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it to be so. You thus see how severely the Holy of holies punishes the desecration of his name, and what a measure of anger and vengeance repays it. Nothing rouses his indignation more than this transgression; and, indeed, all who contemplate the subject, must be apt to fall into the terrible idea, that even regenerated people are not exempt from the danger of being lost for ever, on account of this sin. You ask wherefore? Does nothing come into the hearts of the servants of God which may be termed "blasphemous thoughts?" Are their souls never assailed with unworthy representations and images of God and divine things? We must admit indeed that regenerated persons are those whom Satan chiefly assails with these his fiery arrows; and it is amongst them that we so frequently hear the lamentation, that things are suggested to their minds, which, if they were uttered, would cause us to shudder with horror. Every Christian has experienced this, some in a greater, others in a less degree; and when he reads the history in our text, which exemplifies in such a fearful manner the anger of God at this species of sin, well may he pause and cry out, "Either no regenerated one can enter heaven, or the condemning power of evil thoughts suggested by Satan has been taken away!" And certainly the latter has been the case. The tragic scene before us at present, affords us this consolation; for here the Redeemer makes atonement for the blasphemous thoughts of his people, and takes upon himself all the sin we have committed in dishonouring Jehovah. Therefore, ye sorely tempted souls, engrave this history on the walls of your chambers; hang it as an amulet round your necks; and as often as the fiery arrows whistle past, and a hateful train of thoughts in wild confusion assails your heart, direct your gaze through the midst of this tumult, to the tranquil picture of your Redeemer's passion; and take refuge in the

blessed conviction, that those evil suggestions, the weight of which is now overpowering you, have lost their power to condemn-no longer can estrange you from the presence of God, nor yet lessen the love of the Eternal towards you; but on the contrary, must contribute like all else to your salvation, for Jesus has taken their evil consequences upon himself.

There is a sixth alternative suggested by this subject, which I must mention before concluding. Either in the contemplation of this subject, our softened hearts must ejaculate with the apostle, "Let us go forth, therefore, unto him, without the camp, bearing his reproach!" or else we cannot be Jesus' friends. Truly the man who, after viewing the scene of his martyrdom, can desire to be honoured and regarded by that world which trampled his Lord under foot, need not attempt to persuade us that this Lord is dear unto him. True love for Jesus would rather desire his crown of thorns than a garland of victory; and would rather suffer shame on his account, than receive the empty fame and praise of worldlings; for to it the world is crucified along with Christ. Yet it by no means throws itself in the way of the hatred and scorn of enemies to the cross; although it would rather seek than depart from the right course in order to avoid them. Reflect upon this, ye Nicodemuses, and be not astonished if we think but little of your love towards our Saviour, as long as you do not, like Moses, esteem " the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." Ye must first, in loud and decisive terms, cast aside for ever the gold and purple chains of Belshazzar, and with holy boldness place yourselves in the ranks of the despised and persecuted Jɛw. Then shall we begin to esteem you, find pleasure in contemplating your characters, and believe henceforward in your love towards our crucified Master!

THE GREAT EXCHANGE.

LUKE XXIII. 20-25.

Pilate, therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified: and the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence, that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

THIS is a most remarkable and important history, in which each single trait may be regarded as a deep and most significant hieroglyphic. And, certainly, neither the Roman governor nor the Jews had any idea of the mysterious and allegorical part they were here performing. They acted according to what they supposed their own interest, each one pursuing his peculiar object: but the Almighty grasped the threads of their apparently free actions, and so twisted and interwove them, that, before they were aware, an historical web was formed, whose signs and characters depict

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to our eyes the greatest and most blessed mystery of the gospel the high-priestly intercession of Jesus Christ. He who has not yet comprehended this mystery, let him hasten to study the wonderful picture which we are contemplating to-day; wonderful, because delineated by no mortal hand.

"And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required." These words in our text we shall most especially consider, because they describe the most important moment in the whole scene, and point out the theme to which we are about to dedicate our present contemplation :-"The condemnation of our great Pledge in his people's stead.” Let us now direct our attention to this condemnation, to its mighty consequences, and to the enjoyment and appropriation of its fruits.

I. We stand before the judgment-seat of the Roman governor, where a terrible scene is just taking place. The tumult has reached its height, and the fiery sea of human passion, whose waves are dashing against the tribunal, now displays its utmost terrors. Pilate has just cried a second time to the people, " I find no fault in this man!" but this only adds oil to their wrath and hatred. The more earnestly he exerts himself to save the accused, the more terrible and satanic becomes the cry of the raging multitude," Crucify him! crucify him!" One stifles his awakening conscience, another refuses to listen to the voice of compassion which is beginning to whisper in his bosom, and a third will not give ear to the mysterious warnings which are momentarily repeated. Many feel in their hearts, "Pilate is right, and the man is guiltless!" Others say to themselves, "He deserves a better fate than what we are preparing for him!" And some feel already the sting of that horrible imprecation which they have drawn down upon their heads-"His blood be on us and on our

children!" But these better feelings are soon stifled, for their consciences are deadened, and he is doomed to be offered a sacrifice to their hatred. A thousand voices now shriek wildly together, "Crucify him! crucify him!" The high priests join with the people—and men, women, and children, all are unanimous in desiring his death. Pilate now asks, "What evil hath he done?" and repeats, "I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him, and let him go!" But the storm of their evil passions here breaks loose again, and, "Away with him! away with him!" is thundered from every side: "To the cross with the rebel and blasphemer of God! Release unto us Barabbas, and let Jesus bleed and die!" Pilate once more strives to interpose; he does it again and again; but in vain his voice is unheard amidst the roars of the populace. His firmness gives way, and he yields to the solicitations of the infuriated rabble: he condemns Jesus to be crucified, and the murderer he sets at liberty. This is the scene which we contemplate to-day; but there is a higher point of view in which we must regard the narrative of our Redeemer's passion, particularly his trial before a court of justice. Ye know that what outwardly takes place is but the symbolical representation of a far higher criminal process between Christ and the Eternal Father. The cry of "Crucify him! crucify him!" is the repetition of a sound which is heard beyond the clouds; and in the sentence of death which Pilate, along with the high priests and the Jews, pronounced against Jesus, there lies another and far more terrible one enveloped-the sentence of death pronounced by the Ruler of the world upon his beloved Son! Are you astonished, my brethren, at what I have been saying? If so, accompany me, I entreat you, through the following observations.

In the first place, call to mind that we are not alone in

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