will perish through the power, craft, and cunning of Satan ; or through your own weakness or instability? If so, take the encouragment held out to you in this sweet verse, and believe, because God has said it, and said of every one that relies on his grace, Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." If ever it could come to pass, That sheep of Christ may fall away, Would fall a thousand times a day; Thou soon wouldst take it Lord, from me. I on thy promises depend, (At least I to depend desire) That thou wilt love me to the end, Be with me in temptation's fire; And guide me right, and bring me through. No other stay have I beside, With life, with will, with power, with all; BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD! THE world wanted, and Israel expected a Deliverer. The types had foreshadowed him, the prophets had predicted his advent. and the poets had prepared hymns to cele brate his coming. At length an extraordinary person appeared; he was reserved in his manner, stern in his appearance, rather unsociable in his habits, and uncompromising in denouncing sin, and demanding repent ance. All who professed to repent, he baptized, and pointed them to the coming One, whose way he was preparing. At length, one day, he saw Jesus of Nazareth coming to him, and pointing with his finger to him, with a loud voice, he cried, Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John i. 29. God's Lamb is come. fered. made. 66 The great sacrifice is about to be of- made plain. JESUS IS GOD'S LAMB. In his nature and character we may see all the excellent qualities of the Lamb. He is holy, free from all blemish. In him is no defect, no redundan He is without sin, and full of grace. His entire nature is pure, and spotless, an offering fit for God. He is meek, none need cy. fear him. Bruised, humbled, and afflicted, he has learnt what suffering is, and is now able to sympathise with sufferers. He is not a lion, but a lamb. Who would fear to approach, to touch, or to become familiar with a lamb? He is patient, bearing the opposition and contradiction of sinners, without complaint; and bearing the wrath of God in solemn silence, or with deep submission. He is the gentle One. He calls a child to him, and makes it his text. He receives children from nurses and relatives, heals and blesses them. He allows children to follow him, proclaim him, and sing hosannas to him. The bruised reed he will not break, the smoking flax he will not quench-nor one applicant for mercy will he refuse. As a lamb, he was intended to be a sacrificial victim. He was to die, the just for the unjust. A lamb was to make atonement for lions, bears, and a generation of vipers. O mystery of mercy! O wondrous love! God required a lamb, whose life was equivalent to all the lives that had been forfeited by sin. He demanded blood, worth all the blood that had been or would be shed. The victim he required could not be found, therefore he promised to provide one. On that promise the hope of all believers hung. On that promise the faith of all that were saved was built. God was to provide himself a lamb. That lamb was to be put to death. The putting to death of that lamb was to 66 The John atone for, and put away sin. That lamb was to be an all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, an infinite atonement for transgression. lamb promised was now provided. saw him, pointed him out, and directed his hearers to him, crying with a loud voice, Behold, the Lamb of God!" That lamb was sacrificed, was sacrificed for us, and is now presented to us, is now placed before us. He is evidently, clearly, set forth, as though he He is man's acwas crucified among us. He is God's obedient cepted substitute. servant. He is the sacrifice to satisfy God's justice for man's sin. He is God's Son, who did his Father's will; by which all believers are sanctified, by the offering of his precious body once. The Lamb is God-God in our nature-God with us-God in our place— God atoning for our sin-God putting away our sins by the sacrifice of himself. O mysO wonder of wonders! tery of mysteries! Let us, 66 He is set BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD. forth for this end. He is presented to us for this purpose. The gospel places him before the sinner's eye, and keeps him there, as God's only ordinance of salvation, and Look and be cries, Look and be saved! saved, all ye ends of the earth!" Let us then fix the mind on Jesus, and keep it fixed there. Let us make him the daily, hourly object of Peace our faith. Life comes by looking. comes by looking. Joy in the Lord comes by looking. In a word, looking to Jesus as dying for our sins, in our stead, will bring a sense of pardon into the conscience, spread joy and peace over the soul, and fill the heart with love. Let us behold the Lamb, and trust in his blood alone, for the present, complete, and everlasting pardon of all our sins. Let us behold the Lamb, and love him for taking our nature, that he might save our souls. Let us behold the Lamb, and make use of him to remove our guilt, banish our fears, and deliver us from the dread of death. Let us behold the Lamb, and recommend him to all around us, as able to save to the uttermost, and as willing to save them, if they are willing to be saved by him. "Behold the Lamb of God," beloved reader, for God bids you, and commands you to believe on his name. Behold the Lamb of God, for it will greatly benefit you, and always benefit you too. Behold the Lamb of God, for it will please the Father if you do-he takes an infinite delight in his beloved Son-and he wishes us to take a delight in him too. Behold the Lamb of God, for in so doing you will be enabled to conquer Satan, overcome the world, and surmount the fear of death. By this we conquer, namely, "Looking unto Jesus." us therefore look to him in life, and all its joys-in sickness, and all its pains-in adversity, with all its sorrows-and in death, Let with all its agonies. Sinner! behold the |