^^^'^' *ha*^ they would all smt owlnT7V^ ^""^ *i'l "'Sht,-" T;.ough all men shall be ofi-ended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." Tms appears to have formed the second inti! mation of the apostle's fall. Before leaving the house where the Paschal solemnities were celebrated, Jesns, in the most affectionate manner, said to his disciples — " Little and ri^'-/ ^f '/^t' ^ ^ ""''^ y*^"- Ye shall seek me! and, as I said unto the Jews, whither I go ye cannot come so now I say to you. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord Whither goest thou ? Jesus answered him. Whither I L thoJ canst not follow me now ; but thou shalt follow me afterwards Pe er said unto hun Lord, Why cannot I follow thee now'^ f Wi t tL;^r r^ ^'t ^V^I ''^'- ^''''' ^"«^^'^r«d him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake ? Verilv v^Hlv f say unto thee, the cock shall not crow till thou h.-V .jenied me thrice. "§ uemeu We may observe, in reference to Peter's sin, th?' ^j not • Psalm 37: 24. ii Isaiah 44 : 22. t Psalm 31: 23. J Paalm 113; 13. § John 13 : 33, Ac. It is urged ng and weak, . Respecting shall not be lira with his ;he Lord pre- his children, Israel God 1, thy trans- ;o me ; for I ! When we then are we power of his Tong in the most truly Peter. He 3y would all >ugh all men 1 never be second inti- the house, resus, in the I — " Little ill seek me ; nnot come ; him, Loz-d, er I go thou afterwards, lee now ? I wered him, ly, verily I '•"^ aeiiied hp' ^^ not }; 13. 33, &c. 67 only puts himself unduly forward, he does so in an egotistical manner, and without proper regard to the character and excellence of his brethren. He violates the spirit of the beautiful apostolical precept : " Look iiot every man on his own thmgs, but every man also on the things of others."* This good disciple was yet prone to elation and forgetfulness of the claims of his brethren. We see this disposition operating when he addresses his Master walking on the sea : " Lord, if It be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water " But this evil will not be tolerated by Jesus. By Hh r. evidence and Spirit the apostle shall be chastened, purified, and matured in holiness, so that in none of the children of God can we discover such narked and large progress in consecration to God, as in the venerable apostle of the circumcision, when about to put off the clay tabernacle, as the Lord Jesus Christ had showed him. How suitable, then, may we perceive the words of the adorable and loving Saviour to him to have been! " Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted sti-engthen thy brethren."! How rema.' My the prayer of the great Intercessor was answered, the 'whole of the subsequent personal and public history of the apostle strikingly shows. We see renewed and renewing grace in the deep sincerity, affection, and humbleness of Peter immediately after th^ resurrection of Christ. We see it in the reply to the three iterated inten-ogations, respecting his love to his Master : "Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him. Lord, thou I owest all thmgs ; thou knowest that I love thee."J Humiliation and contrition are largely associated v.ith the beginning of the divine life in the soul ; and this habit of mind musi be maintained, cherished, and increased throughout all the stages of the Christian's pilgrimage. Wherever faith exists this disposition will also be seen. And though we cannot perceive It in the lapsed apostle when his faith had failed (not as life • Philippians 2:4. f Luke 22 : 31. J John 21 : 17. il; m> m 68 expires when death attains the mastery, but as when through terroror weakness, faintness cr atter prosf-ation of streror°h and vitality may bo temporiii'V induced), we hove onlv°to witness hira after Jeinis had looked upon him as he was cg>i.. fusedly and hastily effecting his f, cape frora the hidi-nripst^t palace to be satisfied that he will prove hov/ tr-dy hi lio.s isses ' a broken heart." 8ee him as he.bitCeri v weeps las falsity 9U(t presumption, and see him again in his tl'turo career and vjoysuumation in this world ; and seldom indeed has ever a tmer apecunon bceii beheld of man truly and fully consecrated to ... -( , aud of unselfish, genuine benevolence towards his teI!oN.-.aan. fcuch Avas the result of the si.ppliant advocacy of tfi.- apostle and the High-priest-of ourpr.;fession on behalf ot tlu,s noble disciple. How obviously was iu wholly indebted to his Lord for his salvation, restoration, and stability! And how appropriately may all the followers of the Lamb be reminded--" For by gri'ce are ye saved throu-h faith: and tliat not of yourselves : it is the gift of God."* .Ja ''fT''T v"" ^H '^^^"S ^^^ prediction of Jesus, we read of the feeling of Peter and the rest on the occasion : iiut he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with tL !' 11 MX °f ^^""^ *^^® ^^ ^"y ^^^®- I^ikewise also said rney an. | And yet the event corresponded exactly with the prophecy Here we behold the unerring certainty of the purposes of God. How little do we know ourselves ! How rarely dowe deal faithfully with self! The sincerity of the disciples 18 unquestioned. Peter had drawn the sword in defence of the Master he loved. That Master enjoined him to sheathe it. He needed not such assistance. All heaven would have come to his aid and rescue had he desired it. ^iJut, how then," said he "shall the Scriptures be fulfille that thus It must be ?" Yet though thus resolute in fulfilling the will of his Father, and paying the ransoti-price of hii people s redemption, he n£ver, for a moment, . - ed to evince the tenderest love to his disciples. He at thought of them whe n the band of men and officers g r.a upon him. • Ephesians 2:8. f Mar' . ; ai. J he jiOHSiaaes 69 How he overawed that brutal company who had been sent to apprehend him. How He prevented them even seeking to meddle with the eleven who, ten-ified— all forsook Him and fled ! " If, therefore, ye seek me, let these go their way : that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none."* Rejoice, believer, in the safety of all who take refuge in this almighty Friend of sinners. And let love to Him who so loved us become more intense, iiiore holy, more nearly what it ou^ht to be. ° PKAYER. Most Blessed and Holy Lord God, make our love to Jesus to be without dissimulation. We distrust ourselves, and would place all our confidence in Thee— the Rock of Ages. May we ever rejoice in Thee as our reconciled God and Father. Bless our exercises. May the solemn truths to which our attention has been turned, be made effectual by the Spirit of thy Son in advancing thy kingdom in our souls. May the omniscience, love, and tenderness of our Immanuel never be forgotten by us ;^may they attract us more closely to Him. • Omnipotent Father, ever more keep us from falling. May what has been written for our admonition be savingly bene- ficial to us. Increase in us true humility ; strengthen our faith: deepen our love; purify our hearts; elevate our affections ; seal us unto the day of redemption ; and the glory shall be thine. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. World without end. Amen. John 18 : 8, 9. VI. PRAYER. Most HoLV and Eternal Father, in the name of thv blessed Son, do we now draw nigh unto Thee Testow h? richest blessings upon ua for his aake. In Him alone hS We righteousness and strength It U l,;^ i!w i , cleanseth us from all our sfnf ^ ^' ^^""^ '^^^^^ *^** fh^ir^'^f now draw nigh, and behold this great sights the mcarnate Saviour m the depth of agony and hnStiST the heigh and the depth, the length aJd the bJ^S^f that Dmne love which brought to GethseZie's garden thv beloved Son, that, as the substitute of the^tv hi^!?-^^ dnnk the cup which the Father had J^tn^ ^' ^ Sk\ May our contemplation of this Son of L love To lovtTni unto the death of the cross, fill our whole soS^ with ^I^ ! ove to our suffering Saviou'r. Ma/tWs Ce brfve^r ^^^^^^^ laying upon us necessity,.^ constrainmg us toHvenotto ourselves, but unto Him who loved us and gavrhimse^f f<^ us. Induce profoundest gratitude in ourT^Z^ ut reverence esteem, and affection, in the hi£t de^. ? on tho way to It.— J'-sug,— Tlio thrM amidst tho Horrows jod HIg Father.— ionce.— His prayer ilnod compogupo of ision of J08U8 that In devotion,— The lastcr.— LegBon to irouDutanoo* wait name of thy Bestow thy Q alone have •a alone that feat sight,— hnmiliation. e breadth of garden thy (7, he might na to drink I so loving U8 ith intensest ever felt aa live not to •■ himself for arts. May 8t degrees, lot only be US to watch 71 Wc desire to see more correctly, holy Lord God, in tho agony endured by our adorable Ucdcemci-, for sin, its terrific and infinitely baneful nature. And ever more may we loathe It m ourselves with increasing aversion. Cause our future lives to be holy as " He who hath called us is holy " As we meditate upon tho humiliation, obedience, and suffering of Jesus, O may wo grow in being " poor in spirit," in godlv mourning, and doing thy will from tlie heart. Ma- wc feel that, because of the ransom price that has been paid, we are accepted in the Beloved. Justified freely by thy fn-ace c eansed from an evil conscience by the sprinkling of the* blood of Christ, may we be enabled to glorify Thee in all things dunng our mortal pilgrimage, until we shall be able to glorify Thee better in the world to come. We rejoice, risen and glorified Saviour, that Thou hast promised to come "the second time without sin unto salva- tion, if or that glorious coming we desire to live, looking and waiting. We praise Thee that, till then, thy peoplf shall commemorate thy love, stronger than death, in the communion of thy body and blood. Sanctify to us that sacred ordinance, and all the other methods appointed by thyself for the edification of thy members. And the glory we shaU ever ascribe unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost world without end. Amen. ^ ' ' Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Geth- semane, and saith unto the disciples. Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons ot Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy Ihen saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowfii' even unto death ; tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed saymg, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pis from me : neverthele-s .i.ot> as I will, but as thou wilt. And he Cometh unto tho !• ciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto leer, Wh..t, could ye not watch with me one hour? watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the ft'" ma T2 spirit indeed i^ willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and r"""- ^ saying, my P'ather, if this cup may not pass a .ay irom mo, ex opt I (Irink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleci) again : for their eyes were heavy. And he ) ^ft them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the sumo ■woidg. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them. Sleep on now, and take your rest : behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sin- sers. Rise, let us be going : behold he is at hand that doth betray me."— -Matthew 20 : 30-46. We are now brought to the contemplation of those most solemn incidents which transpired after the blessed Saviour had left the upper chamb< r in Jerusalem. There he had celebrated the last 1 aschal Supper with his disci; "', and had instituted and observed that sacred ft .tival in which his faithful followers commemorate his dying and deathless love, and realize sacramental communion with their Lord and with ©ne another. He was now on his way to the seclusion which was to be the place of scenes of most awful grandeur and Sublimity, and of vfoes, to which the choicest language nd the noblest imaginaaon of man could not do justice. Gethsemane's garden waf- situated at the foot of the Mount of Olives Thitbo; Jesus id been v/ont to repair with his attendant Mjnds, tor the purposes of retirement and dev')tion. To this hallowed retreat the suffering Redeemer now purposed going. The r*.^-^ leading from the city to this rural spot was shaded by rows of the vine,- -the beauiuul emblem of the relation borne by Christ to uis j[j':^ople. In ight of the attractive image, whose mult'*, uuouh members ovo.spread delightfully the path-way, w<' hear tiie gracious Master thus addressing his ipl- : "I am th<^ true vine, and my Father is the xsh (man. Every iranch in me that beareth not fruit le tak. th away: and '-very bi.aich that beareth fruit, he purge th it, that it maj ')ring forth more fruit."* The little company having now anived at •John 15: 1, 2. 73 the nearer side of the Ccdron, Jesus, " the ^ood shepherd " stopped and after a solemn pause, offered unto hs Fat er on behalf of he httle floek now with him, and of all po4S to the fohi, th^vt m«st affecting an Joha 18 : fldem 2: 2. 74 lovely and admiu We ; they are most inspiriting' and clevsiting. In common with other purposes, they serve to shew what a de;j;rec of sacred affection and moral excellence renovated human nature, even on earth and amidst present imperfec- tions, is capahle of attaining. How heaiiteous, for instance, is the mutual play of pure and hallowed friendship among some of the memhers of the ransomed family ! If we study and mark this, in the leaning of Israel's high priest upon his superior and nohler brother — the leader and lawgiver of Israel — in the reciprocal attachment subsisting so beneficially between Aaron and Moses, we shall find a fine si)ecimen of eincero esteem and love. And who can remain unthrilled when obtaining even a glimf.se of the emotions that were so largely and disinterestedly felt, in the depths of each soul, on the part of the son of Saul and the future monarch of the people of God ? Will the scejitic and the sordid worldling deny the sublime and spiritual attraction between soul and soul among the nobles of the true Israel? Let him try, if possibly he is capable of approximating to an appreciation of the refined, yet undoubted truth of a single exclamation of the inspired elegiast, when giving expression with such scenic vividness to his stirred sensibilities. Can he claim to judge of such a passage (of the son of Jesse to his departed friend) as the following? "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : very pleasant hast thou been unto me : thy love to me was wonderful, passmg the love of women."* We might multiply cases from the Word of God, of the existence of true and special friendship between two parties. But a simple reference to the union of heart and mind between Peter and John, and between Paul and his " beloved son Timothy," will be sufficient. What we now desire is to observe how the soul of Jesus, out of whose " fulness " all his friends have received " even grace for grace," was most thoroughly cast into the mould of friendship. This is seen all along in his intercourse with his disciples, whom he called, regarded, and dealt with, not as servants, but friends. And * II Samuel 1>26. 78 \vf "sfo T^r *''" "'^'^P*""'^"'^' the friends of the holy Saviour Ihen Cometh Joaus with them mU> a nl«^<-X.TS' eemane, and saith unto the dis-lnlo, %t ,K. i u-, ,""" and pray yonder. And he to k 'S h Ifcrf*':!''/*'' :wfat''r:une^rr'^'rt^^^ m i' I' when realizing union and cowmunion at the table of then* common Lord, receive enhancement from the confidence that if " one member suffer, all the members suffer with it ; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."* And does not the mature believer rejoice in the con- solation that the presence of one greatly beloved, near and dear, can impart to the dying Christian ? Consciously one in the pure, tender, snd eternal love of Jesus, holy and mutual affection is capable of refreshing and invigorating the soul, when the head is reclining on the pillow of death, or the dying embrace is joyfully tendered to the faithful friend. Influenced by such emotions, we are invited to witness, in a measure, our elder Brother earnestly asking the support and prayerful sympathy of those three brethren beloved, with whom he was on terms of closest and tenderest intimacy. He seeks that, by their society, his trials and sufferings may be soothed and alleviated. His pure human nature now desires the devout vigilance and attachment of such choicest men of God. To Peter, James and John the dying Redeemer said, " My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death : tarry ye here, and watch with me." He had already begun " to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy." But the terrible enemy advanced still onwards with desperate malignity and fury. The " power of darkness " was in this hour concentrating all his forces to assail Messiah. How natural, how becoming, that- the Son of God should, in such circumstances especially, betake Himself to the Father ! He had sought the vigilance and the prayers of those whom he was not ashamed to call " his brethren." But he was conscious that all this would not be enough ; that he needed more than all this, if, indeed, this could be vouchsafed him. It was no ordinary foe, and no ordinary occasion, that now he had to meet. The " prince of darkness," with all his combined and concentrated ener- gies, was upon Him. And his attack upon the Substitute of sinners will be commensurate with his hatred, power, and skill. It will not only be extraordinary, but altogether * I CorinthiaDB 12 i 26. le of their confidence 'er with it ; ejoice with in the con- l, near and ciously one , holy and jrating the r death, or iful friend, witness, in tie support loved, with imacy. He igs may be low desires :est men of lemer said, I : tarry ye ;un " to be ible enemy and fury, itrating all becoming, especially, e vigilance led to call this would if, indeed, •y foe, and lie " prince ■ated ener- ibstitnte of )ower, and altogether 77 unparalleled, unspeakable, inconceivable, so that the mind of man cannot grasp or comprehend it. To whom, then, but to ^od, his own God, shall tlie " Darling" of the Father go ? lo God, accordmgly, he draws nigh. And oh, who caii in any adequate measure estimate aright the anguish of that terrific hour, or the enduring of that suppliant spirit? He cries, "Be not far from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help."* He instinctively felt, in all its force, the rsaimist's complaint—" lover and friend hast thou put far from me."f ^ _ After soliciting the three disciples to remain and watch with him, " he went a httle farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me : nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt " Ihis prayer la recorded by the three evangelists who narrate the agony of the garden. It was then, apparently, that the human nature of our Saviour was most terrified at the apal- ing prospect unmediately before Him. What a debt had He engaged to discharge ! What a ransom price to pay ! What a cup to drmk ! Who can imagine what a sight the prescience of Jesus then had of all that was to follow ? Earth and hell did not exhaust the number and variety of the agents that would be permitted to attack liim. Above and beyond all that these supplied, Jesus anticipated the wounding, bruising and hiding of the countenance of his Father, -of that God whom he perfectly loved, and by whom he was perfectly loved. How could He, who was truly man, and made " m all things hke unio his brethren," but be inchued to shrink from such a prospect? Had He not dreaded and sought to avoid it, if possible, we might have doubted his real mrlici- pation of our nature. We certainly would have lacked the evidence which we now possess of his being " very man." Yet let the beholder note that even at this crisis, which neither the human mind can fully reach, nor human language pourtray,— that at this infinitely awful moment, nothmg is more apparent and perspicuous in the propitiatory Suff'erer I [I IF Psalm 22: 11. t Psalm 88; 13, 1.1 1 f 4 : hnd him asaocuited with the enemies of the Lord ' Nay to discover that he is the leader and most perfidj. them all ! In the preconcerted si-nal, hy which his v vvas to be marked out, and in the salutation he addressed to Him, wc have conveyed a symbol or type ..f demoniacal traitor- ousnoss of character, of which there is no parallel in the annals of history ; and the ahhorent guilt of which no lan- guage can express. " Now he that betrayed hiin gave them a g!gn,_ saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Josus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him." The words were those of joyful gi-eeting, expressive of a hope of health, together with the token of endearment, purity, and love, to which the great and gracious Master had admitted his apostles. Bnt the meek Saviour evinced his solemn condemnation of such mahgnity. "And Jesus said unto him. Friend, Cor, fnend), wherefore art thou come?" And oh what heart can feel, what_ intellect can grasp, what imagination can picture, the height and depth, the length and breadth of meamng conveyed in that awful intcrrog.ition ? Surely the very traitor must have writhed under its indignation, tender- less, and sarcasm. But, as if the yearning humanity of the bon of Man could not let this " son of perdition" go without an effort to recall him to serious reflection, and snatch him aa a brand from the burmng, we read that Jesus (doubtless with a solemnity and po« r inexpressiblv affecting), said unto liim, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss '<"'• Alas ! he had not known in his day the things that belon<^ed to Ins peace, and now they were hid trom his eyes. His accepted time was now for ever past ; and he is hurried on with the tumult of events by which he is surrounded. When the omniscient Saviour saw the dii^orderly band that were just at hand. He, "knowing all thing, that should com© upon him, went forth and said unto hen., Whom seek ye ? * Luke 22 : 46. t- ! !. SiHi .%<. ,W, ^^'^^ V^^"<^ ■^\nO. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) :/ 1.0 I.I |50 ™'^ 1.2 2.5 2.2 :!: 1^ 112.0 11-25 llu 1.6 V <5^ '> ') Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 M V" \ qv S> -on Jes -7 and atterwards an apostle, we are not informed.^ lie ma;; m the outset, have been a promising and well-disposed persoj somewhat of the stamp of the young ruler who c^ne tl Jo us earnestly enquiring, - Master, what good thing shall I Z that I may have eternal life ?" If we bear in mind the pre! vailing notions of the Jewish people respecting Messiah, their king, and tha these prevailed in no smalf degree among even the aposties of Christ, we can easily underst^'and Zau ambitious, a covetous, an able and energetic worldling like Judas shou d attach himself to the ranks of ihe friends of Messiah. And we can as ea.sily understand how he mi-rht become impatient under what might appear to him to be the tion witbT^'''^'" '^ ^'' ^'^'' '-^"^ aspirations, in connec- tion with the soveregnity and sway of lliin in whom ho bd^eved as the king of the Jews. %at he was not at one Yet was he ever, and at the best, essentially deficient m that per;ect^.nof heart, without which none is^a memte of the mystical body of Christ, and which the veriest babe m thnst uniformly possesses. The apostate apostle was never truly joined unto the Lord by that living faith which • Idem 6 ; 70. a i J 90 knits the soul of the sinner to the Saviour for all time, and for all eternity. He was never dissevered from i is idols. His will was never subdued to the Divine will. He never, in very truth, sought the honour of God. We wonder not, then, that he fell. Alas ! alas ! he so fell that it was impos- sible for him to be renewed again unto repentance. He had been " once enlightened ; had tasted of the heavenly gift ; was made a partaker of the Holy Ghost ; had tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come ; yet did he crucify the Son of God, and put him to an open shame. All the excellence of Jesus, in his walk, miracles, and teach- ing ; all the strivings of the Spirit of grace, were resolutely opposed by him. Hence he was given over to a reprobate mind, to work all iniquity with greediness. Unreined by Divine providence, which prevents the development of many a wicked man's desires, his covetousness, his hitherto disap- pointed ambition, and his wrathful resentment, all come into play. Satan also entered into him in an extraordinary manner. He was permitted to take possession of him as the just punishment of such resistance of good as Judas ha<' perpetrated, out of the abuse he had made of the precio^i opportunities he had enjoyed. It is certain that this " carnally-minded " man hhd no adequate idea of the consequences to which his trcachery and co-operation with the avowed haters of tiie Lord would lead. Calculating, he no doubt was, in ordinary circum- stances, especially in regard to pecuniary gain; but his anticipations, in this case, were probably altogether erroneous. He looked not for such an issue as actually transpired. Indeed, he was such an unbeliever, that he did not deem it possible that his Master would allow himself to be taken and disposed of, as in the result was seen. It is in the highest degree probable that, under the tremendous influence of the devil, to whom he had sold himself, actuated by the ruling passions of a worldling, and at last instigated to the very height of malignity by what occurred at th- feast of the Passover, when Jesus made him feel that he was perfectly aware of his diabolical schcncs, and, in a measure, unfolded all time^ 1.13 idola. He never, >nder not, vas impos- He had •enly gift ; i the good ; yet did en shame, and teach- resolutely reprobate [reined by t of mnny irto disap- come into paordinary bim as the Fudas ha<' le precio .n hiid no trcachery iord would ■y circum- i; but hi& erroneous, transpired, lot deem it taken and he highest jnce of the the ruling » the very ast of the i perfectly ;, unfolded I 91 tu.^ to the execution of his purposes. He allowed himself no time for the exorcise of dim' reflection. He bar red hL soul from the possibility of godly contrition. ^ Previous to this time, Judas may have sought merely to take such measures as would constrain Jesus, whom he Zultdt't^r^^ "^ "^"™^ ^^^^ ^^ pres'umptuousiy' SSv ^if«? • P••.•^P«^P•'3•tion,-to assert hs regal dignity. Selfishness -ustigated this daring man. He expecSd estlfshed™Hl"b*''^'"=•'^^" ^'^''^ -- «^-' ^ e estaoiished. H,s character, aims and motives were not in thi respect dissimilar to those of the men of wh^m we read m the 6th chapter of John ; and who, excited by X mii ^le of the loaves and fishes, in the beneficence of which th^y had participated, determined to come and take Jesus bvforce and make him a king. Doubtless they also deemed thaUhJ Saviour wa. unduly retarding his own cause. With a Ike carnal dictatorial, and impetuous spirit as that which refgned in Judas they resolved to apply friendly coercion in order ^, compel the king of the Jews to a^ser^^ His royil da ms T.,s was the wisdom of the world,-the wisdom of i which, as demonstrated by man's history, so o^ra J ^' that '■ the world by wisdom knew not God?' Sucrunvar^ mgly, 13 the tendency of self-seeking ungodliness e^enwh I most sagaciously directed. In each of theT^lTldrertedt^ «^ party thought that energetic and friendly co^soine^ might carry the rights of the Redeemer of Isr^l to a sn^ m the things of Mammon, and the subject of the We of S^^^^^^^ hfr^ f/f.^^'" P'*^"'^' bold, and wrathful. Be^des aJ i,ii 92 m *' Jiul.