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tempest-tossed vessel, there is one fast asleep, as though no danger were near. The mariners are aware of their perilous situation, and are concerned for their safety, but they have time to think of the sleeping one, and in their agony of distress they hasten to awake Him, saying, "Master, Master, we perish." The sleeper awakes, stands up, and looks up at the angry clouds, and down upon the dashing waves. He does not show any symptoms of fear; His looks are those of calm, conscious dignity. He speaks, and O, what power there is in His word. The wind hears, and is hushed; and the sea hears, and is instantly calmed. "Is not this the Christ." Four days ago, in the little town of Bethany, the body of a young man was laid in a cave, and a stone was placed upon the cave. And now a company have collected around the cave, and while they think and speak of the buried one, every heart is moved, and every eye weeps. Two of the females in that company, who are still young, and orphans, are the sisters of him who lies in the cave. Their grief is intense, and yet, it is not more so than the loss they have sustained is great. They weep for the best and kindest of brothers. All in that company deeply sympathise with the troubled sisters; but this does not stay their tears, because it does not give them back their much-loved brother. But hark! one, of the company, not a brother, but a dear friend, of the afflicted sisters, speaks. He requests the stone to be taken away from the cave. Strange request. Will not the sight shock the eyes, and the stench offend the smell? "For he has been dead four days, already." But it is done; and now He speaks again, not to the living this time, but to the dead. "Lazarus, come forth." And He is again heard and obeyed. Life returns! The dead lives! The buried one [comes forth! The sisters rejoice, and all but one are filled with wonder, "Is not this the Christ?"

Apply this question to His Transfiguration. Four per sons climb the steep acclivity of the beautiful Tabor. Slowly they wend their way, but still pursue their upward course until they reach the summit. Lovely place! But the sublime loveliness of Tabor's brow, and the extensive

and matchless prospect which its lofty elevation affords, are soon forgotten, amid the sublimity of an event that made Tabor, not only to Peter, James, and John, but also to all the saints of God, in all ages, one of the most dear, and memorable places on earth. He, whom the other three designate Master, is transfigured. His face shines like the sun, and His garment is white as the light. And now two others, also glorious in their appearance, have joined the transfigured One. The strangers are Moses and Elias, legates from heaven, charged with a special embassy to Him. Who is this glorious and honoured person? "Is not this the Christ?" Yes! for a voice comes from the excellent glory, saying, "This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him." Luke xvii. 5.

Apply this question to His triumphant Entry into Jerusalem. Mount Olivet presents a scene difficult to conceive, and which it is impossible to describe. He who rides in the midst of that rejoicing multitude, is the object of their admiration, and the subject of their song. He is no ordinary person, and the court is no common one. Some go before, some on either side, and some follow after. Some cut down palm branches, and others take off their garments for Him to ride over, while they all sing, "Hosanna to the Son of David." And, as the enthusiastic acclamations roll down the sides of Olivet, across the valley, and reach even to the city of Jerusalem, we cannot help exclaiming, “Is not this the Christ?" And is not this the event predicted by the Prophet? "Rejoice, greatly, Daughter of Zion, shout daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy king cometh unto thee; He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, upon a colt, the foal of an ass. Zech. ix. 9.

Apply this question to His Betrayal. Friendship has sometimes been assumed for vile purposes, and under its guise crimes of the foulest description have sometimes been perpetrated. Judas was a professed friend of Jesus, and his kiss seemed like the strong expression of a friend's love. But he was an enemy, and his kiss was a trick which betrayed his Master, and destroyed his own soul. But

even this base act of the Saviour's betrayer, urges the question, "Is not this the Christ ?" And is not this the event spoken of by the Psalmist. "Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." Psalms xli. 9.

Apply this question to the price for which He was sold. To a sordid mind nothing seems too bad to be done for money;-the most virtuous and useful life, is light and trifling placed in the balances with the glittering dust. Such an one was Judas. To say that he loved his Master less than he loved money is saying but little. He seems to have loved the sight, or even the name of money, better than he loved his Master, or surely he would have asked a higher price for his betrayal. But here again prophecy is fulfilled. "They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver." Zech. xi. 12.

