side, and the fire descending from heaven and consuming the victim, shewed that the offering was accepted, and that the contrite spirit might hope in God. But the period was now come when the blood of bullocks, of lambs, and of goats, should cease to flow from his altar, and when every eye should be turned from the temple and its rites, to the cross on Calvary. Long had Jehovah beheld them with abhorrence substituted in the place of devout affection, and of the moral virtues, and abused to encourage the hope of impunity in sin; but now the anger of the Lord was to burst forth against these hypocrites in the subversion of their civil and religious institutions, and the Messiah was to appear to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself; and to present an offering which, while it established the hope of forgiveness, should exhibit the most engaging pattern of piety and love, of meekness and constancy in suffering, whose influence should be felt in all the scenes of time, and whose efficacy should be extolled through all the ages of eternity. Jesus knowing that such were the views and plans of his Father, and glorying in being chosen and called by him to offer such a sacrifice, says, "mine ears hast thou opened." Like the Jewish servants, he took such delight in his Master's work, that he pledges himself never to lay aside the form of a servant till he had accomplished the task assigned him. The Jewish servant who loved his master, and would not go out free, had only one ear bored, because he had only to labour for him, and was to be subjected to no suffering; but Jesus had to endure the penalty, as well as to obey the precept of the law. This was necessary to fulfil all righteousness, as well as to complete the redemption of his people, There was nought in all its curses that could extinguish, or even check his generous ardour, nor was there one..

of its precepts which he counted it irksome or degrading for him to obey.

Having said to his Father, "Here am I, send me;" this accepted pledge Jesus was willing to redeem. " Then said I, lo I come." This language points out the promptitude and seasonableness of his interposition for man. It was not postponed for a single instant beyond the destined period, and never did he discover the least symptom of hesitation. It was when long experience had demonstrated the utter insufficiency of every other oblation, and of every other hope, when superstition had ransacked all its stores for a suitable victim, and when philosophy had laboured in vain to devise an effectual expedient to dispel the guilty fears of man, and to renovate the moral and religious character of society. Jesus came, and no other; for no other was equal to the task. Of all the myriads of angels there was none that attempted it. We find not in Scripture the least intimation of any effort they ever made for the relief of those who were once their companions, and what they could not do for them, they could not accomplish for man. Jesus speaks as if he wished all the angels in heaven to mark his cheerful - obedience to confirm them in subjection to God, and because in his coming there is matter for everlasting wonder. Be astonished, my soul, that he should come when so few were disposed to welcome him, and on a service so arduous and so painful. Rejoice, ye com. passionate angels, he cries, who are sighing over the miseries of wretched mortals, I come to redeem the lost; and we cannot hear him utter this language without saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord to save us.” The Messiah declares, "In the volume of the book it is written of me." "I know all the predictions it has

uttered, and I am come to fulfil them; all the hopes it has inspired, and will now realize them; and all the sufferings it has marked out for me, and I will endure them." He was willing not merely to assume its bright characters of a Prince and a Conqueror, but even the humblest of its titles; and submitted with cheerfulness to the task of a servant, and to the pangs of a sufferer. To be, and do, and suffer, what prophecy had marked out, and love anticipated, was his highest wish. He delighted to do God's will, and this pleasure was felt not merely in the distant prospect of obedience, but when he was actually engaged in it, and in the midst of his severest toils and dying agonies. How affectionate is the claim which he makes, "O my God!" and much did this tend to animate every exertion, and to alleviate all his pains. It was thus that he obtained for you the privilege of employing the language of appro priating faith, and taught us that the most acceptable season in which this can be made is when the heart is animated by holy zeal, and we are most active in our appointed duties. He adds, " and thy law is within my heart." Nothing could make him swerve from it, or keep it for a single moment from his view. In his soul there was no evil principles to oppose it, every affection accorded with its dictates, and its rectitude had the fullest approbation of his judgment, and the highest complacency of his heart. Can you say in his spirit, "O how love I thy law." Yea even the curse of the law entered into his soul in all the wrath which you deserved; and to this he was willing to submit to redeem you from it. I trust, Christians, that you now feel a glowing impres sion of your Saviour's grace. O magnify his name for what he undertook, and for what he did for you; and while you observe his dying command, may he seal this covenant with you, " I will put my laws in their minds,

and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."

After the Service.

Be grateful, Christians, for the generous love of your Saviour. It is common with men, when other means of relieving the wretched have been found vain, to say, "It is idle for me to attempt it;" but the insufficiency of other methods of saving us, led to the expression of his determination to accomplish the mighty task, in which he shall shine with unrivalled glory for ever. Had he been coming to an admiring world, and to universal sway, his promptitude would not have been so surprising; but he came to all the gloom of sorrow, and to all the bitternes of death, and to redeem those who deserved no pity, and who are insensible of what they owe to him till his grace makes them feel it. Beware of every false hope. If those ancient oblations were rejected as utterly insufficient to expiate the least sin, none of your sufferings or services can merit aught at the hand of God. You have now laid all your attain. ments at the Saviour's feet, but take heed lest, when the swell of devotional feeling has subsided, you be induced to put confidence in your own acquirements. Live in those humble impressions of your own character and conduct, which the contemplation of the cross awakens, and in which, from the bed of death, you will view the throne of judgment rising before you. Remember the assurances of fidelity you have now given to your Lord; he has drawn you to himself with the cords of love, and let there not be among you one backslider in heart. He died in your cause, and you should die in his service. Jesus is a master who bears to his servants all a father's love, and "his yoke is easy, and his bur

den is light." When he requires of you any service, you must engage in it with alacrity; when he imposes any cross, you must glory in tribulation; when he demands any of your comforts, your grasp must be instantly unloosed; and when he calls you to heaven, you must not permit any worldly interest to retard you, nor any of the terrors of death to influence you to shrink.

Be well acquainted with all that is said in the volume of his book respecting your Lord. If the minutest particulars in the lives of those whose exploits, or whose crimes, have made them famous in the world, are recorded with care, and read with attention, you can never feel indifferent to aught that God hath made known respecting Him who is the brightness of glory. Every sacramental solemnity should increase your knowledge of the glories of his cross, and every afflic tion you experience of the fellowship of his sufferings. In looking into these things, you mingle in the studies of angels. Let it be your delight to do the will of God, and never let your countenance, your manner, or your language, indicate that you deem any of his commandments grievous. See how the dutiful and affectionate child delights to fulfil a father's pleasure, and what a happiness it feels in receiving his commands, and think how the will of God is done in heaven. The angels would be ashamed to have one cold feeling, or one unoccupied moment; and it must be with surprise and horror that they witness our lukewarmness and indolence. Reflect on your Master's holy ardour, and pray for an increasing measure of it. When the sluggard tells you how agreeable the rest of indolence is, and when the wicked boast that they never were happy till they had shaken off the restraints of religion, consider that their satisfactions will soon end in remorse