himself. When first they who were sent to seize him attacked him in the garden, in the confusion which ensued one of his disciples drew a sword, and wounded a servant who accompanied the soldiers. What was our Lord's conduct? A mild reproof of the zeal of his friend, and an immediate performance of a miracle to heal his enemy. When he was led away to be crucified, the same spirit appeared in him, a regard for others, a forgetfulness of himself. He was followed by a multitude of women with many tears and lamentations; he turned to them, and this was his exclamation; " Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children '." In the agony of death amid the torments of the cross, still it was of others he thought rather than of himself. His mother he commended to the care of his beloved disciple, thus securing her a protector during her earthly sojourn; nay, with his last thoughts he remembered his

1 Luke xxiii. 28.

2 John xix. 26.

very murderers, and almost with his last breath uttered a prayer for them; "Father forgive them for they know not what they do 1."

The last thing in this most interesting history, to which I will draw your notice, is the entire resignation of our blessed Saviour to the will of his heavenly Father. I have already endeavoured to set before you, how peculiarly severe were his torments, how especially heavy the burthen laid upon him. The bitterness of his sufferings was shewn in that while in the garden, the sweat appeared on his brow like as it were great drops of blood. And yet in the midst of these afflictions, this was his prayer to God; "Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt 2."

The same spirit was displayed by him in the answer which he gave to Pilate when standing before his judgment-seat. Pilate said " speakest thou not unto me?

1 Luke xxiii. 34.

2 Matt. xxvi. 39.

knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, thou couldest have no power at all over me, except it were given thee from above 1."

Our blessed Saviour's last words were uttered in the same spirit of resignation. His work was finished; his labour of love was at an end; all the prophecies respecting him were completed; and man's redemption was procured; then, and not till then, he resigned himself to death, and his last words were a consignment of himself to his heavenly Father's care; "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit ";"" and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost

3 "

I have brought forward these as some of the most notable incidents in this most interesting, most important scene. The history of it is before us all, and doubtless we may, by reflecting on it,

1 John xix. 10.

2 Luke xxiii. 46.

3 John xix. 30.

draw much more equally worthy our attention.

And now what are the feelings chiefly excited in us by these circumstances? No doubt we feel horror at the treachery of Judas; scarce less indignation at the malice of the pharisees; we look on the selfishness of Pilate, who, to secure his own safety, delivered up an innocent person to death, with regret; and we pity the soldiers who were the wretched instruments in this transaction; but do we at all consider what was the real cause of our Saviour's death? What it was which actually occasioned it? Could Judas, or the pharisees, or Pilate, or the soldiers have crucified our Lord, without the permission of God? And why did God permit that his Son should be slain? Why that our sins might be pardoned. Our sins then really crucified our Lord; and on ourselves, and not only on the wretched instruments of his death, should our indignation be turned. "He was wounded for our trangressions; he was bruised for

our iniquities, and by his stripes we are healed '." Let this thought never be ab

sent from our minds, that a sense of true humiliation may ever prevail with us, and that at the foot of the cross of Christ we may lay aside all pride, and foolish naughtiness.

And in this spirit let us repeat the words of our text. Let us say to ourselves with Pilate ; "Behold the man." But not as Pilate meant it let us say it; not with the intention of raising pity for him who needs it not; but with the hope of raising a Christian confidence in us, in whom such a virtue is so becoming. "Behold the man."

The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world 2." " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing 3."

3

1 Isaiah liii. 5.

2 John i. 29.

Rev. v. 12, 13.