-w, hotrayc?t thou the Son of Man with a kiss ?" " Faithful are tlie wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an eneiriy are deceitful," said that inspired wise man, Avho had more acfjuaintance with the workings of human nature, and a wider range of observation and knowledge, than any other of the children of men. Yet of all the deceitful kisses of ■enemies that were ever realized, none can come nearly up to the guilt, perfidy, and baseness of the kiss of Judas. Only ponder for a moment upon the Master and the apostle. What condescension, love, and most endearing intimacy must Jesus have conferred \xpon the twelve ! And yet one of them to act as Judas did I ingratitude and inhumanity une(pialled ! profaner of all the beavitiful, sincere and ))ure idiosyncrasies of h.'dlowed affection and Christian friendship, what shall we ' >>" - - ' — - we shall leave thee. say r what can we say of thee ? We shall attempt to say no more ; we snail leave tiiee. Happily thou art, so far, single and unexampled in thy gxiWt ! Yes, poor human nature, fallen, weak, and vile as are many of its featiiros, is not represented by thee. Thou art not a fair, not a correct, Teprcsentation of man. Thou art a devil : thy very Master «aid so. The meek and tender Jesus exclaimed — "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil ?" We return now to the assemblage, guided by such a leader, who were intent upon seizing Jesus of Nazareth. Although the season was that of the full moon, ss was always the case when the passover was celebrated, this ruthless multitude came with lanterns and torches. Tliis was, possibly, with a view to effect. They had no need of them otiierwise. They might helj) to stimulate themselves, in case of any opposition, and they might prove injurious to a hostile party. They were also armed with swords, clubs, and other weapons. This was designed to make it appear that danger was apprehended from Jesus and his adherents. What tender and loving regard, — what Divine care did " the Word made flesh " here manifest towards liis true dis- ciples ! In his intercessory prayer to the Father, he said : " Those that thou gave'st me I have koi)t, and none of them is lo.-t but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be I c tl a kiss ?" isses of an 1, who hud aturo, and any other 1 kisses of ;arly up to as. Only stle. What mist Jesus )f thorn to leqiialled ! 'syncrasies \t shall we t to say no far, siTigle in nature, OS, is not a correct, rv Master I—" Have ?" 1 a leader, Although s the case multitude ily, with a se. They >pposition, ty. They ions. This prehended i care did s true dis- ', he said : 3 of them i might be 93 ^iutl . '^^f P/^«^'^»«^, and compassion of the Apostle toucl nf "' •"' ^'f'T"" ""''' ^'vi'lenced, in aSnost touching manner immediately after the institution of the iNew lestament Passover. He said to the fii-st communi cans: '' All ye shall he offended because of metllin™"; the fl"\'"'f l^'l ""'^Kr'l '\' ^'^^P''^"-^' '-^"'l the shecM> of again, 1 w,] go before you into Galilee.' We behold the same ceaseless regard for these faithful men when they were r^iZi *^,^''«,^'^^^''^'« '>f an unprincipled and cruel hand, ready for blood or any enormity. Repeating His .juestion Whom seek ye ? they said, Jesus of Na?areth.^ Jesus answered I have told you that I am lie. If therefore ve seek me, let these go their way." And so overawed we're that furious raa.^ of evil men byHispower,that they attempted not to impede or touch one of the eleven. This is the iJiore remarkable, as the disciples were quite disposed to resistance m defence of their Master. Their unfeigned attachment to Jesus is finely seen even in their error. " When they that were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Loul shall we smite with the sword ?" They had but two swords among them, and one of these had fallen into the hands of the chivalrous and ardent Peter. Of him we read that, with characteristic impulsiveness, and without waitin.' for any reply to the enquiry in which all the disciples apmrently umted, he proceeded to attack, not the traitor, as we might have supposed, bu a poor servant of the high priest, intend- ing to cleave Ins head with a deadly thrust : "And behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the hi-'h nriest and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto hi^ >ui up agmn thy sword unto its place; for all they that take tli sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently -rive me more than twelve legions of angels. Jkt how the.I sliall the hcnpture be fulfilled, that thus it must be."* Surely the ;lii i 94 spirit of Christ at this trying moment is worthy of all adraira- tion. It IS truly touching. Remonstrating with his ardent but indiscreet fnend, he says : " Put up thy sword into the sheath ; the cup which my Father hath given me shall I not dnnk It / He further repaired the injury done by his disciple to Malchus. " He touched his ear and healed him." Ought not this omnipotent benevolence, thus manifested, to hav« softened, yea, melted, the hearts of the beholders ? Should It not, together with what they had just experienced of that Divme power, which caused them to go back and fall to the ground, have convinced them of the character of Jesus ? Would not the truthful and the good have felt that God waa with Hira ? that He Himself was verily God ? Unquestionably there can be but one reply to such enquiries ; and that is in the affirmative. Had they been men of integrity, such would have been the effect upon their minds. But they were the slaves of Satan ; they were led captive by him at hia pleasure. Like Judas, they in some measure may be said to have sold themselves to him. They were in league with that arch-apostate, and his spirits of darkness, against the Prince of life ; and he will war even with the Almighty. How impressive and touching is the expostulation of the Divme Teacher, now a prisoner in the hands of his enemies ' Addressing the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, Jesus said : " Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me ? I was daily with you m the temple teaching, and ye took me not." " But '• he added, "this is your power and the power of darkness.'" Wor did he fail to mtimate that, after all, whatever earth and hell might wish or intend, they were but the unconscious instruments of Jehovah, in the fulfilment of His purposes • for, as the Apostle informs us, " All this was done, that the bcriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." And " then " we learn from the same inspired writer, " all the discipl^ forsook him and fled." For this their Master was prepared. \S e have seen how he had provided for their safety. In consequence, their enemies were prevented from hurting a hair of their head. Not one of the unfortunate rabble, or of ' all adraira- » his ardent rd into the shall I not his disciple m." Ought id, to have I? Should 3od of that i fall to the of Jesus ? it God was iiestionably d that is in ;rity, such they were him at his be said to e with that the Prince ion of the 3 enemies ! emple, and ist a thief, daily with " But," larkness." earth and nconscious purposes ; ), that the i " then," > disciplei prepared, ifety. In hurting a Zulu, or of 95 its leaders, dared, or had power to impede or touch one of that little unprotected, weak company. Perhaps one natural cause of this was the intent eagerness with which the multi- tude kept their object in view. Their single aim was to secure tt/e person of Chnst ; and they cared little at this moment for any other consideration. The overruling power and love of •?u T' »?^®^?*"' n»«st conspicuous. Surely we can exclaim with the Psalmist-" How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God ! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."* The flight of the eleven, though foreseen and pardoned by the merciful High Priest and King of his people, was yet, doubtless, a bitter ingredient in the cup given Him to drink. Un their way to Gethsemane, these disciples had expressed f^T?!^^\''' *^^'^ ^'■^- " ^^^ *^« ^e 8»^." they said, that thou knowest all things, and newest not that any man should ask thee : by this we believe that thou earnest forth gom God. Jesus answered them. Do ye now believe? Uehoid the hour cometh, yea is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone : and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me "+ He was fully possessed with the conviction which, on a pre- vious occasion, he had uttered—" Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to ky it down, and I have power to teke it again. This commandment have I received of my father. 'J •' The forsaking of His avowed and much endeared friends must have increased the poignancy of the grief with which the bon of Man was now filled. It reminded the augudt bufferer that even this was not all ; that the cup was not yet mi; that the eUmax was stUl in terrific prospect. The fu'^ ^^ His Father's countenance, yea, the being forsaken of Him— how infin itely woful to His only begotten and well •Paalai36: 7. t John 16: 30-32- iJohn 10: 17, 18. Nj « be ovcd Son I W.th he nature He wore, and the puHty cf that awfi.1 lught, and the still more aUl nioroin.' that IZ anpmachmg. AU God's waves and billows wei^> i^^Z ^ The topics upon which we have been dwollin.' are ridi in Anli'l'^lZ^ '""' ^^' ''•'" «'""'^ ^ -me of"tlVem We have impressively set before us not only tl,e terri- blenoas ot the evil of sin, but ak> the aKsolute^and imS- pcnsable necessity for its punishment. We see this i the the father, when, m the room of sinners, He was pouring out h,s soul unto death. When the Fathei-^s justicTS even th.8 Son as the Substitute of the guilty, it*'couM rSn any degree rela^x its-demamls, but p^v^^U all itsTks upon H,s de yot i head. How obmWly impossible.Then is It for any smner to escape tliat is Jt iJ Christ ' What mdness to expect that the vile transgressor shall be spared when the spotless Lamb of God, ^vhen a sacrifice hrZn must suffer to the uttermost, and pay the la«t farEJ r ''''* feecondly,_Let us derive from the contemplation of the love ot the dymg Saviour, new and uwre vigorous love to Him who loved us It IS no mei-e di-amatic representation, with » quently. fhe whole constitutes a sad and most intensely solemn submission of the Holy One of God to the TuU demands of law and equity against the sinner. We behold no stoica^ apathy m the man Christ Jesus, but, on the con- trary, the keenest and the most sensitive feeKn-. How affectingly do wesee the veritable man actuated by Sie finesT and most dehcate empathies of our nature, in the aS made to his murderous enemies-" Are ye come oK against a hi^wayman?" The calumny and falsity of tht done to His character He sorrowed for the wickedness of SniTw-'^^^J'^^l' ^««^n«'«*«"* f«e«- AU this tended to enhance His gnef. Let us evince our love to Him who thus 3 97 gave Himself for us, hy erucifjin^ all our sins and livin-^ in all n^'hteousness, hy mo,x> thoro„;r}, repontance, by uu 1 >ul7ted Thirdly,— Lot tis he warned of the danger of tlie h™rf mrtS.7 "•;■';'.'.''"'■ "" «'■"• ™ui,te7L ;*et raii:r*t^t;4"'C;r'™ Ca'A'T^T- -' '^ "-'^ i..,;^-.^ T J W ^"M""<^'^' iiio want of tus noribcHnn rained J„da8 He radically failed here. He never ™veZ lui-I"'*""'"lity of obtaining adequate evidence against Jesus.-The unjust and ,1 egal method had recourse to, to Induce self-crimination.-Our Lord avowed that God was His Father, which the Sanhedrim understood to he making o1'chrL?ri^ with God.-The insult, offered Him.-His cond.Mnnation.-The reply of Christ to the high pnest.-l>eter'8 denial of Christ.-llis restoration. PRAYER. Ever Blessed God, with deepened feelings of awe, rever- ence, and devotion, would we now draw nigh unto Thee in the name of thj glorious Son, our adorable Redeemer. In Him, alone, we have righteousness and strength. Throuf^h Hun, alone, have we pardon and peace. " By his stripes are we healed. By His word are we cleansed ; by His Soirit made alive unto Thee. ^ , ^'^^yj''^ ^^ enabled to continue our meditations upon the last sufferings of our dying Saviour, with great and increasine spiritual benefit. We there behold that " He who was rich tor our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty' might be rich." May we feel, more vividly and justly than ever we have yet done, the constraining power of the love of Christ. may we evermore, while we live, live not to our- selves, but to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us io^us to hve may it be Christ, and to die unspeakable (, I? ^?m' ^"^^^ J"^*^ ^"^ ^°^^' ^^^" ^^ "behold our Surety bound as a criminal, may we strive more earnestly to mortify the lust of the flesh. Mav pride, emulation strife anger, malice, and all other sins, be destroyed hi us.' May 101 we crucify the flesh with all its affections anrl lusts. Enahle us to attain unto profounder love and more thorou^rh conse- cration to our Lord. Suffer us not ever to be ashamed of Christ. \\ e would esteem His reproach greater riches than all the treasures of earth. He thought upon us in our low anrt lost estate, because Plis love was stronger than death and bocause His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting unto them that fear Him. May we be called and sanctified in Him. U how He humbled himself for us and became obedient, unto death, even the death of the cross ! May wc, ti fore die unto sin and live unto God. And may our whole life! henceforth, be by the faith of the Son of God. Mav we live, yet not we, but may Christ live in us. How dreadful, God, is the wickedness of which the corrupt heart of man is capable!. How vile, abominable, and degraded has sin rendered us ! In the falsehood and raali- mty the persecutors and murderers of our dying Redeeme? we behold what our fallen and alienated nature is capable of pei-petratmg. may the blood that was shed throu4 their instrumentality, atone for our guilt, and cleanse us from all sin. May wc be washed, justified, and sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God our Father we would supplicate in the language taught u3 by our Lord and Master: "lead us not into temptatio'n, but deliver us from evil." We are deeply sensible of mir liability to error and stumbling ; to conduct and words most dishonour- ing to Him who has called us by His grace. From all sin we beseech thee to deliver us, good Lord." The indwelling and influence of thy Spirit alone can sustain us. We have no confidence in ourselves ; even our love to Jesus will not ensiire our safety, without thy omnipotent energy. " Our snfficiency is of God." •' ^ ^j kjixt And now Almighty Father, our waiting eyes are towards Ihee Our hope is in Thee. May the gracious smile and the sanctifying Spirit of our now glorified High-priest be vouch- safed as we are about to be occupied. And may these, our humble and hearty prayers, be accepted and answered, for Jesus' sake. Amen. m iiifciLi ■'I 102 Jesua led Ai/n away to Caiaphas the high prieat, where the atar ott unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servante, to see the end. Now the chief pr ests and (lers and all the council, sought false witness agaS Jesus t.) put him to death ; But found none : yea, thoujrh manv false witnesses came, ^et found they none/ At the last came two false witnesses, And said, this/e//«^ said, I am able t^ destroy the temple of God, and to build it in thrie days An^ the high pnest arose, and said unto him, AnswS Zn nothing ? what t> it tvMch these witness againstThee 9 Bu^ Jesus held his peace. And the high pri"est answered and said unto him, \ adjure thee by the living God that thou tel us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of G^d Jesu" saith unto him Thou hast said: ne;ertholess I say unto you Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on ?he rS hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven Then Diaspnemy , what further need have we of witnesses ? behold IV ^'.^'^-^^ S* ^^'^^'^y- ^'^-* think ; ? Th tr' answered and said. He is guilty of death. Then did they with the mi^:!:f?h^- Y'^^ ^"^'^ ^"^ ''^''' «•-«*« S rhir l^^ I *i'': ^*"^'' '^y^"o' Prophesy unto us, thou Chnst, Who IS he that smote thee ? Now Peter sat withou m the palace ; and a damsel came unto him, saying! Thou a lo wa.t with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied befof^ theZ all, saying, I know not what thou sayost. And when he wm gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto Nrareth T^^ *^-«' Jhis /.jW was also 'with Jesus of iNazareth. An'i agam he denied with an oath, I do not know W T"^' -Aff'' ^^^"« ^^'"^ "'^t^ ^i«^ hey tha stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art out of them for cock c ew ^aL T.°'^ '^' '"r- /""^ iDimediately the cock crow. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which said unto him. Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thnce. And he went out, and wept bitterly." ^ r 103 We read that after Jesus had surrendered himself into tha hands of the band, and the captain and the office™ who arresl ed h.m, they "bound him, and led him away to Annas first for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the hil' priest that same year."* What a demoniacal spHt mus We actuated the enemies of Christ ! How strikinX L H^'JerTu ? '" '""•"« ^'^^ ^" ''''-'' - bind ng I LI However felt fear or supposed necessity may have Bmi^eZd «uch an act to those who sent this muldtude^ the exp^S^ and observation of all present ought surely to have Ssfied them of the absolute nullity of such an act to restrain or secure their prisoner without Ilis own permission^ If He were disposed to resist, all their malice and'cfforts would obviously b impoten to retain Him. On the other hand,if Jesuswe^ willing to allow them to apprehend Him, to have recourse to 9uch a method was totally uncalled for and gratuitous Ih^ would undoubtedly accompany them wherever S ^iSt desire. Yet with cruel hands ind harder hearts th^sSp company "took Jesus and bound him." S'entired'nto He wr^"'" '"^ ^"^""- «^ '^' S"»>«^^^«^ of te gui^;r He was bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows He w{« givmg lus soul as an offering for sirme^s. Ind th ^ incS Fi:iTJo"i'7 '' '^^""u^ ^'^•^'^ H« must :xh:ustr as the high-pnests Annas seems to have held '/. S.y m the priesthood. But his son-in-law, Caiaphas was iS^ and had been durmg the procuratorship of felato,^^"^^^ high-pnest This arrangement had been effectodprobaW? Though Jesus was first conducted to Annas, as the senior ^d superior of the priesthood, Annas did nothing fartre? b the business than to send Him " bound " to CaiaphL f S ,.'J'! '!, ! 1 i • Johai^: 12, 13. t John 18 : 24. life 104 Z ^!;r l'^ '"^u^'''. " "^'^ '^^ high-priest that same year," the bauhclrim had been convened, and were now actual v assernhlod Up to this late hour if the night, or o f il.J mornmg, they had waited, hoping that the plo of Juch^ nnght he successful, and their LlTed-for victimCcured U thatT"' "r'^i'>' ^^"H^''-« I'^'l counselled and ins'i^att that Jo us should be put to death. The Spirit of God ha caused urn to predict that this " one man should die re people, thus addu.g one to the other examples recorded in fe npture where God, in His sovereignty , was p^le...e,l to n loy phellfsptit ' ''' '•'' ''^'''^' '' "^^'^'"^" '^' t''« Pr^ There were present on a former occasion of the Sanhedrim a.sembhng some who objected to the measure prop sed by Caiaphas. In his most eventful night, however, " the chiet^ priests, and elders, and all the council " were met, with he unanimous determination that, if possible, they would denr ve the dreaded Nazarene of life. How nearly ripe for jud'S were these ecclesiastical rulei-s of the Jewish peoplS he nation whom they represented, we perceive at a glance^when the evangelist states that the unbhishing and well-umlcrrtood object their being at that extraordinary hour m tl tSe palace of the high-pnest, w^is to seek " false witness a^^ainst Jesus to put iiim to death."* «* "^* How fiendish the spirit, how satanic the motives and pur- poses that a.Huated these men ! Verily their guilt was far more grievous than that of those concerninc. whom the Psalmist says : " Have all the workers of iniquity no Lot ledge i who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord."t ^^Alas ! they afe wise to do evH, bu to do good hey have no knowledge." They are most ;es^ lute and determined to accomplish their design in defiance of every la;v ot God and man. Surely their consciences must have testified that they were the children of the dev 1 Bu they regarded not such a conviction. True te their proper character and m addened to desperation, they proceed in a •John 18: 89. t Paalm 14 ; 4. 105 way worthy of men who could cither nffpnf f-^ k righteous than others, and make on Inrav^rL n ."""'" or could, with the effrontery of t le^S?^^^^^^ readiness for any crime that^-ould tre hem t,' S "Jr purpose. How terrible is the de^^radation wllh tl^fell t, entailed upon man ! Our corrup" nature is camh n J • lengths in sin that must astonisL the 1" ^T vil'^' IT"! dreadful is the malady, to remedy which fho ^n,. .r /^ T came into the world! Ve here so"; Ze UtnX suSI divme haviour as He, was recjuirod for the case of^the n Z:^J\ "' ^'''r'V<^^^ I-''-"ally from sud gJlt our" sul.ject brings under our notice, let us never forirplfn IH and to whom we are indebted for the differencf Aro partakers of sanctifying grace ? To G^d al The ^JZ glory. If we are destitute of this rcnovatin- influence wp have no ground to conclude that we would not have a" ted I^ b^e a part as the Sanhedrim, had we been tinted ^s were these enemies of Christ now under our noH^o u -vV and lively gratitude to the God of rCodness JuS to? enhanced in our souls by such consideration^ ° '' ^' Ihere are seldom wanting those who are ready for an adequate bribe, to testify falsely and to perjure tlfe'mselves for the purpose of pleasing their superiors and Zsein power Such persons often pretend to be actuated by a regard for religion. The infamous Jezebel did notscruple (hctate this plea m fulfilling her murderous determSfon agamst the pious and patriotic Naboth, the IsSe At her instigation, the elders and nobles of Israel "proelaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. Andlhere came m two men children of Belial, and^at before him and «ie men of Belial witnessed again^^t him, even a^Zi Naboth, in the presence of the peonle savin r N.1 !??; blaspheme God Ll the king. 1^^^^^^ out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he Id - Of a pi-ecisely similar character were the witnesses of he Sauhedi^^ it is observable with con- * I Kings 21 : 12, 13. H ■i i 106 siderablc difficulty. " Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none : yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said. This felloiv said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days."* The number of witnesses, we again observe to be the smallest admissible according to law, in order to the condemnation of an individual to death. Nor is it possible to detect either blasphemy or impiety in the alleged statement, even sup- posing it to have been true. But the single object of those who had suborned these wicked witnesses, was the death of Christ. Hence they required to observe and go through the fonns of law. And alike the Jewish and the Roman laiv insisted upon the testimony of two witnesses in a case of Hfe and death. But, as is usual with unprincipled leaders, they could mystify and mislead sufficiently to keep down any repugnance which any of the people might entertain to such a diabolical deed as the putting Jesus to death, the Messiah. The unsatisfactory and inadequate nature of the evidence against Jesus, was felt by the whole Sanhedrim. Even those who hated Him with the blindest fury perceived this. Hence they had recourse to a method against which all law and justice protest. They sought to criminate the prisoner by means of His own confession. " The high-priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of His doctrine."! As to His di&. ciples, he said nothing ; as to His doctrine, He said nothing in particular, but referred Himself to those who heard Him, it being not only manifest to God, but made manifest also in their consciences. He tacitly charges His judges with illegal proceedings. The crime the Sanhedrim, by the law, was to enquire after, was clandestine spreading of dangerous doc- trines, enticing secretly .$ As to this, Christ clears Himself very fully. || He answered, " I spake openly to the world ; He, t • iMatt. 26: 59-61. X Deut. 13 : 6. t John 18: 19. II Tract Society Commentary. 107 Whj askest tirou me '' A l ^o^^'r \''? ^ T^ "'^^''i"^'- have said ,u.to them • bohni I f ? '''"'H ^'"""^ '»^' ^^^"'t I this excoption/howo; r e '^^^^^^^h^t I ^aicl."* With "'eet.to li silent Th ;;"!'' -"T^ '^"'^ Saviour saw interfere. The' f!als v t fsSlid t Jl' "^ ""^''^^ "'^^ ^« after everv attomn^ of . ,°^ '^'o not " a/,'ree to-'ether " ever, must be done A ,.pmvl ^ P"^^"^'^' , ^omc ihing, how- priest stood up rtSin^dstt^^^^^^^ "^^"^ *'^« ^^'o^h est thou not£nl4wha'iT'S thee ? But he heldhh hpL! , ''' ^''''*' ^'^"^'^^ against the high nric^aJkP M- ^''"'^^ A-^ain Christrth^^t^fltC^'^f Tm heen " led as a Iamb to Z It " 1 1 "'^^«rto He who had mouth," had offered n!; I '^*^"f ^^'^'l' «« he opened not his this iniquitous tSirnoToT'^r*^"^ '''' ^^^^"^'« ^>-fore patieno^ but a! 07^1 1 ^ ^"t^'"^^'^"^'^^ ^"^ effectual plea before the L ?^^^^^ /-ve an however, was resolved fl.o+ fi x^ , "'■"^ high priest, He, therWore, so ei !" dhr'edT"" .'^?J^ T* ^'«'^P«' to declare whether he was ?hf Si T l^ ^^l ^'""^ ^< was the method of putS men ^,^f .^ ^'" °(^'^-" ^^^^ criminated or witneSs'^errreSd to ^"^ ^J^^ presence of God Wb^n T« rt^qinred to answer as in the Lord saw meet to answer IW 1' Jfu '^' ^''^'"'^^ ««r had declared the trX amUhat nt'^^'/w* 'f''^ ^^^^P^^ despised condition thev TIa ' "o withstanding his present sitting on the rStS n" ''' ^"^ ^' "*'^« ^on of Man, *JoIia 18: 20, 21. t Mark 14 : 60, 61. 108 shall then hehold Him as " the Son of Man," and yet a§ the mighty God, " when the Lord Jesua shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking ven- geance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."* By avowing that God was His Father ia the highest and most absolute sense, the Sanhedrim correctly inferred that Jesus made Himself equal with God. This conclusion was justly understood by the people in general rf and this, ulti- mately, was the ground upon which the Sanhedrim condemned the Son of God. His affi.ination was considered as blasphemy. " Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy ; what further need have we of witnesses? behold now ye have heard his blasphemy, what think ye ? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffetted him ; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying. Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee."| Luke says: "And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying. Prophesy who is it that smote thee ?"f) Mark s narrative is : « And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buflFet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands."! Certainly the blindfolding of our Redeemer, and then challenging Him to say who had struck Him, may be truly pronounced an instance of the greatest depravity and de^^en- eracy possible. The Sanhedrim, with its abettors and raenfals, mocked Christ in his prophetical capacity. How He was mocked as a priest and a king, the subsequent history will evmce. But the anticipatory words of the prophet were now fulfilled: « I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting."^ Nor let us ever forget, or fail to be savingly impressed with the other words of the same wonderful p°o- II Thessaloniana I: 7, 8. Luke 22 : 64. t John 5 : 18. § Mark 14 : 65. t Matt. 26 : 67-75. ^ Isaiah 50 ; 6. 