תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

ON

GOOD FRIDAY.

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

SERMON XI.

ST. MATTHEW XV. VERSE XXXVII.

And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, gave up

the ghost.

THE last scenes of our

Saviour's life,

and the particular circumstances of his death, are fit subjects for examination, either as they afford an additional example of the truth of the christian religion, or a practical example of morality. Whether we would learn how persecution is to be endured, and death and adversity supported; or would try, by the events of so critical a period, the authenticity of our Saviour's mission, this part of the gospel history ought powerfully to arrest, and deeply to engage

our attention.

To try the character of the founder of our religion by the last scenes of his life, is to subject it to the most candid of all tests; for if there had been fanaticism, it is probable, and conformable to experience, that the approach of death would have lowered that fanaticism to abject fear, or exalted it to high passion; if there had been imposture, it is probable that the love of life, and the hope of impunity, would have produced either a full confession of the artifice, or those signs of fluctuation, and doubt, which a bad man is so apt to display when his life depends upon the success of his falsehood: If, on the contrary, the last scenes of that life display mildness, simplicity, firmness, and majesty; if they harmonize with every other period of his existence, they sanction our belief in the divinity of Christ, and they deserve our imitation, our wonder, and our love.

There is, in the death of Christ, as there was in his life, perfect simplicity; no scenical effect, no expression of tumultuous feeling, no swelling words, and sentiments; no desire to excite compassion in those who

witnessed his sufferings. The life of our Saviour is great, because it has in it no scenes of vulgar glory; because he endured much for an high object; and loved truth, and virtue, so well, that when their interests were concerned, he felt no pain, and he feared no evil;-and his death is great, because he died simply, lifted up by a great purpose, above fortune, and the world. The death-bed of men, who have acted a conspicuous part in the world, is sometimes a scene of vanity, rather than a scene of piety; they have lived, not for God, and for duty, but for opinion; and they summon up the remnants of strength to astonish the beholders, and to give the last brilliant colour to their glory; but Jesus Christ died with a few words, and, to appearance, forgetful of himself; remembering only what he had done for others: -for this cause came I into the world, to bear witness of the truth.

The conduct of our Saviour towards Peter, whose apostacy he had foretold, is characteristic of majestic simplicity, When Peter had denied him thrice, the

[blocks in formation]
« הקודםהמשך »