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CHRIST, his Son, cleanseth from all sin." Ought we not to retire from such a scene as the death of our REDEEMER full of contrition and sorrow for sin, and full of gratitude for the atonement made upon the accursed tree? What are the practical results accruing from the cursory glance at this little incident respecting Simon the Cyrenian ?Why, the question should suggest itself immediately to our minds, if we are really the disciples of CHRIST: Have I ever borne the cross after JESUS? Have I taken heed to his solemn declaration, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me ?" We read that this man of Cyrene was " compelled to bear his cross;" do we murmur and rebel at any of the trials we are called to endure for the sake of the SAVIOUR of our immortal souls? Do we take up the cross as though we were forced to do so; and do we say, with one of old, "This is a grief, but I must bear it?" If this is the case with any of our readers, I cannot but entertain the fear that they are not the true followers of the Lamb, the real disciples of Him who voluntarily and cheerfully laid down his life for their eternal salvation. Let, then, the writer plainly say, "He that taketh not up his cross, cannot be his disciple." Let these awful words continually sound in their ears, and impress their hearts; and in place of reluctantly bearing the cross, for the sake of Him who died thereon in unparalleled anguish, let them adopt the language of Paul_ the aged, and say, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST." Happy they who, like Simon the Cyrenian, are privileged to bear the cross after Jesus, because when the season of suffering is finished, they shall drop the heavy load at the end of their journey, and entering into the many mansions prepared for them by their LORD and Master, shall have a sparkling crown of fadeless glory placed upon their immortal brows, which crown they shall cast at the feet of the REDEEMER.

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As the mournful procession advanced to Calvary, "there followed," says the Evangelist, a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him." These lamentations evidenced the anguish of their hearts, and the depth of their affection for their divine Master-an affection further testified when, after the crucifixion, according to the statement of the Evangelist, "all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts and returned." The tears shed by the daughters of Jerusalem were not unnoticed by JESUS. He knew their source was sympathy for his sufferings; but he was unwilling that they should weep for him. How different would have been the conduct of an impostor-of any one of the false Christs who appeared at different periods! He would rather have courted commiseration, magnified his sufferings, fanned the flame of pity kindled in their bosoms, and sought to obtain a rescue. JESUS, however, sought neither human tears nor human rescue. Even in this dark and trying hour, his eye was steadily fixed on "the joy that was set before him," and for which he was contented to endure the cross and to despise the shame. Had he sought pity, the angelic host would have wept over his agony. Had he desired a rescue, myriads of that host would have scattered his insulting foes. The crown of thorns was now upon his brow, but it would soon be exchanged for the diadem of glory. The robe of mockery now covered him, but it would give place to the vesture on which a name is written: "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." The malignant shout of the multitude assailed his ears, but it would soon give place to the deep-toned hosannas of the ransomed. The sun was now to be shrouded in darkness, but this would be succeeded by the brightness of an eternal day. His precious blood was to be poured forth, but in that blood countless multitudes should wash their robes and make them white.

JESUS did not blame the attendant women for giving vent to the emotions of their hearts. He did not turn with disdain from the tear of sympathy. Christianity does not forbid its disciples to weep with those that weep. It does not represent the burst of anguish as rebellion against the providence of GOD. JESUS had himself wept over the city, the inhabitants of which would not receive him as their LORD. He had wept at the grave of Lazarus; and thus testified the depth of his affection, and his partici pation in the feelings of humanity. He desired the women to weep, not for him, but for themselves and their children. He well knew the miseries that were awaiting them. He could foresee the destruction of their city, the massacre of its inhabitants, the long and weary wanderings of its scattered tribes. His eye could trace the dark stream of their destiny until the present hour, nay, until the period shall arrive when the LORD shall build up Zion, and appear in his glory; when Judah shall once more rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Little, indeed, were the multitudes aware of the

