only could thus behave who knew himself to be what he asserted himself to be, the Son of the Most High God.

In the next place we learn, in this discourse of our Lord's, the most particular account of the Holy Ghost the Comforter. We learn that he is come to console the world in the absence of the Redeemer; that he is the Spirit of Truth, that he will guide us into all truth; and that by him the apostles were filled with that wisdom, which enabled them to preach the Gospel of salvation, which contains to us the promise of eternal life. Let us then endeavour to make our hearts fit for the reception of this Holy Spirit, let us never grieve him or drive him from us by vice or sensuality; and let us receive with reverence and gratitude the words of his written will.

Lastly, we find our Lord, in this place, praying, not for his immediate disciples only, but for all those also who at any time shall believe in his name. And what a comfort is this to us who have

embraced the truths of the Gospel, that he who is our head has prayed, and still is praying, as we believe, for us at the right hand of his Father in heaven.

And this reflection may well support us in all our weaknesses and infirmities, that "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins1." By worldly troubles we may be cast down; by our spiritual wants our souls may be harassed, but here is "an anchor of the soul sure and stedfast"," which will never fail us or deceive us. For a while we may have sorrow, but the knowledge that he is our friend will ever recur to us, will strengthen and support us, and so will our hearts be filled with holy joy, "that joy which no man taketh from us.' Which may God grant us all through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1 John ii. 1.

2 Heb. vi. 19.

SERMON XIII.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ATTENDED THE

CRUCIFIXION OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR.

ST. JOHN xix. 5.

Pilate said unto them, Behold the Man.

It was of our blessed Saviour, when, with all the solemn mockery of pretended respect, his enemies had placed on his head a crown of thorns, and had arrayed him with a purple robe, that the Roman governor, presenting him to the assembled multitude, spake the wellknown words of our text. Compassion in his own heart, and the hope of exciting a corresponding feeling in the hearts. of the crowd, would appear to have been Pilate's motive for thus presenting him to them. Every thing which could add

bitterness to sufferings had been heaped on the devoted head of our Lord, by the soldiers employed by the Pharisees. With solemn derision had they invested him with the emblems of authority; but the diadem which they had placed on his head was composed of thorns, and the sceptre which they had given into his hand was a worthless reed. True, they had bowed the knee before him, but it was only to insult him; and they had called him "the Christ," but it was only to mock at his pretensions. The meekness with which he bore the revilings of his enemies, and the gentleness with which he replied to Pilate's own questions, appears to have raised in him a compassion for such unmerited sufferings, and a desire in him to release one who endured them so mildly; and there can be but little doubt that it was with this view that he brought out before them our Lord, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and presenting him to them, exclaimed, "Behold the Man."

Words of memorable import were they, though little heeded by him who unconsciously uttered them, and full of deep and interesting reflection to all who now are able to comprehend their meaning. For who was "the man" of whom they were spoken, and wherefore did he appear in the situation which caused their utterance? Was it not he, who "for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven," where he dwelt "one with the Father, very God," and who was pleased for our sakes to endure all the torments, all the miseries and infirmities which could befal the meanest of mankind? Was it not he who, if he had chosen, might have remained in his own blessed state of happiness and perfection, and have suffered us to perish unheeded, but whose compassion would not allow our overthrow, but bade him, at the price of his own extreme sufferings, redeem ours? Surely, then, we have only to consider this, to see how much was comprehended in the few words uttered by Pilate, when