reckoning. No man will be condemned without evidence, and the evidence againft finners will be fo strong and inconteftable, as to filence their pleas, and confound them before their Judge. The habitual neglect of known duties, no lefs than the actual commiffion of grofs iniquity, will exclude us from heaven; fince the former, as well as the latter, will prove the heart unfound. This is, indeed, a moft alarming confideration; and yet it neceffarily follows from our Lord's defcription. Thofe, who are deftitute of love, or not actuated by a fupreme regard to Chrift to lay themselves out for the benefit of his Church, fhall hear the tremendous fentence, "Depart from me, ye curfed." What, then, is to be done? Let us be folicitous to obtain that faith, which "worketh by love." Let us pray to be united to Jefus, as living branches of the true vine; that we may be filled with the fruits of righteoufnefs," and "have boldness in the day of judgment." Amen. JESUS JESUS CHRIST. SECT. 36.. Jefus celebrated the paffover-washed his difciples feet-inftituted the Eucharift-declared the treachery of Judas, and the approaching fall of Peter. Ir was love, which brought down the Saviour from heaven; a love, which must astonish those, who seriously contemplate its inexpreffible dimenfions; a love, which is conftant, immutable, and everlafting. This principle appeared to actuate him during the whole of his abode on earth; and efpecially toward the clofe of his life every minute circumftance was fo ordered, as to fhew the ftrength and tenderness of his affection for the dear followers, whom he had chofen to himself. He retained his little family about him, all of whom, except one, had been fincerely attached to him; and now, though he was about to depart from them, his kindness was undiminished he continued moft ardently defirous of promoting their happiness, even to the latest moment *. We alfo may rejoice, that He is "the Lord, who changeth not;" and that he has exprefsly declared to every believer, "I will never leave thee, nor forfake thee." A general account is given us of the manner, in which he spent the few days immediately preceding his death. He conftantly attended the temple, where he taught the people with unwearied affiduity, and retired each evening to the mount of Olives, probably for the purposes of devotion *. On the Tuesday, after delivering the inftructions which we have confidered, he warne his difciples, that he should be betrayed and crucified at the approaching feftival +. Then alfo, as it fhould feem, while the rulers were confulting, how they might deftroy him. without raising a public commotion, Judas went and bargained with them for a paltry fum of money, the common price of a flave, treacheroufly to furrender up his Mafter into their hands. Thursday in On the Thursday morning, Jefus commanded two of his difciples to make Paffion week. the neceffary preparations for celebrating the paffover 1. But, as they were deftitute of an habitation of their own, where could they afsemble together for the purpofe? This difficulty was foon removed; and the very manner of its removal proved, that Jefus poffeffed a clear knowledge of all events, and exercifed a full authority over every heart. He defcribed to his chofen meffengers the place and circumstances, in which they should meet the fervant of one, who would be immediately dif posed to receive them into his houfe. There they provided the pafchal lamb; and thither he repaired with the twelve, at the proper hour of the evening, for the obfervation of the holy folemnity. When they were fet down together, he addreffed them with peculiar tenderness, affuring them that he had felt an earnest defire to partake of that paffover with them, before he quitted the world. He then directed, that they should divide the cup of wine among themselves, (which was an ufual ceremony at the * Luke xxi. 37, 38. Bethany lay at the foot of this mount, and perhaps our Lord fpent fome part of his evenings with his beloved friends in that town. See Sect. 32. Matt. xxi. 17. + Matt. xxvi. 1—5, 14, 16. Mar. xiv. 1, 2, 10, 11. Lu. xxii. 1-6. Matt.xxvi. 17-20. Mar. xiv. 12-17. Lu. xxii. 7-18. beginning beginning of the pafchal fupper) and declared, that he would no more drink the fruit of the vine, till God fhould introduce his kingdom, and the object of that ordinance fhould be fulfilled. The Jewish facrament, here mentioned, exhibited, in a typical manner, fome of the grand bleffings of the Gospel. It was appointed to preferve a remembrance of the deliverance of the Ifraelites, when the deftroying Angel flew all the firft-born of the Egyptians, and, at the fame time, to represent the fecurity, which the true Ifrael receive through the fhedding of the blood of Jefus. He is the end and fubftance of the ordinance; and for that very reafon it was defigned, that he should be betrayed at the particular feafon, and on the very night, when the pafchal lamb was killed, that he might more exactly anfwer to the type. "Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast †,” not the Jewish, but the Chriftian feftival; and let us be folicitous, that the blood of this Lamb of God may be fprinkled upon our hearts by faith, without which we fhall ftand expofed to the fiery indignation, which fhall devour the adverfaries." It is not eafy, nor is it of confequence to our plan,. to fettle precifely the order of the various circumftances, which occurred at the laft fupper. At that time probably, but in which part of the entertainment we do not determine, Jefus fubmitted to affume the habit and employment of a fervant, and wafh the feet of his difciples. This tranfaction was conducted, not in a light and trifling manner, but with a ferious folemnity; and we perceive an inexpreffible grandeur as well as condefcenfion in the Saviour's deportment. Knowing that Judas had formed the scheme of betraying him, and that his own departure was near, he was defirous of improving * Exod. xii. 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. ‡ John xiii. 1-17. the few remaining hours in delivering all neceffary. inftructions to his dear difciples. For this purpose, though confcious of his great dignity, as the fupreme Almighty Lord, who came down from the throne of glory in the highest heavens, and was about to return thither, he defigned to exhibit a further inftance of his deep humiliation. He rose up from fupper, and put himself into the habit of a menial fervant, that he might minifter to his poor followers, and He, who was Lord of all, ftooped to the very lowest office, while with his own hands he washed their feet. We cannot but wonder at his conduct, and afk, what end it was defigned to anfwer. It appears to have been a fignificant action, intended to reprefent the nature and efficacy of that grace, by which he purifies his people from their natural pollution. This is his own explanation. When Peter objected the unfuitableness of his exalted Master's performing fo mean a fervice for him, Jefus replied, that this, as well as his other difpenfations, would be more clearly understood hereafter, and added, “If I wash thee not, thou haft no part with me." Are we, then, fenfible of our great defilement? It is declared, that "we are all as an unclean thing *, *" altogether become filthy+." Were this properly understood, it would produce in us a deep abhorrence of ourselves, and a cordial efteem for the Saviour, whofe office it is to deliver us from corruption, and communicate fpiritual purity. Then we fhould rejoice in that gracious promife, " I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye fhall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanfe you." Then we fhould pray, as Peter, "Lord, wash not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Thofe, indeed, who are the faithful dif * Ifa. Ixiv. 6. † Pfal. liii. 3., ‡ Ezek. xxxvi. 25. |