SERMON VIII.

HEBREWS V. 7, 8, 9.

"WHO IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED UP

PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH STRONG CRYING AND TEARS UNTO HIM THAT WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH, AND WAS HEARD IN THAT HE FEARED; THOUGH HE WERE A SON, YET LEARNED HE

OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED AND BEING MADE PERFECT HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THAT OBEY HIM."

WE read, in the twenty-third chapter of St. Luke, a brief description of the manner in which a great multitude were affected on witnessing the conclusion of those sufferings by which, though a Son, Christ learned obedience. "All the people," writes the Evangelist, "that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts

and returned."*

"The things which were done!" And what things were they, my brethren? The mystery of ages; yea, that was from the beginning, in that awful moment revealed ; the prophecies which, from age to age, had with increasing clearness directed the faithful to look for that man of sorrows, fulfilled; the redemption promised, as a joint consolation with the fall, accomplished ;—the sufferings of Christ, such as had not been, no nor ever shall, joined with a divine patience which testified of his willing sacrifice; all this had been now displayed before the multitude, and no marvel that when they had seen these things, they smote their breasts and departed.

Those least enlightened among that multitude, might well give this evidence of the grief with which they were moved, at beholding the miserable accumulation of indignity and suffering heaped on him who had been a patient and meek instructor; and of whom they

*Luke xxiii. 48.

had personal knowledge that he had gone about doing good. The better instructed, who had hoped that in him at length had appeared that mighty one who should redeem Israel, might well smite their breasts and depart mourning, with the bitter conviction that they had looked in error for such redemption; for, as yet, they could not be persuaded that thus it must be, and that thus "the Scriptures must be fulfilled."* And even the few, who could in that dark hour of tribulation hold fast their confidence, and see, in the agonies of nature, the testimony that "truly this man was the Son of God;"+ they too might well smite their breasts and depart, beholding at what a price they were to be purchased from the just penalty of sin; even by that precious blood of Christ, "as of a Lamb without blemish, and without spot."+

All, therefore, in the contemplation of the

events of that awful scene, whether they came as curious to witness a trial of unexampled sorrow, or with a wavering faith, that doubted yet hoped some signal display of Almighty power-as Jesus coming down from the Cross; or finally, with the love and patience of faithful disciples, to behold the last struggle of their Lord: all we can easily imagine departing in sorrow, and smiting their breasts, even as the Evangelist describes.

And we can moreover imagine, that if any disciple had absented himself from that scene, full of sorrow as it was, he would ever after have esteemed it a circumstance of bitter regret; and that if he had failed to be present from any careless or unworthy motive, he would have had his regret embittered still more: because it is the wise order of providence that no sorrow is so lasting, or so severe, as that which springs from the conviction of neglected duties, when the time that those duties can be performed is passed away.

But we can only profitably consider the conduct of others, when we find in it something that bears upon our own condition; something from which we may draw warning or instruction.

The conduct of that multitude is of this character. We do not, indeed, for a moment question within ourselves, that if we had been present witnesses of that scene of humiliation, we should in like manner have been affected; for it is easy to give ourselves credit for feelings which, apparently, we have no actual ground to experience: and the question is, whether, in this instance, it is to be expected that we should look upon the awful sufferings of our Lord and Master, in the same spirit in which they were contemplated by those first disciples.

Why should we not? are we less sinners than they? Are we not also in the same condemnation, unless redeemed by the same sacrifice? Have not our transgressions equally