heinousness of the act they were committing. Little did they know that they were crucifying that MESSIAH whose advent had for ages been the theme of prophecy, and the subject of the most rapturous anticipation. Little were they aware how speedily their imprecation would be answered-" His blood be upon us and our children!" Unhappy descendants of the Father of the faithful, whose prejudice and pride would not suffer them to sit as disciples at the feet of the Son of the carpenter, whose eyes were closed to the brightest evidence of his divinity, whose ears were shut to his gracious invitations, whose hearts were hardened against the reception of the truth.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep for yourselves, for the woes coming upon you, for the desolation of your land, the ruin of your strongholds, the destruction of your people. And may not the same exhortation be addressed to the sinner now? Weep not for JESUS, but weep for thyself, at the reflection of the wretchedness of thy present condition, at the anticipation of the wo that is reserved for thee hereafter. Thy state is one of alienation and estrangement from GOD. The path thou art treading is the broad road of carnal gratification, of sensual indulgence, of heedlessness to the warning voice of the ALMIGHTY, of blindness to the fact that its end is destruction of soul and body for ever. Thy future prospects are indeed most melancholy; thy sins unpardoned; thy soul unsanctified; thy heart unchanged; thy affections centred in the perishing objects of time -living without GOD, thy death must be without hope, and the blackness of darkness must be thy portion for ever. Weep, then, for thyself, for the dishonor cast by thee on that SAVIOUR who suffered in agony upon Calvary, for the ingratitude thou testifiest to that glorious and gracious Being by whom so many blessings have been showered upon thee; and whose love towards the children of men was chiefly commended in this, in that while they were yet sinners CHRIST died for them. May the tears of penitence be abundantly shed by thee. May a sense of thy guilt and danger arouse thee from thy spiritual slumber ere yet it be too late. Mayest thou lay hold of the offer of pardoning mercy set forth in the Gospel. May thine eye be directed in faith and humiliation to Him whom thou hast pierced; who died the just for the unjust; in whose blood a fountain has been opened for sin and uncleanness; in which the most polluted are invited to wash, that they may become meet for the inheritance of God's eternal kingdom.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep for your children. Sympathy for the woes of others will be a prominent feature in the character of a true believer. The love of GOD, indeed, cannot dwell in that man who shutteth up his bowels of compassion towards a suffering fellow-creature. The bitter root of selfishness eradicated from his bosom, and his heart expanded to take an interest in all that concerns his brother-man, he cannot view with indifference the fearful prevalence of evil, the recklessness usually testified on matters of eternal moment. His language will be that of the prophet: "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" Jer. ix. 1. His feeling will be that of the apostle, when he told his Philippian converts, weeping, that many walked who were "enemies of the cross of CHRIST, whose end is destruction." Phil. iii. 18. If the temporal necessities of a brother have a strong claim on our beneficence for relief, how much more his spiritual! If to visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction be an evidence of a pure and undefiled religion, it cannot be less so to bring the soul into close communion with Him who is a Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows-GOD in his holy habitation. If the remedy is quickly applied for the healing of the maladies of the body, surely the hurts of the soul should not be disregarded. If it is an imperative duty to further a fellow-creature's temporal happiness, how much more imperative is it to seek to lead him to glory! Assuredly if there is no anxiety on this subject in our minds, it is a melancholy proof that we are strangers ourselves to the true character of the Gospel. If the tear of sorrow has never flowed at the reflection of the misery, in time and eternity, of those who know not GOD, and obey not the Gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, it is an evidence that the sigh of contrition has never escaped our own lips; and that our own situation is such as to cause the angels of GOD to weep over us.

Blessed are they who, like the sorrowing daughters of Jerusalem, are willing to follow CHRIST fully, through evil as well as good report; who are not ashamed to confess him before men, and whom he will confess when he cometh in the fulness of his glory, seated on the clouds of heaven. Their journey through the wilderness of a fallen world may be perilous and disastrous; still, though it be to them as the valley

of weeping, they will find various pools of refreshment in their way. Aided by an almighty Protector, they will go on from strength to strength unwearied; and when at last they appear before the GoD of gods in Zion, their warfare accomplished, and their iniquity pardoned, and the days of their journey ended, their dwelling-place shall be that New Jerusalem, where there is neither sorrow nor crying; where the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto fountains of waters, and GoD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

When the procession arrived at the appointed place, a potion consisting of "vinegar and gall" was given to JESUS, but when he had tasted thereof he would not drink. It was customary on these occasions to give the sufferer a mixture of wine and myrrh, to stupify the senses and hasten death. But out of cruelty our LORD's persecutors omitted this, and gave him a nauseous draught, thus fulfilling what was said by David: "They also gave me gall for my meat, and vinegar to drink." Psalm lxix. 21. On his refusing this, it is supposed that some of his friends offered him the customary potion, but this also he rejected, being determined to endure all the pains that could be inflicted on him to the very uttermost.

The body of JESUS being laid upon the accursed tree, and his arms stretched out on the transverse beam to such an extent as to produce the most excruciating pain, sharp irons were driven into the wood through the palms of his hands, and likewise through the most tender part of his feet. A label was then placed over his head, written by Pilate, bearing this inscription in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew: "JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS." Thus was the Roman governor the means of proclaiming the regal dignity of our LORD to all the world. This, however, gave great offence to the chief priests, who requested that it might be altered: but Pilate, out of resentment at having been compelled by them to shed the blood of the innocent contrary to his inclination, refused to gratify their desire.

The sacrifice, being thus laid as it were upon the altar, was raised up between heaven and earth, a spectacle to angels and to men.

There hangs the Lamb of GOD, suffering what no human imagination can possibly conceive. The blood flows in streams from his wounded temples, from his hands and his feet, while every nerve is agitated with pain, and every sense is tortured with agony. The whole weight of his body being suspended from the nails which fasten his hands to the cross, renders the sense of feeling most exquisite in every part, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot.

In such a woful state we should expect that the people would have hung down their heads in sorrow, and been grieved for their conduct; but instead of this they had the cruelty to mock and deride the sufferer in his last agonies, and to vent the bitterest reproaches upon him for pretending to be the MESSIAH. Thus literally were accomplished the ancient prophecies, particularly that of David: "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted in the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." Psalm xxii. 7, S.

