sinners' substitute, and he was called on to wring out the dregs of it and drink them. From a task so dreadful, his innocent human nature seemed to shrink. Human nature ever recoils from pain and suffering, and can only be brought to welcome it by a superior influence. If it had been otherwise with him, it has been remarked, he could not have been said to have suffered, for nothing is suffering, or can be penal to us, but what is grievous to nature. This prayer indicated, not the sinking of his fortitude, or the decay of his love, but the extremity of his anguish, and the truth of his hu manity.

And how was he heard in this prayer? It was not a prayer totally declining suffering. "Thinkest thou," said he to Peter, when he reproved the rashness which led him to draw the sword in his defence," that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he would presently give me more than twelve legions of angels, but how then shall the Scripture be fulfilled, that thus it must be." But as this prayer was an expression of the horror of nature at the idea of suffering, it was answered in his heart's being fortified against its terrors, and in that being rendered welcome which was the object of aversion. So immediate and complete was the answer, that with the next breath he adds, "nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.”

Ye are now reflecting on what must have been your fate had this cup passed from your Lord, and that thought will increase your gratitude to him who saved you by a method so agonizing to himself, and whose love to you was stronger than death.

Christ also deprecated the sinking of his human nature in the conflict. He saw that he had to contend with an infuriated populace, with crafty and

violent priests, and with the powers of darkness, irritated to the utmost by their past defeats, and determined to put forth all their strength to destroy him. But he had to bear also the fury of incensed Omnipotence. Affected with the tremendous prospect, and knowing the consequences of failure to his own glory, and to the salvation of men, he cried, "Save me, U God, for the waters are come in to my soul." Hold up these hands till I have dashed thine enemies in pieces; sustain this heart till I have made peace be twixt God and man, and let my blood flow till sin is washed away.

He was answered in this prayer, for there appeared an angel from heaven to strengthen him. That angel came to dry up his tears, to brighten his prospects, and to invigorate his heart. Instead of sinking in the struggle, he was more than a conqueror ; and our nature appears with a glory which will be sought for in vain in the courage of the hero, or the fortitude of the mar◄ tyr. And shall not you raise the voice of rejoicing and salvation? "The right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly.”

But our Saviour deprecated also, continuance under the power of death. It has been remarked, that the phrase to save from death, signifies either preservation from an evil of which a man is in danger, or deliverance from one into which he has fallen. The idea of continuing under the power of death is horrible to nature.

That the grave shall be our perpetual abode, and corruption and dust the end of man, are fears which have harassed human beings in all ages; and perhaps such thoughts as these might be thrown into our Lord's mind by the tempter; "From the weight which crushes thee to the dust of death, what hand shall relieve thee? To rot with criminals may be thy

fate as well as to die with them, and the scoff uttered at thy cross may be repeated by those who pass by thy grave, "He saved others, himself he cannot save." In opposition to such suggestions, Jesus lifted up his voice to him who quickens the dead, and calls the things. which be not, as though they were. And rejoice that he was heard in this prayer. He was assured of being taken from prison and from judgment, and of being raised to a life not clouded by infirmity and suffering as before, but uniformly glorious and blissful; a life to be spent in the enjoyment of his well-earned triumphs, and in the benevolent application of the promised salvation.

The apostle remarks, that he was heard in that he feared. Reverence for God's majesty and justice, sub mission to his will, and zeal for his glory, were the principles which dictated and guided our Lord's prayers, and rendered them the delight of his Father.

Christians, you have been listening to your Lord's prayers; and if ye are not dead to the eloquence of devotion in its most melting form, your hearts must be strongly impressed. You have reason to be ashamed that they are not more affected. When you hear the shriek of woe your heart shudders, and, in the place of weeping, the tear starts into your eyes; and can any of you see the Saviour's tears, and hear his cries, unmoved? These cries and tears were expressions of an guish which you deserved to suffer. He utters these strong cries, because he bears your griefs; and his face is wet with tears, because he carries your sorrows. Let gratitude, repentance, and love, unite their influence in your hearts, in offering to him a suitable sacrifice at his table, that in receiving it he may see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.

After the Service.

WHEN Hezekiah received the message from God by the prophet, "Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live," he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, and wept sore. The approach of death has made the mighty cowards, and watered the bed of state with tears. Eminent as he was for piety, he shuddered at the thought of death. But the pros pect which made your Redeemer offer up strong crying with tears was much more dismal than his. To Hezekiah death was to come in the form of disease, as the common lot of mortals, as the instrument of happiness, and amid all the alleviations which power or wealth could impart; but to Jesus it came loaded with all the vengeance of the curse, and amidst the agony and shame of the cross. Hezekiah's prayer was an swered in the addition of fifteen years to his life, and that of our Lord in length of days for ever and ever. You have seen him crushed by anguish, behold him now in paradise, the region of delight; on the throne, the seat of empire; and in his Father's bosom, the place of infinite tenderness and everlasting rest. He remembers every circumstance in the scene of sorrow, and that heightens his enjoyment. Eternity opens before him a boundless prospect of glory and felicity.

There are some at the communion table to whom Jesus is now saying, "Why weepest thou?" When the king of Persia said to Nehemiah, "Why is thy countenance sad?" he was sore afraid. Haughty and unfeeling despotism deems the face of sorrow a reproach to its power; but Jesus asks the cause of your tears that may remove it. You say that it is conscious guilt

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that troubles you, but if you have been washing his feet with your tears, to you he saith, " Thy sins are forgiven thee; go in peace." Let those who are happy in their Saviour maintain a holy caution. Beware of forming too flattering expectations of human life. From the mount of communion you behold all around you bright with sunshine, but the clouds will return, Afflictions will try your patience, and temptations your faith. Disappointments will try your spirituality of mind, and desertion your hope in God, and I call on you to prepare for these. Our Lord's days on earth were not days of ease and indulgence, and can you ex◄ pect yours to be so?

Pray without ceasing, and pray as Jesus did. Think how Jacob wept, and made supplication at Bethel, and how as a prince he had power with God, and prevailed. Let yours be the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man, which availeth much. Guard against every thing which may deprive you of the seasons, or indispose you for the duty of prayer. And despair not of an answer to prayer, for " in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." You have an advocate with the Father, who will enforce your petitions, and if his prayers were prevalent on earth, they cannot fail in heaven. This is the character which God gives his people," my suppliants ;" and beware lest, by your ne◄ glect of prayer, or your carelessness in it, you forfeit your claim to this appellation.

Rejoice that in the heavenly state Jesus" still remembers his tears, his agonies, and cries," and though no friend on earth should remain to join his voice with your prayer, or to mingle his tears with yours, you can look up to one in heaven who is touched with the feeling of your infirmities, and " who suffered, being