ant over any who remain in the body, as to divest them of all restraints, and yield them wholly up to the vicious propensity. Restraints, yea inward reftraints operate in degree, on the most depraved. THIS is a mixed state. The good and the bad are here blended together. "The wheat and the tares must grow together until the harvest"-yea not only in every field, but in every heart. None are perfectly good, or completely bad, while in this world. The finishing traits of character are referred to that to come. In that world we expect, that both the righteous and the wicked, will be perfect in their kind-" the spirits of the just be made perfect"-those of the opposite character put on the full image of their infernal parent. IMPROVEMENT. Ir those who are Chrift's have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lufts, How stands the case with us? Are we thus made to differ from the wicked world? Do we love God-believe on his Son-do his commandments, and trust his grace ? Then, "to us to live is Christ, and to die gain." Here we must have trials-this is not our rest. But the time is short. Soon we shall be called "from our labors, and our works will follow us." Soon we shall be with Christ-behold his glory, and rejoice in his presence. Happy state! But let us beware deception. Some "hold a lie in their right hands; cry peace when there is no peace to them." Let us commune with our own hearts; attend to our temper and conduct; inquire whether we have taken up our cross, and : 1 are following Christ ? Whether the spirit of Christ dwelleth in us? If we have not his spirit, we are none of his. "If we have his spirit we walk as he walked." If this is our happy state, we shall ere long hear from our Judge, "come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world." But if found sinners, a very different doom awaits us. The aggravated Guilt of him who delivered Christ to Pilate. JOHN xix. 10, 11. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou could est have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: Therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. JUDEA was conquered by the Romans, and reduced to a province of their empire, before Christ fuffered for the fins of men. When the Jews con. spired his death, Pilate was governor of that province. The power of life and death was in his hands. Though said to have been devoid of principle, he was unwilling to give sentence against Jesus. Free from Jewish prejudices, he was convinced of Christ's innocence; that he had committed no offence, either against his own nation, or against the Romans; but that for envy he had been arraigned, condemned, and delivered up as a malefactor, Aspace vis en expected to arife in The word we his people from their sed the povers which held them dhe general idea entertained of Sawad no expectations of fuch n of Mary; nor did the RoJoverter be angen him to excite fufpicion He withed, therefore, to Zeclared him not guilty; and would have demers, but the Jews sweet. They declared that be their law he Juge to be because he made him if the Son of Cau-ar gave humeir qur for the expected Mef This was probably the fich hint which Pilate received of this mature, and ineems to have alarmei 1.m. When he heard that aying he was the more uni was an Asheit. He appears to have had fome knowledge of a divine exiftence, and better of a superintending providence. Living among the "ews, he was, no fcabt, acquainted witch their reington, and their expectations of a deEverer; and there was a facicion that this was that deliverer, it concerned him to act with caution; at least to make inquiry. He therefore returned to the judgment hall, and entered on another examination of the prisoner. He began by in. quiring after his origin. "He faid to Jefus, Whence art thou? But Jefus gave him no answer." The text follows, in which we obferve the follow. ing particulars, viz : I. PILATE blaming Jesus, for refusing to answer him-boafting of his power, and appealing to our Lord, that he possessed it. Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee ? Thou II. CHRIST reminding Pilate, that he possessed only delegated power; intimating that he was accountable for the use he made of it. couldeft have no power against me, except it were given thee from above. III. CHRIST aggravating the guilt of those who had delivered him to Pilate, from a confideration of the power which he possessed, in which there might be an allusion to Pilate's character as an unprincipled man. Therefore, he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater fin. We will treat of these in their order. I. We observe Pilate blaming Jesus for refufing to answer him; boasting of his power, and appealing to our Lord that he possessed it. Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Bur why is Christ faulted? He had faid enough to convince the court of his innocence. The judge had repeatedly and publicly declared it. "İ find no fault in him." CHRIST'S filence was not fullen, or contemptuous. He had faid enough. His filence was pru. dent-perhaps necessary. He had come into the world to fuffer-" to make his foul an offering for fin." Had he said more, perhaps Pilate had not dared to give sentence against him. Had not U |