the holy law of Jehovah, enduring the contradiction of sinners against himself, meekly appealing to his known and acknowledged innocence, reviled but not reviling in return, buffeted, but not threatening to retaliate. Behold him under the hand of man, torn, and wounded, and bleeding, his flesh lacerated by thorns and nails, his precious blood gushing forth upon the soldier's spear. Behold him under the hand of God, bruised as a hateful thing, the iron entering into his soul, the manifold curses incurred by his people, centering in one fearful point, and stinging him to the heart, pressed upon him by the hand of unerring justice, till his sweat was as great drops of blood falling down to the ground, and till his wounded spirit cried unto his Father with a repeated and bitter cry. Behold him left in the darkness of spiritual desertion, exposed to the evil suggestions of the devil, and lifting up that heart-rending complaint of awful agony, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!" Open, open wide the eyes of your understandings and your hearts, and behold that sight. There it is that God is a just God and a Saviour;*

* The glories that are found separately in the other works of God, are found united in the cross of Christ. The joys of heaven glorify God's goodness; the pains of hell glorify

there the mercy-seat is shut down upon the tables of the law, and the cherubims of glory overshadow it; there the " accuser of the brethren was completely silenced, so that he can never lay any thing to the charge of God's elect; there the seeds of sanctification were effectually sown, so that every believing soul shall be as a tree of righteousness, producing good fruits in its season. Most glorious sight; Worthy, for ever worthy is the Lamb that was

God's justice; the cross of Christ glorifies both goodness and justice in a more remarkable manner than heaven or hell can glorify either of them. It is easy to conceive God's righteousness declared in the punishment of sin; the cross alone declares his righteousness in the remission of sin. It is easy to conceive God's love in the salvation of innocent creatures; the cross alone declares his love in the salvation of guilty criminals. Here upon the cross are engraven together Justice and Mercy. It shows justice more awful than if mercy had been excluded; it shows mercy more amiable than if justice had been dispensed with. It magnifies the law; it glorifies the criminal who broke the law. It gives mercy abundant exercise; it gives justice ample satisfaction.

The good of man, no less than the glory of God, is advanced by the cross of Christ. It heals all his diseases; it pardons all his sins. It is the sacrifice that removes the guilt of sin; it is the influence which removes the love of sin. It expiates sin; it mortifies sin. It atones for disobedience; it makes obedience acceptable; it excites to obedience; it purchases strength for obedience; it makes obedience practicable; it makes it delightful; it makes it in a manner unavoidable; it constrains to it.-See Maclaurin's admirable Sermon on Galatians vi. 14.

slain, to receive worship, and power, and honour, and glory. Behold him taken down from the accursed tree, and laid in the sepulchre. Behold him, on the third morning, bursting from the rock, to the astonishment and joy of his disconsolate disciples. Behold him appearing to them, time after time, for forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Behold him on the Mount of Olives, taken up from them in a cloud to heaven; and as he approaches his native mansions, hark to the commanding shouts of his angelic convoy: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in." But what new sight is this? Who is he that, in human form, demands admittance to the skies? "Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle against sin, and death, and hell, against all the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The Lord mighty to save, with perfect justice to save the vilest sinner; he is the King of Glory. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Lift up your heads, then, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of

Hosts, he is the King of Glory."

Behold him

now set down on the right hand of the throne of God, where he ever liveth to make intercession for you. He knows all your sins, all your sorrows, all your temptations; he was himself tempted like as you are, (but without sin,) and he knoweth how to succour them that are tempted. He is touched with a feeling of all your infirmities; in all your afflictions he is afflicted; who shall separate you from his love? He is a just God and a Saviour: look unto him, and be ye saved.

"For you the Lamb was crucified,

Enduring every pain;

For you he bled, for you he died,
For you he rose again,
And liveth evermore, to make
Prompt intercession for your sake;

That you with him may reign,
And through his sacrifice may prove,
The blessings of redeeming love."

64

SERMON III.

LIFE FROM THE DEAD; OR THE REGENERATING POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.

EZEKIEL xxxvii. 9.

"Thus saith the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

IN reference to the concerns of his soul, man by nature resembles a condemned criminal, in a putrid fever. The hand of a double death is upon him. The just sentence of the law pronounces death; the natural termination of his disease is death; his condition is truly deplorable. For his adequate relief, both a pardon and a cure are indispensable; neither will do without the other. pardoned only, he will die of his disease; if restored to health only, he will be executed for his crimes; but if both pardoned and cured, his relief will be complete. The gospel of Jesus Christ amply provides for both. Dr. Chalmers has admirably said, that "it is im

If