PREFATORY NOTICE.

THE Papers, of which the following are a selection, were certainly not intended by the Author for publication, having been seen during his lifetime by only a few intimate friends, 'to one of whom chiefly, they had been originally addressed in a series of letters. For this reason, it would perhaps have been more consistent still to have allowed them to remain in privacy. In deference, however, to the opinion of several of those who possessed his confidence, and who conceived that they might be acceptable to his fellow-citizens, among whom he so long moved, a selection has been made of such as appeared best adapted for the press. The imperfections, which must always be inseparable from a posthumous work, will, in this instance, it is believed, find an apology in the circumstances above

explained, and in the fact of these papers having been composed during the intervals of responsible and laborious professional avocations. It must be superfluous to add, that the present publication has no view whatever to pecuniary advantage.

EDINBURGH, 1st March 1846.

J. S.

SKETCHES FROM SCRIPTURE

HISTORY.

THE ROBE OF CHRIST.

IN a psalm written by King David more than a thousand years before the birth of Christ—a psalm which has always been considered prophetical of the Saviour's sufferings, and which commences with the very words of deep agony which were uttered by him when hanging on the cross,- -a circumstance is introduced as if intended to indicate the extremity of his distress :- 66 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture."

The literal fulfilment of this prophecy is mentioned by all the evangelists. St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, merely state the fact, that the soldiers, who attended at the Saviour's crucifixion,

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"parted his garments, casting lots." St. John alone states why they did so. "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 without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," (St. John, xix. 23, 24.)

Although this extraordinary and exact fulfilment of an ancient prophecy, is the only reason professedly assigned for mentioning the circumstance here stated, some have thought that there is an emblematical meaning couched under the fact, that one of these garments, here called his coat, was woven of one entire piece, without a seam.

We are informed by Josephus,* that the High Priest of the Jews wore a garment of this very description. Now the Jewish High Priest was typical of Christ, and every thing respecting his vestments and ornaments had also some typical signification. We need not, therefore, be surprised, that his great antitype, the High Priest of our profession, wore, while on earth, a garment similar to that of his type or representative; and we may reasonably conclude, that this may also have borne some typical or emblematical meaning.

* Antiq. B. III., ch. 7, § 4.