109 phet . But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our uu4u1t.es : the chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and witli his stripes are we healed "* rr>,^. TrT -'f."'.;" \^- ';"^""« "^"'^ '""^'y individual i. the reply of Cimst to the high priest! How affecting are those Son ot Man si tmg ou the right hand of power, and coming n the clouds ot heaven ! ' lu this announcement we are all nteresed Foras the beloved disciple, long after he had istcned to the awe-msp.ring averment of his Lord, declares : Behold he Cometh with clouds, and every eje' shall see r^i ^ }r '''"''^?'^ ^^'% *^'°"-^^*^ t^'*^ conveyed in the preface of the apocalyptic Seer's disclosures! how worthy ot the attention thus invited! IIow thriUing the subhmc anticipation! Personally shall we not seek to improve it? St f S ft ''^'^'^\^"fy «ay amen,_and I too shall see Him ! But how, and when ? Shall it be when He cometh to be glorified m his saints, and admired in all them that believe ' -when the archangers trump shall sound, and the dead in Chnst shall rise first ?-when " the manifes'tation of the so,^ ot God IS enacted, for which " the earnest expectation of ^r T"^^:^ V^''^ ' ^^^" i* ^' *« r^^^ii^« the honour and tehcity of the first resurrection ?--that blessed consummation of which the apostje speaks : " Beloved, now are we the sons of bod, and It doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know tha when he shall appear, we shaU be Hke \^, for we ahall see Inm ^ he is."$ let us be very earnest, striving' and mtent, that we may attain to such blessedness. Let oS rtl^r %^^ ""'^ ^^''''^ ^ ^*^^- T« ^« t« liv-e let it be rl ; ihen may we appropriate the precious promises S! ^^ ^'-/r^' ': ^^'^^^ ^^^^^*' ^-^^ i« «"r life, shaU appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." mg every eye shall see him," he adds, " and they also H ' r* * Isaiah 53 : 5. t John 1 ; 7. i I John 3 : 2. 'T r' 110 wl.icl, ploroo.l liim : aiul all kindi-odfl of tlio oiirth sl.iill wr.il l.o.',„Hc> of hi.,.."* tho., he it o„r i).-ayo.- an.! ai.n, and coi.sd.vss cx(M-t.o.., that wo may not ho oh'.Msod with the ...,- g<>( IV hnt with those whose ..a.nes are N^.-itten in "the hook ot H>o I.y.n- _.„ the La.nh's hook of life-that we n.ay ho fou.i.i "jhe ehihli-en ot God, hein- the childi-en of the rcsur- roct.o... Let ns not he of those wh.> n,.;rlect tJ.e .'roafc salvation; no.- of those who arc repi-esented hy the foolish vn-,i;..,3, who, thoii^rh they took thei.- lamps, took no oil in thon- vessels ; ..or of those who cr.icify the Son of God at.-esh, puttm^r Hi.i, t„ open shame. Lot not Christ, in oin- ease, he wo.u.ded in the ho.ise of his frie.i.ls hy our n.co,,s.sttM.ey, weakness in what is jrood, wo,-ldli.,PS3, or slotht„lness. " The ,nght i« far spe..t, the day is at hand; lot ns the,-efore cast off the works of darkness, and let us pat on the armour of li^rht."t How ahsorhing an in- terest should we tool in the heatific second advent of tho feon of Man! He who onco was " tho man of sorrows" will then appear tho glorified Immanucl. And amidst all tho inh.iitc pcr{ect.on of his Divine nature, will he manifest that other nature which Ho delights to wear— the nature of man— the nature of those for whom He humhlcd himself and endured so m.ich. It is " the Son of Man" wo shall seo at Jus coming. Just as i.i the visions of Patraos tho hi-^hlv- ho.iou.-ed apostle saw, " in the midst of the throne and of the lour hvin^ creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a lamb as It had been slam," so will the ransomed of tho Lord, who co.ne to Zion with songs and overiasting rejoicings, behold in their adored King the agonized and crucified Sufferer, who died and who hved as their Substitute and Representative, in their nature and in their stead. Let Him be all and in all to us now. Let us now walk by faith ; and when He shaU appear, then shall we also appear with Him in ^^lory Interspersed with the history of the arrest and trial of his Master, we have an accomit of the denial of Him, by one of His most favoured disciples. Peter was warmly attached to lier . 1 t Rom. 12 : 12. Ill ap .stlo, that he felt hi.n.self n..t only willin- to ,1 L Z .....1 with JesuH ; hut when the e.uMny apm-oueho Fho «t • i to attack, with ., 'lei'ter than f wi hrntlmr ha «,oa «,.»+«* brother, he was first at resolution and 118 the circuin- the fii^'ht of to tlic liijrh cliip8o»i ; so V of Pptci's '•oyoiid the r and John lUtif'nl apeci- if iii»liiratioii of the word UTid lionour- (jfod alone 'r wntings, treniely in- ite friends. e cherished he one was , of all the ip between intellectual ^iated with lind. The with Peter )in being a ;ributed to is this on oted Mary irian says: and to the lein, They d we know irent forth, So they im Peter, do^vn, and e not in.'* as first at ution and courage to cru in, till ni imatod by the presence and example of the oldcijrad 'elder disciple. '*' Then coincth Simon F'oter following hitn, and went into the sepulchre. . . . Then went in also that othek- disciple, which came first to the sefjiiMirc, and he saw, and believed."* We observe in the history of the primitive Church, that this clf)se and most loving fellowship was niaintaincfl between these eminent followers of the Lamb, after their Lord's nscensi(.n to the Father's right hand. ^ Returning to the palace of Caiaphas, we see Peter getting into trouble. It is likely that there was something in his appearance and demeanor that suggested his being a friend of the Nazarene. Sorrow and concern woidd be depicted on his countenance. Hence he was suspected, first by a woman who had no previous acquaintance with him, and who had not been present at Gethsemano. To her, " the damsel that kept the door,]' he first denied his discipleship. Again, in the hall of the high priest, when he was warming himself, and in company with the servants waiting to witness the proceedings, "they said unto him. Art not thou also one of his disciples ? He denied it, and said, I am not. And a third time, when one of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman, whose ear Peter cut off, saith. Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again : and immediately the cock crew."t These all, however, seem to be regarded by the evangelists as substantially but one denial, being addre ised to bu! one division of the enemies of Christ. After tiiis, !.c apostle, in confusion and terror, retired from the hall where the fire was, to the porch of the palace. There he "again denied with an oath, saying, I do not know the man. 'if Afterwards he returned to the hall, perhaps from anxiety and cold. There he was in sight of Jesus. St. Luke, in reference to this last and crownin- denial, says : " And about the space of one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, of a truth this fellow also was with him : for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou John 20. tJohn 18: 26, 27. t John 5 : 12. m' 114 Sl^i;;liTuJ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^«* ^P^' *he cock crew, remembered the X dof ^ ? 1^"^'";^ ^'^''' ^''^ ^^ter Before the cock Zw l!n i*^ 'i^'"' ^' ^^"^ ^^^^ "'^to him, went out and trWt\erl7''i^' '^"^ "^^ '^'''''' ^"^ ^^^^^ permiir fcpolfel'SS' 'i^V\'' ^-ved, b, God's deepenehumiL ItS'lf f ^^'^^^P^'^ of Christ, in man, not in Zself not L h v H ''^ them-Trust not Christ, or in any w all of /bV^ "''i'" character, lovo to alone always With ever jL"'^'''- ^"^ ^'""'^ ^° *'^« ^ord the Lord for the indweH^nc. n r''"«,f ™««t"««^. ««ek unto Holy Spirit. 5^1 oul fe'^'^ sanctifying presence of the we are lure to fall ^ Wh.n ^ ""'^ T '^^^^ ' '''^^'^^^ it, we may be strong in ^bfiV ''/^^''* ^ ^«1* ^"ability might. "^ ^ '" *^^ ^^^'^' and in the power of Hb t Jh:fTe%:r?o?t5^^^^^ ^^ an illustration of the ordered by the Lord • andl. 5 ^llu -"^.^ «"^^ "^^^ ^^^ he fall, h"e shall not b. , h '^f ^'g^teth in his way. Though uphold^th him with his h:nd''^f X ^'''V '^li *^« ^^'^ was the depth to which PeterfeU- ^c '1 T.^ '^r'"^ ^ne of them • for +w ^®^'^^, ^^'f^ • Surely thou also art enemies o^LordSES ^!f^gf .^-^V ^-d the and to swear savin.. rVnl . .^ ^^^" ^^^^"^ ^e to curse the mode of S' refer^"'; '^' TY'' * ^^ '^•'^^ ^' '^^' apostle'srelationfnTn ^ ^"^ ^"^ '^^'^^ indicated the and keepin. with ho V ill ?u^'S'"« ^"«^^* of his Vords, might sin not Ah J ,r'^ ^^' ^^^ ^^ ^^« "P«' that he tha^t it waro^hen Lewfth C ^T.'^^^^'^/.d convince them can we placrunr Jif. ?' • ^? >^ ^^*"^ dependence man of God ' beC ?^ . """^ ''"^^ ^"°^a^^*:^ ^ Even the tl^en fatalfy, finalCfo^e e™ t ^" ^^1 A \' 'Z tl^orfrom^Aat is t^tg for'ht'?' fcty iie cock crew. AmJ Peter laid unto him, !. And Peter 'ed,by God's to induce in s of Christ, a — Trust not tcter, love to in the Lord is, seek unto jence of the ; without it, elt inability, )wer of His ■ation of the od man are ay. Though r the Lord d alarming lou also art " said the he to curse aay be that licated the 1 or provin- his words, ps, that he i'irice them ependence Even the ts he gone delivereth Well may aim 35 : 7o. 115 we rejoice and say to Him,—" Thou hast a mighty arm ; strong IS thy hand, and high is thy right hand."* Doubtless the Evil One wished both to indulge his malice againt Christ and. to destroy this prominent disciple whom he had marked out for a victim, and whose total overthrow he was now intent upon effecting. " And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat : But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."! The character of Peter seemed most favourable for such an object. Hasty, self-confident, imma- ture, the old serpent assailed him by temptation, the most powerful. Evidently the selection of this disciple was most politic. John for instance would not have answered as well. For on the one hand he was much more timid than his friend, and on the other he was in advance of him in the strength of his attachment to Jesus. None of the eleven appeared so likely to run to ruin as the son of Jonas. Yet we behold nothing more perspicuously than this,— he could not be rumed. For greater was He who was for him than all his enemies united against him. The power and all-prevailing mtercession of the great High Priest of the Israel of God, rescued and saved Peter. And so far was he ultimately from being destroyed, that he became a most striking monu- ment of the mercy that is Divine and the grace that is omni- potent, to the glory of the God of his salvation. The adver- sary here, as in every other attack upon any of Christ's loved ones, was baffled. The upostle was humbled, and with godly contrition, repented in dust and ashes. Subsequently he walked humbly with God. He was a better man than ever he had been. He grew in grace and in the knowledge of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As the child is taught experimentally by its very falls how to go more surely and sately, so the believer even by his lapses and backslidings, IS effectually taught to walk more worthy of his Christian vocation. * Psalm 89 : 13. f Luke 22 : 31-33. 116 of foS " Tl^lTaSonf % 'f''^'"' ^«*- V the enemy nin^. But he u-L "•^; *^'«1*^'.V«<1 "'"ch malice juid cuu- "Btioketh dosor n 5 '^ '»•"> 'ation. ^ Tl.at Friend wl.o instead of vSlv ? 7^^/f'' ''^''^^'^ ^^'^ f«« «« that andwaseffSf; ,tt ^^^'« >^ ^^"twitted himself " the accuser of 5,e"b'TtW^^ ^' n'" ^f ^^P"" «° ' ^^''^" weakness and sins of fl>« i -n '"''"^'^ '"^^"' C'M'ital of the father pities them as h' '• '^. ^"^' *'"'"' ^^^^^'"^^ The onnning oTthe otT''^ ""'' ^^'^^ ^''P' "^ "'« 'n^^''^/ essentially fails toLTL^^'T''^ ''^^'"^ I'^^'f^'ct, yet it least of its trt Ifn 17 t ^^"^f^' «^' <^^^^ «^ *^-^" ^^^ chastened for th irl,?I ?^''^ ^'^l' f ^' '^'^^^ ^"^J* ^"^ Nay, they are restoro^ !' i * ""T f *^^^™ ^"^ ^'« ^^st off. ttmlgh S Sey are fed '^"'^" ^''''' ^^ '^' ^^P«"-«« " AntLXdtliJ": S^n* r'^^' *^« -'^ «-- •" siginficant the eonneeS ' At t '^ "^'^ ^^^^^•" "^^ «in and wretched^S^essof ' tho f ?' ^J^."!«'««^"t when the climax, the omniscS SLr ^^"f^d^^c'Ple were at the look y.'ls tliis f sSt i^^ V '""H "P«" ^^^'°- What a "8 consider it a S And^-'7 ^^^'^^ '''''''''' ^'^ There is nothiniTmn;!; '^''*'; ^^ '''^ ^ l«ok of love. It is a love STe[fw^r?1''';t *^''" *^^^ love of that look. suffering Re£me ^dStt T "" '^^"'^'^"- '^^^- season of unuttnrprl T • i "'^ "^'^^ ^^^''""^ws during that and unehanSle !ffonH^^"'t' fr' '^'"^*^'^ "'« everksting looked upon Pel t ^j ^^'«/ansomed followers, nf spirit of Peter^ CL. ^u'f *^' ^'^'^ ^"^ ^^^"^ ^^o^nded 8jmpathi.es wiih those T ""rf '''" temptations are. He brethren. As l ,wr '^ /^''."^^ ^^^^^^^ His household of God TT ^^^ ^^ ^^'*^^/;^I High Priest over the disciple and • ' ^^^ P'^^*'*^ *^ His Father for his loved in^proved ij 1^ 'h 'If? ''^ *' '"' T^*'*^"' '^"^ ^««tly -.B. oi «;esus waa a look of ^art^ow. "Let ill i'' the enemy 00 aiid cun- maii when Friend wJio foe 80 that ted himself 3 so ; when [»ital of the r heavenly His mercy. i-'ct, yet it r even the it with and )o cast off. experience ick crew." r." How ' when the 'c at the What a est. Let k of love. that look. ge. Tlie U'ing that r'erlasting ers. He this look wounded re. He call Hia over the lis loved revived i vastly Lamb. "Let 117 Israel hope in the Lord ; for with th.. T^,.i .i and with him is plenteous redely n k^'^f'''' '« "i«rcy had been Pcter'i sin! Not o L Ind h ^\'"^ ^■*''^"-:^/^tea ingratitude and falsehood he Wnll/- ^T «'^''^>' "^ his discipleship wiroal'Ldlune, ''?!'„" '"''' ^"^ was one of the provailiuL' sins of tV Tnta V. . , 8^«anng of the peculiar charactc^-iS^of SS tl^l^'^' .?"^ th^ ..o^wa^ot T2; ,;^;i^'^^^ practice of the wicked.^ Lef every Z tW ™^*^ .\' *?' name of Christ depart from thlX If i 1 • "^T^^^ *^« commandment so s^c al v ^ ,./ L ? ^ ^''';^"^S *^« ^^'''^ the breakers of this'^ol^,^^^ ' J''^^^"^ ^'^' Of " Their stain is not CZT^:^ZSj^J,^^';^:^^ however was pardoned for this and everv nl •' r""^^ knew that he was now beside him^olf J i • ^'*''' ''"• •^<^«"** was shed that the reneiS Zo ' ^""tH' P'^'''""^ ^^^^ sanctified. So i w^wlth Petr Tr'^^'* r' P"^^""^'^ ^"^ given ; he sinned Tmo J So will t h P'"'? f "«"««^ ^^ f^^- experiences peace th^u'h tL VL hW /^'?u^ '"'^^ ^^'^ ^vho died to take awayl. W./.^^th^ I '^if ?r"^ was a look of remonstLce. As Tf fsnol. f '^ f "'"' '' What, not know me, Peter''' 11?!^"^''"'?' ^«> iron into the inmost 'sou o 'the aposU ^'5^'"''''^ ^^' denied his Lord. On the contrnr??,f f f ^?'' ''«^"' following, avowed that e kn t'Zd Tove?S"^' "/5"" length he sealed his testimo^by resTnl:^ Z^t ttny'in^d t'pi:;^tifc^ l^oir the crucified and%isen E ^e ^^^^^^^ restored to spiritual health and vT^^ur TT. ^^.,^^^'"^^ * Psalm 130 : 7 ■ mmn 118 only t.> compare Peter as we noAv have seen him, with Pester to vouorahle servant of Jesus Christ, Hn,! the saint ri, e t the gh.ry ol his M.uster, hs we see him in his epistles. \via[ a beau .tul sp.nt of love, humbleness of mind, an.l mat ro pety do such passages as the following imply' "Tho ciders wlueh arc among you I exhort, who am a so an elder and a w. ness of the sntferings of Christ, and also a pa,-t kj; Of the .lory tluU shall bo revealed."*' - Therefore i will Slini' 7^T \ ^'"* ^r^ "'^^'"^^ '" ren,ombra..ce of these ent tiuth. lea, I thmk it meet, as long as I am in this Z::^' l"^'% T "P ''^ P"^^^"« :^- '" rem'nb nc ourT .^1 ^^^^*^;;*y.\^""«t P"'*^^ *'"« ^"^ tabernacle, even aa oui Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me."t How well nnv a his impress upon the teaching of the Zrd o? lifc "^'SZ hold, lai.py IS the man whom God corrccteth."t Shall w-e th^snow4 '"' ""'' "^^ ^ '^^'" ^'''^'^'' PRAYER. Father of mercies and God of all consolation, we praise thv glorious name for thy goodness and loving kindness We are deeply sensible of the love of Him who ran "m d Js wS His own b ood. We see it in His every step and a every stage of His humiliation. i' ^u m tvery May the record of what took place in the palace of the High Pnest on the night of the betrayal of - the Son of Man prove highly beneficial to us through the operation of thy Spirit. We are profoundly affected by thXve of "the Man of sorrows " to His fallen disciple. thou dyini Saviour, what a look was that with which Thou didst quSn «ie conscience of the lapsed apostle ! It was folJed by mstant and profound contrition. We give glory to Thee Thoukiider and compassionate Friend tbr thy alfprevail nt' • 1 Peter 5:1. f H Peler 1 : 12-14. t Job 5 17. § Psalm 51:7 119 advocacy and ceaseless watchin- rtuju^HolvoH upon Tl.ee. In cvei^ i.r„... 'iM T '^ *^" behalf of such as cas*- time .>U.r^;Xn t^ZjJr '' ^""-^'-'i"^ guilt, u.iv thy love wh oh v/ ' ^ '''"''^" "* <^'""«ciou3 courage us t<4 frorn o Ino of ,^^^^'1' ,e'?."t-"l'Iatin«, on- tcrly, and to return ur.t God «,'r ^t'''''''^' ^" ^^^'^'P '''t- M^ ou. repentanJ^r;. h:t;S^t; - - ^-"^ -'-d. mentally kr.ow lJ.c e Ttion f ff^ /'• i ^1' ^'^"^'^ ^^Peri- " I an. siek of love '' Mnv ? f Z^' ^'^'"^ '^'' ^'■^^''"ms, and constrain rb 'us IYJT K/^?' T'' ''« P^'-'^moun God. And i le wl.0 t^our ;f \' t''^ ^^^^'' ^'J>"«t in also appear ^vith Ilim in .'lory ^^" '^'"" ""^^'"'^ "'^^^ ^"^ sure^ Txz:: ztt'r ^'^•^"''^^"'^'^ «^ -- away out of us Mav wo hin f "^ ^^^'" ^^ ^^e Thee. May the bLtific nrerl -^ " '>e presented unto speedily fulfilled " £ .S ' n" '^r<^ti»g t''y Son be shall c.^1 him S ed'' Indtl T^i.'V^^'"' ''" "««o"8 the Holy Ghost, s^ he ^^ ^^ .T'''^^^^^^^ ^^ IX. The probably briof arJJournmont of tho Council after finding Josug ffuilty of blasphemy .-The meeting at night probably illogal— Hence tho necessity of the convention in the morning.-Rcsolvpd upon the death of Jesus, then took Him In fetters to I'ilot for civil oondemnntion.-Tho terrible end of Judas.-Tlie chief priests by implication admit tho innocence of Christ in allowing that he had been condemned in consociucnce of a brIbo.-'Their punotilionsnoss.-l'ilato's demeanour to Jeaus.-Uis conviction of the perfect innocence of tho aocuscd.-Uis soudintf Him to Hcrod.-Uerod's dealing with Him.-rihito's wife.-Hls vain device of wash- lug his hands to excuse himself while allowing Jesus to bo condemned.-The Imprecations of the multitude.-Unhappinoss of having wicked guides.-Iullnite Importance of a full surrender of the sonl to Christ, PRAYER. _ Most Holy and blessed Father, haw adorable and myste» pous art Thou in giving up thiuo only begotten and well beloved Son to beoome the substitute of guilty man ! He Was bound and buffeted on our account. " He was wounded for our transgression, He waa bruised for our iniquities." How well does it become us to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of this world. most gracious God, may thy life-giving and sanctify- ing Spirit enable us to yield ourselves in very truth unto Jesus, in all the depth of our affections, and in all the entiie- ness of the whole man. Thou dying Lamb of God, we feel that « thy love is better than wine." We will therefore say : " Draw us, we will run after Thee." Blessed Jesus, may we always be delighted to boar thy burden and to wear thy yoke. Verily thy yoke is easy, and thy burden light to us labouring and heavy-laden sinners. Enable us to covenant %vitli Thee, that henceforth we will seek " thy things,'' Christ, and not as if separate from Thee, " our own things." We acknowledge with deep regret that ever since we have 121 tasted that Thou art .rood i.hI fi ho ., • have been often la-onrt I^ !?^ f""' '''"^' ^^ ^^^ ^'^^'^ ^v. ''seek their own tL-n^^y!?.'? T'n '' '^'' "a"" who Lord, so that wo umy^levc^^^ .^^'otn'"" '' ^'^'^ "^'S^'^'^ to ourselves. Pardon iU nJf-n' f '" appearance, live to live to Thee wl d ds 3'" ol" „V;"V"'^'\"^ '^"'^^^i^^" '' Induce in us, Go hr^nf > .>'''%'^^'^^^^ ance, and purityVhicli we^ t L^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "\ '""f^'''''^ ^^^^^r- gi-eat Redeemer. Likrili^,^ 1 '"^'^.'^^'^^^^t^'-^'^ing our Yickodness of men, a^d che "iul^?^..? 1'^^^*^"%, ^'^^^lure^ the And while "iven o /.. -^ ^^^'ut^'sco in thy holy will word and wo^zri'lTf ?'? T' "'^^""'^ i» every ^^^^^^ - that the people t::^t Si 'ftt'' ^^^ ^^/S' second coming of the Lord Mav th f ^ !>« prepared for the pourou out upon all flesh And^W H T^ ""K'^'' ^^^'^^ ^e l^acher, Son, and llol/ahosf 1h ..°^^'^ '^^^^ ^' thine, ^ unost, world without end. Amen. Mathew 27 ; I-05 . u wi ,, the chief priests and eider, of Si r™"» '"^ come, all Jesus to^ut him to dth :' An ^A ^^^^ «»^-' they led him away, and delivered "hi nhP^ ^''^ nT^ ^^^' governor. Then Judas, whLh had L 'fu- ^'^^^'' *he saw that he was condemned leDentefir^'t^™' ^^«" ^^ agam the thirty pieces of sI^vpp ? m , "'^'*''^' ^"^ brought saying, I have^ i^n I intri h^' tfl'''^''''-'^^^^^eldo%s, blood Andtheysaic, V rAwtHn'^ the hinocenJ And he cast down. the IcVs ofl;^ "'•' T ^^'"^ '' '^'^t. departed, and went andTnL/ ''',f '^^ ^^^^P^e, and priests took the silver piL and ..r'rf- ^"^ '^'^ ^hief put them into the tre£ n-f h • ' -^^ '' "^^ lawful for to And they took l^^l:^^,:^:^ ''''1 '' ''^^'' field to bury stran'^ers it. NA ° r , ^hem the potter's the field o/blood,CoV'dt - ''''' ^''^ ^'^^ -"^"d. which was spoken by Jeremv thT; Jt'? ''^'. ^"^^"^'^ that took the thirty pieces of Xr f ^'^'*' '^^^"S, And they valued, whom they of the ch idr '- ? /"'t ?' ^^ that wZ gave them for ^ potter^ S Llhf T f ''''■'■ ^"^^ I nua, as the Lord appointed me. i I , 122 And Jesus stood before thv ^.., asked him, savin «?, Art thou the fTovornoi , and the governor Jesus said unto^^hin;: Tim ^Zj^^ Aj'ltTi ^"^^ accused.of the chief piests and ^C, he^^^n J ,1^^ Ihen sa.d P.Iate unto hi.n, Ilearest thou not how many i S they witness against thee ? And ho answered him toLS word; , h that the governor marvelled great y Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto th^ pcoZ a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a ,Sb lo prisoner, ca ed IJarabbas. Therefore when they were'^red oger,herI^ ate said unto them, Whom will /o that I re ease unto you ? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Christ For he '.now that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto im saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just mr' ^^1 have suffered many things this day in a dream beLse of h m L„t the ch.et priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of l; twab caiica L^nrist { They all say unto him, Let him be crucified And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he don?5 Bu; Snt ^f 'h -ore saying, Let him be crucified. ivhe„* lildte saw that he could prevail nothing, but f/^ai rather a themultitude, saymg, I am innocent of the blood of this iust said His blood he on us, and on our children. 1 IS possible that there was a brief adjournment of thp Sauhednm between the time when all piernrhad *^ nounced Jesiis to be " guilty of death," as a blasphem r and cais cnapter. When the morn ng was come all tl.P X\c.f \vl "™,^^,"p^*"- -ihe number present at the meetino- of not great. But now, as wo may intbr from .tho woi-ds bdb« 128 h«I previo,,,:^ l.ee,r„hlt '^ ,T CT °'' '"""^ ">■» Wo r.a,| „co„„ectio„ with l'ctor',,le2l 7'. "'''{,"'''''•'• of tlw cock mm,;- anil s/l„r '' ""^ '"'' Miister, Josus fron, CViupira^ m o'' i,/",allT-^7"'"""' '"'« "'«y wasearlv."* """ »' jmlKmcnt: and it ib/!i' ;^.!:f H-strr' ^/j-^-^- at „i,ht of the conl^ention-' Ih^';^:;, ' f \ " 'he necessity Juse{,hus that Annas was in . . " ^', '""^ '"^^""'""'l hy priesthood because thrSanhedZT''' ^k^T^^^ ^••'^"» th« had about a year previous lo til ? ''^'"i^ ^^ P'-^'^^'^ed, to death and J,ad' a S , s^nr'^' '""^''^'""^^ M>erson had been severely censure hv P"? f "'". ' *' "'^''•''*- 'i^his knowledge. Thaf co^rt d 1 !?/ *' ^**'' '^ '''''"^ ^ his life and death. Wmb shovoT ^"''''' '^' ^'^''^ 'f that Jesus should be Z,::^^^^^^^^ extreme haste lest there should hon .• *^'^-^ *«'*« i" the people, for thev feared hi ^ '•eaction on the part of His bloLi-lhirsty Lmii d n^oTt"'^. '^ '^' ^'^'''-'' punishment. For this nurn J;.. "" '^'^"'^ «»«■«'• capital civil nature, as they oKe laf th"' '"^'^^ ^'""^^ '' « would take no co-^nLnce of s, eh . !. ™P'u!'' ^'^^^^'raent then were now met to «etMp ^ / '-''f ^^ ^' blasphemy. All tions they shouM . :d^'' tZTt' '"' '^^^''^'^ ^«--a' berated long or dilfei^ed Lon.! f^ '''™ *° '^'^^^^ <^oli- be pursued." AccSrE t ?''J''' *'l ''^ *''« P^^n to acquiescent Prisren a" when fl^'''" ^^^^red the meek and " And when they had ho" .^l" t ""'t^?'"^^^ *he garden. deliver fr! 124 Pilate xmmWy romded at C.«3crea, l,ut can.e up to Jon,- salem at the ^roat feasts to administer justice and to wutd. over O.Bsar'« interests. The present festival was tha of the Passover. And f this heathin n.Ier shall judl^e of the vo- vealed and cn,on.ed religion of Ismd hy' the s, irrand chamcter of those who were its ministe./and the leade s of the people, can we wonder if he shall be confirmed ihs do the disposition and the conduct of those who ou.^ht U^Z the patterns o pure Christianity, occasion oifence o the unnghteous and unregenemte, so that their natural dislike to 'the truth a^ ,t ,s m Jesus," becomes more deeply rooted «iaa ever ! The punctiliousness of the members ot" Llan hedrun liypocntical and murderous as they were, is noted by bt. John, who tells us that when they had brought Jesus "unto the hall of judgment, they themselves went^not i't^ the judgment hall, lest they should be defied, but that thev might eat the Passover, dilate then went Jut unto them^ and saio, what accusation bring ye against Uus man tCv' answered and said unto him, if he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee Sn 3aTd y ur law '' fe*'"' ^' ^^"^' ""^ J"^«^ ^™ according t your law. 1 heir aim and purpose then came out. "The Jews, therefore, said unto him : It is not lawful for us to t,ut Srr *^,,^*h."* St. Luke states ..-J^And the whS multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying: We found this fellow pervert ing the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to cL^ say ing that he himself is Christ a Kmg "f ' ^^^ It IS at this stage of the dire and doleful proceeding's that the story of the terrible end of the wretched traitor iJntr^ duced by Matthew,-" Then Judas which had betrayed hi^ when he saw that he was condemned, repented himS ami ?n tv,! 1 ?■ * y^'^a^^^y he had waited to see the issue up to the dehvery of Jesus by Pilate for crucifixion. He had •John 18: 28-31. f Luke 23 1,2. i Luke 21 :3. 12d •nie. 'jiut when he p",^e^^/^^^^^^^^^ against hh Master, remorse Z/,i • ''^ , '^'^ I"-ev«ile,l remorse the nK,st r S^t a^.^,^ f^ F'a-ssion.s, The de.il, to whom hi, Ml « if ^^^r^^ I'ord, no; irresisTilJ; n iX ' d Ilif Z'' '^'T''' "*" '"« wretchedness and unbe lef to i f , ^ T''"^^' '» ^"^ fatal tempter, he doteSd'thatl'' '^' '''^T'' ">'' *''« not meet his ca«e, and"^'Se'^ont^CtSl''"^ ^""'^ m that I have lotr.^!id%&ln TlS ^^V? ^'"'"' conscience constrained r..rJ>«7n k • . ^'"'' toatimonj condemned M.^terA8surallvhad*Th'" f^""- «^" »»« noi crime with which that^wZ dl ^"^ «"''* «' not disposed to conced orlnv f i*^f^^^ the MeSiah had aSd him7e Lt al^ "'''T^ ^'^^ observation and correct knowlX R ?P. <>Pportun.tj for with ^' the Prince of this woHd ''^^' " '* ""^ ^'^^ ^'^ «« -id He ^^ Cometh butttj^i^rr ''f ^''^" ^"^ ^^^ betrayed the innoTeTbliocl,'' is rrthv""c^'th" "'?] J ''"'^ and cruel selfishness whichZformr.U^! ^' <^'^^^^ w.thattous? See thou to tlut "f ^."V ^ '^"^' ^^'"^^ miserable had this nnn« ^ • • ^ ^ ^"^^ unutterably himself] HetonftsedhTs/.'r'"^^-'P^'"" "«^ rendered from the XSleit rr ''"' ^'* t"^""'^ "« ^^^ J^im again unto iSLn^^^^ '^ rT ,""1^'^^" " ^^ »-e^*-'^' comfor^t to tho^e Twht^ s;n'ic? blT Y ^7 ?^P^**'^ «" i f . ■W"i •John 14:30. i V.4. 126 In the ooi,feronco .,,,,1 co.,„fil of ll,e cliirf ,me,to ro,nr.H S"i them When in re ./ tll'rcl^l'''"'';^ ^\'^«'^"'^' this n.an - fact of their L^ 7th '^i:,'^;;;^^^^^ ^'^^^ the verj Ihs felonious crin^nalitTt e T ^"'"' '*^ ^" «^iJ^'"ce of tl»at Havours of 3i> .'