tion of the Holy Spirit; we might justly exclaim,not, indeed, Great is the mystery of Godliness! but -Great is the mystery of prophetic and apostolic language! For, on that supposition, the obscurity attending must arise, not as in various other cases, from the incomprehensible nature of the subject, but from the mode of expression. The behaviour of Jesus Christ under his last sufferings, is absolutely unaccountable, unless his death be considered as vicarious, and as exhibiting a demonstration of penal justice. Yes, my brethren, it seems impossible, except by the aid of this principle, to maintain the dignity of our Lord's conduct as a public teacher, when, for the sake of truth and righteousness, he fell a victim to persecution. For though every thing in his character would have led us to expect quite the reverse; yet, with regard to mental serenity and heroic fortitude, he appears greatly inferior to many of the martyrs. I said, quite the reverse. Because, though extremely depressed in spirit, he had no bodily disease to affect his imagination with melancholy gloom; no unhallowed attachment to family connection, to religious friends, or to any sensible object; nor yet any personal sin to burden his conscience, or to embarrass his mind by painful reflections, in the near prospect of death. Perfectly assured that his heart had never been polluted by irregular desire, his life by transgression, or his labours, for the honour of God and the good of mankind, by any omission or imperfection; he could not be ignorant that his person, his character, and his course of obedience, were completely acceptable in the eyes of his divine Father.-Whereas, with regard to the martyrs, this was far from being the case. For there was not a perfect character among them. All of them had their spots and blemishes. Consequently, each had reason to make sorrowful confessions, and to cry, God be merciful to me, a sinner. But, notwithstanding the imperfection of their graces and their obedience, they were not only supported, but many of them unfeignedly rejoiced, in the midst of their tortures, and on the verge of dissolution. Further: The sufferings and sorrows of Jesus, far from taking him by surprise, were all of them completely foreseen. Yes, he not only foresaw the Scourge and the cross, with all their attendant circumstances of pain and indignity, before they commenced; but the treachery of Judas, the perjury of Peter, and the dastardly conduct of all his apostles, were equally the objects of our Lord's prescience. Nor was he ignorant that the fierce torments of crucifixion would continue but a few hours-torments which, probably, while felt in all their extremity, were not more intense than those which many of the martyrs, though not indulged with a foresight of the nature, the degree, or the continuance of their sufferings, experienced for a much longer time. Besides, Jesus not only foreknew the various particulars that were included in the aggregate of his approaching sufferings; but he was equally well informed of the glory that should follow, as the grand result of his arduous undertaking. He knew, for instance, that, within a few hours, his immortal soul should be in paradise-That, within three days after his decease, he should rise from the deadThat, within a few weeks, he should ascend visibly into heaven-That, in the celestial sanctuary, he should be a Priest upon his throne; uniting the regal diadem with the sacerdotal censer; superintending all affairs, and exercising all authority, in the church and in the world. He knew, that the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand? or that his grand undertaking should be attended with complete success, in bringing an innumerable multitude of sons to glory* That the worthiness of his Person, and the efficacy of his blood, should be for ever celebrated in the songs of heaven-And, finally, that the supreme felicity of all the redeemed should very much consist in beholding his glory, and, the enjoyment of communion with him.† Such, my brethren, were the singular circumstances in which our Lord was placed, and such the joy that was set before him, when he entered upon his passion, But, notwithstanding all these animating considerations, and exhilarating prospects, the King of Martyrs is nevertheless the Man of Sorrows, and his heart is rent with anguish. For, before any human hand was upon him, before any human enemy was near him, his language was, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death! Behold him in a state of prostration, with his face on the earth. He is in an agony of mental distress. He sweats blood; and, with strong crying and tears, exclaims, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me! Though with unparalleled benevolence he interceded for his crucifiers, after he was nailed to the gibbet; nay, though with an air of sovereign majesty and of boundless mercy, becoming R * Zech. vi, 12, 13. Isa. liii. 10. Heb. ii. 10, the Son of God and Lord of the universe, he had just disposed of a seat in paradise to one of those ruffians that were dying by his side; yet, before his exit, he could not forbear to exclaim aloud, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? Now, my brethren, what adequate cause can be assigned for this amazing anguish; except that of his vicarious character-of his bearing imputed sin —and of his undergoing the curse of the law, for those that were justly condemned? This, and this only, can account for it. Yes, if, in that momentous article of time, the Divine Father treated him, not as the Son of his love, but as the Substitute of the guilty; if this was the hour in which IT PLeased JEHOVAH TO BRUISE HIM; then you easily account for all his amazement, consternation, and sorrow. Then there will be no reason to wonder, that his heart, though endued with otherwise invincible fortitude, became like melting wax. For who can estimate the terrors of that wrath, at which the pillars of heaven tremble? or of that justice, which is armed with omnipotence, which is a consuming fire, and which burns to the lowest hell?*_ Whereas, on the principle opposed, his fortitude, in the time of trial, was vastly inferior to that of the illustrious Hebrew triumvirate; who, apparently, continued calm and unmoved, while the furnace was heated into sevenfold rage. Nor can we forbear, on comparing the conduct of Stephen, with the behaviour of Jesus, when under their sufferings; to consider the disciple, as having, to a great degree, the advantage of his Master. We need not, there * Psal. xxii. 14. Job xxvii. 11., Heb. xii. 29. Deut. xxxii. 22. + Dan. iii. 13-23. ↑ Acts vi. 15. vii. 54, 55, 56. fore to wonder at CELSUS, that ancient and malignant enemy of Christianity, bitterly reproaching Jesus, with regard to his very sorrowful exclamations.* Once more: The conduct of the Divine Father, with reference to our Lord's passion, is perfectly unaccountable, except on the principle here adopted. For if Jesus Christ, in his death, did not bear the character of a substitute for sinners; and if he did not fall a victim to divine justice in the stead of those for whom he suffered; his death-how shall I speak it? his death may be justly considered, not merely as comparatively useless to sinners, but as wearing a discouraging aspect upon perfectly innocent and righteous creatures. That this may appear, let the following thoughts be duly regarded. -- All that profess Christianity agree, I presume, in considering Jesus Christ as perfectly free from personal sin, and completely righteous in the eye of Omniscience. Yet the counsel of God had predetermined, and the providential hand of God effectually directed,† that he should be numbered with transgressors of the most detestable character; and that he should be treated with more indignity than Barabbas the murderer, or than either of those villains with whom he was associated on the cross. Though, for aught appears to the contrary, each of our Lord's companions on the gibbet suffered the exquisite pains of crucifixion, to an equal degree with himself; yet there was less appearance Origen Contra Celsum, Lib. ii. p. 75. Spencer, t_Acts iv. 28. |