36. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar.

37. And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE

JEWS.

What Pilate wrote in derision, is a blessed truth to us. He was, in a sense of which Pilate thought not, a spiritual King, having salvation for all true Israelites, and reigning in their hearts.

SECTION LXXX.

Chap. xxiii. ver. 39–49.

CHRIST'S DEATH,

39. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

In rest and happiness; perhaps complete; perhaps not, till the resurrection. Who knows? We learn from this instance of the penitent thief, that a true confession of Christ is never too late; and from all the rest of the scriptures, that it cannot be too soon. It may be worth our attention to consider the particulars of this conversion.

He feared God,-confessed his guilt,-owned Christ's righteousness, and kingdom,—and believed in him for his mercy. This man knew everything. What he said is just the right and true way of coming to God by Christ.

44. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

The sun was rendered dark, as a sign to the Jews, and to future ages; for this preternatural darkness was observed, and recorded in other parts of the earth. But was it not also intended to augment the horrors which Christ felt in his soul?" And the veil of the temple was rent in the midst;" as a sign that the Jewish dispensation was at an end, and the way to God open to all mankind.

46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Every Christian commends his spirit to his heavenly Father, and breathes out his last with these words. He gave up the ghost of his own accord. All was finished; he had no more to do in the world, and by as a great miracle as any he had wrought, he now spoke the breath out of his body.

47. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Here is another testimony to his innocence. And mark that following Christ is glorifying God.

48. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

They were filled with amazement at what had taken place. We may well be astonished at the love of Jesus Christ in thus dying for us. May that love constrain us to devote ourselves entirely to his worship and service. Amen.-Edit.

SECTION LXXXI.

Chap. xxiii. ver. 50–56.

CHRIST'S BUrial.

50. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them ;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also him. self waited for the kingdom of God.

52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

Out of respect to him, and that his sacred body might not be laid among those of malefactors. We may also suppose that he did this in belief of his resurrection, and that his boldness was the effect of his faith. Certainly Joseph did not think that all his hopes were buried with Christ.

53. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was

laid.

on.

54. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew

55. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

This circumstance of the women's resting, shows the im portance of not pleading necessity for labouring on the sabbath day, even when persons are dead, and are shortly to be buried.-Edit.

We have now seen the concluding scene of the life of the blessed Jesus; in which he perfected his obedience, by dying an accursed death upon the cross, and offering himself a sacrifice for the sin of the world. This death is the great point at which all Scripture looks.

In this the cere

monies, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament, were completed, and the love of God to mankind fully manifested. To this we should look, both with deep abhorrence of ourselves, and hearts full of gratitude; remembering that we have, and could only have, redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Happy are they who look continually with the eye of faith on him whom they have pierced; and in this belief purge themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. If we mistake here we lose all. For Christ died for us that he might live in us. And we cannot be Christians, and his disciples,—we can have no benefit in his death, nor joy in believing, no peace and fellowship with God, no hope of salvation, if we do not unfeignedly give up ourselves to him for the purification of our hearts unto obedience, as well as the remission of sins. Without this, all our reading and hearing of Christ is no better than an idle tale. The gospel of our salvation is pardon and acceptance with God, for Christ's sake; salvation through him alone, from first to last, and not from our own merits, when we have done all we can, and the very best we can. This is our true ground and christian comfort, and crown of rejoicing. But then, salvation by him, is present salvation, not only from the guilt, but the power of sin; and every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure, knowing that the same scripture which grounds us upon Christ for peace with God, and eternal life, as expressly assures us that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord."

SECTION LXXXII.

Chap. xxiv. ver. 1-12.

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

1. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morn

VOL. II.

A A

ing, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

They, doubtless, came with some degree of hope concerning his resurrection; but with a great mixture of fear and doubting. They could not altogether forget what he had told them of his rising again, and yet it was so strange an event that they did not know how to believe it. We have reason to consider whether our adherence to Christ, and love of him, are not less than theirs, though we have all possible assurance of his resurrection, and receive it as a chief article of our faith.

2. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6. He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

( this word, Remember! We want nothing else to make us Christians. What do we remember of that which Christ has said to us? What care do we take to imprint it on our memories? How can we fail to forget our souls?

7. Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8. And they remembered his words,

These remarks of Jesus caused them to remember with deep impression, and the joy of faith.

9. And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Shepherds were the first preachers of Christ's birth, and