^l Tlk^'' '".""■^''^'^ '" ^ "'^nner according to your law"* Tkl. i'/ !'"' ?"^i'''l^'« ''i™ deej,ly settled desire, ami also their ^^"'17. "^''"'"'^'^ ^''^'> purpose without the conc'u~^^ ' ability to effect their which they were iio,rubret n ? / ." ?'""^"^ «overnn.ent, to ti^at they^had alreTd;^!^^^ '^^'^ "''^'-^^^^d and only wanted J>i 1.1 t./anfi ™ according to their law therefor! «":? u^i 1 i^ itls'^ 7 ^ r^f^^ ^ " ^^»^^ J*"'' man to death." One im,,irtantlll7^,"' ^^^ "' **^ I^"' W being condemned by aiTiS tl !''''"''! ^^ ^''^™'^ dictions as to his being ^'Edun" /'.''"' S^* '»« P'-e- be verified, whereas^had'e suffered T^'"'*^'' '^"t'''* blasphemer sentenced by tie San?..! • '^*t '""^'^ ^ ^ been stoned.f This how I., J, ™' P*' ^''"''^ bave «^yin^' of JesL mtS'b fulfil cl :i; ^, T ^V "^^^^* ^he what death he should dL "? ' ''^' ^'' 'P^^^' signifying In reference to the char4 thif iha r • claims, John says : Then feh fn ^ T'"'"^'" ''''^'^''^ ^egal ball again,and called jTsus and .o" f '''I "v^ ^^^« J^^fe'^^^nt king of the Jews ?'' S i 1? ""*' ^'''"' ^'•^ ^l'^"^ tbe tbe governor knew manv th^ '^ 'P^°'^ ^ ^^^^ieve that fifnit/ But /e Rom "rulerh'd nlr'^'" "^^ ^^"^^^ take any particular notice or feel anv vZ^ -T' '^?^"" '' + « „ , 'John 18: 29. tSeeAfatthew20:;M9;j„b„3:l4,i5;,2:3Vr3 J John 18: 31,32. ' i Hi riia III" 128 his notice in his judicial and public capacity, as a ground of capital charge against Jesus, he was obliged to make some investigation. Our Lord was aware that His avowal that He was a king, might be construed, and that His enemies sought that It should be, into an act of treason against the emperor. He, therefore, enquired of Pilate whether he was seeking satisfaction to his own mind, enquiring candidly as a just judge, or whether he was only -going upon the calumnious and false allegations of His persecutoi-s. He farther reminded him that no evidence against Him had been adduced.— " Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of mo ? " In the reply of the official, we discover little else than a contemptuous aversion both to the Jewish nation and the business in hand. "Pilate answered, Am I a Jew ? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me : what hast thou done ?" How admirably, how conciliating, how instructive is the answer of the king of Zion ! How satisfying should the expla- nation then furnished have been felt to be by him to whom It was primarily tendered! "Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world ; if my kingdom were of this world, then Avould my servants fight, that I should not be dehvered to the Jews ; but now is my kingdom not from hence." Though bttle understanding the full force and meaning of this repre- sentation, the Governor perceived that Jesus implied most clearly His sovereignty. " Pilate, therefore, said unto him : Art thou a king then V He was surprised that in present circumstances this mysterious person should clearly admit his royalty. We are informed by Luke that " Pilate asked him, saving, Art thou the King of the Jews. And he answered him", and said : Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man."* John enters^ more into details. From him we learn that after Pilate's expressing astonishment to find Him adhering to his professed kingship, " Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am Luke 23 : 3, 4. 129 a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. hvery one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, what is truth ? And when he had said this he went out agam unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all."* Nothing is clearer than that the Governor became, from personal exammation, properly satisfied as to the futility of the charge brought against Christ as grounded upon His professing to be a king. He was confident that the alleged crime and danger were alike a nullity. The King of Israel had explained to him that while He undoubtedly was a King, the nature of His kingdom was such that it sought not to mterfere with the governments of this world, to raise up factions or stimulate rebellion. It is not always requisite to understand fully divine truth, in order to be impressed with It. But m the present instance Pilate understood the case so far as to see that the accusation was not only unten- able, but a base and jealous fabrication. " For he knew that for envy they had delivered him."t There is little doubt that he esteemed Jesus a fanatic in religion, but entirely innocent in a civil point of view. What a mixture of disdain and incredulity are comprised in the query contemptuously retorted,-" ^ hat ,s truth ?" The question which, for ages and centuries, philosophy had entertained, discussed, and controverted,-the query " what is trath ?" to be settled, and all Its doubts dispelled and difficulties solved by a Jew, whom his countrymen and co-religionists were striving to put to death ! All this appeared to the haughty and sceptical heathen highly absurd and ridiculous. Christ crucified was to him foohshness. Alas, for such a spirit !■ The scoffincr Ro- man now knows, and all unbelievers shall one day fecirthat Jesus IS " the way the truth, and the life." Whosoever beheveth not shall be condemned before a Judge at once final, supreme and righteous. Pilate ut His tribunal will remember hia mjustice and rejection of truth and hoUnoss- John 18: 37,38. t Mat. 27 : 18. Q W 130 when that Incarnate God, as the suffering and dying Saviour stood before him. The Governor will then mourn, but mourn too late. How terrific will be our condemnation if we reject the only Redeemer of sinners by neglecting His groat salvation ! After Pilate had declared " to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man, they were the more fierce, sayuig : He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod's juris- diction, he sent him to Herod, who, himself, also waa at Jerusalem at that time."* Wishing, if possible, to free him- self of this troublesome business, the Governor seized with avidity the information that Jesus came under the cognizance of the tetrarchy of Galilee, where Herod ruled with the pow- ers of a king. He, therefore, at once sought to hand over the accused to Herod, as belonging to his province. Prob- ably Herod was in Jerusalem on account of the Passover. He was an Idumean proselyte. In the frame of mind in which he happened to be, the civility of Pilate quickly pleased him. This seems to have led to the restoration of friendship between these two individuals. They had, for some time previously, been at enmity with each orher. Herod had taken a considerable interest in the reports which he had heard of Jesus and His miracles. He is believed to have been a Sadducee. He was rejoiced at the opportunity of meeting with this wonderful personage, and especially was his curiosity excited to witness some of His miraculous powers. So writes St. Luke:— "And when Ilerod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad : for he was de- sirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many thmgs of him ; and he hoped to have seen some mir- acle done by him."t This waa the humour and bent of that official. And with such views he entered upon an examina- tion of Christ, interrogating Him keenly. But He, who is Luke 23 : 4-7. t Luke 23 : 8. Ii« ng Saviour aourn, but Jiiination if cctiug His and to the lore fierce, jughout all hen Pilate a, Gahloan. od's juri»- so was at 3 free hira- eized with cognizance h the pow- hand over e. Prob- isover. He d in which Based him. friendship some time be reports i. He is ced at the nage, and ne of His lud when e was de- iad heard some mir- nt of that I examinar te, who is 131 tlie " wisdom " of God, would not gratify the wishes of this bad man, cither by an uncalled for manifestation of His Pivme ability, or by replying either to Herod's cjueries or the false charges vehemently urged against Him by the chief priests and scribes. He " answered nothing." He had never declined or refused the application for rehef of the humbled child of sorrow, but it was proper that the wicked ruler who had put the Baptist to death, should not have his godless presumption gratified. The result was that Herod, who was a worse man than Pilate, insulted and derided " the King of the Jews." In mockery of his claims to royal dig- nity, Herod having supplied some of his own regal robes, " with his men of war set him at nought," and gorgeously arrayed Him. Having done so much, he then sent back Jesus to Pilate. Thus the Scripture was fulfilled : " Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thino-. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take co-^ncil together, against the Lord, and against His anoint- ed. How appropriately do the words of the prophetic Psalmist here apply to all their machinations and hostility : " He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have them in derision."! The meekness of Jesus forcibly struck the Governor. When he was accused of the chief priests and 'elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him : Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee ? And he answered him never a word ; insomuch that the Governor marvelled greatly" J He had manifested a contemptuous Bceptisra in refence to the declaration of our Lord : " Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." He had sneer- ingly asked : " What is truth ?" Yet the sacred historian sigiuficantly adds : " And when he had said this he \ jnt out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them: I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should re- lease unto you one at the passover ; will ye, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews 'i Then cried thoy • Psalm 2 : 1, 2. ] Y. 4. { Matthew 27 : 12-14. 1fir 182 dll n/^am, saying: Not tlils man, ])ut Barahbfts. Now, Bo- rabbas was a rohbor."* Tho (J(.v(«ni<»r lionod tliat his wonted }2;raoo of rcloasing whatover prisoior the poople de- sired, ini,<;l»l; induce tlicni to ;,'ratifvhis anxietvon tliv present occasion to release Jesus. IJut lie was entirely disa])pointed. All his influence, and all his effbrta after popularity, failed to pei-auade the representatives of the Jewish nation to accept the holy Saviour. On the contrary, they unanimously agreed to prefer the noted criminal named by Pilate. J lis object in sending Jesus to Herod had also been defeated. For that tetrarch had sent Ilim back to Pilate. It seem8 that the Governor's civility in sending the case to him had greatly plesused Herod. Owing, j)robably, to injury or lenjousy on one or both sides, those imperial functionaries haa for some time previously been " at enmity between rhemaeivea." This might easily, and often, occur from contbcting interest and the sway of tiio angry passions of .'olnsh and unprincipled men. «ut for the present this ap- parently conciliatory and respectful bearing of the pro-con- 8u! to the king, had led to a reconciliation. On the return of Christ from Herod, Pilato agnin sum- moned together " the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people, ' and again made repeated efforts to save the pri- aoner. Having gone out into the judgment-hall, he said to them: " Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people : and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof you accuse him. No, nor yet Herod : for I sent you to him ; and lo ! nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will, therefore chastise him and release him."t It was at this time the incident narrated by Matthew t occurrea to the Governor. «' When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying : Have thou nothing to do with that just man ; for I have suffered many tlimgs this day in a dream because of him ?" Here we have • Johss !8: 38-40. t Luke 23: 14-16. $ Matt. 27 19. 188 brouf;lit l.cfore us the only individual whoso spirit and con- duct tond to rcliovo Iho ficndiHli and vile hypociisy, cor- ruption, and hrutality that pnnail throu^rhmit our J^ord'a trial. Little as ia hero rolat(Hl of thi.s amiahio woman, and wo know notliiti}^ more of her, the endeavour she made to ])revcnt her huHband's hein;,' aecosHory to the death of Jesus, has been recorded to her lionour in the holy .Scripture. And who of us can tell that she did not then or Hub8e(|uently expe- rience the savinf^ power of soverei;^ni ;ve called forth into public avowal of attachment and devotion to the criicified Nazarene, Ja80i.h of Arimathea and Nicodemus— both honourable men in their worldly rank, previously only secret disciples. And we hojte that the kind petitioner of our text will be found at last to have been at once a trophy of the dying Saviour's power and love, and one of the bright and beautiful group of heathen converts who, from among the Gentiles, became spiritual Israelites and true believers in Israel's suffering Messiah . Romans, Greeks, and Jews agreed in attaching impor- tance to dreams. And, doubtless', the Lord can, when ho pleases, impart the most salutary impressions by tliis mode of communicating with the human siurit. " For God speak- eth once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep fallcth upon men, in slumbering ujwn the bed."* Pilate's wife dreaded that if her husband concurred m •Job 33: 14, 16. 184 i ' I I' putting .Tcpus to death, he would entail upon himself and ills family the curfic of a holy (Jod. She was, there- fore, most anxious that he should have nothing to do with " that just man." This message, [trobahly increased the anxiety of Pilate to release the prisoner, lie encpiired of the populace whether Barahhjis or Christ should he re- leaded upon this occasion. lie hoped that they would iic(pii. esce in his ardent wishes. " ]iut the chief priests and elders persuaded the uudtitude that they should a«k Baralthas, ami destroy Jesus."* We have a succinct account, hy Luke, of the repeated efforts made by the (Jovcrnor to effect the liber.ition of the injured Messiah. After the intimatic.n of the popidar voice in favour of Barahhas, " Pilate, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. But they cried, saymg, crucify him, crucify him." To this tumultuous, insane de- mand the (u)vernor rejoined : «' And he said unto them the third time, why, what evil hath he done ? I have found no cause of death in him : I will therefore chastise him, and let him go." Like all unjirincipled concession to wicked clamour, Pilate's chastisement and scourging of one whom he pro- nounced to have done no evil, failed to satisfy the insatiable appetite of an infuriate rabble, led by the most wicked and designing of hypocrites. Hence we read : '« and they were nistant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed."* We read that " when Pilate saw that he could prevail nothmg, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, juid washed his hands before the multitude, saying : I am innocent of the blood of this just person ; aee ye to it."t An empty device to quiet and exculpate conscience ! Had the Governor been merely one of a company or council, whose majority could settle the decision, there would have been meaning and apt signifioaney in the ceremony. In that case it hud formed an impressive protest against iniquity. But when we remember that, to use his own words, he had, m a measure, absolute " power to crucify Jesus, and power • Luke 23: 23. t V. 24. 135 to rclca8c him," his wa,shinj? was a vain attempt to pacify an internal accuser, and to compromise his evident oMi^ratums i-^very n-hteons human jud-c will pronounce him^uilty.' And ^ru.itj will be his sentence when the Supremo .Fud.r; who once stood before him as a prisoner, shall pr.mounce his just award at that tribunal from which there is no ai.r)e-il which 18 final in its nature, an" of Cyrt,ne.-No ftmale among tho per- socutorg and murdorors of Christ.-Tho add«,8a of Je»u» to the kind "daughter, of Jeru«alem."-He declined to drink the Ijenovolont potion offered him.-How much had iM^n crowded into a few hours.-The prayer of Je,u« for hi, enemlc,.- I ilato 8 inncrlptlon on the top of tho crosg.-Thn division of tho raiment of J.-sus -The Bpectaton, of the tragedy and their demeanour.-The supern'tu™" dfrj Z' "uU^hold."""'"*""^*'"'" of God.-The peace that 'J.s.es.ed MesS PRAYER. Most blessed God and Father, give us grace at this time witli one heart and one mind, to worship Thee with that true devotion which Thou wilt ever accept. May the Spirit of our Divine Master be imparted to us. And in waiting upon Thee may our souls be deeply humbled. What self-loathing should we experience,— what hatred of our own sinful con- duct, when we appear in the presence of Him who cannot look upon sm but with abhorrence ! We would sorrow «' after a godly sort " before Thee. May this state of the soul in active operation, produce a proper cleansing of ourselves With indignation and fear may we abhor that which is evil With vehement desire may we cleave to that which is good ever prosecuting it zealously. Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts of the carnal nature, enable us to " put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." We feel grateful to Thee our God that wc are permitted to contemplate the love of our Redeemer so steadfast, so profound 188 hi il 80 cfFoctual to pave. May wo bo rii^htlv and .looply iiffccteJ as tlio cirouni.stancc3 of this atoning (leath juiss hcforo our minds. may wo bo drawn to Johus in closer, ht«licr, tenderer affoction. Muy wo iuibibo dceiily of His sacrod sjarit. May subiiiii^sian and lovo to God bo hcncofortli uioro roally our charactoriiHics. May tlio cxainide of our dyin^ k^aviour amidst sufferings unj>arallclcd, induoo in uh mccknosn, faith and padcncu. May wo indoed learn Christian lK}ncvolcnco. May love to human souls l>o deoi>enod in us. Whon n'vilod may wo novcr rcvilo in return, but seek t«> ovcrcon ;• evil with good. May we tou Ikj crucifierl with Christ. Muy we live, vot not we, but may Christ live in us. May wo never tigaiu bo conformed to the world, but may we Ik) ti-aasforniod in the rcnowiii;; of our mind, that we may prove what is tj*at g»)od and jKJrtcct and acceptable will of thine. Grant \is largely, holy Father, of tlio presence and gracious iniluences of Thy Sjiirit, as we arc n<»w to ' 3 engaged for the sake of thy Injloved Son. Amcu. f'ir^i irt Matthew 27 : 26-49 :— " Tlieu released ho Barabbas unto tliem, and when ho had scourged Jesus, ho dehvered him to 1k5 crucified. Then tho soldiers of tlio governor t(Mik Jesus into tho common hall, and gatliered unto him the whole band cfsMiers. And they stripped hun, and put on liim a scarlet robe. And when tliey had platted a crown of tlioms, they Eut it upon his head, and a reed m his rigljt hand : and they owed tho knee before him, and mocked him, saying Hail, King of tJie Jews. And they spit upon him, and fewk the reed, and smote him on the head. And after tiiat they had mocked him, they took the robe off firom him, and put liis own raiment on him, and le-l liim away to crucify him. And as they canio out, they found a man of Cyrenc, Simon by name : liim they compelled to bear his cross. And wJien tliey were come unto a placo called Golgotha, that is to eay, a i»laco of a skull, they j^ave him \nncg?ir to drink mingled witii gall : and when he had tasted tliereofy he would not drink. And )]y lUfccteJ Ucforo our r, tenderer lirit. May roJilly our ig w'aviour <.iiust*, faith jncvolcnco. Iioii n*vilod ircoii;'" evil iiy we live, icvcr figaiu nidi in the } tiat g')od lenco and 3 engaged nhhas unto red him to twer at all against me, exccjit it were given thee from above : therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."t ?<• far is Pilate; from being displeased with the intimation that he is completely controlled by (Jod, and cannot go beyond His permission and sovereign pleasure, he became more awed, serious, and anxious that Jesus should be delivered.—" And from thenceforth," says tho Moved John, " Pilate sought t. release him." There was a powerful im- pressiytn on his mind, altogether extraordinary. He however had yielded too much already. Had he from tho beguming adhered to right principle and followed the dictates <.f con- science, his course had been comparatively easy and clear. But tho popularity which ho sought, and the dread of the Emperor, before whom he feared ho would be cited, if he refused the Jews, overcame all his scruijles. m 'John 19 : 8, 9. t John 19: 11. 143 It is estimated that Pilate made five if not seven attempts to save the Ufe of our Lord. But though this had been suffi- ciently pr^8eworthy, had he been only an advocate or oiic of a number of judges, it fails essentially to come up to that standard of rectitude and obligation which his own intelligence as well an the law of his country told him he ought to have met. What seems to have decided him against making any farther efforts m favour of Jesus, we learn from the aiwstle, " The Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Laesar 8 friend : whosoever maketh himself a king, fipeaketh agjunst Caesar. When PUate therefore heard tJiat saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment §eat m a plajce that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, ijrabbatha. '• Thus did the Roman Governor at length accede to the wishes of the diaboUcal enemies of Christ. He ascended the place for givmg sentence which is said to liave consisted of "a tcsselated pavement formed of smaU pieces of marble and coloured stones." Though the architecture was Roman, it was known to the Hebrew people by the designation of Gab- batha-an elevated place. Having formally condemned Jesus to death, Pilate, with bitter and contemptuous scorn, said to the Jews: "Behold your King!" Aey howeve^ repelled the declaration, crying out, " Away with him, away with hun, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, sliall I crucify your King ?" This drew forth what Uie Governor esteemed a very miportant admission. « The cliief j.riest answered. We have no kmg but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto thorn to be crucified."! The ai>03tlo remarks in connection with the perpetration of this most atrocious criminality,—" And it was the pre- praAion of the Passover,"— a season when especially piety, humbleness of mind, brotherly-kindness, anrl every good teeling should have been predominant. Alas ! the loaders and members of the Jewish Church are an illustration of the words of Him whose teaching astonished aU His auditory, not LilLl .mi m ■ ■ ■ H • John 19 : 12, 13. t John 19 : 15, 16. Ih 144 only by reason of its power, but its contrast to that of the scnbes,-." If therefore the light that is m thee be darkness, how great is that darkness ! " ' Both a^ong Jews and Romans execution took place imme- diately after condemnation. Jesus had been already scourged according to the cruel severity of the Roman method, which was much more terrible than that practised among the Jews. I^i either that punishment nor crucifixion was ever inflicted legally upon a Roman citizen. They were confined to slaves and strangers. The latter was the most ignominious form of capital punishment applied by that iron race. Their " scourge was formed of thongs twisted together, and in order to increaie the seventy of the lash, small pieces of iron were sometimes woven into it ; and the strokes were so severe as to tear and lacerate the flesh."* To the cohort of Roman soldiers commanded by a centurion, the final penalty of man's infliction was entrusted. The narrative informs us that " after thev had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to (according to the requirement of both Jewish and Roman law) crucify him."t The place of exe- cution was always outside of the walls of towns. Golgotha was that used for condemned criminals of Jerusalem The name may have been derived from the skuUs found there aa remnants of the interred, or which is more probable from the similanty of the hiU to the form of the human skull. It was innl^ ff riu" ^rS "^« ^'^^ ^ a ^-ansom for sinners should suffer " without the gate."t The locahty shown as the spot, also the place of sepulture, are withm where the walls were. Hence they are obviously fictitious. "The cross consisted of a strong upright post, sharpened at the lower end, by which it was planted in the grbund, having a short bar or stake projecting from its middleT and a larger transverse beam firmly jointed near its top. In short. It was much as usually represented , but not generaHy so high : In aU represen tations the middle bar is omitted : This Dr. Kltto. t V. 31. i Hebrews 13 : 12. that of the •e darkness, place imme- ly scourged thod, which g the Jews, er inflicted sd to slaves ous form of r " scourge ' to increase sometimes » tear and I centurion, 3ted. The I him, they mt on him, !nt of both .ce of exe- Golgotha lem. The i there as e from the 1. It was for sinners own as the 3 the walls sharpened e ground, ile. and a In short, f so high : d: This ,2. 145 ^^ serious diflference, as much of the weight of the cru- cified person rested on this bar, on which he in some sort sat ; whereas, without this, the whole weight of the body would have been suspended from the spikes driven through the hands and feet. This seat, if we may so call it, rendered the death less torturing, but more Imgering, and helps to account for the length of time the crucified, under oi-dmary conditions, remained alive upon the cross."* One part of the punishment of the condemned was, the carrying of the cross. Bu<^^ though Golgotha was not far distant from Jerusalei- ir Lord, overcome by the recent 8ulfenngt« which He een subjected, was unable to carry Ills cross. He seems., ju.e become so faint under the burden, that his enemies feared He would die, ere they could have the homd gratification of seeing Him suspended on the accursed tree. In this emergency the soldiers siezed an individual coming m from the countiy, Simon of Cyrene, in Africa, and "him they compelled to bear his cross." Very probably his object was, in visiting Jerusalem, to attend the Passover ; and his appearance as a stranger occasioned his being coerced to perform a task which majr have been thought too degrad- ing for a native Jew. It is impossible to say whether he was then a disciple of Christ. Most likely he was not. But that he afterward became so appears evident. Mark desicnates hun " the father of Alexander and Rufus," persons clearly known as disciples. We may confidently conclude that alike the parent and the children complied with the terms of disciple- ship, denied self, took up the cross, and followed Jesus. ' It has been observed that no female appears, prominently at least, among the persecutors and murderers of Christ. And It has sometimes been supposed that the whole sex of the race of Israel has ever since been distinguished for beauty. It is quite possible that He who rules in Providence, may have v\ this way marked His approbation of the kindness and absti- nence manifested towards Him in the day of His humiliation and sorrow by the Jewess. It is certainly worthy of remark that • Kitto. ^i i 11 146 amongBt the .Icnse crowd that followe.l Messiah to the scene ot Ills last suffering, we not only witness a proiwrtion of females who failctl not to cxj.rcss their sympathy and eom- injscration, wo see also the well-nigh exausted Mcenior, in the very luidst of His weakness and .sorrow, payin- C3i)ecial attention to tlicm, and honouring them with an address both solemn and salutary. Without noticing particularly the "great company of rKjopIc" who a^comj^anied the said i.roccssion, Jesus turned t tlie women who « bewailed and lamented Uim, and said, « Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but wcejj for yourselves, and for your children."