the apostle asks, or faith he it altogether for our fakes? For our fakes no doubt, this is written: that, as it follows in the text, he that plougheth, fhould plough in hope: and he that thrafheth, fhould be partaker of his hope.

That we may all correct our faults, and improve ourselves by every mean of inftruction that is offered, whether more directly in the bible; or more obfcurely in the field; may God of his infinite mercy grant, through the affiftance of his holy spirit!

SERMON XXI.

xix.

JOHN XIX. 30.

IT IS FINISHED.

THIS affecting expreffion, at the close of our bleffed Saviour's life, was the conclufion, as it were, of the grand scheme of the redemption of mankind. It is finished, said the holy Sufferer; and bowing his head, gave up the ghoft.

In contemplating these awful words, I shall fhew you first, what Chrift finished for our fake --and Secondly, what we ought to finish for his.

WITH regard to what Chrift finished, in the first place, the prophecies refpecting the Meffiah

were

were completed.- -Thofe which predicted his miraculous birth-his bringing salvation to all mankind-the miracles he wrought-the manner of his death-and his being made an offering, and atonement for fin-were all now fulfilled. The completion of this great work, the holy Jefus had no doubt, in view, when he cried out, as he expired, It is finished.

Then alfo the types, and ceremonies, particularly the facrifices of the Jewish law, were fulfilled. The devout Jew, no doubt, often felt himself at a lofs for the meaning of these myfterious rites; and though he was too pious to queftion their propriety, as they had been appointed by God himself; yet he could not but wish to have a more perfect insight into their hidden meaning. All this darkness was now difpelled, when the bleffed Jefus from the crofs declared, that all was finished. Then was feen the propriety of those mystical representations. the various facrifices of the law-the paffoverthe paschal lamb-the high-prieft entering the holy of holies-and all the other parts of the Jewish ritual.

Again, the fufferings of the Meffiah were now finished. In what those myfterious fufferings confifted-what was the extent of them-and

whether,

whether, feverely as they affected the body; they did not still more feverely affect the mind, we know not. It is certain they were very acute. No man's forrows, we are affured, were like his forrows. A painful life-great part of which had been spent in poverty and labour; was clofed in torment, and cruel anguish. But all was now over. The holy Sufferer bowing his head, and crying, It is finished, gave up the ghoft.To this great event was afterwards added Chrift's glorious refurrection from the dead.

These great works the Meffiah finished to give evidence to the truth of the grand fcheme, in which he had engaged.With regard to the great works, he finished, in which man was more immediately concerned, we may mention first his opening the gofpel to all mankind. We fuppofe indeed, that all, who before the coming of Chrift lived up to the lights they had received, were faved through his merits, though the great atonement was not yet made. But now all had the means offered them of holier living, than they had before, and these means were to be extended-and we have no doubt, will, in due time, be extended-to all the nations upon earth. The Jewish government had performed its office, in being, as the apoftle

fays,

fays, our Schoolmaster to bring us to Chrift. It's fervices therefore were no longer wanted. This great event then of offering the gospel freely to all mankind, no doubt, the bleffed Jefus had in view, when he declared from the crofs, that all was finished.

Another great work, which our bleffed Saviour finished, was to give us a complete rule of life -the means of observing that rule, through the affiftance of God's holy fpirit-together with a perfect example of piety, and virtue. To the example, we always find him as attentive as to the precept. He has inftructed his disciples in no virtue, of which he has not also given a pattern in himself: and the precept, and the example together, make that rule of conduct, which is to direct the chriftian life. The completion of this great work alfo was no doubt, included in our Saviour's dying words, It is finished.

A

But the grand work of redemption, which Chrift perfected for man, was his enabling him to triumph over death, and the grave, by making that atonement for his fins, which he could never have made for himself. In what myfterious way the death of Chrift atones for the fins of mankind, we know not-nor does it become us to enquire.