power. This criminal had sinned against the Lord: but the Lord put away his sin, and cheered him with the merciful reply, Verily, I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Thy body is perishing: but thy soul shall retain its life, its activity, its consciousness: and being received into the paradise of God, shall see and know its Redeemer, even as it is seen and known of him.

Thus, in all its parts, the cross of Jesus preserves the same character of warning and encouragement. In itself, it alike exhibits the consequences of sin, and holds out the hope of pardon. And in the circumstances attending it, in the conduct of these two malefactors, we read the same moral. In the one, hardness of heart and contempt of God continue unto the end of life and of hope. Here is warning. Let the presumptuous offender tremble. The other repents, and is accepted in the Beloved." Here is encouragement. Let the penitent take comfort: for the Lord" has found a ransom," and will "abundantly pardon."

LECTURE LXXXIX.

THE SIGNS WHICH ATTENDED THE DEATH OF JESUS, AND THEIR EFFECT UPON THE BEHOLDERS. THE BURIAL OF JESUS.

LUKE Xxiii. 44-56.

(Matt. xxvii. 45-66. Mark xv. 33-47.

John xix. 31-42.)

44. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45. And the sun was darkened, and the vail of the temple was rent in the midst.

46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

It appears from this history that the power of God might be seen, by all who were willing to observe it, in the death, as well as the birth, of Jesus. Circumstances attended both, which would prove, to any sincere inquirer, "Truly this was the Son

of God." When his apostles afterwards asserted his divinity, it would be natural to ask, Did any unusual signs attend his birth? Yes: angels announced it; strangers from the East recognised the infant King, and prophecy was wonderfully fulfilled. Did any unusual signs attend his death? Yes: during the time that he hung upon the cross, there was darkness over all the land; and an earthquake followed, such as rent the vail of the temple in the midst. The whole was so little like an ordinary event, or an effect of nature, that the heathen centurion acknowledged what was proved by it, testifying, that this was a righteous man. Nay; a change, a sudden change, took place in the minds of the people that came together to that sight. Many of them, doubtless, had concurred in his execution: all had consented to it: none interposed to restrain the cruelty, or to rebuke the mockery which embittered it none alleviated the sufferings of the cross by signs of affection, or words of pity: none stood forward to say, Is this a due return to one who went about doing good, who healed your sicknesses, and took away your infirmities?

But now we read, that beholding the things which were done, they smote upon their breasts, and returned. They smote upon their breasts, in token of remorse and fear; and some, perhaps, said within themselves, like another who smote upon his breast, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" They returned with altered sentiments: no longer breathing violence and indignation against him who came to them in the name of the Lord; but with painful doubts and apprehensions. Have we no

thing to fear in what has been done? Is there no cause to expect that anger of God which was foretold? Do not this darkness and this earthquake seem like signs which precede that tempest of divine wrath, which was to come upon ourselves, and upon our children?

They would have had far more reason for such feelings, could they at that moment have understood the real cause for which all this had been permitted; why violence and malice had been suffered to prevail. At present all they could have felt, was this: they had consented to the shedding of innocent blood. And he, in whose sight the blood of his saints is precious, had signified his righteous anger. But if there was enough of conscience in them to stir up remorse, because a righteous man was put to death; how deeply must they have been affected, could they have known that this blood was shed for themselves!-was the price of their own ransom!-that he, against whom they were venting their cruelty, was at that moment filled with so much love towards them, as to be laying down his life for their sakes!

This thought may be improved to the use of every disciple of Christ Jesus. Whatever wilful sin he allows himself to indulge in, brings him into the state of the people here described. He is "crucifying the Son of God afresh, and putting him to an open shame." If he does not learn to smite upon his breast, and return to God in sorrow and contrition, —we know the end;-" indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil," whether under the name of Jew or

Gentile, infidel or Christian. But if the mercy of God should bring him to repentance, what grief is he preparing for himself against the time when, like the spectators of the cross of Jesus, he begins to reflect upon the nature and heinousness of his sin! How will he smite his breast to think, that when Christ had shown him so much pity, so much kindness; when he had drawn him by his Spirit towards himself; he had added new thorns to his crown, and pierced his side afresh, by sinning against his love and mercy!

It is well, when thoughts like these afford a motive to repentance. It is far better, when they prevent transgression. "How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against the Lord?" 'He was bruised for my transgressions, he was wounded for my iniquities:" shall I wound him afresh, and add new iniquities to the burthen which he bore? No! rather, "having the promises" purchased by his precious blood, "let us cleanse ourselves from all pollution of the flesh and spirit;" let the "love of Christ constrain us" to " perfect holiness in the fear of God."

50. And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor, and he was a good man, and a just :

51. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them :) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and

1 See 2 Cor. vii. 1; and v. 14.