come down. He would not come down, because He is the CHRIST, the Chosen of God. He came down from Heaven to be crucified for us, therefore He would not save Himself by coming down; for He would save by His Death even those who crucified Him, as well as other sinners.

Meditation.

O wretched men! He might save Himself if He would; rather should they pray, Save us, who need it, not Thyself; for Thou art the Saviour of all. But He would teach us to persevere in tribulations; they were not satisfied with crucifying, without mocking Him; so many are not satisfied with crucifying CHRIST with their sins, unless they mock Him by repeating them and glorying in them. O Saviour, Thine ear was more painfully pierced than Thy brows, or hands, or feet. It could not but go deep into Thy soul, to hear those bitter reproaches from them Thou camest to save. Lo, Thou that art the Mediator betwixt God and man, the Reconciler of heaven and earth, art lifted up between both. Thou that art the great Captain of our salvation, the Conqueror of all the adverse powers of death and hell, art exalted upon this triumphal chariot of the Cross, that Thou mightest trample upon death. Those arms which Thine enemies meant violently to extend, are stretched forth for the embracing of all mankind that shall come in for the benefit of Thy all-sufficient

redemption. Even while Thou sufferest, Thou reignest. O the impotent madness of silly men! they think to disgrace Thee with wry faces, with tongues put out, with bitter scoffs, with wretched indignities; when, in the mean time, the heavens declare Thy righteousness, O LORD, and the earth shows forth Thy power. The sun hides his light, as not abiding to see the sufferings of his Creator; the earth trembles under the sense of the wrong done her Maker, all the frame of the world acknowledges the dominion of that Son of GOD, Whom man despiseth.

Prayer.

All praise, honour, and glory be to Thee, O CHRIST, Who, whilst enduring the incomprehensible sufferings and unspeakable agonies of the Cross, wast wantonly insulted by the Jews, who reviled Thee with impious blasphemies. Grant, O LORD, that I, remembering Thy humility, meekness, and patience, Thy sorrows, reproaches, persecutions, and contumelies, may patiently bear contempt and reproach. Suffer no assaults of temptation, no storms of adversity, no furious reproaches, to drive me from a holy resolution of serving Thee; that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, may separate me from Thy love. Amen.

TO-DAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE. I believe, LORD, I believe surely, that where Thou wilt, and where Thou art, there is Paradise; and to be with Thee is to be in Paradise. O how blessed is it to be with Thee! O how blessed are they who are with Thee! for they are in Paradise indeed; they are indeed at rest, who are with Thee in faith and love. What consolation for penitents, for them who confess their sins! He who confesseth with pure and devout heart is immediately with the LORD in Paradise, by grace; and hereafter will be in glory, in rest and peace of conscience. How lavish is CHRIST to-day; for a short prayer, He gives a kingdom to a robber, heaven

1 Especially see Williams, p. 317.

to a crucified criminal, Paradise to a condemned malefactor. Here is the example of perfect hope and confidence, that no sinner should despair either in life or in death, however numerous his sins have been. By his own testimony he deserved death, yet he obtained pardon. He offered his heart and tongue, all he could to GOD; perfect contrition of heart, pure and true confession of tongue, and so he obtained mercy. Yet let none delay his repentance till death by the example of this robber. The privileges of a few do not make a general law; few repent on a death-bed. The promise of Paradise was not given to Abraham, to the Fathers, to the Prophets, but to this robber first. Abraham believed in GoD, not in such a lowly condition, but speaking from heaven. Isaiah believed in Him, but sitting on His high and lofty throne. Ezekiel believed in Him, but in His Glory above the Cherubim. Moses believed in Him, but speaking from the midst of the fire. But the robber saw his Saviour, not on His regal Throne, but associated in punishment with robbers. He sees Him hanging on the Cross, and prays to Him as sitting in heaven. He sees Him condemned, and calls upon Him as his King. The Jews, who knew the Law and the Prophets, crucified Him: whence, O robber, wast thou so wise?

Meditations.

O Merciful FATHER, remember me in Thy kingdom. I am worthy of the punishment of hell; I am a vile robber, and have slain myself and others in soul: but do Thou, LORD, remember me for good. I adore Thee

Whom the robber adored, I pray, as he prayed, Remember me, LORD, when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom. Call to mind this prayer, O LORD, as Thou didst in the robber, accept it from Thy servant. Remember me from Thy Kingdom, as Thou didst him from the Cross. Speak, LORD, to Thy servant, speak to my heart, say unto my soul, To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise; that being comforted by Thy most welcome promise, I may continue in Thy faith and love. In the brightness of faith, and confession of Thee, may I be one spirit with Thee, so shall I be with Thee in Paradise, if on earth; and taste the delights of Thy love, with which Thou refreshest the spirits of the blessed in Paradise; for truly to taste of Thy love is to be with Thee. O make me so to live, that at length, when it shall please Thy mercy, Thou mayest say to my soul, To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.

How admirable is Thy goodness, O my Divine Saviour! What attractions Thou hast for sinners! Thy looks convert souls; Thy words soften the hard hearts; Thy conversations recall the wandering, and Thy Presence binds them with the chains of love. Thou art ever good, ever faithful, ever bounteous. Thou hast entirely sacrificed Thyself for our salvation; and Thou failest in nothing, to testify Thy love to us, and to call forth ours to Thee. Thou didst sanctify the penitent Magdalene at Thy feet, Zaccheus in entering his house, S. Matthew in calling him, S. Paul in reproaching him with unjust persecution, and S. Peter with a look.