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See Him in the judgment-hall,
Bound, and beaten, and arraigned;
Sad, forsaken, mocked by all,
Yet by heavenly love sustained;
Ye that suffer shame, or loss,

Learn of Christ to bear the Cross.

Follow on to Calvary;

There the blessed Jesus view,

Dying on th' accursed tree,

Made a sacrifice for you:

"It is finished!" hear Him cry;

Look on Him, and learn to die.

Wednesday before Easter.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, has sent Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon Him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of His patience, and also be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE.

"And without shedding of blood is no remission."-HEB. ix. 22.

Y conscience bears true testimony to the seriousness

MY

of my offence, and my incapacity to serve God aright. The quarrel between God and the sinner can only be "wiped out in blood," as men say who have received a grievous insult which demands satisfaction the duel fought, and wounds interchanged, the satisfaction is supposed to be given. It is only in

the rarer and more inveterate cases that frequent repetitions of the risk of life are required. Now, without all contradiction, the blood of Christ once offered is ample satisfaction. Granted, the Legislator has been slighted; the law has been offended in the nicest point. But here is the satisfaction, not wounds only inflicted, but life sacrificed; and that, too, not an ordinary life, but of the ever-blessed Son of God. Is this sufficient? or will the most exacting conscience demand any stronger assurance that sin is pardoned and justice satisfied?

THE GOSPEL.

“And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly.”—LUKE xxii. 44.

A

N agony, the result or essence of a severe struggle.

His death was voluntary; no man could take His life from Him; He could lay it down or preserve it. And here was the kernel of the passion, because all that load of mysterious suffering could be dismissed at an act of volition, and depended upon his will. To be struck blind is painful, but to pull out one's own eye is more painful still. Yet there is an eternal rule of right, and it exists not the less because of our sensibility. And therefore before the hour of trial came on, He feared, and in that He feared, He was heard; and

being in an agony He prayed more earnestly that, if this cup might not pass, His Father's will might come to pass, and He might be made the glorified instrument of performing it. It was the greatest occasion that ever was. Hell was to be bound and Heaven to be won; and no less a work to be completed than the turning back of the flaming sword of the Angel of Death and the restitution of eternal life. When all the powers of darkness were gathered in thick array against Him, and ready, like bulls of Bashan, to tear Him from His purpose, what was His stay? What was His resource amidst all? Prayer, prayer. Hear this, O my soul! and, when thine hour of need cometh on, be the example of thy Master remembered by thee; forget not the footprints which He has pressed; swerve not from the path which He has trod. Watch and pray, lest thou enter into temptation. He prayed to His Father direct. Pray thou, through Him, for through Him thou hast access by one spirit unto the same Father, and thine High Priest, who having Himself felt thine infirmities can sympathize with them, will not be slow to present thy petitions; and thou shalt be heard as He was heard "in that He feared."

Lord, I cannot let Thee go,
Till a blessing Thou bestow;
Do not turn away Thy face,
Mine 's an urgent pressing case.

Dost Thou ask me who I am?
Ah, my Lord, Thou knowest my name;
Yet the question gives a plea
To support my suit with Thee.

Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold,

Scorn Thy grace, Thy power defy :-
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.

Once a sinner near despair,

Sought Thy mercy-seat by prayer:
Mercy heard and set him free;

Lord, that mercy came to me.

Many days have passed since then,
Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now:
Who could hold me up but Thou?

Thou hast helped in every need;
This emboldens me to plead ;
After so much mercy past,

Canst Thou let me sink at last?

No-I must maintain my hold,
'Tis Thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,

When I plead for Jesus' sake.

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