in the most grateful and devout manner. Oh! that men would, therefore, praise the Lord for his goodness and for this wonderful work to the children of men! Let us take an impartial view of ourselves and then look up to the cross of Christ, and we shall stand amazed to think that God so loved the world* that he gave his only begotten Son,† that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Lord, what was man, that thou wast thus mindful of him, or the Son of man that thou so regardedst him?" That the offended Majesty of heaven should accept any ransom for the sinful captive there was little reason to expect; but, that the Lord should lay on the Son of his bosom the iniquity of us all, and make his soul an offering for sin, who could have believed such a report, had not a man, sent from God to bear witness of the light, positively declared, positively declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.‡"

But, at the same time that we admire and adore the unbounded mercy and goodness of God, ought we not likewise to tremble and shudder at infinite justice? He, that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all, hath exhibited not only an instance of inexpressible compassion to the sinner, but the most striking proof of his detestation of sin. That, without shedding of blood, there should

*The world, i. c. "Homines quosvis sine disceimine non Judæos tantum, quibuscum fœdus habebet aliquod, sed genus humanum. Opponit hoc Christus sententiæ Judæorum, qui totum orbem distinguebant in Israelem, et nationes mundi, docebant, nationes mundi a Messia non solùm non redimendas, sed vastandas et destruendas, Hieros. Taanith, fol. Ixiv. 1." Lightfoot.

+ " Only-begotten Son. Suum unigenitum ac proinde naturalem et charissimum. Rom. viii. 32. Non satis erat filium dixisse, nisi addidisset unigenitum. Allusio est ad Gen. xxii. 12." Grotius, &c.

Bishop Pearce understands the world here to signify the Land of Judea; but this restrained sense of the word by no means corresponds with the acknowledgement of the woman of Samaria, that Christ was the Saviour of the world; and that declaration of St John, that he is the propitiation for our sins; (i. e. the Jews;) and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. "Christus, quâ Deus, aiga, aufert peccatum remittendo; sed quà Agnus Dei et victima piacularis, de qua hic agitur, age, portat peccatum, portando expiat, expiando aufert, efficitque ut remittatur. Est ergo hîc les tum swi, tum bao, Esa. 53." Lud. de Dieu.

|| "Quod in Abrahamo signum fuerat amoris in Deum, Gen. xxii. 12; id in Deo signum benevolentiæ adversus homines." Grotius.

be

be no remission of sins* is an alarming reflection indeed; but, that no other satisfaction could appease the wrath of God, but the precious blood of his own Son, must give us the most awful idea of divine equity, and shew us, that, had not the deity accepted of the vicarious sufferings of the Saviour, he would have vindicated his honour in the eternal punishment of the sinner.

Let us now turn our eyes from the tremendous majesty of the Father to the infinite condescension of the Son of God, who died for a sinful world. Behold him, either in his life or death, and you will think it almost impossible that he should voluntarily submit to what he certainly did for us and our salvation. At his birth the Prince of Peace had no better accommodations than the beasts of the field; and, at his death; he was numbered with the transgressors. Can we see the Son of God lying in a manger and not be amazed at this unparalleled instance of humility and debasement? Can we behold the Lamb of God, pouring forth his soul, an offering for sin on the cross, and not be astonished at this adorable example of love and compassion? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, but Christ died for his enemies,§ and suffered the miseries of a despicable life, and the agonies of a painful ignominious death, for sinful rebellious man.

But,

Quamvis nonnullæ mundationes legales sine sanguine fierent, nulla tamen ad remissionem peccatorum instituta erat ceremonia, quæ sanguinis effusionem non exigeret. Hinc optime colligitur, in nova lege non fieri veram peccatorum remissionem sine sanguine Christi." Estius. ↑ Than the beasts of the field. Reclinavit eum in stabulo, ar dicitur Busacion, vel immosacıor, stabulum ubi jumenta stant. In stabulo habitabant, ibi virgo peperit, ibi infans positus." Mal

donat, &c.

With the transgressors. "Totum illud Esaia vaticinium, c. liii. 12, in se implendum Christus prædixerat, Luc. c. xxii. 37. Et inter duos latrones pendens pro tertio habitus est. Jesus in medio, ut latronum antesignanus et princeps; id quod Judæorum consilium erat." Brugensis, &c.

"Nullum sacrificium Deo potest esse gratius quàm ubi idem est et sacerdos et victima. Accedit, quod in nullo sacrificio perfectior obedientia ; et fructus ejus, salus humani generis." Grotius." § When he was upon the cross he prayed for his murderers; "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do:" thereby fulfilling that part of the prediction of Isai. c. liii. 12, and made intercession for the transgressors. Which Grotius himself acknowledges in Luke, xxiii. 34; and yet interprets this verse and the whole chapter in Isai. of Jeremiah, the prophet. But, as Calovius

