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centurion, saying, "Truly this man was the Son of God." Let Nature appeal to the Saviour's example, as well as do homage to his person. And if she would, at any time, plead on behalf of a parent, and claim the affection of a child; or if she would display in the fairest colours the charm and beauty of that affection whenever it is given; let her no longer appeal to the far-famed example of a son who carried his father from the flames, or to that of the brethren said to have been signally rewarded for their attention to a mother;let her not seek the embellishments of fiction, nor search for energy or pathos of expression;but, let her go to the cross of the Redeemer; let her lead thither the child that has a parent to honour, and a heart that is able to feel; let her point to the wounds and sufferings of Jesus; let her relate the insults that were heaped upon him, and repeat the cries which his agony extorted ;and then let her send back that child to the bosom of its family, saying, When Jesus, in the height of all his sufferings, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, Woman, behold thy son; and to the disciple, Behold thy mother!

IV. The features of this sacred example begin to crowd upon our view; and we must be brief,

for the present, in our notice of them. We have witnessed, in the conduct of our blessed Lord while suspended on the cross,—an act of forgiveness,an act of compassion,-and an act of filial love. If we attentively remark the whole of his conduct during this period, other graces of his character will present themselves to our contemplation. It will fare with us as it does when we look upwards to the face of the starry heavens. We see, at the first glance, some few of the brighter lights that are shining in their places; at a second and a third look, the numbers are increased; and at last, when the eye has become more accustomed to the scene, we find that all calculation is baffled, and we wonder at the countless glories of the heavens, and at the vastness of the universe in which we stand. I say, it will fare with us in some such way as this, when we contemplate the example of our adorable Redeemer. In the multitude of the perfections of Jesus Christ, there are excellencies beyond excellencies; and the longer we consider this perfect pattern the more we shall find to admire, and the more to imitate. Let us, for a few moments longer, view him on the cross.

Behold his complete surrender of himself to the will of God. Legions of angels were ready to deliver him, and the cup of anguish might have been dashed in an instant from his lips. But

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mark the pure and constant resignation of him who had lately said, "O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."

Consider not only the devotedness of his service, but also the spirituality of his mind and worship. God is a spirit. It is demanded that the true worshipper should look up to the Almighty with the eye of faith. And the perfection of obedience to this command is when that eye of faith pierces thick clouds of doubt and of uncertainty; and so, under the most trying dispensations, the servant of God endures, "as seeing him that is invisible." Witness then, in this respect likewise, the perfect obedience of Jesus. Thick indeed, and dark, are the clouds that now fold themselves round the pavilion of the Most High. God hides his face, as it were in wrath : and Jesus, being in an agony, exclaims, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"— But, the complaint is hushed; the dying sufferer beholds him that is invisible; and he says, with quietness and confidence, “ Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

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Behold, lastly, a pattern of unlimited benevolence. To abstain from injuring others in their persons or their property, and to keep the heart from hatred and malice,-these are the lower de

grees of obedience to that part of the law which prescribes our duty to our neighbour. But, to save men's lives,-to love all men,-to do good unto all men,—this is the height and perfection of obedience. And this is the obedience which was actually rendered by him who gave his blood to be shed, and poured out his soul unto death, as a gift which he bestowed upon a needy and perishing world. "Ye know," says an apostle, "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became

poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. viii. 9.)

Let us study, my Christian brethren, with deep and continued attention, in this and all other parts, the perfect example of our adorable Redeemer. We shall, doubtless, often discover fresh specimens of excellence, and new beauties in those which we may already have observed. Let us, however, contemplate this sacred object not merely as a sublime or beautiful spectacle, designed to afford us only the pleasure of beholding, but rather as the pattern of our own lives, and the standard of virtue and holiness to which we may humbly, but earnestly, aspire. We cannot, indeed, expect, as long as we are encompassed by the infirmities of sinful flesh, to become completely conformed to this perfect example. But we may confidently hope that a devout contemplation of the holy Jesus

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130 THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR OUR EXAMPLE.

will tend to make us more and more like unto him; and that, in answer to our prayers, the grace of the Holy Spirit will be with us, to give keenness to the eye of our faith, and success to our humble endeavours. Let us, then, strive to imitate perfection. Let us listen to the voice of that Saviour who, even when dying, displayed in his own conduct the fair beauty of holiness;-a voice which addresses us, in language that cannot be mistaken, "Go, my disciples,-in humble dependence on the strengthening grace of God,-go and do likewise!"

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