:

SERM. be fuch; and when he uttered the words

V.

of the Text, he had before his
eyes, the
executioner and the cross, the fcourge, the
nails, and the spear. But by prospects of
this nature his foul was not to be over-
come. It is diftrefs which ennobles every
great character; and diftrefs was to glo-
rify the Son of God. He was now to
teach all mankind by his example, how
to fuffer and to die. He was to ftand
forth before his enemies, as the faithful
witness of the truth; juftifying by his
behaviour the character which he affumed,
and fealing with his blood the Doctrine
which he taught.

What magnanimity in all his words. and actions on this great occafion! The court of Herod, the judgment-hall of Pilate, the hill of Calvary, were fo many theatres prepared for his displaying all the virtues of a conftant and patient mind. When led forth to fuffer, the first voice which we hear from him, is a generous lamentation over the fate of his unfortunate, though guilty country; and, to the

laft

V.

laft moment of his life, we behold him in SERM. poffeffion of the fame gentle and benevolent fpirit. No upbraiding, no complaining expreffion escaped from his lips, during the long and painful approaches of a cruel death. He betrayed no fymptom of a weak or a vulgar, of a difcompofed or impatient mind. With the utmost attention of filial tenderness he committed his aged mother to the care of his beloved disciple *. With all the dignity of a Sovereign, he conferred pardon on a penitent fellow-fufferer. With a greatnefs of mind beyond example, he fpent his laft moments in apologies and prayers for those who were fhedding his blood.

By wonders in heaven, and wonders on earth, was this hour diftinguifhed. All nature feemed to feel it; and the dead and the living bore witnefs to its importance. The veil of the temple was rent in twain. The earth fhook. There was darkness over all the land. The graves were opened, and many who slept arofe and went into

V.

SERM. the Holy City. Nor were these the only prodigies of this awful hour. The most hardened hearts were fubdued and changed. The Judge, who in order to gratify the multitude paffed fentence against him, publicly attefted his innocence. The Roman centurion, who prefided at the execution, glorified God, and acknowledged the sufferer to be more than man. After he faw the things which had paffed, he faid, Certainly this was a righteous perfon; truly this was the Son of God. The Jewish malefactor who was crucified with him, addreffed him as a King, and implored his favour. Even the crowd of infenfible fpectators, who had come forth as to a common fpectacle, and who began with clamours and infults, returned home, Smiting their breafts.-Look back on the heroes, the philofophers, the legislators of old. View them in their laft moments. Recall every circumftance which distinguished their departure from the world. Where can you find fuch an affemblage of high virtues, and of great events, as concurred

V.

curred at the death of Christ? Where, fo SERM many testimonies given to the dignity of the dying perfon, by earth, and by hea

ven ?

II. THIS was the hour in which Chrift atoned for the fins of mankind, and accomplished our eternal redemption. It was the hour when that great facrifice was offered up, the efficacy of which reaches back to the first tranfgreffion of man, and extends forward to the end of time; the hour, when from the crofs, as from an high altar, the blood was flowing, which washed away the guilt of the nations.

This awful difpenfation of the Almighty, contains myfteries which are beyond the discovery of man. It is one of thofe things into which the angels defire to look. What has been revealed to us, is, that the death of Chrift was the interpofition of Heaven for preventing the ruin of human kind. We know, that under the government of God, mifery is the natural confequence of guilt. After rational

creatures

SERM. creatures had, by their criminal conduct,

introduced diforder into the Divine kingdom, there was no ground to believe, that by their penitence and prayers alone, they could prevent the deftruction which threatened them. The prevalence of propitiatory facrifices throughout the earth, proclaims it to be the general fenfe of mankind, that mere repentance was not of sufficient avail to expiate fin, or to ftop its penal effects. By the conftant allufions which are carried on in the New Teftament to the facrifices under the Law, as pre-fignifying a great atonement made by Chrift; and by the ftrong expreffions which are ufed in defcribing the effects of his death, the facred writers. fhew, as plainly as language allows, that there was an efficacy in his fufferings, far beyond that of mere example and inftruction. The nature and extent of that efficacy we are unable, as yet, fully to trace. Part we are capable of beholding; and the wifdom of what we behold, we have reafon to adore. We difcern in