of his sympathy, identified his feelings with those of the distressed, from individual cases, in the relation of which some of the circumstances are supplied. And what can be required more perfect, than is to be found in the simple recital of the compassion which he exercised towards the widow of Nain, and the tears which he shed at the grave of Lazarus! There must be something very deficient in the heart of that individual, who can surrender himself to the guidance of the disciple whom Jesus loved, and approach the grave of Lazarus, without being disposed to weep also.

As the constitution of our Redeemer's humanity rendered him more susceptible than we can be, to the sufferings of others; so it gave a pungency proportionably great, to the sorrows which were peculiarly his own. The fortitude of superior minds under unmerited reproach, does not result from hardihood of feeling; that is the unenvied privilege of the leader of the mob, who addresses himself to the worst passions of our nature, because they are the most easily excited; whose work is defamation, and who has no character of his own to lose. In a virtuous mind, fortitude under calumny and injustice is the result of principle, struggling against feelings, which are acute and sensitive, and deeply seated in the soul. The struggle

M

is always painful, and, if in public, the consciousness of rectitude supports, and the brow is consequently tranquil, and the countenance serene; yet in secrecy, the power of feeling prevails, and the eye poureth forth tears unto God. The struggle is sometimes too violent for the fragile frame in which it takes place, and the most redeeming specimens of our fallen nature are shattered and broken by its force. Those who know what this struggle means, may be soothed by the assurance, that in it the Redeemer can sympathize, because, through the severest conflict he himself has gone. They will see the reason why such sombre hues were thrown upon the path which he trod, and which gradually deepened in their shade, till they closed in total darkness around the mount on which he bowed his head and died. They will see why the prophet, sketching the more prominent features of his character, describes "a man of sorrows, and acquainted

him as

with grief." They will see why the prayers and supplications of his more retired devotions were offered up "with strong crying and

tears."

If, in proportion as one has suffered himself, he knows how to soothe and succour others who are in distress; then, to no one can we turn for sympathy and succour with such confidence,

as to him who is, above all others, "a brother born for adversity." No where can there be found a history to compare with his. Innocence, purity, benevolence, gentleness, kindness, in their perfect combination, and constant exercise, daily encountering rudeness, privation, suspicion, reproach, calumny, malignity, treachery; and, at length, trampled to the dust by infuriated cruelty, and ignominious scorn. Never was there a heart like his, to feel; and, therefore, never could there be a tongue like his, to comfort and console. Pungent, diversified, and accumulated, though his own sorrows were; by them he would not allow himself to be absorbed, nor diverted from his course of mercy. They rather formed part of his qualification for his work, and furnished motives for its diligent discharge. He went about doing good, preaching the Gospel to the poor, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people. Nor, when the last and bitterest cup of suffering was just about to be presented to his tremulous lips, could he be unmindful of those who had been with him in his previous temptations. His last discourse to them, as it was the most full, so was it also the most consolatory, he had ever delivered. The deep pensiveness, which preceded the unutterable anguish of his soul, displayed and relieved

itself in the tender pathos of his valedictory address. With what tones of feeling must many of the passages of that address have been delivered! How they must have penetrated and thrilled through the breasts of those into whose ears they were poured! Their distant vibrations have still power to subdue, and melt the soul. The undecaying words of the most precious legacy which ever was bequeathed, are still often read with tearful eyes, and strong emotion of heart: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."*

Now it must be remembered, that one of the objects which were to be accomplished by the Saviour's sufferings on earth, was to prepare him for entering on the work, which, as Intercessor, he now discharges in heaven: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."+ "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

#

John xiv. 27.

+ Heb. ii. 10.

himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."*

How the glorified humanity of our Redeemer is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, it may be difficult or impossible for us clearly and fully to understand. The subject is in some measure connected with the great mystery of godliness, "God manifest in the flesh." It is sufficient for us to know,-that one purpose to be accomplished by his incarnation; by hist dwelling three and thirty years in our world of affliction and death; by his passing through one continuous course of humiliation, privation, and suffering; was to prepare him for his work of intercession, by giving him a fellow-feeling with our sorrows;-that he has in heaven the most distinct and realizing remembrance of every suffering which he endured on earth, and of every emotion, which, under suffering, he felt ;that by our humanity, which he still wears, as well as by the offices which he sustains, and the promises which he has left in his word, he still feels himself himself pledged for us, linked to us, and identified with us;-and that he *Heb. ii. 17, 18 ; iv. 15.