epistle to Titus is a true delineation of the regeneration of the heart:-" after that the kindness and love [or pity] of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be heirs according to the hope of eternal life:”— "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ"."

PASSION WEEK.

XIII.-Christ's love.

I KNOW not how to approach the awful occurrences of this holy week without a prostration of mind suitable to the situation of one who is sensible of his personal interest in all its wonderful and mysterious transactions of one who humbly confesses his numerous offences, and acknowledges the inestimable blessing of the goodness of God in holding out the arm of mercy and forgiveness. And how holding it out? By a sacrifice most precious, most costly; even the propitiatory sacrifice of his only and well-beloved Son.

1 Tit. iii. 4. &c.

2 Phil. i. 6.

This, doubtless, may appal and astonish the reason of man, but its truth is incontrovertible. This is that " which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." This is, in the Psalmist's language, "the same stone which the builders refused, that is become the head-stone in the corner. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes 2."

The love of God for man is clearly established by this sacred dispensation. "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." The concurrent love of Christ is

equally displayed: "our Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Nothing reluctant, Jesus "bare our sins and carried our sorrows." Piously submissive, he cheerfully acquiesces in the will of his Father.— "Therefore," says he, "doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father "." Gloriously triumphant, having accomplished this great purpose of Providence

1 Acts iii. 18.

2 Ps. cxviii. 22, 23.

4 Gal. i. 3, 4.

31 John iv. 9.

5 John x. 17, 18.

he rose from the dead; for, as "he was delivered [unto death] for our offences, so he was raised again for our justification '." "Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God." Fatal as the fall of man was, the glad voice of redemption rises in the same proportion, in the hosannahs of the redeemed: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing;" therefore, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever 3."

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At the commencement of this holy week which completed his days of suffering, one hour of triumph was permitted our blessed Lord when he was received by the multitude on his last entry into the holy city with scattered branches of trees, and with such other demonstrations of joy, as were usually displayed on the reception of a successful warrior. How deceitful were the acclamations! He was indeed a warrior, but the weapons of his warfare were of a far different description. A prophecy, however, had still to be fulfilled; the last, indeed, which foretold the inveterate prejudices of the Jews; the last warning to an unrelenting people. The introduction is striking, “Behold !”—

1 Rom. x. 9.

2 Heb. xii. 2.

3 Rev. v. 12, 13.

"Behold! thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; meek, and riding upon an ass'." This character of Christ is beautiful and appropriate; and the circumstances of the time point out most distinctly the completion. He is a king, but not a king afar off; he is here, at hand. "Behold! thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation." He is the righteous, and the Saviour; he is "the Lord our righteousness, who shall execute justice and judgment in the earth":""righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat, mercy and truth shall go before thy face"." Thy righteousness, O Lord, will be our salvation, if we receive thy blessed presence with a joyful faith.

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In allusion to the conquests over the enemies of Jerusalem, in the person of our Lord, the evangelical Isaiah introduces, in an eloquent dramatic form, the surpassing conqueror of the spiritual kingdom. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this, that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? I have trodden in the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with me." But the triumph of Christ was not like that of mortal kings, surrounded with the emblems of

2 Jer. xliii. 6.

1 Zech. ix. 9.

3 Psalm lxxxiv. 15.

4 Isaiah lxiii. 1.

ambition and pomp; for the prophet Zechariah, in the most descriptive language, completes his character at this most impressive point of time and situation," he is lowly and riding upon an ass1;" the simplicity of the patriarchs in the primitive ages is conspicuous in his appearance, and his own intrinsic dignity supplies every defect of regal honours. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosannah to the Son of David. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosannah in the highest?"

I do not proceed to recount historically, or to record the facts which followed step by step in the painful narrative of our blessed Saviour's passion. But the holy doctrine attending it, ever faithful and true, animates the drooping heart, and leads the pious and convinced Christian to converse with angels. To be assured that the world's Redeemer took upon him Our nature, that he might be the bearer of our sins and infirmities, brings with it such an accumulation of admiration and love, as can never adequately be returned. But the same kindness which conferred the one, will accept the other. We know the weight of sin by sad experience; and if the blessed Son of God condescendingly stood between man and his offended

1 In the Eastern countries, asses are nobler animals than with us, and are used by persons of distinction. Abraham saddled and rode his ass. Balaam did the same. "Speak, ye that ride on white asses."

Judges v. 10.

2 Matt. xxi. 9.