* Surely a proi)er attention to these incidents is weU fitted, to suggest profitable reflections uj)on woman's true position, obligations, honour and excellence. » o > Immediately after this our Lord was at Calvary (the Latin word for (folgotha)— the place of execution. It was usual to give those who were al)out to suffer the lingering and most pinful death of the cross, a cup of wine so medicated, aa to benumb the feeling. This formed an approximation to the use of chloroform hi the present day. There were not wanting kind fnen-is who offered the suffering Saviour the benevolent potion. Mark says : " And they gave lum to drink wine nungled with inyrrii: but he received it not." He de- clined the alleviation that ho might not be stuiKjficd, but havea prfcctly clear consciousness of all things, and endure m ail Its hitteraess the imnishment due to transgression. Tliere were those however who, actuated by abase and fiendish hatred and cruelty, " gave him vinegar t.. drink mingled with gall." Ihis may have been intended by the per|>etrators as a derisive insult and a contemptuous mockery of the condemned King of Israel. Yet did the cahn and meek Sufferer acquiesce in even this part of the allotted i)enalty. He tasted it. But when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink."t The prescience of the Sprit of inspiration waa thus honoured. Ma-ay ages before David had prophetically written,—-" They ^ave me also gaU for my meat; and in my thirst they gave • Luke 23 : 28. t Matt. 2? : 34. ■-' 'K I to the scene pr'ijwrtion of ihy and nom- Redceiuor, in lyin^ C9i)ecial address both \y the " groat d procession, md lamented p not for me, "* Surely a d,to suggest 1, ohligations, •y (the Latin was usual to ng a]id most ncdicated, aa oximation to xe were not Saviour the huu to drink ►t." Ilede- u]K2iicd, but iid endure in lion. Tliere iidish hatred I Avith gall." IS a derisive jumcd King icquiesce in ;cd it. But fik."t The s honoured, n,— ".They t they gave meaning 147 T.u'"f.^T ?"'■ ""^ '^"'^l^'"* The i.redi<-tion an( An '"^* '"'"■*^ iinplomeiited, and illustrated. All was now ready for the kst infliction of the law : " And It wad the thn-d hour, and they crucified lum."t How ter- rifically energetic han on^ W to the honour of His Father do we e^e„ tllTcho d^ let us be animated by His Spirit and strive to irSal; His porfcct example ! There is danger of ui.bolirlna penslun^ though Christ bo set forth cfucifiod irthe mS 1^% f ^^^^l "^ '^^'"^^ "^ "^""^'"^ ^^ ^<^ behold in Sfe malefactors who were crucified with our iSaviour ' i.^h one iHJcume a most n.arveUous instance of a sinnJr saved aS ^ fire and a most emphatic att(i,tation of the Iwer an^ ^^nf 1 i"T ^«^^^«^^" >^hen in Iuh own utmcLt extrem- ty of angiuBh and weakness, the other reviled llhn and S m impiety. And what else is tlie world of mankh d ad i,.^ fessmg Christians doing still, hut the one paTcnW K the Wd and benig nK3rcifuUy accepted a^^d bIcS JhUe the other part is slighting the only Saviour, mi SeS His great salvation ? Or if we would ha^e ano her S wturo representation of the children of man ii, Zir beS towards 6hnst, we have it in the snirit and deLm orof the passers-by, m the people and tl.e rulers of SeT,!; the one hand, and on the other m the little mfnorityT^oS women, togetiier with the .lisciplo whom Ss lov^ Olie one party jcenngly and falsely professing their readt ness to believe, if Christ woiUd descend fivt. the crSss The other hopmg ahnost against hop<,, and ntron inZ ove that constrained them and k,u them^dls^lSv the Redeemer. Viewed from the vante2e^.rZd i^ this distant day, how unanimous is evrmS d^Ln as to which of the two a«ted the better part. But inTrde? not to nusB the benefit of the contrast, we must e^mhe our selves, and ascertain whether our essential chapter enrl spond with that of the friends or that of the e^e JesTf the Messiah. If with that of the fonner, we sh^l oIThave occaaon to prove it. by our not being ashamed of the cTss of Chnst, and by our risking any thing or every tSL for His sake. "Behold the man!'' He is ImSid^God with us. Ever let us worship Him as our KbTobev HWn ^ our Master, hono^^r Him L our Lord, and Mm S His deity and humanity, in His cause u x)n earth, aid b • His foUowers who bear His image. ' 't;^ 'If I ' ■ I 162 How grand anidid4 ill ^' f m of MoBBiali's spirit even before His (ViBinissal of it. Ilia faith- ful (li8ci[)le and most devoted friend writes, — '* Jesus, know-r ing that all thiii;j;8 were now accomplishod, that the scripture might he fidfiUed, saith, I thirst, Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar : and they filled a spungo with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus, therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished : and he bowed his head, and gave up Uie ghost."* St. Luke is very specific. lie savs : " And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, " Father, unto thy hand I commend my spirit : and having said thus, lie gave up the ghost."! Thus did the " good shepherd," ■*' who givoth his life for the sheep," nfibrd most impressive attestation of what He had Himself formerly spoken, '• Tiiereforo doth my Father love me, because I laid down my life, that I might take it again. No man takcth it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command- ment have I received of my Father."^ So soon, then, a^ the beloved Son had fulfilled all scripture and finished Hia ■work. He cried aloud, commended His holy, human soul luto His Father, and dismissed His spirit. PRAYER. God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wo woujcl ever give Thee praise for all Thy blessings, so most espe- cially for Him who is Thine unspeakable Gift to our guilty race. May our praise be increasingly cordial, full and spiritual. Enable us, holy Father, to receive and cherish m imita- tion of our Divine Redeemer, the same spirit of meekness, long-suffering, benevolence towards man, devotedness to God, self sacrifice and nearness to Thee, which we behold bq strikingly in Him. May the same mind be in us which was also in Jesus, our Lord. • John 19 : 28-30. f Luke 23 : 46. t John 10 : 17-18. . Ilisfaith- ^esus, know* he scripture ! was set ^ punge with his mouth. a,r, he said, avo up tiie And ys : I" , " Father, y said thus, shoplierd," ■j impressive [•ly spoken, [ laid down ceth it from er to lay it } command- on, then, ae finished Hifl human soul 165 ,1 ' lit jMi t, wo would most espe- I our guUty 1, full and ih in jmita- meekn^es, less to God, behold 8Q 1 which W9tS i I ; 17-18. XI. Attendant miracles.— The vail of tlie temple rent— The termination of the Mosaic dispensation.— The time admirable.— The ninth hour, when our Lord dismissed His Spirit— The opening of the graves.- The saved malefactor.— The Centurion and •oldiers, the women and others.— The honour done to women by the Evangelists. — Tlie Jewish law requiring that dead bodies should not remain after night. The Governor readily acceding, the bodies of the condemned are removed speedily, it being the second day after "the feast," and given to their fHends— A friend, Joseph of Arimathea, asks and receives the body of Jesus.— Nicodemus associated with him.— Lesson to us from their fidelity and love.— Joseph's new tomb.— The Aineral procession.— The predicted rising again as it told upon friends and foes, PRAYER. Our Father nr Heaven, we desire again, with renewed and increased interest, to have our souls occupied with this most impressive subject — " Christ crucified." We seem to hear thy call addressing us,—" Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world," — and we desire with unfeigned reverence to comply with the sacred mandate. Blessed Redeemer, "Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that we love Thee." We would now, with our whole energies intent upon the mighty theme, see Thee "evidently set forth crucified among us." We rejoice in Thee — Thou dying Saviour, as " the resur- rection and the life." By thy leath all thy people obtain life everlasting, and all that sleep in Thee shall yet hear thy voice, and come forth to the resurrection of glory. Lord may we truly and fully follow Thee as did those honoured disci- ples who did Thee ' >mage and honour, even when Thou hadst suffered the death of ignominy which our sins brought upon Thee. Deliyer us from the cowardice and heinous guilt of being ashamed of ihee. Rather may each of us be able to say ; "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Christ, by which the worM is crucified unto me, and I am crucified unt) the world." ion of the Mosaic rd dismissed His e Centurion and the Evangelists, iftcr night. The imoved speedily, lends— A friend, lemus associated oew tomb.— The ids and foes. ith renewed ed with this iVe seem to nb of God, d we desire ed mandate, lou knowest ole energies ;ly set forth ' the resur- !ople obtain 'et hear thy Lord mav jured disci- Thou hadst ■ought upon lOus guilt of 8 be able to the cross of , and I am 157 Blessed Jesus ! Thou didst die to bear the guilt and take away the sin of men Free us, we beseech Thee, from all iniquity. Thus Shalt Thou be glorified in our salvation and sanctification. By our humble and upright cleaving to Thee through good report and bad report, may we become vigorous disciples, strong m the Lord, and having « great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." Most merciful Father, bless very graciously our present meditations. Alay the spmt of Jesus be abundantly bestowed, so that we shall henceforth walk as those who are "dead mdeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our .ZV w u^'V} ^H ^^?'' ^^ *^« H«^J Spirit, be all glory— World without end. Amen. "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from Ihe top to the bottom ; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent ; and the graves were opened ; and many bodies of the samts which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy sitv and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying truly this w^ the Son of God. And many women were thefe beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, minis- tering unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee s children. When the even was come, there came a nch man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus disciple : He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean Imen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock : and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, aiid the other Mary, sitting over the sepulchre. I^ow the next day, that foUowed the day of the preparation, i' i ' .Sii f* ■ ' 158 the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive. After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by nignt, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead : so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them. Ye have a watch : go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."— Matthew 27 : 60-66. Miracles ushered in the birth of Christ, and miracles of the most signal character accompanied His death. While the earth quaked and the rocks rent as a tribute of homage ren- dered by inanimate nature to her Lord, there were other still more significant tokens of the attestation of God the Father, on behalf of His beloved Son. Concerning the vail of the temple, we have the Divine directory to Moses for its construction, in Exodus 26 : 81-86: " And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scariet, and finetwined linen of cunniig work: with cherubims shall it be made : And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold : their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick ovei against the table on the side of the tabernacle, toward the south : and thou shalt put the table on the north side." What a beautiful parallelism and com- mentary to this is implied by the apostle writing to the He- brews. He says : " For there was a tabernacle made ; the first wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shew-bread ; which is called the sanctuary : And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all, which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot 159 unto Pilate, id, -while he Command le third day, iray, and say le last error 5m, Ye have 1. So they J stone, and racles of the While the lomage ren- [•e other still the Father, the Divine 26:81-85: and scarlet, ubims shall ir pillars of I be of gold, biang up the thither the e unto you thou shalt in the most ut the vail, side of the it the table tn and corn- to the He- made ; the e, and the i after the lieat of all, 5 covenant, golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant ; and over it the cherubims of glory, shadowing the mercy seat ; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he oifered for himself and for the errors of the people : The Holy Ghost thus signi- fymg that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as yet the first tabernacle was standing."* This beautiful vail, separating between the holy place of thd temple and the holy of holies, was now, with all its ornate grandeur, " rent in twain from the top to the bottom." The hour was remarkable. It was that of the offering up of the evening sacrifice. The priests who were present officiating, atid others, would witness the awful spectacle. That sacred recess which had hitherto, from the day of Moses (with tem- porary interruptions), concealed the awful memorials of Jehovah's dealings and presence with Israel, was now coow pletely exposed. What the high priest alone— and he only once a year — was permitted to contemplate darkly, was no^ laid bare, so that there was no exclusion of the vulgar gaa?. Obviously then the Mosaic dispensation here ends. What an admirable moment for its termination ! Jesus— for whom the aiustrious lawgiver had waited, and to whom he uniformly pointed, — had now bowed His head, and given up the ghost ; and at the same instant He enters " into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Henceforth therd will be no entering " into the holy places made with hands." The symbol, the type, the figure of the true sanctuary, with all its imposing splendour, its heaven-appointed drapery, and its august associations, has served its purpose— Christ hath entered into that unpolluted temple, where He will advocate the cause of all His people till He shall come again. There the ever-living Apostle and High priest of our profession Will ever plead for us that He is " Jesus Christ the righteous,, * Hebrews 9 : 3-8. ,i » ■!/ 160 1 1 I '■ i the propitiation for our sins." All this is indicated and sug- gested by the rending of the vail at the ninth hour, when our Lord dismissed His spirit. Another miraculous manifestation of Jehovah's power in honour of the crucified Redeemer is stated at v. 52 : *' And the graves were opened ; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." It seems then that the earthquake which rent the rocks, also opened the sepulchres of those sleeping disciples of Immanuel. The abodes of the dead being thus unlocked, the inmates in due time for joining Him who hath " the key of death," after His resurrection, were resuscitated by His omnipotence. It is probable that they consisted all or mainly of individuals, who, having followed Jesus in faith and love during his perso- nal ministry, had recently died. This may be infe -red from their appearing unto many in the holy city, after their resur- rection, by whom, it is reasonable to suppose, they had been known when alive. They probably ascended to heaven with their Lord after He had arisen,—" the first fruits of them that slept." While these faithful disciples and sanctified children of God were thus honoured, how evident is the supreme honour that is rendered in this miracle to Him who is " the first and the last, which was dead and is alive." As we would participate in the blessedness of those who sleep in Jesus, when they shall arise from the grave in response to the Archangel's voice, to " meet their Lord in the air," let us now know the voice of tho good Shepherd, and follow Him all our life. Then shall we too hear His voice resounding through all the caverns of the tomb, and, if not among those who " remain unto the coming of the Lord," shall come forth to the glori- ous first resurrection. How inspiriting the anticipation ! How fitted to comfort and encourage amidst trials ! How powerful as a motive to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord ! These most extraordinary instances of supernatural inter- position do not exhaust all the tribute of homage that was tendered to the lowly Jesus, whose eyes were now closed in ted and sug- xr, when our I's power in 52: "And saints which 'esurrection, many." It ■ rocks, also f Imraanuel. * inmates in eath," after )otence. It individuals, ig his perso- ife.Ted from their resur- y had been leaven with its of them 1 sanctified lent is the K) Him who alive." As rho sleep in wnse to the ' let us now 3im all our through all 10 " remain the glori- .tion! How w powerful abounding iural inter- 3 that was T closed in 161 death. During His Ufe of humiliation, many, both of the lowly and of the more elevated in society, were not ashamed to acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and Israel's Messiah. Even now, in the hour of his deepest humiliation and degradation, our Lord's omnipotence to save, and the " u mJ^lu^^^^y ^^ ^^^ unmerited love, were conspicuous. Ihe beloved physician "—who not only views every inci- dent with the benevolence of a philanthropist and the intelli- gence of a man of science, but who h also a devout beli-ve m the Divine nature and authority ot the man Christ Jesus- records with much felicity and sufficient fulness, the mar- vellous salvation of the dyinor criminal. We are aware that It has been objected on high authority that this man may have been a changed, a good man previous to his seizure and con- demnation. This idea however will not comport with the narrative of the evangelist, and it is not needed to prove how ta lacious in general is a death-bed repentance. One of the malefactors, St. Luke tells us, railed on Christ, " But the other answering, rebuked him, saying. Dost thou not fear Uod, seeing thou art in the same conden Mon? And we indeed justly ; for we receive the due rewara of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss."* Here then, we take it, is one snatched at the last hour from the power of Satan, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son._ The whole moral nature of this man is renewed by the Spirit of Jesus. He haa faith in the dying Saviour— to the carnal eye, so unable to save. He prays to him for mercy— He says to him, "Lord, remt^mber me when thou comest into thy kingdom," after having witnessed for Christ to his companion. He is accepted in the Beloved—" And Jesus said unto him, " Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt ttiou be with me in paradise."! It may be that this is the only well-authenticated instance ot the sinner turning to the Lord with all the heart, in a dying moment, in the annals of mankind. If so, how glo- nously does i t speak to the praise of that loving Redeemer f I i ■J Ml! i 1 • Luke 13 : 40, 41. t Idem T. 42, 43, p ' I %ho is alble to save to the uttermost oil that come, unto God W hito ! While he saved but one thai none n.ight presume, He aaved one that none might despair. Another trophy of Immanuel's grace o.i this mi\*r afi-^cthir^ time presents itself to us. This is the divine renovaiion ew Testtanient, and several of whom, it is evident, became r.jirtek<»;'S of holy .faith in Jesus. The Author of natare- of ^^eason, and of all the laws (with their suspension) by w'-ish the universe is governed, honoiirS the vigilant ob^sorvfu desirous of ascertaining the truth. Ho did so in the present instance as the God of salvation and of the spirit of man. " Now when the centurion and they thar Were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that ivere done, they feared greatly, saying. Truly this was the Son of God."* The Roman stoldic-r knew that the affirmation of cur Lord that He was " the Son of God," wai )pronounced blasphemy by the Jewish Sanhcdrists, but he no^ aaw that the charge wad disproved by the miracles attendant iipun His decease. He knew also that Jesus had beeii maligned as a malefactor and seditious leader, but of the utter froundlessness of such charges he was now perfectly satis* ed. So that not only, according to St. Matthew, did he express his faith in the Deity of the departed Saviour, sayings " Truly this w-as the Son of God ;" he also, according to St* Luke, avowed his strong conviction of the perfect rectitude and sinlessness of the meek Sufferer. " Now when the cen* turion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, 'Certainly this was a righteous man."t Let us see to it that we too give glory to God by confessing His Son before men, as " God over all, blessed for evermore," as " Immanuel — God with us;" as the " Word made flesh;" as our Lord, to whom we are devotedly attached ; and our everlasting Friend, whos' image we bear, and to whom it is our supreme deaire to gror in likeness. Even during that terri- .'arkness during which Jesi st.t- '?.«♦. t Luke 23 : 47; 't(f unto God ut presume) 3novauon ken of wii.fs whom, it 13 I laws (with led, honoraa truth. Ho ation and of id they that e, and those ;, Truly thid ew that the God," wad , but he now is attendant had beeii of the uttei" fectly satis* lew, did he our, saying) ding to St* jt rectitude len the cen- 5, Certainly we too give n, as " God — God with io whom we lend, whos' ire to groT' I Jes' ' uf- 163 fered with the intensest excruciation— a darkness feebly symbolised by the " great hon-or of darkness " which fell upon Ai)caham, there were not wanting those who testified their Cvnoera and sympathy with their revered Teacher and Friend by (iioir near presence. Besides the most beloved John' there were the three Marys present. " There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Many Magdalene." After His death, and a the occurrence of the affecting miracles that accompa^ nied It, the crowd of spectators became very ercat. Not only M„r.lf''°T' Ti^'* *'"' ,^''''"S ^^^^ Magdalene anS Mary the mother of James and of Joses, and the mother of Zebedee s children, and Salome; we behold also many pious and excellent women who had attended the holy Saviour's instructions m Gahlee, and who delighted to minister to Him and His disciples. These had all been attracted to this most solemn and soul-stirnng of all scenes— the crucifixion. There Hr.,";;/ T ''"," ^^^^^^J^'' ^°'°«»' ^^ich came up with »hl S, • T^^""-?. l^^^ '•'"^^ »^^* f^'^ke or leave Him whom their souls loved m His last sufferings; and there seems to have been a multitude besides, who had congregated to witness the awful sight. Nor does any of liiis Irong seem to have been unmoved. Those who may stiU have continued hostile and unbelieving, were terrified at what they would regard as the omens of impending personal and national ruin t!= ^''\■^ u r' "^^^ ""^y suppose, of those who had rejected Jesus whde He hved, now were changed at His death, so that henceforth Christ would be their hfe ; and His undoubted disciples felttheir love to Him stronger in consequence of P.rul S: ^^l ^"'^ ^^^ ?'^' ^°^" '* ^hiJ« He hved. i^erhaps St. Luke s account is as expressive as any : " And a^l the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned. And all his acquaintonce, and the women that followed from Gahlee, stood afar off, beholding these thinfl8."t In the narrative of each of the Evangehsts we cannot fail •Mark IS : 4L t Luke 38 : 48, 49. ii\ m ^i^i • ' tf I '^^ 164 observe the honour done to woman. This is a reward in part for the honour rendered by woman to the son of Mary and to that omnipotent Person who came to allay the sorrows of the race, to redeem and elevate woman in the social scale, and to bless, m the highest degree, the whole human family. Wherever Jesus comes, and His religion is embraced, there woman especially is benefitted. She is acknowledged to be the equal and companion, the solace and the friend of man. Let woman compare her condition where Christ is ackno^r- ledged with what it is where He is unknown, and she will increasingly seek unto Hun, cleave to Him, and strive to bring all under His influence and sway. This is woman's true honour, her divinely-appointed commission, and one which many of the sex have most illustriously fulfilled. What a lesson may the enlightened and Christian female derive from the ennobled women who unfalteringly adhered to Jesus ! They sought no publicity ; they evinced not a particle of ostentation; we hear almost nothing of what they said, and nothing of arguing, or reasoning, or controversy, respecting the Nazarene. But we perceive how, as by a Divine instinct and affection, superior to the cold play of the intellect, they saw, and felt, and knew, that Jesus was the Son of God — the true Messiah, the Saviour of the guilty, " the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely ; " and it is by being fol- lowers of them as they were followers of the Lamb, that any of the sex may be allied to the sisterhood whose steady and warm love is recorded with such honour in the book of mspi- ration. " It was the custom," says Dr. Kitto, " of the Romans to leave the crucified upon the cross till they expired : and, indeed, to leave even the dead bodies upon them, for an example and a warning. But the Jewish law directed that the bodies of those who were hanged up for exposure, should be taken down and buried before sunset ; whereby the land of Israel was happily exempted from those shockmg spec- tacles which have been frequent in all lands, and which have only within Uving memory been banished from our own. Accordingly, in. Palestine, 'the Romans departed from their 165 usual custom, and despatched those upon the cross who remained alive towards the ciose of the day. They almost invariably were alive then, for crucifixion was an exceedingly hngenng death ; and, unless under peculiar circumstances" it w£w rare for any one to expire in less than thirty-six hours, and many lived several days."* Besides the authority of that law of God, which in wisdom and benevolence required the people of Israel not to allow the bodies of those who were put to death to remain exposed after night, there is an additional reason suggested by John, the faithful chronicler of the minute incidents attendant upon the crucifixion. « The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day (for that Sabbath day was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away." f The Sabbath that was now ensuing was tho second day of the feast of unleavened bread, whence were reckoned the weeks to Pentecost. It was also the day for offering the sheaf of new com—all which rendered it a treble solemnity. The Governor seems to have readily acceded to the petition for removing the bodies. The soldiers on guard in consequence came to the two criminals on either side of Jesus whom they found aUve, and put them to death by breaking their le^ with a bar of iron. But when they came to Jesus they found that He was already dead; they therefore "brake not his legs. They may have been awed by the unprecedented occurrences which they had just witnessed, so as in some measure to reverence His body. One of them, however, with OTuel and impious daring, ventured to pierce the side of the banour with his spear, and out of the wound there proceeded blood and water. This clearly proved that Jesus was dead. Had He been m a swoon, or had life not been extinct, it was evident that the heart had beer pierced, which alone was a mortal wound. Again we are called upon .0 mark the pre-arranging and Kitto : «* The Crucifixion." tJobal9: SI. (■ ? I 1 ■ M ¥n i I f ' 1} ^ i interposing]^ hand of God in all the details cf fv; -ronderful history. Man souglit to gratify himself, uat the Most Hi -h, who ruled over all, caused him to fulfil only his ploaau're. The mind of the apostle appears to have been gi ^atly struck m'h what he beheld. He says : " And he that saw it bjre rcc'^ d, and his record is true: and he knoweth that be saith tn e, that je might believe. For these things were done, tliat the scripture might be fulfilled : A bone of him shall nat be broken. And, again, another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced." The benevolence of the Roman law provided that the bodies of deceased criminals should be given to their friends. Was there, then, any friend of Jesus wh- had been put to death as the worst of criminals that would have courage enough to avow fealty .uid friendship to Him now ? 