administer to your minds and my own (my friends), from a full consideration of what this part of our Belief proposes to us, can be obtained no ways so satisfactorily as by enlarging on the words of Scripture. Not to dwell on the variety of trial and uneasiness to which our blessed Lord must have been exposed, during his whole life, from the common infirmities of human nature; from the stubbornness and ungrateful disposition of those he had to deal with; from the malice of his enemies, the dulness and weakness of his disciples, and the temptations of Satan, to which, likewise, it was appointed he should submit; let us chiefly attend to those sufferings which came so fast upon him towards the close of his office, which indeed more materially relate to our case and interest in him, and therefore very properly precede the mention of his crucifixion.

First, then, we read (Matt. xxvi.), that he was betrayed by one of his own disciples. Perhaps a more sensible wound cannot be given to the human soul, than the ingratitude of those we have endeavoured to serve. But by the mind of the blessed Jesus this action must have been more severely felt, because he knew the gall of bitterness into which such base conduct must hurry the miserable traitor. And what we are told of the weakness and cowardice of another disciple, who denied so gracious

a Master, for whom he had so lately professed such violent affection, doubtless contributed to increase this beginning of sorrows, especially as all his followers having deserted him before, there appeared some degree of superior fidelity in Peter's perseverance to attend him: but, alas! it fell out as once before, when Peter trusted too much to his own fancied power; for, at that time, he would have sunk in the waves, which his faith helped him to defy, but that his Lord held out his hand to save him. Lord, help me, or I perish, was his sure support. But when he saw his Master in the power of sinners, his faith not only wavered, but was so totally withdrawn, that he hesitated not even to disown his knowledge of him.

Again, we are informed by St, Matthew, that the holy Jesus was accused in terms of the foulest charge and falsehood, at the same time-taxed as a persecutor of the nation's peace, and hesitating as to paying the legal tribute. To be branded as a REBEL, must have been a most aggravating reflection to a soul continually bent on preaching peace, and so particularly cautious not to disturb the esta blished government he lived under, that he publicly refused to be made a king, or even a judge in legal differences; nay, so ready was he to lend it his support, that he wrought a miracle to pay the lawful tribute, both for his dis

ciple and himself. Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, was enough to overturn the falsity of their evidence: but his office Now was SUFFERING, not VINDICATION. At the awful day of judgment, when he shall come in the dreadful character of an avenging King, then will it appear that it had been better for many of his merciless enemies that they had never been born. And now the vilest of insults being heaped upon him by the unfeeling soldiers (a class of men, in general ignorant, depraved, and abandoned in the extreme), what might not be expected from such savage executioners, deluded by their superiors, and encouraged in their harsh and barbarous treatment? The short but afflictive language of the history speaks, too fully, the shocking indignities he received:-the meek, the merciful, the venerable Jesus was buffeted, mocked, and spit upon his spirits and natural strength exhausted by the hurry of his trial— his kingly dignity insulted by a painful crown of thorns, and the mockery of outward homage -his prophetical character derided by the blasphemous scoffings of the rabble-and, as an awful type that through tribulation we must advance to glory, this public humiliation was increased by the tormenting burden of his actual cross: these are among the cruel sufferings recorded for our occasional and humble meditations; but these relate to the less noble part of

human nature. The soul is the vital part of man; its agonies are proportionate to its superior value. In this division of the description, I shall only refer to what the blessed Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane: the inward grief and anguish of his mind, during that dreadful conflict, is most affectingly related by St. Matthew (xxvi. 37, 38): And he began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto DEATH. Truly to describe the inward agony he then felt, is utterly impossible-its effects upon his outward frame, and his own confession of the burden, supply every conception we are capable of experiencing. The proof from Scripture is sufficient; St. Luke delivers it in the most piercing language: And, being in an agony (says he, struggling with the horrors of the approaching punishment), he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. Here, doubtless, he experienced one of those convulsive pangs the great debt of sin demanded. Cutting must have been the trial, when the soul, overwhelmed with suffering, begs of the Supreme to mitigate its violence, to change his sentence! What can we think was due to sin, when CHRIST thus prays concerning the atonement he had voluntarily offered: Father, if it be POSSIBLE, remove this cup from me. What important meaning, my

brethren, do these words convey-IF IT BE POSSIBLE! So bitter was the draught. But it could not otherwise be; and therefore wisdom, justice, and mercy united to permit it. But even under this severe conflict, the importance, the majesty of the suffering Person is preserved. To suffer was ordained; but angels were sent to strengthen him: and the blessed effect of fatherly love, even in the moment of rigorous justice, speaks in the resignation of the SonNOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE. The sufferings of our blessed Lord afford but one state more, which, doubtless, proved the excess of all that could be endured: this I shall instance in its proper place; but from what has now been said, we may collect that even what preceded death was truly terrible. The consideration of this sad account is of the greatest consequence to our Christian improvement. We may assuredly conclude, that Christ would never have been thus afflicted, but that he bore the guilt of our sins in his own body; and that the curse due unto disobedience was thus fulfilled, and the debt to infinite justice paid. It shows us, likewise, in such an astonishing light as the wisdom of the Almighty thought proper to represent it, the heinous nature of sin; and, further (as was in mercy meant), it should alarm us at the consequence of a wilful continuance therein. It should urge us; from the precious value of our