of his displeasure. All these are painful and afflictive, and occasion no small distress to believers, disquieting their souls, marring their peace, and often filling them with fear and anxiety. Dangerous consequences will natively follow such trials unless they are prevented by divine interposition. They tend to produce discouragement and dejection, lead to remissness and negligence in the duties of religion, and a more easy compliance with temptation to sin. Hence arises the necessity to believers of having something to encourage and sustain them under all such trials. This is to be found in the Saviour, who went through a series of trials and temptations similar to theirs. "For they have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of their infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as they are, yet without sin." Heb. iv. 15. He was tried, tempted, and suffered like them; and having the same common nature, he felt pain, uneasiness and distress, as they feel; and he learned, by experience, what consolation and support were necessary in such situations. In this way he was fitted to sympathize with them under their trials. This was indeed one special design of his being so tried; "For in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people: For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." Heb. ii. Jesus is now placed beyond the possibility of suffering and pain, yet has not forgot what he once felt, nor lost the experience which he acquired. Though the Father and Spirit are full of grace and mercy, they cannot be touched with the feeling of believers' infirmities, not being incarnate, nor having been 17, 18. * tempted: This is peculiar to Christ. Believers are his members, a part of himself, and when they suffer he suffers, by a special concern in them, owing to the common interest they have in each other. He is strongly inclined to relieve them from, or succour them under, their trials. His ability to succour lies here. It is his merciful and compassionate disposition of heart moving him to communicate his grace for their relief. We find our affections moved when our intimate relations are under extreme trouble; and though it may not be in our power, we are strongly inclined to relieve and comfort them. Such a propensity to relieve his people exists in Christ, accompanied with sufficient ability, which he ever exerts according to the tenor of the new covenant. For this end he sends the Comforter, to take, and show unto them, the things that are his. Strength is imparted to them, the happy issue of their trials is set before them, and every necessary encouragement given them, during their continuance. In this way believers know by experience," that there is consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, bowels and mercies." 7. JESUS was fitted to bring many sons to glory because under his sufferings he set a perfect example of patience, resignation, and fortitude. The exercise of these virtues and graces requires a state of trial, suffering, danger and temptation. As Jesus was exercised through the whole of his life with these, an opportunity was offered for the most eminent exercise of these gra"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." Heb. v. 8. He learned not the knowledge of what he was to do, for he perfectly knew all the work he was sent to accomplish; and he was infallibly directed and inclined to that work by the fulness of grace that was in him; but he learned ces. the difficulty of obedience in such circumstances of suffering, and he experienced a peculiar exercise of various graces under it. Though his sufferings were various and tedious, he discovered no impatience, no repining fretful disposition, but patiently submitted to them, in a cordial compliance with the will of his Father. To do so was indeed his delight. His meat was to do the will of him that sent him and to finish his work. There were striking vicissitudes in his trials and sufferings. He did not at all times feel the cup equally bitter. The sword of justice did not always wound equally deep. At times, however, his sufferings were extremely heavy and painful, but even then he expressed the most unreserved resignation to his condition. Nor did he shrink or give way to despondency, even in the extremity of his distress; but met his heaviest trials with a fortitude becoming his character. "The cup," said he, "that my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? When the ruffian band, under Judas, approached to apprehend him, he went forth from the garden to meet them, and, with the most undaunted boldness, said to them, "Whom seek ye?" As his people were to pass through a series of trials and sufferings in the world, which would require the exercise of the same graces in them, as had been exemplified in him, it would be of much advantage to them to have a complete example set them. He could not save them without sufferings, and his sufferings opened a way to the exercise of patience, resignation, and fortitude; but they must be conformed to him, in suffering many trials, that the same graces might shine forth in them. "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." 1 Peter ii. 20, 21. It cannot be his suffering simply that is imitable by us, though in this we may, in Providence, be conformed to him; but it must be his manner of behaviour, the exercises of his soul. We are to view all our trials as coming from God, intended for our improvement, and the exercise of our graces; we must, therefore, beware of impatience under them: and though they may be be extremely pungent, we must not shrink from the path of duty, nor become remiss in our warfare. Impatience in Jesus would have destroyed his whole work; and it will also greatly prejudice the interest of the believer; whereas patience will be of much advantage. Our tribulation ought to work patience; and if it do," patience will work experience, and experience hope." As our condition in the world abounds with many trials, we have "need of patience, that, af ter having done the will of God, we may receive the promise. Let us therefore, be patient, and stablish our hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.". 8. JESUS was perfected, as the Captain of salvation, by his sufferings, because by them he procured that glory to which he brings his people. By the entry of sin they had come short of the glory of God; and while sin remained they could never attain to that glory. Though, as God, he had all glory at his disposal, it could not be conferred upon sinners but on the footing of the expiation of their sin. It was in the way of suf fering that Jesus himself, as the head of his people attained to his glory. So he expressed himself to the disciples, in the way to Emmaus, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glo ry?" And at the conclusion of his work he addressed his Father to the same purpose; "I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory I had with thee before the world was." John xvii. 4, 5. If he could not enter upon the enjoyment of that glory himself but in consequence of finishing the work of the Father, in his death, the introduction of his people into glory must be equally consequent to that work. This was the condition of that covenant of which he was Mediator, and according to which the inheritance of glory was to be conveyed. In virtue of his fulfilling that "he is made heir of all things," and his people become " joint heirs with him." Nothing but sin stood in the way of enjoying this glory, as by it men came short of it. Jesus put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, and so opened the way for sinners to possess that glory. "And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first testament, they who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Heb. x. 15. When he entered into the holy place it was with that blood, by which he had obtained eternal redemption for us, and bad it fully in his power to bestow it upon us. This is the import of his message to Herod; "Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." I shall persevere in executing the will of my Father while any part of it remains to be done, and when that shall be finished I shall be perfected, and every way prepared to bring many sons to glo ry. He entered heaven as their "forerunner," took possession of it in their name, and promised to return |