'i he sacred narrative will show. But why should we of little faith. doiibt on this point ? Though the multitude, and even his chosen attendants, had acted as we know, there were those who were most warmly attached to the mystorioua Person who had just resided His spirit. Shall we not con- fidently look for some from amcag this number who shall do honoiu- to their Lord even now, when o the carnal eye entirely and forever pros >t fail to avow their love and respect of Him in tlxia daiK, dark hour. Who, then, is this who stands forth most prominently as the believer in Jesus, seeking to obtain for ^".^ an honour- able burial? The very person who i« eram ntly ficied for the business in hand comes forwai' H^ ^ no mean or obscure man. He is not one upon \, .a <. i the great of this world v/iil look with contempt. Truu, he has never appeared yet aa the disciple of the Nazarene— no, not when th.. Great Teacher and Omnipotent Physician waa most popular. The individual now before us is not one to be swayed by mere prevailing opinion or aoplause. He i,". ob*> who ponders deeply and long ere he decides upon such an ' ! !- "Wonderful Most Ii:gh, is ploaanre. Ben gi ^atly he that saw noweth that things were )one of him )ture saith : d that the leir friends, been put to pve courage now ? The we of little e, and even there were myst^noua we not con- r who shall carnal eye ^farrunted to forward of as attached ir love and miuently as an honour- y fitted for 10 mean or he great of has never >, not when was most one to be He ig csnc on such an 167 nfinitely momentous theme as whether Jesus is the Jilossiah, and the alone name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. But having been thoroughly con- vinced aiid led by the Spirit of all grace to yield himself in faith and love to Jesus, He can now know nothing but <' Christ, and him crucified." All the evangelists speak of him. They toll us that lie was an " honoura' ' counsellor, who also waited for the kingdom of God," '♦ a good man and ajuat," who }ad not consented to the counsel and deed of the Sanhedrim of vhich he wan a member. He was also " a rich man." Such wa« Joseph of Arimathaea. Such was his reputed and M oil-known character. But this member of the spiritual Israel, who haa been a pious student of the holy Scriptures, " waiting i- r the kingdom of God," and pondering the signs attendant u] m the coming and manifestation of the Nazarene, »ow appeart a new light. He is proclaimed to be "a dlBoiplo of Jesuf.. but secretly for fear of the Jews." Will he remain an un, - )wed believer in Jesus? Verily no. He is a " secret di oiplo " no longer. He can restrain himself po more. Ho muH, i this hour of trial and desolation, when the open and re., uized followers of his Lord have forsaken Him, come forward. Necessity is laid upon him. The love of Christ burning in his soul constrained him. He goes boldly unto Pilate, and, declaring to the Governor that he was a friend of Him who had been crucified, besought leave to take away the body of his Lord. Nor was Pilate at all unwilling to grant the request. He " marvelled," we read, " if he were already dead." Joseph may have assured him of the death of Christ as having occm'rcd previously to the despatching of the soldiers, to consummate the end of the three who had been cmcified. The Governor, anxious and nervous on this perplexing subject, called the centurion. He was astonished to learn from Joseph that -' the King of the Jews " had died in a manner so accelerated and alto gether so uncommon. He was deeply interested. He was also most desirous that the case should never again come up. Ho would 'lerofore take the utmost c. r-c u. guard a-'ainst any possible mistake. Joseph's information respecting Jesua i ->uilj>-' I ■ i i-i 168 occasioned him surprise and great wonder. Ho, therefore, called the centurion who had been watching all the occur- rences attenda it upon the decease of this unparalleled Seraon, and " aaked him whether he had been any while ead." The searching enquiry thus instituted by Pilate is remarkable. It shows how much his own mind was impressed with what had taken place, and how undoubtedly the man Christ Jesus had died. When the Governor " knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph." ^ We must by no means umit to notice another distinguished disciple who was associated with Joseph in the taking down from the accursed tree, the body of the crucified Saviour. He, too, is an " honourable man " and a member of the council, *' who had not consented to the counsel and deed of them." He, too, is " a good man and a just," waiting for the King- dom of God." And he, too, '* is Jesus' disciple," with scarce the' secresy of Joseph. For we find his faithful histo- rian, with whom he is evidently a favourite character, and who could cordially sympathize with him, not only narrating his first coming to Jesus by night, and this last tribute which he paid to his revered Lord, but also his stand on His behalf m the Sanhedrim when he said : " Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know what he doeth V" — which protestation had such an effect for the time, that the measures of the enemies of the Galilean were disconcerted, " and every man went unto his own house."*- Still, however, there is reason to think that, as frequently happens with the good, when in high places, Nicodemus had hitherto been too reserved in avowing his attachment to the despised and hated Nazarene. The spirit of grace .in his heart now, at length, causes him to declare most unhesitatingly and openly his devotodness to his Master. The naturally timid has now, through the work going on in his soul, become bold as a lion. He may not, he dare not, hold back. Though earthly position, standing, reputation, or life itself were imperilled, it mattered not. He is quite willing to sacrifice all for Christ's sake. • John 7 : 61, 63. I, therefore, the occur- mparalleled any while by Pilate is 18 impressed ly the man knew it of istinguished aking down viour. He, the council, of them." r the King- iple," with ithful histo- racter, and y narrating ibuto which His behalf judge any V"— which le measures ted, " and , however, 13 with the to been too 1 and hated I at length, openly his I has now, bold as a igh earthly imperilled, ice all for 160 tl.«e came a\m Nio° 1 mu wl^L „, rt!? ,'" ■'""""• ^"'' stances ' What in.-H.. . i , "^^^^^^r m such c re urn- Jesus, but now whon fl.o r^f»,^ j- . *"® disciples of and haJ^^g obSKhf fu /'sSo'n 7[hf ^ ^ T"'^'' rerao-e the body, thcrasolvo, 7„i.- ? "'c 'loraan law to crucified, depJ^^lSfeZ'^'w^^^^^^ '^'''^'i^ more sublime v Verily there i. hZ Z T^ ^P^ctacle help There is nori™ elt'pU'nt''"^",^ tt"' '' great are horp a.>,i *u^- ' : pieatnt. jjut the very fntellect, the con emttj oftt K l"' ""' "''"'"^ °' 'W' " shall V he d tTv'cZ&"t!.'r- K ^'"^"',/>*">oua men 4"'wta''ra:£f eT„KL:t° 4'„tt ^"^'-^!: 1 • John 19 : 38, 39. t V. 40. m ,1 m 170 age. There was no ostentation in the conduct or spirit of the excellent men to whom our attention has been turned. There was a yielding to the light and suggestions of the Holy Spirit. There was no " conferring with flesh and blood." There was an implicit submission to the will of God, and a lofty simplicity that led them away from man to the honour of Him, whose favour 19 better than life. Let us imitate them in their devout study of the word of inspiration, in our wakeful observation of the development of the purposes of Jehovah in His providence and grace, and in a cheerful surrender of ourselves to the once crucified, but now risen Redeemer. Assuredly, if like them we are His disciples, we shall, hke them, be constrained by love to do all things that are honouring and well-pleasing unto Him. How certainly will He, when he comes again, not as the lowly Saviour, in humiliation, suflering, and to die, but as tHe risen and glorified King of Zion, as King of kings and Lord of lords, as the Judge of quick and dead, recognize all those who were actuated by these principles in their day of trial upon earth ! And how terrific will be that coming to all else ! How infallibly will He take vengeance upon all who know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! for that saintliness which flows from union to Jesus by faith, and which quaUfies for His Kingdom and glory ! Jesus had been honoured in the persons by whom He waa taken down from the cross, and the manner in Avhich they attired his body in clean white linen, with costly spices. He was also honoured in His burial. Near Mount Calvary was a garden, belonging to Joseph, in which he had recently caused a new sepulchre to be hewn out of the rock, with a view, it is probable, to its being the place of his own interment. Into this sepulchre, this tomb of " the rich man," was Jesus car- ried, and lovingly and respectfully deposited. From the newness of this house of death, it is evident there could have been no other tenant ; it was a " new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid ;" and its being hewn out of the rock, precluded any other passage than that by the door, — facts of moment, as going to evidence the resurrection of oui' Lord ipirit of the led. There loly Spirit. There was f simplicity [lim, whose heir devout 3ervation of providence Ives to the idly, if like constrained ell-pleasing 3 again, not to die, but ■. kings and jcognize all ;heir day of )mmg to all on all who Lord Jesus n union to igdom and om He waa which they spices. lie Ivary was a ntly caused a view, it is tient. Into Jesus car- From the could have vherein was )f the rock, r, — facts of )f oui" Lord 171 when the empty sepulchre conjoined with the an^^cls in nro- claiming respectmg Jesus, " He is not here." In th narmw house havmg made all the arrangements po s b le these ha te, as the SahShlf^^Jt at^! Zr^l^t Z vi'Xl the'r T^ T\fT ^" --ceSa^y labo even though the dearest of all friends, and the anointed ft. TecCof^? "'"T«'- " ^^^^^ '^' ^'-^ J«-"r - wasnfghrhan^^^^^ preparation day ; for the sepulchre Nor were there wanting, on the solemn occasion, a funeral procession of true and affectionate mourners. The piety and nessed by enemies seen and unseen, we doubt not But loving discples on earth, as well as wi'tnesse.Tnvis ble were deeply interested spectators. " And the women nkn'wT.?!^ came with him froii Galilee, followed after and feld the sepulchre and how his body was laid." No particular mei tion IS made of Mary, the mother of Jesu Aw It is not unlikely t^iat « the sword had pierced her soul," so that when • Jesus addressed her and John from the cross ILv .L!- i ^me iately, as a son, took her toTist^'h^^c^^VhrS acount for her absence now. But Mary Magdalene, and MaJv group, as 'sittin- over against the sepulchre." All this little sZS\r:::rf *^^,----'^ '-ty and defeS eXmfnffi f ^'t ^^*^ f^"'h ^"d ^^^^'^ resolved upon brtded^' T W ^'7''^y\'' 'T '' *h« Sabbath should oe ended Ihey therefore returned with speed to the citv in order to purchase the requisite articles previ^^us to £ commencement of the hallowed day, so that^here mi-^ht bt no delay so soon as its termination Ll arrived Thuf on siderate, energetic, and prompt is holy love. They«n enared spices and ointments ; and rested the Sabbath Z aSd n^ t tTTiTi: i ''r ''-' ""'"''^ ^•"^' ^^^ reflect nnor?fbV„ 1 "^'^ ' '"^ "''"*^* instances, let them retlect upon the example oi these attendants upon the Lord ■1: V lil ti: a ■' I ,s nn hi 172 of the Sabbath day. Certainly there wag no coldness here, and no Pharisaism. Yet there was a scrupulous and an enlightened conscientiousness regarding the holy day of rest, that^is most instructive and decisive. Certainly, if we are animated by the same spirit of love and holiness, we shall, m the letter and spirit of Sabbath observance, be allied unto them. „T . , i.- n/T Thus was fulfilled the prediction of Isaiah respectmg Mes- siah : " And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." The tomb, by the presence of our Redeemer, Head, and elder Brother, has been divested, m large measure, of its loneliness and loathsomeness. " Them that sleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him." We have seen something of the Sabbath sanctification of the friends of Joses. Now let us turn for a moment to His enemies. Though they were satisfied of His death and burial, they could not rest, not even while the day of sacred- ness lasted. They set aside even the appearance of sanctity ; and, having convened the Sanhedrim, they repaired to the Roman Proconsul with a serious statement and solicitation. We cannot fail to be struck with the knowledge they evince of the prophetic words of the deceased Jesus. His disciples understood them not. owing to their preconceived opinions, with which they clashed.' But these deadly foes understood their meaning ; and fearing their reality, with consciences ill at ease, restless as the troubled sea, they come to Pilate on the Sabbath, " saying. Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive. After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people. He is risen from the dead : so the last error shall be worse than the first." We can easily conceive how nauseous to the Governor were these chief priests and Pharisees. He, however, rephed to them with civility and propriety. There was a detachment of soldiers in attendance at the courts of the temple. Pilate said to them, " Ye have a watch : go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure." They certified Iness here, as and an [ay of rest, , if we are ve shall, in allied unto cting Mes- , and with nee of our iivested, in 3. "Them :ification of lent to His death and J of sacred- 3f sanctity ; ired to the sohcitation. they evince lis disciples )inions, with rstood their 3nces ill at ilate on the ceivcr said, rise again, ire until the d steal liim he dead : so e can easily these chief I them with of soldiers aid to them, 3 as ye can. ley cc-rtiScd 173 themselves that the body was there, placed their seal upon the stone that closed the entrance, so that it could not be removed without their knowledge, and set a watch. They were also probablv aware of the purpose of Joseph and Nicodcraus, along with .her friends, to embalm the body. Had they petitioned Pilate to hinder this, they might have been refusecl iiut they thought that they could effectually defeat these emi- nent men and their fellow-disciples by this method of sealing the stone, which had been comprehensively allowed them, with any other precautions they could possibly take . Unhappy men ' all will-not do. " He that sitteth in the heavens shall lau.rh ; the Lord shall have them in derision."* Their craftiness and their rage shall alike go to establish the certainty of the resurrection. They could only do whatsoever the Divine hand and counsel determined before to be done. We know that Jesus is risen. that we may die with Him to sin, and uve to God, so that the life we now live in the flesh may be by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave Him- self for us. Glance yet again, ere leaving this solemn scene, at "the excellent of the earth " who are present. We see clearly the centurion, the good women, and the two men of standing and worth— all disciples. Some of them, like the Koman soldier, are but beginners in the Christian race ; yet all of them are on the Lord's side. How much may we loarn from each variety of them ? Integrity, love, dcvotedness to Christ, characterize them all. May we be all like them, quickened to newness of life. Like them, may we never be ashamed of the cross of Christ, either in His members, His hoHnoss, or His honour. To us to live be it Christ, and to die will be gain. Verily there shall never be wanting those who shall do homage to the crucified Ransomer ; and His people shall be all willing in the day of His power. May we be among the number. • Psalm 2 : 4. 174 PRAYER. God, and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we again come unto Thee in His name to supplicate Thy bles- sing. By His death may we have life eternal. May we be strong in that faith which will make us victorious over the world. Enable us never to confer with flesh and blood, when thy honour and thy revealed will make it evident what we ought to do. We praise Thee, Author of all good, for the many who have been induced to prefer Jesus and His reproach to every earthly consideration. May we too be regenerated by the Spirit of thy grace, and from day to day experience progressive sancti- fication. Prepare us for the coming of our Lord. His inti- mation is, " Behold I come quickly." May we all respond, " Even so come. Lord Jesus, come quickly." May we be associated with the friends of Jesus as our choicest friends. May all who are specially dear to us belong to this class; and to thy name. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be glory everlastmg. World without end. Amen. 3US Christ, i Thy bles- lay we be 3 over the md blood, Ident what T who have ;ry earthly e Spirit of 3ive sancti- His inti- U respond, JUS as our us belong oly Ghost, XII. The resurrection of Jo«,s._Theearthquake.-The anRcIs.-Tl.e Uoman euard - Ant«? /.r^'r '^^"'^'l'"— Vi^it of Peter and John to the^mpf, "mb -Appearing of Christ to Mary Magdalene. -First meeting with the ofhar wmnen olher" rslt: 't? '°^ '" Emmaus.-Chrisfs manifestation to I'eter and t . "e San r" Th fl n '""r of Thoma«._He did not dare to be absent .'eight brethrl r • f ",f, ^^''^ ** *"' '"•'" "^ Galilee.-Jcsus seen of five hundred IIm:::::^^^'''"'^-''*''' '-^■■^"''^^ ^"'^ justified by His death, may we ever realize tl,- bl- ssod consequences of His resurrection, m His continua/ 'atf vvossion on our behalf J^ or His sake, we beseech TJiee to .uew us from day to day' until we are meet for the inheritance of saints. May our interest in Chris ■ be undoubted. May our love i^- .lim be supremo, intense, and evsr-constraiuing. We would ever, Thou once crucified, but now risen Redeemer, do Thee m^ [4: I II ■ \ 176 hearty homage. We would render Thee the full consecration of a renewed nature. Almighty God, we supplicate Thy rich blessing upon our attentive consideration of the appearances of our Lord after He had risen from tlie dead. Confirm, enlarge, and strengthen our faith. Imjjart largely of thy Spirit, so that we may with much edification and comfort wait upon Theo. We desire to be deeply humbled, and to grow in likeness to our adored Master. Add to the number of the disciples of Jeeus, we beseech Thee, good Lord. Cause many who heretofore have been unconcerned about the grand subject of a Saviour's death and resurrection, to feel that in Him alone can they have any hope for eternity, and to yield themselves to Him as those who are alive from the dead. We entreat Thee, most merci- ful Father, to hear, and graciously accept of us, for the sake of Thy beloved son. Amen. " In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the selpulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake : for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled l)ack the stone from the door, and sat u[)on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow : and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said imto the women. Fear not ye ; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here ; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead ; and, behold he goeth before you into Galilee ; there shall ye see him : lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy ; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met themj saying. All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped hira. Then said Jesus unto them, be not afraid : go tell my brethren that they .1; nsecration upon our Lord after strengthen i may with e desire to )ur adored ire besoech have been 1 death and have any n as those lost nierci- )r the sake vn towards le and the here was a jnded from i the door, itning, and he keei)ers 1 answered hat ye seek is risen, aa . And go the dead ; re shall ye ed quickly did run to is disciples, they came Then said n that they 177 go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, tlioy gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, say ye, His disci])le3 came by night, and stole him mcai/ while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will ])ers»jade him, and secure yon. So they took the money, and did as they were taught : and this saying is coumionly reported among 'the Jews until this day. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him : but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." — Matt. 28 : 1-18. The great Redeemer had on various occasions during His ministry predicted both his own death and resurrection. We have already seen that though this foretelling of His rising again was lost sight of by His disciples, it was anxiously remembered by His enemies. On this account they had caused the sepulchre to be secured and guarded by a special watch of Roman soldiers. With what effect, the narrative upon the consideration of which we are now to enter, will show. St. Luke, after mentioning the honourable burial of our Lord, adds — " And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how the body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments, and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment."* Thjs accotmt will enable us easily to understand the visit paid to the cemetery by a company of female disciples. This party seems to have comi)rehended Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome the mother of Zebedee's children, Joanna, and other women. Intent upon doing all possible honour to that loved Master, whose crucified body they had so lately seen deposited in • Luke 23 : 55, 56. 178 Jl EiiaL" fc^ j 1 HP f 1 k J '"C i Joseph's tomb, they were very early at the sepulchre after the Sabbath was ended with the preparation of spices with which they were furnished, in order to embalm the body. What their ideas now were as to Jesus being the Messiah, we can only conjecture. One thing appears very evident — their love was strong, however dark their intellect, or imperfect their faith. Nor was this unreasonable, or a mere feminine weakness. It was the powerful, necessary, and constraining impression produced upon their convictions and hearts by the mfinite moral excellency of Him, of whom each of them could say—" This is my beloved, and this is my friend." AVith Him they had been most intimately acquainted while he lived; they had faithfully waited upon His ministry, and devotedly ministered to Himself. And now, though death seemed to have blasted their hopes, their confidence, esteem and attachment were unabated, though unable to account for the sad consummation which had occurred. This at least they will do. They will render their departed Friend and Teacher all possible reverence and every mark of imabated affection. We accordingly read — " In the end of th^ Sab- bath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of tb- eek, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepul chre."* The particular time here indicated may be uncertain. It has occasioned some discussion. The Jewish Sabbath ended, as all are aware, at sunset. And it is natural to suppose that immediately after, these endeared friends of Jesus would be on the alert to accomplish their purposes with regard to Him. And the passage before us is not inconsistent with this view. It might be rendered — " The Sabbath being ended, as it began to draw nigh to the first day of the week." If, how- ever, the women had intended to be at the burying-place sooner than the early light of the morning, they were pre- vented by the extraordinary and miraculous circumstances attendant on our Lord's resurrection. Anterior to their visit " there was a great earthquake : for the angel of the Lord • Matthew 28 : 1. Ichre after spices with the body, lessiah, we lent — their ■ imperfect •e feminine onstraining arts by the them could d." With I while he listry, and »ugh death ice, esteem account for is at least i'riend and f unabated f th« Sab- th- eek, the sepul ertain. It lath ended, appose that 3 would be rd to Him. 1 this view, ided, as it ' If, how- [•ying-place were pre- sumstances ) their visit f the Lord 179 descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow : and for fear of Hun the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." Of the angels of light we read— "Are they not all minister- ing spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ? "* Most becoming and suitable then is it that thev should exercise their ministry in waiting upon Him who hath bought each member of his Church with His own blood. And most gladly do those high and holy ministers render their homage and service to Him who is Lord of the Seraphim and of men. On all occasions of special moment wo are apt to discover them in their attendant capacity associated with Jesus. They announce his birth, which was foretold by an angel. They wait upon him after his temptation of forty days in the wilderness. An angel from heaven is seen sympathizing with and strengthening Him at the terrific crisis in the garden, when the human nature of Jesus was well-nigh overwhelmed. Angels formed his retinue when, as the King of Glory, the risen Redeemer entered into the temple of heaven. How much they are in requisition in the events of Providence and of the Church of Christ, the visions of the Apocalypse inti- mate. And, as angels accompanied our Lord in His ascension, we know that when He shall come again in His own glory, and in the glory of the Father, to judge the world, He shall be attended also by a glorious retinue of the holy angels. How long the crucified Redeemer remained under the power of death in the sepulchre, it is impossible confidently to estimate. He was interred upon the evening of Friday before sunset, when the Jewish Sabbath began ; and he arose after that Sabbath had terminated, previous to day-dawn. Whether " thirty-six hours," as Dr. Kitto computes, be the time, can- not positively be settled, and it is of Uttle moment. He lay in the tomb on Friday night, during the Saturday succeeding, and for some part at least of the night of that day. This makes His resurrection, in Jewish phraseology, to have • Hebrews 1 : 14. if ■|: »^':: 180 occurred on "the third' day." "Three days" with the Jews did not require our complement of hours, darknes? and light. '* The third, the appointed day," liaving arriv('ii, all the Evangelists refer to and narrate Bnino of the circum- stances associated with it. Before the arrival of Mary Magdalene and her friends at the sepulchre, most important events had been enacted. An earth(|uake, more apparently terrific than that which had acco;af)anicd the decease of Christ, had u-anspired. It was accomplished by the agency of an angel of light, and seems to have been intended to tell primarily upon the enemies of the Saviour. The vast stone, sealed by the signet of the San- hedrim, watched by tho Roman guard, which filled the mouth of the cave constit ihi j; the sepulchre, was the occasion of much anxiety to th( wi>!