We

any advice more suit our case as sinners? Can any truths more deeply interest our minds? cannot indeed see him with our bodily eyes as the hearers of John could, yet he is presented to us in his word. The Spirit of God can open our eyes to view him in such a manner as shall be attended with the best effects, and answer the grandest purposes. May we, in dependence upon him, turn our eyes from the fascinating pleasures of the world, from the bewitching glare of present things, and from every thing vain and dangerous, that we may "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." Consider,

I. The representation-" the Lamb of God." II. His glorious work-"taketh away the sin of the world."

III. The regard claimed-" Behold."

I. The representation-"the Lamb of God." The Lord Jesus is often represented by the sacred writers as a lamb. Isaiah says, "He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter." Peter writing on redemption, asserts, that it was "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." John in Revelation

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saw a lamb as it had been slain, &c." The frequency of this metaphor could not be from any poverty of ideas, but to intimate the necessity of our dwelling upon what it is intended to convey.

The lamb as the emblem of innocency sets forth the spotless purity of Jesus Christ.

That Christ, though the greatest sufferer, was with

out sin, the inspired penmen sufficiently declare. "He was made sin (i. e. a sin offering) for us who knew no sin." "He suffered the just for the unjust." "He was holy, harmless, and separate from sinners," there was no guile found in his heart or lips. It may be said those are the expressions of his friends and followers; nevertheless, they are inspired and true; however, we fear not to make his enemies judges upon this occasion. Herod, what hast thou to say against him whom thou didst set at nought? point out what may justify thy reviling him; canst thou not fix upon any thing? "No,” he says, "I find no fault in him." Pilate, thou wert not deterred from passing upon him a sentence of condemnation; no, not by the solemn adjuration of thy wife," Have nothing to do with that just perBut whence did that sentence proceed? was it from an inflexible regard to justice, or from a consciousness of Christ's being criminal? Just the reverse: "Pilate called for water, washed his hands in the presence of the assembly, and said, I am innocent of the blood of this just person, see ye to it." Shall I call up the centurion who witnessed Jesus in the moments of his departure, and saw the events, and cried out, "Certainly this was a righteous man truly this was the Son of God." Shall I subpone the multitudes who went unconcerned to see him expire, but returned smiting upon their breasts? One, more particular than any of those I would notice, even Judas, who though a professed disciple, betrayed him, who valued him at no more

son."

than thirty pieces of silver, about three pounds fifteen shillings of our money. Judas, you have seen him, if I may so speak, in the undress of life, you have witnessed his language and spirit when he receded from the public eye, but did you observe any thing inconsistent either against God or man? Was there a difference between his private character and public appearance? Ah! Judas, I behold you utterly confounded with the inquiries; you cannot find any thing to answer the upbraidings of your conscience, you can no longer detain your ill-gotten pelf, you can no longer conceal your guilt, or bear your miserable existence; well, go throw down thy money before thy bloody employers, and vindicate my Saviour by confessing, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." Thus, as on an immoveable basis rests the purity of my Lord. Nor is this a subject for mere speculation, for if he had not been pure, how could he have atoned for my guilt? "Such a High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners."

The Lamb is the pattern of meekness. The meekness of Jesus was unparalleled, "he was meek and lowly of heart;" none ever heard unbecoming expressions drop from him,- he never adopted angry reproaches. "When he was reviled, he reviled not again." He, far from countenancing the warmth of Peter employed in his defence, restored the ear of Malchus which had been struck off by Peter's sword. When before Pilate, he said so

little in favour of himself, that his judge wondered, knowing that he could have said very much. And as the Lamb has been seen to lick the hand which points the blade to its throat, so while the sons of violence roared around the Saviour, and trifled with his dying pangs, he with amazing meekness poured out his prayers for them, crying, "Father, forgive them," and extenuating the guilt of his murderers as far as proper, adds, "they know not what they do."

"Such love, and meekness so divine,

I would transcribe and make them mine."

There appears in the text an evident allusion to the lambs offered in sacrifice under the Mosaic economy or dispensation. It may be read, " Behold that Lamb of God;" that lamb predicted of by the prophets, and prefigured by the ancient sacrifices. For an account of the paschal lamb, see Exod. xii. 3-5; in reference to which, the apostle Paul observes, 1 Cor. v. 7, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." The analogy between the type and antitype is most striking, and might be pointed out in a great variety of particulars; suffice it to remark, it was to be a male of the first year: so Christ was crucified in the prime of his days. The blood was to be sprinkled upon the habitations of the Israelites: so the blood of Jesus, applied to the consciences of believers, is called the "blood of sprinkling." As the paschal lamb was to be eaten, wholly eaten, and that with bitter herbs, thus Christ must

be received by faith in all his offices and work; and this faith is connected with repentance, or godly

sorrow.

Safety was insured to those who partook of the sacrifice as above described. The destroying angel could not touch them. Salvation of the soul is also the end of true faith in the Lord Jesus; "he who believeth shall never perish," but "be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation." In the above-mentioned, and many other particulars, there is a clear agreement; but the text teaches us the vast superiority of the sacrifice it exhibits.

This is said to be the Lamb of God, offered by divine appointment. "He was verily fore-ordained before the foundation of the world," 1 Pet. i. 20, and "delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God," Acts ii. 23. Herein was fulfilled what Abraham predicted to his son Isaac, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." "Abraham saw the day of Christ and was glad." Agreeably to the will of the Father, this lamb was consecrated to him. When other sacrifices were offered, they were found incapable of removing guilt: to do this, there was not any thing in their nature or value, then Christ said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, a body hast thou prepared me:" so," through the Eternal Spirit, he offered himself without spot to God."

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That the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ was accepted of divine justice, hath been confirmed by his release from the prison of the grave, by an