and the third day he will rise again." And in the same chapter are these memorable words: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Here you have not only the necessity of the Saviour's death asserted, but the design of it clearly expressed. Think of this clause with the attention it demands-" to give his life a ransom for many"-a redemption price; that sinners, lost in sin, enslaved by Satan, and held in the cruel fetters of their own unhallowed lusts, might regain the sweets of liberty, and the blessedness of the sons of God!Had Jesus not died,

3. Sinners would not have been saved. "He saved others:" he could not, therefore, consistently with this design, save himself. He must die, or transgressors must, and their doom be sealed for ever. We are not asserting what was untecedently possible in the mind of Jehovah: with this we have nothing to do; but, with the Scriptures as our guide, and the method of man's salvation here laid down, we affirm that, so far as we know, man must have been eternally lost, if the Saviour had not suffered and died in his stead. He saved others; he still saves; and for this reason he did not, he could not, save himself.

For what is included in the salvation of man? His guilt must be cancelled; his sins must be pardoned, his enemies vanquished, his heart changed, heaven opened for his admission, a meetness for heaven promoted; and all this in harmony with the perfections of God, and consistently with the honour of his government.

Now the Bible teaches, and reason approves, that if guilt be cancelled an adequate satisfaction

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must be made; or what becomes of the holiness and justice of God? This satisfaction is in the death of Christ: "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities." He "once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."-If sin be pardoned, an atonement for sin is supposed; and where is this found but in the sacrifice of Jesus? "He, his own self, bare our sins in his own body on the tree." "We have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." "And without shedding of blood there is no remission." If spiritual enemies be vanquished, these enemies must be met, and a power exerted equal to the effect; and this is done in the cross of Christ. "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil." "Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them by his cross." And hence it is that the saints also overcome "by the blood of the Lamb."-If the heart be changed, a Divine agency must be employed for the purpose: it is effected only by the Holy Spirit ; but this Spirit is the gift of Christ, the result of his death, the fruit of his intercession. "I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." If the kingdom of heaven be opened, it must be by a key that fits the wards of its gate; and what is this? "The blood of Christ is the key of heaven." No admission there by human worthiness, or human works. The song of the celestial world is-" Thou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed

us to God by thy blood." "Ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," are represented as "saying, with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain; to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing*."

You perceive all this goes to establish the necessity of the death of Christ, and to illustrate its glorious efficacy to the end designed. Christ loved sinners: he was resolved to effect their salvation; and because this could be accomplished in no other way, at least in no way so proper, he saved not himself: he gave himself for them: he suffered for their sake: he died in their stead!

From the subject learn,

1. What a depraved creature is man!-You see it in the spirit and language of these revilers. They were not the multitude who knew no better, but "the chief priests and elders of the people." How is it to be accounted for, that they should vent such abuse? Only on this affecting principle; "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Much has been said on the amiableness of virtue it has even been affirmed, that Virtue is so lovely, were it to appear in visible form, men would be so attracted and moved by its excellency as to fall down and worship it. Virtue is indeed most amiable; but as to its gaining homage, the trial has been made: Virtue did become visible; it was embodied in the person of our Lord and Saviour. And what was the result? Did men fall down and worship him? Just the reverse. They rose up against him with bitter fury; they treated him with the ut* Rev. v. 9—12.

most contempt and cruelty: with one accord they cried, "Crucify him, crucify him!" and deliberately accomplished the diabolical deed.

You think, perhaps, had you lived in those days, you would not have been guilty of such outrage: you would not have been among the revilers, the blasphemers, the murderers of Christ. Be not deceived." Is there not in some of you a similar spirit? Are not you, to this hour, the despisers and rejecters of Christ? It is true you have not his person to despise, but you have his people: you have not his own ministry to reject, but you have his Gospel, given you in his word, and preached to you by his servants whom he commissions and sends. Can you, who have hitherto lived in carelessness and sin, trace no resemblance between the spirit of your minds and that of these shameful revilers? What care you about Jesus Christ? By you his sacred name is dishonoured and blasphemed, his humble followers are hated and injured, his holy word is obstinately disbelieved; his glorious cause is opposed and disgraced. And is it really thus with any you? May God, of his infinite mercy, enlighten your eyes and change your hearts? May he grant you repentance unto life, and the knowledge of salvation in the forgiveness of all your sins!

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2. How inestimable is Christ as a Saviour!

Think of his ability to save. It is not an ability of nature only, though this is much; for, as "over all, God blessed for ever," what is too hard for him? It is not an ability of office merely: the right to save, the high prerogative is not only invested in him, but it is a moral ability:-it is more; an ability of the utmost readiness, as well as of the clearest right; a fixed intention, a settled resolution to save, combined

with that authority and power which nothing can control. Think of his perseverance through all his dreadful agony, his bitter passion, his excruciating lingering death, for us men, and for our salvation. It was love, unparalleled love, that bore him through. The Divinity within sustained him, and those succours which he derived from above: "He drank of the brook in the way, and therefore he lifted up the head." And doubtless he was animated with the certain prospect, the firm assurance, that his grand design should be fully answered. "For the joy which was set before him," the unutterable satisfaction arising from the display of the Divine glory, in the ransom of millions, and in the eternal felicity of the whole Church-for his "joy which was set before him, he bore the contradiction of sinners against himself: he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Thither let us follow him, in the warmest affection of our hearts; in humble faith, and lively hope, warranted by the word of infallible truth.

3. How important it is that you make a personal application to this Saviour; and be the cordial receivers of him!-All is nothing without this. In vain you hear of the preciousness of Christ, and of his ability to save, unless you really apply to him, and with the heart embrace him. You have a sort of general belief that such a Saviour is provided, but this will not save you. The brazen serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, but would a general belief of that fact heal the wounded Israelites? Certainly not. It was a personal, an immediate concern. Each one was to look to the serpent for himself, and to look without delay, or the consequence was death. Thus, do you look to Jesus Christ! Let your application