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might show forth a pattern to all who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." The greatness of guilt, then, is no reason, in itself, why it may not be forgiven. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

We shall each see a time when the prayer of the penitent thief will seem to us the most appropriate to our case. Christ is coming into his kingdom; coming, in his own glory, and in the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. Every eye shall see him.' While the heavens are on fire, the elements melting, the graves opening, the risen dead preparing to ascend to judgment, and the Son of man is throned above the clouds, is there a petition that you would love to have answered more than this-Lord, remember me? Could you, by any means, induce Christ to remember. you at such a time, and obtain from him a token of favor, what would you not give? You can secure a remembrance of yourself then. The way to do it is, to remember him now. Remember him, in the midst of your follies, and worldliness, and sins, and give yourself to him. Remember him, while you ask, What must I do to be, saved? and commit yourself to him, like this thief. Remember him at his table; for he has said, 'Do this in remembrance of me.' Remember him in your temptations, and keep his word.

Remember him always, as your Example, Guide, Friend, and Saviour. "FOR EVERY ONE THAT SEETH THE SON, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY."

SERMON XI.

THE RELENTING CRUCIFIER.

MATT. XXVII. 48.

AND STRAIGHTWAY ONE OF THEM RAN, AND TOOK A SPONGE, AND FILLED IT WITH VINEGAR, AND PUT IT ON A REED, AND GAVE HIM TO DRINK.

AMONG the friends of Christ, we find a relenting crucifier. In companies where we should least expect it God secures witnesses for himself; and in hearts which appear to be the most unpromising soil we find the work of the Spirit.

The act performed by this partner of the crucifixion was so very slight, and evinces so little interest in Christ, that his claim to a place among the friends of Christ may naturally be questioned. It is not with the expectation of proving his claim, by any argument founded on his cursory act of kindness, that he is here included in the number of the Saviour's friends; but for the purpose of showing that the infinite condescension of the Saviour, in recognizing a cup of cold water given to one of his

disciples in the name of a disciple, as worthy of his reward, and in sparing a bruised reed, and treating with forbearance and hopefulness the smoking flax, may have found an object of grace even among those who were employed to bruise him and put him to grief. It may encourage some to see how slight a feeling of interest in Christ, how inconsiderable an act of kindness done for him, may bring a man within the wide circumference of that grace which rejoices in showing mercy where sin has abounded, nor is turned away from scenes the most revolting and hopeless to the eye of our faith. Besides, if all who befriended Christ were endowed with great talents, or were in affluent circumstances, or if all of them belonged to the intelligent classes of society, or even if they all enjoyed and exercised clear and strong faith, it is easy to see that very many might be discouraged. By including the penitent thief and the relenting crucifier in the number of the Saviour's friends, we feel sure that we act in accordance with the spirit of that "faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," "and that the Son of man came to seek and to save that which is lost."

Crucifixion always occasioned an intolerable thirst. To make the victims insensible, stupefying drinks were humanely offered. Christ refused such a

draught, and died with an unclouded mind. His followers may innocently receive alleviations of pain, and use them, even to the suspension of their consciousness, if they choose, or their friends so determine for them; but the manner in which Christ chose to meet death, illustrates the common reflection of suffering Christians, that their pains are not to be compared with those which Christ endured on their account; while it should serve to strengthen them for "all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness."

The dreadful scenes and agonies of the cross drew near their end. The last act of the Saviour's life was to commend his mother to the beloved disciple, who was standing near the cross, and who thus continues the account of the scene: "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst."

The seeming digression will not be found inconsistent with unity of effect, if we consider here the wonderful minuteness with which the sufferings of Christ were foretold, and their extreme coincidence with the predictions.

As soon as Christ was nailed to the cross, the soldiers, rapacious and poor, seized upon his garments, which his crucifiers had stripped from him, and as there were four of these soldiers, probably, who were detailed to attend the execution, they apportioned

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