waiting for, and expecting the happiness of, a future state, and that he was now ready and willing to die, to receive the end of his faith in the salvation of his soul. We have also the last words of David, in which he expresses his assured faith and confidence in the God whom he had served. 66 Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire." We have likewise the affecting words of the protomartyr Stephen, uttered in his dying moments, while his enemies were putting him to the most cruel death by crushing his body with showers of stones. In his dying words we have fortitude, composure, faith, and charity united. "They stoned Stephen, invoking and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." But in Jesus, we have a greater than Jacob, or David, or Stephen. The last words of the Saviour are of infinite importance, and are calculated to afford us the most instructive and affecting lessons. It appears from the different evangelists, that our blessed Lord uttered seven impressive sayings after he was nailed to the accursed tree. The first language he uttered was a prayer for his murderers. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The blessed Jesus here seems to forget his own tortures, in concern for the salvation of his murderers. The second time of the Redeemer's speaking from the cross, seems to have 66 been his address to the penitent thief: Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Here the gracious Saviour, when in the lowest state of his humiliation, and beset with the scorn and contempt of his enemies, manifests himself as the Lord of life and glory, and speaks from the cross as from a throne; undertaking not only to grant pardons, but to dispose of seats in Paradise. Thirdly, our Lord addressed his mother, and his beloved disciple John. He saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold thy son." Then saith he to the disciple, "Behold thy mother." The glorious, but lowly Redeemer, though Lord of heaven and earth, was not the proprietor of any possessions during his state of humiliation. In his dying hour, therefore, he committed his mother to the care of his beloved disciple, John, "And from that hour, that disciple took her unto his own home." The next time the Son of God speaks upon the cross, he utters the heartrending exclamation, Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabacthani. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The light of his Father's countenance being now withdrawn, the Saviour seemed to be suffering the torments of hell. This terror and dejection evidently prove that his death was an atonement for sin. The next saying of the Saviour was, "I thirst." Can we wonder at this circumstance, when we reflect upon the dreadful pains he had been enduring both in body and mind? But the Evangelist remarks, that "he said this, that the Scripture might be fulfilled." For in the Psalms, the Messiah is described as crying out, My tongue cleaveth to my jaws, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." All things being now fulfilled, Jesus exclaimed, "It is finished." These are the words which we are now more particularly to consider. Having thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." The words "it is finished," in the original are comprised in one term; and surely no single word of higher signification, or deeper importance, has ever been uttered since the creation of the world. In discoursing on this subject, let us consider, I. The import of this saying. II. The evidence of its truth. III. The consolation it affords. IV. The improvement it suggests. I. In considering the import of this saying of Christ, the following particulars may be included in it. The prophecies are fulfilled; the types are accomplished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the character of Christ is completed; victory over his enemies is obtained; his sufferings are ended; and redemption is finished. Let us briefly notice these particulars. The words imply, 1. In the first place, the prophecies are fulfilled. "To him give all the prophets witness." How wonderfully was every thing respecting the birth, and life, and sufferings, and death of Christ foretold ! and how exactly and circumstantially were all these predictions verified and accomplished! It is not, however, my purpose here, to bring together the prophecies which speak of the circumstances of the Redeemer's birth, and the manner and actions of his life; but merely to remark on a few of the predictions connected with his final sufferings and death. He was to ride into Jerusalem on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. This was predicted by Zachariah ;* and the accomplishment is recorded by St. Matthew. He was to be betrayed by one of his particular friends, his own disciple. This was foretold by the Psalmist, and the fact is recorded by the above-mentioned Evangelist. § He was to be sold for thirty pieces of silver; and with these, they were afterwards to buy the potter's field.|| The fulfilment was exactly verified.¶ He was to be apprehended and barbarously treated by the Jews: he was to be beaten and buffeted, and his face to be defiled with spitting." And have we not in the gospel an exact record of the facts?†† The same prophet, Isaiah, foretold that he was to be wounded and bruised, and his body torn with scourges.‡‡ The facts correspond with the prediction.§§ He was to die the death of the cross, to which he was to be nailed, hand and foot.|||| To the fulfilment of this prophecy, all the Evangelists bear witness. T¶ He was to be crucified with malefactors.*** And was not this prophecy fulfilled?†††t He was to make Psalm lv. 12, 13, and xli. 9. ¶ Matt. xxvii. 7. ‡‡ Isa. liii. 5 Psalm xxii. 16; Zach. xii. 10. *** Isa. liii. 12. ttt Luke xxii. 37. intercession for the transgressors, and to pray for his enemies.* The facts are recorded by St. Luke.† He was to have vinegar given him to drink. This was also fulfilled.§ His apparel was to be divided, and lots were to be cast for his coat. The history records this fact. A bone of him was not to be broken ;** and they were to look on him whom they pierced.†† And how circumstantially is the fulfilment of these predictions related by the beloved disciple! All the prophecies respecting the incarnation and death of Christ, were accomplished, when he exclaimed on the cross, "It is finished!" What would an evil heart of unbelief have more? Let the infidel compare the predictions with their accomplishment, and be convinced. Or if he continue in disbelief, let him remember the words of the Son of God, and tremble: "He that believeth not, shall be damned." 2. The types are accomplished. In the Old Testament there are many types or shadowy representations of Christ and his blessings. The brazen serpent, the paschal lamb, the daily and yearly sacrifices, all prefigured that Christ should die for the sins of the world; and these were all fulfilled by his death. Abraham offered up his Son Isaac, as a type of God's giving his only begotten Son as a sacrifice for the sins of men. The two goats on the great day of atonement, one of which Isa. liii. 12. § Matt. xxvii. 34. **Exod. xii. 46. Psalm lxix. 21. + Luke xxiii. 24. Matt. xxvii. 35. John xix. 32-37. |