observes,

But, alas! do not we too frequently hear the cross of Christ vilified and traduced, and the blasphemous sinner railing against his suffering Saviour? nay, do not even the disciples of the blessed Jesus often shew, too little regard and reverence to the author of eternal salvation? Would the sinner reflect, that it was for his sake that this man of sorrows was thus smitten, stricken of God, and afflicted, he would sorely lament those sins and iniquities which nailed the Son of God to the cross, and put him to an open shame. "Weep not for me," said the holy Jesus, just before his passion, "but weep for yourselves and your children.*". How can men contemplate this great mystery of godliness, a suffering Saviour, without the deepest compunction of soul? How can they look upon him whom their own sins have pierced,† without great sorrow of heart? Can you doubt the reality of his sufferings? Behold the man; view his hands and his feet torn with nails, his side streaming with blood, and you will need no other conviction of the humanity of Christ. Do you doubt the merits of your Saviour? Behold the God. Go and hear those things which the disciples of John will tell you; "The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up." But, if you think these partial witnesses, ask the centurion at the cross who this Jesus of Nazareth was, and he will answer; "Truly this man was the Son of God.||"

observes, "Mirandum profectò, Grotium in tanta luce cæcutire; nihil hic nisi meræ detorsiones sine alla probatione, ac si dictaturam exerceret Grotius in Sacra Oracula. Nam si ob qualemcunque historiæ convenientiam prophetias applicare, et quæ non quadrant ita torquere, fas esset, cereus nasus foret S. Scriptura."

* "Respicit Christus morem hominum de suis, quam de alienis, malis magis dolentium; q. d. si calamitates quæ vobis impendent videretis, non vacaret vobis lachrymas mihi impendere.” Grotius.

↑ "Novo peccato dant novam causam crucis et mortis Christi, ita ut, si prior redemptio non satis esset, cogerent eum rursus pati crucis supplicium." Estius, &c.

"Cur non asserte respondet se Christum esse? Homines incredulos non verbis convincere voluit, sed factis; quod certius erat testimonium et calumniæ minus obnoxium. Hic enim miraculorum finis erat, ut declararent Jesum esse verum Messiam, Joh. v. 36, &c." Brügensis, &c. "Agnoscit eum esse Messiam, quem pro filio Dei agnoverunt ipsi Judæi, ex 1 Par. xvii. 15, Ps. i. 12, and lxxxix. 26, 27, ex quibus centurio id audiverat." Lightfoot. G

How

How much reason then has the sinner to triumph in a crucified Saviour, and to glory in the cross of Christ! What comfort and consolation must it afford him, that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus! He, who made the world, was certainly able to redeem it: nor can we despair of pardon, if we look up to the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame; and, having spoiled principalities and powers, is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The Christian may now exult in the language of the apostle, 1 Cor. xv. 55; "O! Death! where is thy sting? O! Grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."

Let us, therefore, take care that we do not frustrate and pervert this merciful and gracious dispensation. Though any man sin, either through ignorance, infirmity, or presumption, if he sincerely repents of his wickedness, St John gives him this comfortable assurance, that "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins." But it is a false and dangerous conelusion, which some men have drawn, very fatal to themselves, that they

Propositum Christo fuit gaudium salutis omnium hominum, et gloriæ Dei per totum orbem exaltandæ; tum etiam gloriæ corporis sui, et tot hominum, a quibus et adorandus et prædicandus erat, &c." Ribera.

+ "Hoc ordine locum legunt omnes Græci codices, et Syrus et Arabs. Contrario tamen ordine legendum, Ubi tua, O Mors! O Victoria! &c. ut liquet ex Hebræo, ubi morti tribuituros, sepulchro xirgo, sicut in Vulgato legitur." Beza. "Apostolus hic quasi in re præsente, ut sepe prophetæ, triumphum canit de morte et inferno, i. e. statu mortuorum; solent enim conjungi,' ut Esa, xxviii. 15." Grotius. "De morte loquitur, tanquam de persona, rege, hoste, cui hic telum ascribit." Estius.

Preces ecclesiæ Christus, more Advocati, Deo patri commendat. Grotius. Est autem Christus Advocatus noster, formaliter et proprie, orando et interpellando pro nobis. Et Пaçaxλre nomen Christo tribuitur opposite ad Diabolum, qui dicitur xarnyogos, accusator, sive calumniator, Apoc. xii. 10."

Camerarius.

may

may continue in sin, that grace may abound.* For this is to crucify the Son of God afresh, and to count the blood of the covenant, wherewith they are sanctified, an unholy thing. Christ came to take away sin, not to encourage it; and the only genuine mark of our being his followers is to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. The Gospel dispensation is not altogether unconditional; for, as the just must live by faith, this faith must be productive of good works, Christ himself having expressly stipulated, "If thou wilt enter life, keep the commandments."

*"Permanebimus in peccatis, peccata peccatis addemus, ut gratia auctior fiat. Hoc consequens falso attribuebatur apostolis, et eorum sectatoribus, qui contrarium et docebant et factis ostendebant. Tertul. Bene, libertas in Christo nullam innocentiæ facit injuriam. Manet lex tota pietatis, sanctitatis, humanitatis, veritatis, castitatis, &c." Grotius, &c.