are permitted in the Holy Supper to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the holy tempted One, and to partake of His life, let us not doubt that by that Holy Spirit who dwelleth in Him without measure, and in all those who abide in Him according to their measure and need, we too shall be strengthened to say, "Not my will but thine be done."

Jesus has already received, and shall yet more fully receive the glorious fruit of His obedient suffering; "He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied." And in that day, when the period of the Church's pilgrimage, and sorrow, and suffering is over, and He calls those who have patiently endured suffering through faith in His name, to be the sharers of His kingdom and glory, to be clothed with bodies like His glorious body, and to enter upon a high and holy service, doing His will as it is now done in heaven, shall not they too be fully satisfied, and account their past sorrows however great, as "light afflictions which were but for a moment, and which by God's grace have helped to work out that exceeding weight of glory!?

Oh Lord, we pray thee enable us, in all circumstances, under all trials, to say, not our will but Thine be done. Knowing that it is the will of a reconciled Father, who is not imputing to us our trespasses; that Thou art not loving

to afflict, but seeking to prepare us for the kingdom and glory of Thy Son. For the day of His coming, and for entering with Him into His kingdom, may we be found ready.

Amen.

THIRD SERIES.

X.

Che Crucifixion.

LUKE Xxiii. 33–38, 44-48.—“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar. And saying, if thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a subscription also was written over him in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This is the King of the Jews. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly

this was a righteous man. And all the people that came to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned.”

1

"TRULY this was the Son of God.", How awful a scene is before us! There-in the place of execution, among common criminals, criminals who are suffering the due reward of their deeds, we see One suffering along with them the accursed death of the cross, dying as a condemned criminal; whose entrance into our world had been announced with joyful songs of angels, as the gladdest tidings that had reached it since sin and sorrow had entered into it," To you is born a Saviour, and He is Christ the Lord." How little could those who heard these glad tidings have thought of such a scene as this. Or those strangers who came from a far eastern country, guided by a star, to worship that babe in Bethlehem, and to offer their costly treasures to Him who was born king of the Jews, how little could they have thought that a crown of thorns and a shameful death were what they would bestow on their king. "He came unto His own, and

His own received Him not."

He saved others; he went among men, healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; diseases fled at His touch; the bands of death were loosed, and the dead rose at His call; "He

Matt. xxvii. 54.

saved others, himself He cannot save." He had prayed "let this cup pass from me,” and it has not passed. He has been constrained to cry out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me." Surely he drank the bitter cup to the dregs. And death, the wages of sin, has prevailed over Him who knew no sin.

Now, what is the meaning of all this? Was it indeed true as they mocking said of Him, " He saved others, Himself He cannot save ?" When Peter sought to defend Him from those who came to lay hands on Him, does He not say to him, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? but how then shall the scriptures be, fulfilled that thus it must be ?" And, again, He says to His disciples, "Therefore does 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 lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

Why then did He need to lay it down? And why did His Father, who so loved Him, hide His face from Him? Was it not because in His love and in His pity He was willing to stand in our room? Because He clothed Himself with our flesh, which was under sentence of

1 Matt. xxvii. 46. 2 Matt. xxvi. 53, 54.