which he administers to the diseased soul was provided at an incalculable cost, even his own most precious blood, yet the importance of the effect is fully answerable to the immensity of the expense. It secures glory in the highest to God; and imparts to every sinner who improves it a “peace which passeth all understanding.

May we not infer from this doctrine the love, the unequalled, inconceivable love of Jehovah to our perishing world? We scarcely know whether to admire most the condescension of the Father in not sparing his Son, or the condescension of the Son in not sparing himself. The grace, the good will of both are displayed in a degree without any parallel, and should excite our wonder, and gratitude, and praise. The faith of Abraham in taking Isaac his son, and standing ready to offer him at the divine command has been admired in all ages. But the love of God the Father rises infinitely, infinitely higher. Abraham was directed to this deed by the command of his Creator, and in performing it was only performing a reasonable service. But the sacrifice of his own Son by God the Father was voluntary, unmerited, unasked, unexpected. The amazing thought could have originated only in the bosom of a God. Abraham in offering Isaac his son merely gave back a child which he had received from the divine bounty, and returned that which he was unable to retain ; but in sending his Son to be

the Saviour of the world, the Father was moved by no other consideration than that of love, love the most pure, ardent, disinterested. “ He loved us because he loved us." Abraham in carrying his son to the altar was delivering him to the torture of a few moments, and in performing the dreadful office could soothe the agonies of his soul by imparting words of consolation ; but Jehovah delivered up Jesus to sufferings as lingering as they were painful; they commenced in his cradle and never abated until they were consummated upon his cross. He

. spared him not during all that time, but delivered him up to every species of ignominy and pain ; he delivered him to the men of earth to be “mocked, and spit upon, and scourged;" he delivered him up to the powers of hell to be derided, and tempted, and insulted: Nay, with his own hand he “ oppressed and afflicted” him. “ It pleased the Lord to bruise him, and he hath put him to grief.” It pleased him ; all that vengeance which he executed on the Son of his love standing in our covenant room he executed cordially: This act was not only conformable to his purpose from eternity, but consistent with his good pleasure : That he might spare us he spared not the “child of his love, the brightness of glory :" He was perfectly willing that he should suffer in order to secure our escape, and die that we might live; "he laid upon him the iniquity of us all;" he not only charged him with

the debt, but at his hand demanded payment to the utinost farthing.

While we adore the grace of the Father in not sparing his Son may we not equally adore the grace of the Son in not sparing himself. “He loved me, and gave himself

, for me.'

Love greater, love equal, love to be compared to this has no example among men, nor is recorded in the annals of the world. That man should die for man would be considered a great expression of good will ; that one man should interpose, and undertake either to pay the debt, or suffer punishment for another who was his open, unreasonable, irreconcilable enemy would be pronounced an instance of goodness still greater;“ but God commendeth his love towards us ;” displays it in a degree which admits of no comparison, “in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Here the Sovereign leaves the throne, and suffers that punishment to which the subject was exposed. And yet notwithstanding the character of man for whom he interposed, a transgressor of his law, a rebel against his throne, daily aggravating his guilt by the wilful repetition of his crimes, how cheerfully did the Saviour undertake? How patiently did he persevere, until his work was accomplished ? Isaac willingly ascended the mount, but he knew not his father's design; he saw the wood, and the knife, but still expected that God“ would provide a lamb for a burnt offering. But the whole scene of Messiah's

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sufferings was open to his view; he saw with his eyes the sword waving in the hand of justice that was shortly to be bathed in his blood, and longing for the execution of its office; he beheld those lightnings blazing

; around which were soon to concentrate upon himself, and cleave him “ to the dust of earth :" Yet in the awful prospect, how calm, how firm, how cheerful does he remain ? “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire,” he addresses his righteous Father as the hour of his suffering approaches, “lo, I come, to do thy will;" in making my soul an offering for sin “0, my God, I take delight.” The heathen consider it as an unfavorable omen when the animal to be offered in sacrifice went reluctantly to the altar, but auspicious when it walked willingly forward. Jesus our sacrifice was not only willing for his work, but he longed for the moment of its consummation. " When the time was come that he should be received up,” says the sacred historian," he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

How passive when he was betrayed by Judas ? How silent when unjustly condemned by Pilate? How resigned when railed at, and insulted, and “

spit upon” by the mob? As he was entering the arduous conflict, he makes provision for an aged, desolate mother ; when hanging upon the cross he dispenses pardon to a fellow-sufferer; with his expiring breath he asks forgiveness for those whose mouths were openly vilifying him, and

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whose hands were encrimsoned with his blood.-“ Behold what manner of love.is this!”

2. We are instructed from this doctrine in every contemplation of the Redeemer's sufferings to consider our own sins as the procuring cause. “For the transgressions of my people was he stricken.” We often stand amazed at the treachery of Judas in betraying his Master, and his accursed avarice in selling him for a few pieces of silver. We view with horror the servility of Pilate in passing sentence against him, and the cruelty of the Jews in murdering the Prince of life: When our Saviour informed his disciples that one of them should betray him, they all appeared to startle at the horrid thought : Each asks for himself, “ Lord is it I? Am I a dog that I should be guilty of conduct so base! Rather let me never possess silver than obtain it by such unheard of perfidy as delivering up a master so indulgent, a friend so faithful, and a benefactor so liberal. Sooner let my hand forget her cunning, and lie inactive in the grave than be stretched out to smite or crucify the Lord of life.” But remember, and while you remember weep bitterly, that your sins brought upon the Son of God all this infamy and suffering: “ He was delivered for our offences.” Our sins prepared that cross on which his body was suspended : They pointed the nails with which his hands were tortured; they formed the gall, and the worms

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