Apply this question to His Death. Although crucifixion was not a novel thing in itself, since it was a doom to which the worst of criminals were usually consigned, still, there was much that was novel in the crucifixion of Christ. Crucifixion was inflicted on the doers of the greatest crimes. But Christ was not a doer of evil but a doer of good. Never had so much good been done, as Christ did,— much of it was done in the light of day, before the world's gaze, often on those who were generally known,—and it was attested by both friends and enemies. Crucifixion was inflicted on those who were proved to be guilty of the crimes charged against them. Christ was not proved to be guilty, He was tried in two courts, and declared to be innocent by the judge of each court. But the Jews, who were determined on His death, cared not that nothing worthy of death had been found in Him. They still cried, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him, crucify Him." Pilate said, once, twice, and thrice, as the multitude loudly cried out, "Crucify Him." "Why, what evil hath He done." All they could say, was, "He ought to die,"— which was only assertion, not proof. They still cried out, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." And Pilate, finding he could not prevail, yielded to their cry, but to show that he viewed

it as cruel murder of one who was innocent, washes his hands, saying, "I am clear of the blood of this just man see ye to it." And as there had never been a crucifixion under such circumstances, so there never was one attended by such events. The sun at mid-day hid his face, and plunged the earth in darkness, the earth trembled, rocks were rent, the vail of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom, graves opened, and the dead revived. It would have been strange for such phenomena to attend His death, if he had been only man, even if innocent. But being the Christ there is nothing strange at all. They are just such events as might be expected to take place at the death of the God-man. All nature sympathised with the innocent and mighty sufferer, and entered her protest against the horrid crimes of His infatuated, crime-hardened, and guilt-stained Crucifiers. The Centurion was right when he said, "Surely this was the Son of God."

Apply this question to His Resurrection. The third day after the inglorious scenes of Calvary had taken place, an event of the most wonderful character took place in the sepulchre of the rich and honourable Counsellor of Arimathea. He, who was crucified, and when taken down from the Cross was found to be dead,—at which Pilate marvelled; but being assured of the fact by the Centurion, he gave the body to Joseph, who laid it in his own new tomb,- —was raised from the dead. How could it be? The tomb was not old and feeble, but new, never before made use of. It was not a built sepulchre, but hewn out of a rock, therefore it could not be easily thrown down, if it had been attempted. How could it be? The tomb was strong within, and a stone was rolled against the door, and the stone was sealed, and a strong guard of soldiers keeping watch. His friends would not have done so much, and His enemies could do no more to keep Him in the grave. "They did what they could." But all their efforts were futile. A being, beautiful in form, his countenance like lightning, and His raiment white as snow,-it is an angel from heaven, approaching the sepulchre, breaks the seal, rolls away the stone; the keepers accustomed to danger,

and well armed, shake and become as dead men, the sepulchre is empty, its prisoner has broken His fetters, He lives, and is risen, "Is not this the Christ?" of whom it was predicted, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Ps. xvi. 10. And now, my young friends, let us, First, be thankful that His Messiahship is so well attested; and that we have here a never-failing foundation for our hope of salvation in this world and in the world to come. "He that buildeth on Him shall not be confounded."

Secondly, since He gave himself for us, we ought to give ourselves to Him, and henceforth live to Him, who died for us, and rose again.

"The Christian lives to Christ alone,

To Christ alone he dies."

Thirdly, we ought to make known His claims to others, and urge them to yield to His sceptre, and embrace His salvation, that they may taste the grace that found out us.

Fourthly, we should frequently meditate on the place of Christ's exaltation. "The right hand of God." The twofold character He sustains in His state of exaltation, "Prince and Saviour." His employment there. "He ever liveth to make intercession for us." "I go to prepare a place for you." His promise. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."

Lastly, we should often think of and diligently prepare for His second coming. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear; we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure,"

"Live till the Lord in glory come,
And wait His heaven to share;

He now is fitting up your home,

Go on, we'll meet you there." Amen.

R. BRICKWOOD.

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