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have attended to the instructions of their master! He has passed from earth; but there is a voice yet speaking to us in his life, there is a voice in his death, which, if we have hearts not deadened by sin, we cannot but hear. In his unequalled gentleness, his affectionate resignation to the will of God, his patient dignity, his dying prayer for the forgiveness of his murderers, there is eloquence indeed. Would that we could hear it, as his disciples heard! Could we but gaze on the Saviour ourselves; and in deed and truth hear from those blessed lips the words of eternal life! Could we stand on the mount of Transfiguration, and thence go with him, and stand at the foot of the cross! It may not be. We are not thus privileged. Yet may we read the records of his life, and thus at least, listen to the words of our Saviour. May we hear him, and obey! His voice will be to us one of heavenly mildness. Earth will be clothed with new beauties, as we regain that innocence, which alone can enable us to enjoy it truly. Heaven will expand before us in holier splendours, as our heart and life approach to the resemblance of the purity which dwells there.

HYMN.

Thou, by pain and care oppressed,

Lift the eye with sorrow dim ;

In thy Saviour's love find rest;
Child of suffering, hear thou him!

Trifler of the passing hour,
Vain the pleasures earth can give ;
Stay thy course; thy Saviour's power
Calls thee; hear, and turn, and live!

Wanderer on the downward road,
Far from virtue's guiding ray;
Turn to happiness, to God;
Jesus calls thee; turn, and pray!

Hear ye him, your Lord, your friend,
Who to save you lived and died;
Hear him, and till life shall end,
In his holy word abide.

Fixing Faith's bright gaze above,
Hear him, while on earth ye tread :
Ye shall hear his tones of love,
When the trumpet wakes the dead.

PART VII.

TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

SECTION XXXVII.

JESUS REBUKES THE ARDOUR OF HIS DISCIPLES.

LUKE IX. 51. and XIX.

AND it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers before his face; and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Know ye not what manner of spirit ye are of? And they went to another village.

And Jesus entered, and passed through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus ; which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him;

for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham ; for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

REFLECTIONS.

"Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" How different is the spirit which these words evince, from that which one of the speakers afterwards inculcated ;-" Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth, not knoweth not God; for God is love. He that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?" (1 John, iv. 7. 8. 20.) The apostle John is considered, and justly, as exemplifying, more than any, save Jesus himself, the spirit of Christian gentleness. Love to God and man seem personified in him. Whence was this change? Whence did the ardent partisan, designated by his Lord as a "Son of thunder," who was ready to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritan village, acquire the meekness which beams, like a glory, round “the disciple whom Jesus loved?"-Whence, but from drinking deeply of the spirit of his Master? Bright example of the

influence of Christianity! Blessed power of Religion, to breathe into the fiery zealot the gentleness of the dove!

HYMN.

ANONYMOUS.

Great God, whose all pervading eye
Sees every passion in my soul !

When sunk too low, or raised too high,
Teach me those passions to control.

Temper the fervours of my frame;
Be charity their constant spring:
And O, let no unhallow'd flame
Pollute the offerings which I bring.

Let love with piety unite

To mend the bias of my will;

While hope and heaven-eyed faith excite,

And wisdom regulates my zeal.

That wisdom which to meekness turns,

Wisdom descending from above;

And let my zeal, whene'er it burns,

Be kindled by the fire of love.

SECTION XXXVIII.

CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.

LUKE XIX. 28.

AND when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his

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