C. THE CRUCIFIXION. IV. AND now, O bleffed JESUs, how grievously have carnal eyes mistaken the circumstances and intention of this thy last and most glorious work? Our weakness could of itself fee nothing but pain and ignominy-but our underftandings, enlightened by thee, contemplate, in this thine humiliation, both honour, and happiness. Lo, thou that art the mediator between GoD and man, the reconciler of Heaven and earth, art lifted up between earth and heaven, that thou mightst deliver us from going down to .the the pit, having ranfomed us from deftruction. Thou, the great Captain of our falvation, the Conqueror of all the adverse powers of darkness, art exalted on thy crofs, as on a triumphal chariot, that thou mightst trample upon death, and lead the adverfaries of our falvation manacled after thee. Thofe arms, extended by the violence of thy perfecutors, are stretched out to all mankind, embracing them with thy mercy, and inviting them to the benefits of thine allfufficient redemption. Even while thou fuffereft, thou reigneft. Can thine enemies difgrace thee with their miferable fcoffs, their poor wretched indignities? Lo, the heavens declare thy righteousnefs, O LORD, and the universe fhews forth thy power. The fun ceafes to give lightthe earth trembles, as if it fhuddered at the wrongs done to its Creator-the rocks are rent-the veil of the temple is torn in pieces-the whole frame of na ture ture acknowleges the dominion of that SON OF GOD whom man despised. SIN and hell have done their worst. Thou, O Saviour, art in thy Paradise, victorious over the malice of men and devils. Thy facred remains are yet not free from violence and infult. The foldiers part thy garments, and caft lots for thy vefture; (glorifying thee, and fulfilling the fcripture by their proceedings.) The Jews fue for permiffion to shew thee yet further indignities, but they fue in vain. Thy garments could not be whole-thy bones could not be broken-one inviolable decree overrules both. Thine enemies look on that lifeless corfe, as if it were altogether at their mercy-little do they know the guard which is fet on that precious body. In spite of all the gates of hell that word ftandeth fure, "A bone of him shall not "be broken." MEAN MEANWHILE, that no part of the divine prediction may remain unaccomplifhed, he, whose bones might not be broken, shall be wounded in his fleshhe whose spirit was returned to GOD, muft yield his last blood, even after his diffolution. "One of the foldiers with a fpear pierced his fide, and forthwith came there out blood and water; and he that faw it, bare record." Malice is wont to end with the life of its objecthere, it furvives it. What means this fuperfluous barbarity? What commisfion was there for fuch an atrocious act? Pilate had given orders to break the bones of the living; not to pierce the fide of the dead. How muft indignation have been joined to forrow in the hearts of those friends and followers of CHRIST, who stood weeping by his cross, when they beheld this facrilegious outrage! But, O GOD, when we look up to thee, and confider that thine infinite wisdom can can turn apparent evil into certain good, while we abhor the cruelty of thine enemies, we blefs and adore thy mercy→→→ this very wound proclaims the facred office of CHRIST, and the truth of infpiration-THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED. Behold the Rock which was fmitten, and the streams of life flowing out! Behold the fountain fet open to the house of David, for fin, and for uncleannefs! This is He who came by water and blood, even JESUS CHRIST-not by water only, but by water and blood. O Saviour, by that water we are washed, by that blood we are redeemed. The laft memorial of thy love towards thy Church represents those two facraments which in thy life were instituted by thee the water of baptifm, which is the laver of regeneration-the blood of the new teftament, fhed for the remiffion of our fins-thefe, together with that spirit which thou didst furrender |