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and well-beloved Son. The teacher, the deliverer, and the Saviour of the world

Brethren-let us not then refuse him that speaketh to us from God; nor remain insensible to the wondrous things which he hath done for us. Let us not requite with ingratitude and disobedience, the love of him, who, for our sakes "made himself of no reputation "," became "the scorn of men and the outcast of the people," was "delivered for our offences, and for us poured out his soul unto death

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This act of infinite love demands from us the lively tribute of gratitude, and especially the renunciation of those sins, which rendered it necessary that the Son of God should suffer. Let us remember that we may renew every circumstance of his sufferings; that by our sins we may again betray him, again revile him, again mock him, again nail him to the cross. What tremendous guilt, to crucify afresh the Son of God! And an inspired Apostle hath said, that there are those who "crucify afresh the Son of God, and put him to an open shame "." Brethren, let us not incur this guilt-let us not expose ourselves to this awful condemnation.

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b Philip ii. 7.

C

c Rom. iv. 25.

d Heb. vi. 6.

SERMON XXVII.

THE PASSION OF CHRIST.

[GOOD FRIDAY.]

LUKE Xxii. 44.

Being in an agony.

My brethren, the passion of Christ presents a mystery, which human reason cannot comprehend.

In what manner his sufferings purchased our redemption; and what was the precise nature of those sufferings, are points which we in vain attempt to ascertain-But,

That Christ" suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God;" that he "

gave himself for our sins as an offering and a sacrifice to God," that we are "redeemed with the precious blood of Christ," that Jesus Christ is " a propitiation for our sins," having "made peace through

the blood of his Cross "," are declarations of Scripture which establish, beyond the possibility of doubt, the truth, that the sufferings of Christ were an atonement for sin, and purchased our redemption from its guilt and dominion. These truths, in the exercise of penitence and faith, will afford us consolation, even though we are not able fully to ascertain the nature of Christ's sufferings, or in what manner they propitiated divine justice.

But, as far as possible, it is our duty to understand, and devoutly to contemplate, the sufferings of Christ, in order that we may be impressed with a lively sense of the guilt of those sins on account of which they were endured, and of the greatness of that love which prompted Christ for our sakes to endure them.

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II. There were sufferings peculiar to him as the Son of God.

In these two points of view, I would call you to contemplate the sufferings of your Lord.

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I. His sufferings as man.

Every kind of pain in its highest degree tortured his body.

Every species of sorrow in its utmost violence assailed his soul.

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1. Every kind of pain, in its highest degree, tortured his body.

The manger was the cradle of the humble Son of Mary; and the earth was often the pillow on which reposed the wanderer, who had not where to lay his head. But the closing scenes of his life mark him most conspicuously as the man of sorrows. Scourges furrowed his back; buffetings wounded his head; thorns pierced his temples; the Cross bowed him down to the earth. On that Cross he was transfixed, the scorn of his enemies. Nails were driven into his hands and feet. He thirsted

and this thirst of death was embittered by vine gar and gall. Who would not shrink from any one of these sufferings? Our blessed Lord encountered them all. He whose body, disordered by no sin, was perfectly pure, and delicate, and tender, endured an accumulation of sufferings, any one of which is abhorrent to nature. vad Jolly pla

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2. Every species of suffering, in its utmost violence, assailed his soul.

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He suffered under the attacks of calumny. He was daily denying himself, and taking up his Cross; yet he was calumniated as a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber"." He spake as never man spake; yet he was pursued as a vile impostor. His immaculate soul glowed with every holy affection; yet he was assaulted in the wilderness by the foul temptations of the great adversary. The power of the living God was with him; yet he was branded with the odious charge of being in league with "Beelzebub, the prince of devils . Through his whole life he had been going about doing good; yet he was derided, and mocked, and spit upon. He knew no sin; neither was guile found in his mouth; yet he was betrayed by one of his disciples, and deserted by all, and accused of being "smitten of God and afflicted." These indignities must have been inconceivably poignant to him, whose soul was endued with the acutest sensibility, and whose innocent bosom disclaimed the charge of meriting them. But what were these sufferings, compared with those which overwhelmed him in the garden. He was exceeding sorrowful; even unto death. Resigned and submissive as he was, and devoted to the work of man's redemption; yet he shuddered at the agonies which he was to sustain to effect it. My soul is troubled, what shall I do. Father-save

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