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light on it. He repeatedly, in his conversation with his disciples, alluded to it; and taught them, that the MESSIAH was to endure a variety of sufferings and indignities.

Had the Jewish teachers been thoroughly acquainted with the sacred writings, they would have remarked such a passage as this; and if they had compared it with our SAVIOUR's life and doctrine, as he called upon them to do, they would have been able to account for his extraordinary wisdom, and must have discerned that he was the MESSIAH; and if so, that it would be the extreme of presumption.in any adversary to appear against him who had JEHOVAH for his advocate. But as our LORD knew that the case would be otherwise, he resolved to act in direct conformity to the description which the prophet, by divine inspiration, had given of his behaviour; and reposed entire confidence ia GOD THE FATHER, who through the DIVINE WORD fortified his mind with invincible patience; thus, prepared, he went up willingly to Jerusalem. As his enemies would not be convinced, by what he had already said and done, that he was the CHRIST, there was no reason to expect they would listen to him at a time when their malice was at the height and since they disdained to be guided by the light, which he had repeatedly offered them, he left them (agreeably to divine justice) to the fire of their own kindling: by which we may understand the effects of ungoverned passions and mere worldly policy, exclusive of faith and trust in GOD, which at length brought down the just judgments of God to consume their city and nation.

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If we condemn, as we certainly must do, the conduct of the Jews, let us take heed to our own for though we cannot now seize upon our LORD's person, bind his hands, drag him to the hall of judgment, smite him

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on the check, spit od his face, scourge him, and commit other outrages practised by his persecutors; we shall be partakers in their guilt, if we indulge the same spi rit of enmity against him as they did; which those do, who reject our LORD's doctrine, deride his sufferings, deny his divinity, or bring contempt on his holy reli gion, by despicable ridicule or profane jests. Nor are those less guilty, who, calling themselves Christians, lead immoral lives, and give bccasion to scoffers,. to slander their holy profession. Let us now resume the melancholy story, and follow the steps of our blessed REDEEMER to mount Calvary.

SECTION XXXVIII.

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

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From Matt. Chap. xxvii.-Mark, xv.Luke, xxiii.John, xix.:

AND JESUS-bearing his cross, went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the He brew, Golgotha.

And as they came out of the city, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, the father of Alexander and Rufus, and on him they laid the cross, and compelled him to bear it after Jesus.

And there followed him a great company of peol ple, and of women, who also bewailed and lamented him.

But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For behold the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breast which never gave suck.

Then

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. ́-

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And when they were come unto Golgotha, on mount Calvary, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink.

And they gave him wine mingled with myrrh, but he received it not.

And they crucified him, and the two malefactors, one on the right hand, the other on the left.

. Then said JESUS, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do...

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified JESUS, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also his coat now the coat was with out scam, woven from the top throughout,

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They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rent it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my gment amongst them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.

These things therefore the soldiers did; and sitting down they watched him there.

3 And Pilate wrote a title and put it upon the cross, and the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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This title then read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

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Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not the King of the Jews: but that he said, I am the King of the Jews.

Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

And they that passed by, reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of GOD, come down from the cross,

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others, himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe bim.

He trusted in GoD, let him deliver him now if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of GOD.

And one of the malefactors who was crucified with him railed on him, saying, If thou be CHRIST, save thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due re. ward of our deeds; but this man hath done thing amiss.

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And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

Now there stood by the cross of JESUS, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene, and many other women, who also when he was in Galilee followed him and ministered & unto him.

When

When JEsus therefore saw his mother, and the distiple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy Son.

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour JESUS cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My GoD, my GoD, why hast thou forsaken me?

Some of them that stood there when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar; and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

And the rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and when he had cried again with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.

And behold the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.

Now when the centurion, who stood ever against him, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, he glorified GOD, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man; truly this man was the Son of God.

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