> > Photogr^hic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ■:^' iV '^ t^'^^ (cJ ■;i 182 Such is the account furnished in characteristic style by the unobtrusive, yet pointed and specific John, of the visit paid by himself and Peter to the empty tomb of Jesus. The physical capabilities and mental pecuUarities of these two most endeared friends, of the older and the younger apostle, are very finely, though without effort, indicated. John, being the younger and fleeter man, first arrives at the spot. Peter the olaer and bolder, is the first to enter the sepulchre. After his going in, John also gains courage and follows him. Each ot them, John in particular, is struck with the careful adjust- ment and separation of the winding Hnon and napkin for the head. They feel that all this order and arrangement prove that there has been no haste, and that they are an evidenc" that the body has not been stolen. John says of himself that he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the Scrip- ture, that He must rise again from the dead." This lan-^ua-^e seems to mtimate that what he and his friend should^have known from the word of prophecy, and of Jesus, he now for the first time came, in some degree, to understand from observation. "He believed." And if we attempt to name what, we may infer it to have been that the Lord had risen irom the dead. While Mary Magdalene was absent in quest of Peter and John, to mform them of the absence of the body of Jesus, the women that remained at the sepulchre entered it. They would do this with a view to search it more thoroughly with the aid of increased light. Immediately upon their entrance they appear to have seen the angel who had caused suchterror to^the soldiery on guard. Very different, however, was his mfauence upon these good followers of the Lamb. He said to them, "Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. Mark and Luke associate another angel with this one. He might only be discovered by the women after they were completely within the sepulchre. These holy angels invited the women to " behold the place where the Lord lay," instructed them concerning the predictions of His rising from the dead, and commissioned them to go and tell His disciples and Peter to prepare to see their Master in 183 style by the be visit paid Fesus. The esc two most apostle, are m, being the 3ot. Peter, 3hre. After him. Each ceful adjust- )kin for the ment prove an evidence himself that t the Scrip- is language ihould have he now for stand from pt to name had risen Peter and ' Jesua, the it. They mghly with ir entrance such terror 3r, was his He said to which was angel with )men after 'hese holy ivhere the ions of His ;o and tell Master in Galilee, as he had intimated to them before his death. Instant compUance was rendered to this authority. "And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy and did run to bring his disciples word." ' John tells us that after he and Peter had seen the empty sepulchre, they " went away again unto their own home." Not so was Mary Magdalene disposed. Sho " stood without at tne sepulchre weeping ; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked mto the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sittmg, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." These two heavenly messen- gers, who had already manifested themselves to the other female friends of Jesus, are now also seen by Mary Magda- lene. Ihey are sitting at the extremities of the spot where the corpse of their Lord had lain. We are by this reminded ot the absence of niches in Joseph's new tomb. The scene of the^ Conqueror's sleep, which no doubt wa« selected as the best that revenng love could choose, was indicated, and His trmmph heralded by the angels in this manner. Addressing Mary, they say, " Woman, why weepest thou ? " She saith unto them, apparently undaunted, and in a manner in keepnif* with her heroic, loving, and energetic character, as a disciple ot Jesus—" Eecause they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." Just then her attention was caught by the coming nigh of another Person, and that Person was none other than He whom her soul loved. He, too enquired in soothing and gentle terms, " Woman, why weepest thou : whom seekest thou ? " The dress in which Jesus was now attired, was different from that with which His friend had been familiar. The eyes of Mary were suffused with tears and her mind was excited and distressed. Her thoughts were occupied with the idea that some party had removed the body of Jesus. Hence, she knew not at first her Lord ; but, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, "Sir it thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid' him, and I will take him away." There is something most touchmgly natural in her words. Though speaking to a sup- posed stranger, sho specifies, not by name, the Master wLoae f '! I > / ^' ir i i: 184 mortal remains she sought. He alone was in all her thoughts, and it is of" Ilim" only she can speak. Evorybody must know to whom slie refers. Surely wc cannot fail to discover in the love of this heroine of the Cross a passionate ardoiir, and a faithful uitensity, that exceeds in degree, as well as in grandeur and sublimity, the most devoted worship ever ren- dered by the worldling to Mammon. In reply to her waim and somewhat expostulatory appeal, we read that "Jesus baith unto licr, Mary." the music and melody of that voice ! It was sweeter and more sacred to her ear than aught she had ever heard ! It threw her into an ecstacy of delight ! She turned herself, and saith unto him, " Rabboni," — a term equivalent to the words " my dear Master." Knowing well the mental vigour and the strong faith of Mary, Jesus requested her at present to dis- pense with eml)racing llini. She was perfectly assured of Ilia identity, and also of llis resurrection, and she would have frequent opportunities of seeing Ilim previous to His ascension. He said to her — " Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father ; but go to my brethren and "'vy unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and to your Ff. : and to my God, and your God." And, like the den... ao whom Jesus restored and saved for eternity, in his obedience to his Lord, who required him to " go home to his friends, and tell them how great tlungs the Lord had done for him," rather than be personally attendant upon his Saviour, as he had sought, so Mary cheerfully complied with the will of her adored Redeemer. Slio " came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these words unto her."* Such was the first manifestation of Himself of the risen Messiah to any of His disciples after His resurrection. This is exi)ressly declared by Mark—" Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. "f Previous to His appearing to any of the apostles, or any John 20: 11-18. t Mark 16 ; 9. ler thoughts, rybody must 1 to discover nate ardour, as well as in ip ever reu- tory appeal, the music more sacred .t threw her If, and saith words " my )ur and the esent to dis- 1^ assured of 1 she would dous to His )r I am not ren and °'»y 3ur F}. : le den.... ac is obedience friends, and dm," rather , as he had will of her sciples that these words risen This of the ction. us was risen 'st to Mary n devils. "t ;les, or any 185 male disciple, this distinguished woman and her female isso ^la eswere honoured with two separate discoveries of Himself by their Lord. Was not this a mark of special favour Tndi reward of their fidelity, love, and courage, in which th'ey IJ excelled any of their brethren ? They'w^re more sSe in their attachment to Christ, and less ambitious of T oVa^ distinction, than any of the eleven. And simplicity of pietv and lowhnoss of spirit in His members, the Head of the bodv always marks out for emphatic approbation. Here, a-airf woman-Christian woman-may perceive her true di-niitv and happmess. Let Christ Jesus be all and in all to^h-r In goodly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the -race ol (rod, let her have her conversation in the world "^ The company of women remaining at the sepulchre when Mary Magdalene went ,n quest of the disciples, at once com- phed with the directions of the angels who appeared to them and were running to bring the discinles word. How hannv ipwi^nl ?'^ ?r' r^ ^'f '"'^ ^ *^" "^*^' '"^"d told the good news to uch of the discip leo as they found, they were return- ing to the sepulchre perhaps in que«t of Peter, when, lo ' Jesus met them, saying, "All hail ! " Nor did He preveni their embracing Him, and remaining for a time to do Him homage He had dealt otherwise with Mary Magdalene. -But such differences are not uncommon in the dealings of the heavenly Sovereign with His people. And here, as !n many similar cases, what tothe superficial glance might seem to he a repulse, or a slight, ,s, in reality, a token of honour and con- Mence. In our Lord s various dealings with Marv, and with her Christian sisters, we can easily perceive implied, a higher estimate of her advancement as a disciple, than of that wliich they had attamod. Yet all is of grace. The Author of the bpirit dispenses to each severally as He pleaseth, and He acts towards al according to His own wisdom and their necessity. We do not read ot Magdalene's being terrified. The other women obviously were. Hence the compassionate Saviour dealt tenderly with them. They had beenassured byan Jc testimony thai thmr ! i i H 'Vi 186 predicted. Tlieywere now still more highly favoured. Jesus Himself met them, and saluted them in a most gracious manner. They, too, as well as Mary, knew the beauty and sweetness of the voice that spoke. They, too, were perfectly sure that it was the voice of their " Beloved." In reply to the words of Immanuel, " They came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them. Be not afraid ; go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."* It is evident from the narrative of Luke, that previous to the setting out for Emmaus of the two disciples, the women had arrived at their dwelling, and reported the vision of the angels, and what they had told them. In consequence, as we learn from the same writer, a deputation of disciples went to the sepulchre, and found it " even so as the women had said ; but Him they saw not."t Peter, it is to be inferred, was absent when the party of women came to the lodging with the tidings from the angels. After Mary Magdalene and this party had both seen Jesus, they again visited the apostles, and declared, in addition to what they had formerly made known, that they had seen the risen Lord. But the mourning and weeping ministers of Christ " believed not " Mary Mag- dalene. They supposed that she was deluded. Nor did they yield to the united testimony of her and all the rest of the women. " Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they behoved them not." There was one among the company upon whom these solemn asseverations made a deep impression. His warm tempera- ment, his recent history, and his enthusiastic attachment to Jesus, as well as his being singled out byname by the angels- all disposed him to think there must be something in all that had just transpired. He must, therefore, without delay, again visit the garden of Joseph. " Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre ; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that ■which was come to pa88."| • Iklt.tt. 28 : 9, 10. t Luke 24 : 24. t Luke 24 : 12. 187 ired. Jesus ist gracious beauty and re perfectly In reply to him by the to them, Be Galilee, and previous to , the -women i^ision of the sequence, as isciples went women had be inferred, lodging with lene and this the apostles, nmerly made ;he mourning ' Mary Mag- Nor did they e rest of the le tales, and these solemn irm temperar ttachment to the angels — ig in all that b delay, again , and ran unto linen clothes imself at that The apostle saw not the angels. Their work was now completed, and farther disclosures from them were not caUed for. Ihere is never, in the Divine operations, any thin-' super- fluous, while there never is anything wanting. Pcter^did not enter the sepulchre. He simply stooped down and beheld He agam marked what had formerly struck him—" the Hncn clothes laid by themselves," and the napkin carefully adjusted m a separate place. Ht knew not what to think. Words he uttered not. He was profoundly amazed. He communed with his own heart. The depths of his soul were stirred with emotion. Both Luke and Paul record the appearing of the Lord to this noble apostle.* He was, of all the male disciples, hon- oured with the first sight of Him to whose omniscience he cou^d appeal -"Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that 1 love thee." Most probably it was when returnin-' bewildered from the sepulchre that Jesus manifested Himsell' to bun. The gracious Master may ha/e intended to reani- mate and restore to comfort and confidence one who, thou"h he had lately denied Christ, yet was truly Christ's, and de- signed for high usefulness in the Church of God. There was a token of forgiving love to Cephas in this appearance, and also a reward for his fervent love, and an indicated apprecia- tion of it, on the part of the most generous of Masters. _ In the afternoon of the same first day of the week, two dis- ciples took a journey to the village of Kmmaus, distant about seven miles from Jerusa' em. One of these was Cleophas ; the other IS not named, but may have been Luke. Talkin*' to- gether of all that had happened, they were overtaken ly a .stranger on the way. His admirable discourse, his opeimi" to them the Scriptures concerning the death and resurrection Of Messiah, powerfully affected them. Their heart burned within them. But being supernaturally restrained from know- ing Jesus, they perceived not that this stranger was their nsen Master. They, however, entreated Him to abide with them that mght, as the day was far spent. He went in, and ':\ [ce24: 12. • Luke 24 : 34; 1 Cor. 15: 5. k'i uJnil 188 partook with them of then- humhle meal ; His manner, voice, and sanctity now convinced them who he was ; and very soon after this their Lord departed. They rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem in haste, to communicate the joy- ful tidings to their brethren. On their arrival at the house of the eleven, they found the whole assembled, with other friends of Jesus. Their ears were gladdened on entering the apartment with the intelli- gence : " The Lord is risen, indeed, and hath appeared to Simon."" Gladly did they also add their experience to the other evidence, " and they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known 6f them in breaking of bread."* Nor need we doubt their witness strengthened the faith of many, for though we read of " the residue" that they neither believed them, nor any other of those who had seen Jesus, this scepticism was limited. That some should be ciilpably incredulous ia not wonderful, when we consider their long cherished views, and how these had been destroyed by the death of the Nazarene. We know that some continued to doubt even after they had ocular demonstrations of their Lord's resurrection, but all this is easily understood as only the working of the weakness of human nature. The mass of the disciples believed both Simon and the other witnesses ; and ultimately, we doubt not, all the upright became entirely convinced of the resurrection of the crucified Saviour. While the two disciples Avere engaged in their recital to their fellow-Christians, and the evening repast was being eaten, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them. John men- tions that " the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews."t The Divine Saviour, however, miraculously drew the bolts, and opened the locks. This accounts for the alarm of the disciples. " They were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And ho said unto them, why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and mv feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see ; for a Luke 24 : 34, 35. fjohn 20: 19. ncr, voice, I very soon same hour, itc the joy- y found the Their ears the intelli- ppeared to ;nce to the done in the )f bread."* ;ho faith of hey neither icen Jesus, )e culpably their long yed by the jntinued to ns of their ood as only rhe mass of • witnesses ; ,me entirely riour. r recital to was being John men- sciples were le Saviour, i the locks. • They were had seen a ubled? and i my hands 1 see ; for a 189 spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet."* Besides such astonishing condescension and kindness to- wards his followers, Jesus imparted much instruction to them concerning the things that were written in the Word of God, and repeatedly gave them his benediction of " peace." He also siguificantly "breathed on them," and said "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." This blessing was both present and prospective. While it implied all the future gifts of the Spirit, it conveyed now to the soul the illuminating influence of the sacred Agent. We can easily conceive what an increase of light, joy, and faith the disciples must have realized. Such was the first shewing of Himself on the part of Jesus to " the twelve," as Paul expresses it, or to " the eleven," as we find it in Mark, although neither of these was the number actually present on the occasion. The most sceptical and incredulous of all the apostles was Thomas. He was absent when Christ first met and manifested Himself to the assembled disciples. Perhaps Thomas was so stumbled at what had taken place, that he was almost ready to believe that he had been all along under a delusion. When there- fore his brethren told him, "We have seen the Lord," he refused to accredit their word. He said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my h'-nd into his side, I will not believe." Yet this unbelieving friend did not dare to absent himself from the meeting of the disciples on the follbwi..g first day of the week. Then we are told " Thomas was with them." We know not which to admire most, the omniscience, the love, or the condescending wisdom of that infallible Teacher, who so often is seen (by John especially) giving to the subjects of His grace and compassion evidences of His Deity. They all entered into the soul of the overcome and deeply affected apostle. " Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hand; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust 1 190 t i it into my side ; and be not faithless, but believinpj. And Thomas answered and said unto Him, my Lord, and my God." * Jesus added a rebuke for his refusin;^ to believe without such a sensible sif^. " Far more blessed and precious is that faith which arises from within, than that which thus waits for a summons from without." Our Lord had pi*omised his sorrowing apostles on the night of the last Supper that after His resurrection He would go before them into Galileo. This intimation He renewed through the women who fii-st were privileged to see the risen Saviour. Accordingly, they left Jerusalem soon after the termination of the Passover festival , and returned to their homes in Galilee. Roth the time and place were probably ai)pointed. We hear, indeed, of " a certain mountain." Ami while the apostles awaited the appointed time, they engaged in their usual occu- pations, mos' of them as fishermen. One day, as evening advanced, seven of them (including Peter, Thomas, and the sons of Zobedee) put out upon the lake with their nets in a fishing boat ; but during all the night they caught nothing. At early dawn a stranger wad seen upon the shore, from which they were then not far distant ; and Ho called to liiem, telling them to cast their nets on the right side of the vessel. This they did, and then were not able— not all the seven of them — to draw in the net, on account of the multitude of fishes which it enclosed. Some one — perhaps John — recog- nized his Master in this miracle ; and no sooner did Peter catch the suggestion, " It is the Lord," than, with his cha- racteristic ardour, ho leaped into the water, that he might the sooner reach the shore. When the other disciples landed they found a fire kindled, with fish broiling thereon, and bread ready there. By the direction of the stranger, they brought some of the fish they had caught, and these also beuig dressed, ample materials for a simple meal were provided. Of this they were invited to partake, and Jesus took his usual part as master of the little feast, distributing their portions to the disciples. All this while no explanation had passed on either John 20: 27, 28. 11 •• g. And yrGod."* loiit such » ia that waits for the night would go 1 through . Saviour, rniination rt Galilee. We hear, ) apostles mal occu- } evening , and the nets in a nothing, ore, from to liiem, he vessel. seven of [titude of 1 — recog- lid Peter I his cha- he might es landed md bread y brought 5 dressed, Of this sual part sns to the i on either 191 side ; and of the disciples, " no one asked who art thou ? knowing it was the Lord." It was on this occasion, and after this meal, that our Lord put to Peter the touching and thrice- repeated question, Lovcst thou Me ? and charged him to evince liis love by feeding his Lord's lambs and his sheep. At the appointed time, the af)ostles rejjaircd to " the moun- tain " where they were to meet their Lord. Jesus had lived longer in Gahlee, and had laboured more there, than in any other part of the country, and it was hero that his disciples were most numerous. This interview was perhaps, therefore, more public and solemn than any other, not only with the apostles, but with all the disciples that could be got together ; and it is probably to this occasion that St. Paul refers when he says, that our Lord was seen of five hundred brethren at once. There were probably many other interviews which Clirist held with his apostles, both before and after they had returned to Jerusalem by his direction. In Acts 1. 15, this is indeed plainly enough intimated. St. Paul (I Cor. 15 : 7) mentions one interview with James, which is not otherwise historically recorded ; and he says, that " after that," our Lord was seen of ** all the apostles,' ' probably at an appointed inter vie w just before the Ascension. On that occasion, He renewed the promise of that baptism of the Spirit through which they would be guided into all truth, and be made the . Tcient instruments of its promulgation. Forty days had n >w elapsed since our Lord had risen from the tomb, when, during the discourse to which we have just referred, or in immediate connection with it. He conducted the disciples out to the Mount of Olives, the scene of so man^- interesting incidents in His career. Here he lifted up His hands and blessed them ; and while His hands remained uplifted in blessing, He was parted from them, and taken up into heaven. A cloud soon hid Him from their view ; but while they *ere still gazing upward, hopeful to catch one more glance of his receding form, " two men in white apparel," who were doubtless commissioned angels, we seen standing by, who told them that " this same Jesvis, w is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like man I i I (1 i ^1 192 as yo have seen him Lord Jesus." «50 into heaven." " Even so come. M PRAYER. Eternal and unchangeable God, we give glory to Thee for the gracious fulfilment of those hopes and promises upon which the faith of thy chosen and renovated people from generation to generation had heen based. We adore Thee for the glorious resurrection of Messiah, thy well beloved Son, after He had fully endured the penalty due to transgression. We would ever triumph in Him who died for our tins and rose again for our justification. Ble83ed be thy n.tme, as Jesus died and rose again, so shall all those in wiiom sin is crucified and dying, be made partakers of the resurrection to life eternal. By our now hving unto God, may we have the assurance that we shall never die eternally, ami that whether we sleep or wake, we are the Lord's. We rejoice in the love of which through grace, the re- deemed soul is capable. We praise Thee that we can feel assured that it is stronger for Christ than that of the world- ling for the treasures of earth. that we too may be actuated by this surpassing affection towards Him who died for us and rose again ! Henceforth may we live as thou who art alive from the dead. May we ever seek the things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of (jod. May we ever be advancing towards a meetness for the appearing again of our Lord, and for the inheritance of saints. Let sin have no dominion over us. Let holiness be increasingly our aim and our element. Enable us to strive ever to honour Thee. Bless all thy children on earth. We commend to thy com- passion the natural ls.rael and all mankind. We ask all in the name of Jesus, thy beloved Son, our only Saviour, Amen. XIII. h'i )in the where Il»mtorntlon of tho lapwd onns.— ChrinfH mcdlntorlol 8way.— Tlio liifliionoo of ro ransomed of the Lord from among men will be upheld to all eternity by the same grace that interposes to rescue them from present guilt and wretchedness. And there is every ground to conclude that, though for the angels that sinned, no salvation was provided, yet the beneficent influence of the ransoming and renovation of " the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood," upon the holy throng who have kepttheir first estate, is such, that they are delivered from the danger of ever lapsing into sin. The ceaseless, delighted, and personal interest • hich they evince in the accomplishment of the Divine Saviour's undertaking, is very conspicuous in the word of God. They are ever ready to attend either upon Jesus or any of His true disciples. They heralded and did honour to the birth of the Son of Mary. They ministered to Him in His weakness after His temptation in the wildemess ; and in Gethsemane's direful garden, when the countenance and sympathy of earthly friends were with- held from the agonized Sufferer, at the climax and crisis of His woe, when crying out '* my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me," we read that there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening (sympathizing with) Him. How gladly they facilitated and announced His resur- rection, we ha\e seen. They accompanied Him as His hon- ourable attendants, when, as the King of Gloiy, He ascended to the right hand of the Father's throne. And when He shall come again, as foretold by Himself and angel voices, the glory of the holy angels will add to the splendour of the wondrous advent. Nor is their manifest concern in the ful- filment of the glorious plan of restoration abated, when we turn our attention to the members of Him who is the Head of the body. They deem it no unworthy occupation ; but, on tlie contrary, feel honoured to become " ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salva- tion." They rejoice over one sinner that repenteth; and whether the return of the prodigal, the bringing back of the wanderer, or the aiding and comforting of the believer, be their mission, they enter into it antl discharge it with joy. What more reasonable, then, than to conclude that, in addi- 199 pheld to all !scue them ■e is every t ainnod, no snce of the , which He loly throng e delivered ceaseless, nee in the ng, is very r ready to lies. They 1 of Mary, temptation rden, when were with- risis of His )le, let this I an angel ling with) His resur- is His hon- e ascended when He gel voices, [out of the in the ful- , when we the Head n ; but, on ng spirits, . 