It is natural that fellow-sufferers should feel a degree of sympathetic concern for each other; but so generally was our LORD " despised and rejected of men," (Isa. liii. 3,) that even one of the thieves crucified with him treated him with insolence and derision. We cannot but wonder that such obduracy of heart should be found in one who was writhing in the most excruciating tortures. But we hasten from this melancholy spectacle, to behold a more pleasing scene. The other malefactor reproved his companion for the impiety of his conduct, and after acknowledging the justice of their punishment, and the innocence of JESUS, he turned to him and said," LORD, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Luke xxiii. 42.

That he should confess the divinity of CHRIST, and pray to him as his GoD and king, when he beheld him mocked, derided, bleeding, and dying by his side, is truly astonishing, and can be attributed only to the powerful grace of God. The instance, however, is encouraging to sinners, as it proves that repentance, even at the last hour, will be accepted, and that salvation is extended to the vilest of mankind, who seek for it in penitence and faith. The prayer of the dying thief was thus graciously answered by him to whom it was addressed: "Verily I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Who is this that receives homage while suspended on the ignomin lous tree, covered with wounds, and bathed in his own blood? Who is this that takes upon him to open the gates of heaven, and to pronounce pardon and peace, while his

JESUS CHRIST.

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own hands are transfixed with rugged irons to the cross, and his whole body is racked with pain and agony? Who indeed can it be, but the LORD of glory himself, the Deity incarnate, who, though he was in the form of GoD, " thought it not robbery to be equal with GoD: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. ii. 6, 7, 8.

Thus the salvation of this poor wretched outcast was the first fruits of our SAVIOUR'S passion, the first purchase of his death. He caught the prey from the very jaws of the enemy; and while struggling himself with the king of terrors, he snatched this miserable object who cried to him for mercy, and gave him a place in his kingdom. What a mortification is this to pride and self-righteousness! Thousands of ostentatious Pharisees are permitted to remain in their sins and infidelity, while one, whose life has been a complete scene of iniquity, is healed by the blood of CHRIST, and has the distinguished privilege of entering with him into paradise.

Consider this, ye who are vain of your moral worthiness, and who despise others. Let this incident humble you in your own estimation, and convince you of this important truth, which it was evidently designed to teach, that the merits of CHRIST are only efficacious to those who are of a "broken and contrite heart;" who, being sensible that they are sinners, seek for pardon only through the merits and mediation of a crucified SAVIOUR.

At the foot of the cross stood some of those pious women who had accompanied JESUS from Jerusalem, and among the rest was his mother, supported by John the Evangelist, to whom, as a dying bequest, our LORD commended the care and protection of her in the most affectionate terms. Soon after this a supernatural darkness overspread the earth, which lasted from twelve o'clock at noon till three. So remarkable was it, that Dionysius the Areopagite, who was then in Egypt, said to his friend Apollophanes, "Either the Author of nature suffers, or he is sympathizing with some one who does." This circumstance was afterwards the means of bringing the same philosopher over to Christianity.

And well might the sun suffer obscuration, when the Sun of righteousness was experiencing an eclipse of the most awful nature, even a degree of mental agony which cannot be expressed, but which forced from his lips this plaintive cry-" My God, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt. xxvii. 46. At that moment, doubtless, the wrath of the ALMIGHTY against sin was peculiarly displayed; and He who bore the immense weight of our guilt was deprived of those consolations and joys which proceed from communion with the Father. The outward darkness was but a faint image of that dreadful horror which filled the soul of our SAVIOUR while his Father's face was withdrawn from him, and the fury of divine anger raged vehemently against him. To describe or conceive the agony, which in that dismal scene of wo he endured, is utterly impossible; but it is proper that our minds should often be led to the contemplation of the affecting scene, that we may have an abiding sense of gratitude to him who hath borne so much for us. But the period of suffering hastens to a close. "JESUS, knowing that all things were now accomplished, saith, I thirst. On hearing this, one of the soldiers took a sponge, dipped it in vinegar, and put it to his mouth; and when JESUS had tasted of the vinegar, he cried, It is finished';" that is, the whole work of redemption, or what he was to do for the purpose of reconciling sinners to GOD, was completed. "And when he had cried again with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke xxiii. 46.

The manner in which our LORD expired sufficiently proves what he himself had declared, that he had "power to lay down his life, and power to take it again," for he cried with an exceeding loud voice," which in that kind of death was never known, as the powers of nature must necessarily be exhausted long before the last breath de parted, But JESUS possessed the full powers of his voice in the very moment of dissolution; and when he exclaimed "It is finished!" it was the cry of a triumphant conqueror exulting over his prostrate foe.

All nature was agitated at this awful moment, and many prodigies distinguished the great event. The heavens were covered with darkness, and the sun seemed to be blotted from the firmament. The earth shook from her foundations, the rocks were

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