behold thy Son." O how inestimable is this relation to the Lord, in the gracious bonds of his covenant love! And yet

it is ever thus. His true disciples, washed, sanctified, and justified, in his name, and by the Spirit of our God-they, who, under the high and blessed influence of this gracious completeness in Him, do the will of his Father in heaven, are acknowledged by Him, in the dearness of a connexion far surpassing any other, merely earthly-" the same is my mother, and sister, and brother."

It was a distinction of no ordinary kind, that John should be called "the disciple whom Jesus loved." We can hardly doubt, that, in their ordinary intercourse and fellowship, there was a manifestation of affection, on the part of the Saviour, towards St. John, which others, his brethren in the apostleship did not enjoy. But this distinguishing goodness towards him, had nothing in common with the gracious love of Christ to sinners,

or in his work of mediatorial goodness. St. John was not gifted by the Lord with any love of mercy, unto the salvation of his soul as a sinner, beyond that grace and tenderness, which Jesus, as the head of his purchased Church, feels towards every member of his mystical body. Here there is neither John, nor James, nor Peter :-all -all are are equally in themselves sinners before God:-all are equally clothed in the robe of the Saviour's righteousness :-all are equally washed from sin in the laver of his blood: all are equally dear to the Father for his sake-all are equally presented before God in Him, "not having spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing." The feeblest and the most trembling believer may assure his soul of this sacred truth, for its comfort and joy of faith, that he is complete in Christ: and Paul himself could be no more. I must however, turn aside from this reasoning, to the more obvious consideration of the subject be

fore me, and notice, as God may enable

me,

I. THE IMMEDIATE PURPORT OF THE DOUBLE CHARGE, GIVEN BY OUR LORD TO HIS MOTHER AND ST. JOHN, "He saith unto her, Woman, behold thy Son : and to him, Behold thy mother; and from that hour, that disciple took her unto his own home."

They who seem to enjoy the greatest manifestations of the Redeemer's love, are often called to especial acts of duty, in his behalf, or in behalf of his Church and people and they who can best appreciate the value of his regard, will deem it a high privilege and honour to fill especial offices of love to the saints of God. On the other hand, "he who loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

But what is the most prominent subject here for our consideration? Surely the filial love and tenderness of the Lord Jesus

Christ for His mother. When yet a child, He had been subject to his parents, and had exhibited a perfect pattern of obedient love. And now, when body and soul were overwhelmed with grief, which neither man nor angel ever have felt, or ever can feel; now that amidst all his sorrows, He hath yet a bright hope of assured glory in his eye, which might have swallowed up every earthly affection and sympathy, as the rod of Moses swallowed up the rods of the magicians of Egypt, we find Him still anxious to secure the future comfort of his mother, and to place her under the wardship of an affection, which might do something to supply the loss of his own removal. When David went to Mizpeh, hunted by Saul, as a partridge upon the mountains, he said unto the king of Moab, "Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God may do for me." He held his own life in his hand; but yet the lives and the sustenance of his parents were

dear to him and lay close to his heart. Even thus was it with the Son of David, with the Lord Jesus Christ, with that great High Priest of our profession, who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and who, whether weeping tears of human sorrow at the grave of Lazarus, or providing for the safety of his disciples, when Judas betrayed Him to his enemies, or commending his mother to the disciple whom He loved, shewed that He had indeed assumed the nature of his redeemed, that He might glorify that nature in Himself. And, let me ask you, on whom the high claims and obligations of filial love and duty rest, what is the lesson which the Lord's tenderness to his mother should convey to you? Is it not, that the mind, in this respect, should be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus? You never will know, and you never can know, until God may providentially make you the fathers or mothers of families, what a debt of affection and gratitude, reverence and obedi