3 of salva- iteth ; and ack of the iliever, be with joy. if in addi- tion to the benignity and bpnevolence of their celestial nature, predisposing them to aid in the rescue and felicity of the perishing children of Adam — their perception of the honour redounding to Jehovah, their entire consecration to that honour, and the influence of the plan of salvation upon their own everlasting good, — all combine to induce promptest and most joyful service, on their part,- ia the execution of the gracious purposes of God ? Having no aim but the simplest and purest devotion to the glory of the Most High, they will perceive and feel how dignified and how deligiitful is the part assigned to them, however humble it may be, when it is in furtherance of the mighty achievement which brought the Son of the Highest from the throne of supreme Majesty to the suftcringd of the cross. Well satisfied are they to imbibe the spirit of Christ, who died and endured so much to glorify His Father, and renew the image of God in the fallen chil- dren of men. We may now direct our attention to the consequences of the Redeemer's resurrection and glory. The Christian dis- pensation, preliminary to that glorious future predicted by prophets, and longed for by the children of God, when the restoration of " all things " shall have been eflfected, was now about to be fully entered upon. Hitherto " the glad tidings " had been addressed only to " the lost sheep of the bouse of Israel." Now, the commis&iwi entrusted to the followers of the Lamb takes a far wider range. Even yet the preaching of the gospel is to commence at Jerusalem. But henceforth the field of operation is the world, and the objects of call, all the human family. "All power," said Jesua to his disciples, *' is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them," etc. Such is the charge of the King of Zion to the ministers and members of His Church. We have here presented to our notice three topics, to which v/e shall, in order, tura our thoughts. First, the constituency ; secondly, the mandate ; thirdly, the promise. ' 1. The constituency comprises " all nations," or " all the nations." It is worthy of special remark that the word rea- 200 I MV. dcrcd " nations," derived as it is from the Hebrew, while it may signify nations in general, indicates more particularly the heathen or gentile nations. The Jewish people are, doubtless, comprehended as within the scope of the commis- sion. Yet it seems to be implied that the Christhan dispen- sation and " the times of the gentiles " are an identical period of time. Still it must ne^ver be forgotten that the duty of the Church of God is, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Wo have it explained by the Lord Himself to His eleven — " Thus it is \yritten, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day ; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."* The elements of a nation consist of old and young — those who are in the vigour of their days, and those who are weak. The words of Israel's renowned leader to his nation will afford us an excellent example of the different classes comprised m such a body. — " Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God ; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is within thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water."f It is desirable at this stage to mark that infancy and childhood are comprehended in a nation. They form a very important and numerous portion of every nation. How nationally influ- ential they are, we may perceive by the notice taken of them by the Lord, as a' consideration why mercy should be exer- cised to a repentant population. "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand ? ":[: If we only reflect for a moment upon the ideas of the men to whom the words before us were spoken, we shall still farther perceive that children are included. They were Jews, and they had no conception of excluding even infancy from the membership of the Church. Obviously, • Luke 24 : 46, 47. f Deut. 29 : 10. t Jonah 4:11. 201 iV, while it articularly eople are, le commis- an dispen- ical period luty of the preach the ed by the , and thug ! dead the iins should sinnino; at mg — those are weak, will afford noprised in before the mr elders, little ones, amp, from ter."t It childhood ■ important nally influ- en of them i be exer- ot I spare n sixscore right hand ment upon (re spoken, included. excluding Obviously, then, they would understand alike the adult and the infant to be intended. Nor do we learn that they were mistaken, or had to correct this as an error. 2. With regard to this constituency, we have the mandate addressed to the friends of Jesus—" Go and disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoat ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." The grand mstrument of christianizing mankind is the preaching of the gospel. It hath pleased God " by the foolishness of'preach- ing to save them that believe." The ministry of reconcihation must be employed. " Now, then," says the apostle of the Gentiles, " we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."* The special business of the minister of Chnst IS to " preach the word ; be instant in season, out ot season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffer- ing aiul doctrine."! Mainly by means of this instrumen- tahtj does the Spirit awaken the sleeper, quicken the dead in trespasses, and turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. By instruction, by the life of hohness manifested in those " who profess and call themselves Christians," and by the dealings of Providence, does God operate upon the soul ot the sinner, aa well as by the public and private ordinances ot the Sanctuary and the domestic circle. All these it IS the obligation, honour and happiness of all who are Christ's m their several spheres, to employ. In this way, with faithful and devout exertions, may we look for much success. And all they who go forth to scatter and sow the precious seed of saving truth, in humUity and faith, may expect that they will be honoured labourers in the vineyard of the Lord. When the hearer of the Word or the receiver of the truth becomes a follower of Jesus,— a learner of Him, obedient to His authority, and reliant upon Him alone for salvation, 1- t: 11. •II Cor. 5: 20, 2). t II Tim. 4 : 2. 202 h . f ^' ft I such an one is being discipled, and is here enjoined to be baptized into the thrice holy name of the Divine Trinity. How beautiful is the significant rite here instituted ! How suitable! How suggestive of solemn and salutary truth! The disciples are baptized into the name of the Father, who originated, in His eternal love, the plan of salvation ; of the Son, who gave Himself an offering to take away sin ; and of the Holy Spirit, who applies the finished work of Christ to the sinner's soul. They are to be baptized with water, emblematic of the bloc \ that cleanseth from all sm, and sig- nificant of the renewing and purifying of the Holy Ghost. The Sacrament of Baptism, like that of the Supper, was appointed by our Lord in person. And for any individual, or number of individuals, to institute a sacrament, is to act the part of Antichrist, and is thereby proclaimed Antichrbt, as putting himself or themselves in the place of Christ. It is " the man of sin who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is Though baptism was known before the coming of Christ, was practised by His forerunner, John, and by His own dis- ciples, it was only appropriated now as a sacrament. Some have thought that Aaron and his sons were set apart to the priestly office by baptism, t But Christian baptism differs from all " divers baptism," in its being a sacrament obligatory upon all Christ's followers, and in its being grounded upon the fact of our Lord's resurrection. It was after He arose from the dead, that He ordained its celebration as a sacrament. In the sacrament of the Supper we behold the symbol of the sacri- fice of the Son of God ; in that of Baptism, we behold the recognition and acceptance of that sacrifice, attested by the Father's raisfng Him from the dead. When Paul inquired of " certain disciples " whether they had received the Holy Ghost, in His miraculous gifts, they replied that they had not. " And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye • II ThesB. 2 : 4. \ Ex. 29: 4. was 208 bapptized'? And they said, Unto John's batwm. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."* From this narrative it is evident that the gift of the Holy Ghost was associated with faith in the risen Messiah. It was not enough to beheve in Him that was to come. In order to receive miraculous gifts, there must be in exercise the faith that Christ had risen. And although miracles have long ceased, the disciple of Jesus is required to believe both that Jesus died, and that He arose from the dead. The seal of the Father's acceptance of the offering, and of his being well pleased for the righteousness sake of His beloved Son, is recognized in the faith of the resurrection of the first- begotten from the dead. Thus in Christian baptism there is implied, not the faith ref^iuired by the Baptist of those who received the rite at his hand,— the faith, viz., that Messiah was coming and at hand ; not merely the faith of those who were baptized by the disciples of Jesus, referred to in John 4: 1, 2, which faith recognized Jesus as having truly come in his Messianic character ; but the faith of Christian baptism, recognizing Christ as having suffered and risen from the dead, and as guaranteeing the resurrection to eternal life of all who are beUevingly His. All, then, who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, to the saving of the soul, ought to be baptized. The repentant sinner, whether a denizen of a heathen land or of a Christian country, ought, if unbaptized, to feel the solemn and sweet obligation here imposed upon the disciple, by Him who died for us and rose again. And by the constraining love and the filial fear that ever accompany true faith, such should be impelled to yield a cordial and cheerful obedience to the sacred behest. Multitudes of such ransomed ones have, with Jioly joj and solemnity, avowed themselves to be the followers •of the Lamb. And every right-minded partaker of the /Acts 19: 3-5. ..J 204 .(- 1 , \ !'■ quickening of the S'pirit will be- conscious that a necessity is imposed upon every member of the mystical body " to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blame- less." Here the enquiry may be made, are children and infants comprehended hi the commission of our text ? Tho observa- tions already offered go far, it is hoped, to afford a satisfactory reply. Not only does childhood enter largely into the com- position of the nation, but God has done great honour to childhood. Its simplicity, teachableness, and unprejudiced character ; its leaning upon the parent, and it? separation from personally perpetrated sins, render it an apt type of that state of heart and mind at which every one must arrive, in order to be a child of God. We know, upon the highest authority, that if we do not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, we shall not enter therein. Children, anterior to the Christian dispensation, were admitted into the Church of God by a Divinely authorized ceremonial. We know that all principles are eternal, and that Jehovah never changeth in the essential principles of His procedure, though the mode of application may vary acording to the stage, circumstances, and maturity of the case. Thus when we pass from the Mosaic economy to the Christian, we find that " there ia neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."* Still farther, it is ascertained that more than half of the race of mankind die before arriving at such an age as can be deemed responsible, — die in infaney. Now we believe in the salvation of this vast throng, and that glory will redound to that Saviour who cleansed them from the stam of depravity of nature, and regenerated them by His grace, without any personal act of their own. How consistent, then, that such as these should be admitted to the privileges of disciples, by having the rite of baptism administered to them ! .^ But it is alleged that it is only disciplea who are to 'be baptized, and that infants are incapable of sustaining this • G Lvl. 3 : 28. in 206 •character. This assumption, however, we deny. For tho children of believers are by tho Providence of God disciples. Are they not learners in the school of Christ ? Are they not in circumstances the most favourable tiiat can be supposed for learning His will? Are there not absolute promises made by the covenant-keeping God, to prayerful and wise parents ? Is not baptism itself a seal of the covenant which, ■when believingly embraced by Christian parents, affords a pledge on the part of Jehovah that His blessing will be upon their oEFspring ? Then, if we consult the record of history, not a case can be authenticated of a child, properly dedicated to God in baptism, and piously watched over and trained subsequently, having died in impcnitency. On the other hand, we find that the most excellent Christians, as well as the great majority of those who arc truly Christ's, have enjoyed the benefits of this early, baptismal, believing conse- •cration of them tc jehovah. And when we seek the Hght of the New Testament upon the subject, we discover, besides the comprehensive commission of our Lord, a great va- riety of household baptisms narrated, among which it appears certain there must have been young persons and little children.* , All this, however, is very far from warranting the application of baptism indiscriminately. On the contrary, it seems strictly to limit it to believers and their offspring, or those to whom they stand in the relation of parents. The teaching and instances of Scripture appear to authorize the digest of the Shorter Catechism, as an admirable epitome of the truth respecting this ordinance : " Baptism is not to be administered to any who are out of the visible Church till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him, but the infanta of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized." « See Acts 21: 9. The prophesying of the evangelist's daughters, implies their baptism ; whether at the same time with Philip or not, we have family baptism. See also Acts 10 : 2, 47, 48 ; 16 : 33 ; 16, 14, 15 ; 18:8; Romans 16 : 5 ; I Cor. 16 : 19 ; II Timothy 4:19; Romans 16 : 10, 11, 13; I Cor. 1: 11 ; 1 : 16 ; 11 Timothy 1 : 16 ; Philemon 1:2; Colossians 4 : 15. 206 I. If we act upon this view, we shall avoid many difficulties and much evil. There are many disposed to seek baptisra for their children who are quite unwilling to celebrate the death of Imraanuel at His holy table. They fancy that the one sacrament is more solemn than the other, and that they are not so much committed by the reception of the one, as by that of the other they would be. Here is an alarming, a dangerous, and a prevailing error. So far from not being as solemn and imposing in its obligations, the avowal is the same in each of the sacraments, with the additional peculiarity in Baptism, that the vows concern more than one immortal being. The soul of both parent and child are directly con- necter^, with their fulfilment ; while in the Lord's Supper, associated as it ever must be with recollections and impressions the most affecting imaginable, only one inlividual is personally pledged. If we were to analyse the motives and the ideas that lead to the more general observance of baptism, we should find that superstition, conformity to the spirit of the world, and vanity, lead multitudes to apply for its administration to infants. This, however, is just a solemn mockery of the ordinance. It is dealing with it as if it were a charm. It is heatlienizing the Christian sacrament. The true and scrip- tural ; ule is, — let all who love the Lord Jesus Christ observe the Christian communion of His body and blood, in remem- brance of Him, and in obedience to His dying command Then let such parents as are thus open 'lisciples and Church members, when thus administered and received in faith ami love, obtain baptism for their children. The sacramental service is then truly beautiful and edifying. After baptism, which is the initiatory rite, the disciple must be ' 'ught all things commanded by the Divine Head of the Chare. 'f'hJp the pastor and teaclier, the minister of the word anu ■ ), ii. nt rf the family, must strive to implement. "The sinut.'fc .. -Ik tsi the word," suitable'food for advancing progress, .S- , vo;\g meat :» ;jired for vigorous believers; the nainstaking lit.^iruction of the lips, and the embodiment of living Christianity in the conduct, must all be employed. 4' 207 in obe<^ience to the authorltv and will of that Lord and Saviour -^o here speaks. Nothing revealed \,^ Him miiat be withheld ; n »thing which He has not enjoined, must be allcMved to take the place of His commands. Much has been imid respecting the Headship of Christ, axid much of what has been said has been subversive of trutli and calculated to perjdex and obscure a very simple doctrine. Every Christian practically and savingly understands the doctrine of the Headship. Without rendering the risen Lord supreme homage, and joyfully yielding to all His known wishes and will, no man can be a true disciple of Jesus. Every saved sinner, every believer does so. The spirit of the dis- ciple is expressed in such language as " Speak Lord for thy servant hearrth." And what is true of the Christian indi- vidually, is true of all Christian societies or churches. All where members desire in simplicity and godly sincerity to obey Christ in all things, with liberty and encouragement to do 80, must be regarded as verifying the obligation to hold the Head. We may not agree with our brother or our neigh- bour in some doubtful dispute, but he is not entitled in con- sequence to rail against us or violate the law of truth and charity. Or if he do, we can only answer to our own Master we stand or fall. Nay, this we are bold to promise, — shew us the honour or the word of Christ, requiring us to do or to believe— and by the love that we cherish to Him, by the faith that unites us to Him, and by the hope that we entertain of 50on seeing Him, we promise you prompt and hearty acquies- cence. We know that all disciples must leam " to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded." * Much controveray has been expended respecting the mode of baptism, whether it ought to be by sprinkling or pouring, or by immersion. The advocates for the last method are often exclusive, offensive, unchristian in their practice and statements. Scripture reiiuires the application of water to the body as a sign or seal. But very little is found as to the mode. To affirm that every method save immersion is a nullity^ and to administer tlie fsrdinanoe -" 'ain to those viho have been baptized with water into the sacred name of the 20S Divine Trinity, is to unchristianize externally, so far as the actors can do it, other professing Christians. And as is usual in such cases of presumptuous arbitrariness, there is not any ground of authority in the word of God to entitle any to proceed in this manner. While we concede that bap- tism by plunging under water is warrantable if convenient and preferred, there seems to be a weight of scriptural evi- dence in favour of sprinkling.* Certainly the descent of the Spirit which was the manifestation of the promised bap- tism by the Holy Ghost, is more favourable to pouring than to immersion. (Acts 2 : 2, 3, 17, 18.) Baptism with water is but a type of the Spirit's higher baptism. When our Lord was baptized in the Jordan, the descent of the Spirit, like the priestly anointing of Aaron, was analogous to an outpouring. And the very name of Christian, derived as it is from Christ — the anointed One, strongly suggests the better mode. If any desire some command more explicit whether as to the subjects or the mode of baptism, let such remember that men have ever been prone to exaggerate the importance of ritual observances, and they will see the wisdom of God in not giving this sacrament greater prominence in His word. When we hear of the pernicious errors connected with " sacramental grace," we may well rejoice in the style and brevity of the oracles of inspiration. For adult and infant disciples we have " a plain and positive inclusive command "if to baptize them, " teaching them," says Jesus, " to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." We arrive at many most important conclusions by infe- «nce. Females were not enjoined to attend at the celebra- tion of the three great annual festivals of Israel, yet their presence was both frequent and acceptable unto God. And though not named, it is admitted that they ought to obey the dying injunction of the Author of the Christian Passover. _ * Isaiah 52: 15, appears to be a prophecy of our Lord's commission- ing to disciple and baptize the nations. See also Ezekiel 36 : 25. Titui 3.: 5, 6. t Bickersteth. 209 ar as the Ind as is 3, there is to entitle that bap- onvenient )tural evi- iescent of lised bap- ig than to ith water our Lord t, like the itpouring. om Christ lode. ther as to mber that )rtance of f God in \l\a word. ted with style and nd infant imand "f observe by infe- 1 celebra- yet their >d. And obey the Passover. )mmission- 25. Titui We arrive at the conviction inferentially that we should sanctify the first day of the week rather than the seventh, unto the Lord our God. During this dispensation it is the pupose of our heavenly Father to try the reins and test the religious candour and integrity of His children. For the up- right there is abundance of light to lead them into all truth. 3. In association with the mandate of the risen Saviour, He suppUes a most gracious promise to the docile and the progressing members of His mystical body, — " And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Here we have the assurance of the Divine presence and Spirit of our King and Head in all circumstances. It is applicable to every beliQver and every Christian communion. It should be gratefully appropriated by all who bear the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit has sustained the Church and children of God in every age and century. There have always been His sealed ones even in the darkest periods of apostacy and persecution. All history proves this. And this proves the faithfulness of the " true Witness " and covenant-keepmg God who here promises. Without this gracious and Almighty protection, the gates of hell must have prevailed against the Church of Christ many a time. But we know in whom we have believed, and are confident that what He hath spoken He will fulfil. When the devout student of the oracles of God opens, reads, searches, and reflects upon revealed truth, he lifts up his soul to Him with whom is the residue of the Spirit, and the inter- ceding Son obtains from the Father all that is sought. The holy Agent enters the soul, illuminates the understanding, elevates the affections, spiritualizes the mind, readers the heart contrite, and sanctifies increasingly the child of God through the truth. This is the experience in some measure of every follower of Jesus. This honour has every saint ; and in this way all Christians are taught by God truly and savingly. The realization of such beatific presence and influence is a demonstration of the verity of the promise, " Lo I am with you alway, even unto tho end of the world. Amen." When in the dark day of adversity, the children of God are Bteadfaat and immovable j when the provision of Zion is greatly 210 .1 , S I ' ; 1 1 ■ !' I)l©8sed, when her priests are clothed with salvation, and her saints shout aloud for joy ; when sinners are turned to the Lord by repentance, and faith in the crucified and risen Son of God ; when disciples have their graces and consolations increased and multiplied ; when the idolater and his fellows turn from dumb idols to serve the living God, and confide wholly in Jesus of Nazareth for salvation ; when Jewish un- belief and Gentile hostility alike yield to the power and influ- ences of the Spirit of Christ ; when many are not ashamed of avowing themselves devoted to the Saviour at His holy Table, and when the sacrament of baptism is devoutly prized and received; when the Spirit is poured out from on high, so that beUevers walk in the comfort and joy of the Holy Ghost, adorning their profession, walking in all the command- ments and ordinances of the Lord blameless ; when grace is matured into a ripeness for glory ; then do we behold that the beatific promise of the text is delightfully fulfilled — " Lo I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Amen . ' ' How happy are they who, having yielded themselves to God's Anointed, are being increasingly discipled for Him, and taught " to observe whatsoever he has commanded !" How suitably may we apply to ourselves the appeal of the apoi^tle when comparing the guilt of those who sinned under the economy which was ushered in by the ministry of the heavenly host and the splendours of Sinai, and that of those who dis- regard the mild and beautiful radiance of the dispensation which was inaugurated by the Word made flesh ! " For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgres- sion and disobedience received a just recompence of reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those that heard Him ? " * May ours be the felicity so devoutly suppUcated by the holy apostle — " But the God of all grace, who hath called us' unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you : to Him be glory and dominion for ever and evor. Amen."f • Hebrews 2 : 2, 3. tiraarS: 10, 11. 211 1, and her ed to the risen Son nsolations lis fellows d confide ewish un- and influ- ashamed His holy tly prized n high, so the Holy jommand- L grace is 1 that the "Lolam en." iselves to Him, and !" How le apoi^tle nder the heavenly who dis- pensation "For if ransgres- f reward, n; which ionfirmed s be the 3—" But i eternal I awhile, : to Him PRAYER. May the Spirit from on high be poured out upon us, Lord, so that we, having yielded ourselves to the Anointed of the Father, may not only be His disciples, but may be growing unto the measure of the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus. May our meditations upon the revealed truth be productive of much and lasting good. Impart to us. Heavenly Father, abundant grace. May our study of thy Holy Word, in the fruits of righteousness manifested in our lives, be seen not to have been in vain. May we ever be wiser and better for our searching of the Scriptures, and keeping of thy ordi- nances as these have been delivered to us. Blot out, for the sake of thy dear Son, all our sins ; sanctify us wholly, and keep us until the day of God. We commend to thy mercy ii,ll nations. Prosper the Christian efforts of thy servants to disciple and instruct them. Bless the nation, the empire, and the province with which we are especially connected. Bless all in authority, giving them grace to glorify Thee in all things. Bless all thy people. Hasten the beatific time when all things put under Him, Jesus shall be adored as the prince of the kings of the earth, as King of kings, and Lord of lords ; and unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, shall be ascribed endless praise, dominion, and glory. Amen. THE END.