it were personified, for the instruction of mankind. The first moral quality which we ought to notice in the character of our Saviour, is purity of heart. It was his own doctrine that "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." He is described by one apostle, 66 as a lamb without blemish and without spot;"1 and by another, as "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners."2 It is expressly declared that he "did no sin;"3 that "in him is no sin;"4 and the doctrine of his perfect purity is proved, by the fact, that his death was expiatory; for except the offering be spotless, there can be no atonement made by it, for sin. With stainless purity, in Jesus, was united a perfect integrity. He was the "just," as well as "holy, one.' 15 66 Righteousness" was "the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."6 No " guile" was 66 found in his mouth."7 He was himself "the truth." 8 He spake the plain truth to the most powerful of his enemies, and unmasked their hypocrisy in open day. In publicly reproving iniquity, in pronouncing woes on Jerusalem and other rebellious cities, in driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple, and in calling upon all men to 9 Matt. v, 8. 8 John xiv, 6. 11 Pet. i, 19. repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, he displayed an undaunted courage, and a resistless zeal for the honour of God. His disciples remembered that it was written of him "The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up." 9 Yet these qualities were remarkably distinguished from rashness. During the course of his ministry he evinced a remarkable degree of prudence; and in conformity to his own precept, was not only "harmless as the dove," but "wise as the serpent." He shunned the breath of popularity; suffered not his admirers to make him a king; 1 forbad the premature publication of his office as the Messiah; and often retired into desert and solitary places. He would not tempt God by casting himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, when duty did not call for the sacrifice." 2 The divine wisdom of Jesus was also manifested in the skill with which he silenced the cayils of his opposers, in the exquisite simplicity and . appositeness of his parables, and in his converting every object which attracted his attention into a fresh channel for instruction. Closely connected with the quality of courage, is that of fortitude. The latter virtue was displayed by our Lord in a wonderful manner after he had been betrayed into the hands of his enemies. The conflicts which he had undergone in the garden of Gethsemane, and his solemn communion there with his heavenly Father, appeared to be a preparation for that calm fearlessness which he afterwards displayed in meeting a cruel and ignominious death. It was a signal proof of the firmness with which he endured his agonies, as well as of the kindness of his spirit, that while he was hanging on the cross, his mind was directed even to the temporal welfare of his friends: "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!"3 The moderate enjoyment of temporal blessings, with giving of thanks, Jesus encouraged by his example. When he mingled with the joyful company at Cana, and turned the water into wine, and when he so multiplied the loaves and fishes, that they became the superabundant food of thousands, he displayed a holy liberality. Yet he triumphed over bodily indulgence, and willingly submitted to the severest personal privations, for righteousness' sake. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man" had "not where to lay his head." 4 What could surpass the sublime self-denial of his answer, when after he had been fasting forty days and forty nights, the devil tempted him to convert the stones into bread?" It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." 5 3 John xix, 26. 4 Matt. viii, 20. 5 Matt. iv, 2-4. He was absolutely free from worldliness and ambition; refused all the honours, and kingdoms which "the prince of this world" could offer him, and chose a life of deep poverty. His whole career was marked by a perfect disinterestedness. But we must follow him to Gethsemane, and mark his agony and bloody sweat; we must behold him crowned with thorns, mocked by his enemies and bowing under the weight of his cross; we must go with him to Mount Calvary, and reflect on the anguish and dark horrors of his death, when the sins of all mankind were resting upon him; and with these depths of humiliation and suffering, we must compare his former elevation,-the unspeakable happiness and glory from which he abstained. Thus, and thus alone, can we form any adequate notion of his self-renunciation. This self-renunciation was prompted by pure benevolence, a quality which abounded in the character of our Saviour. His soul was filled with tenderness, and overflowed with love. He wept over the woes of Jerusalem, and over the grave of Lazarus. His miracles were for the most part works of mercy and compassion as well as of power. His benevolence was indeed productive of unceasing beneficence. "He went about doing good," 7-preaching the gospel to the poor, feeding the hungry, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, strength to the withered, health to the sick, 6 Matt. iv, 9, 10. Comp. John xiv, 30. 7 Acts X, 38. and life to the very dead. Nor was his lové restricted to his friends; it flowed freely towards his enemies. In the midst of the bitterness of death, he prayed for his persecutors, saying, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."8 His tenderness towards children was a remarkable trait in his character. He would suffer no man to drive them away from him, but took them up in his arms and blessed them. He said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."9 The righteous indignation which Jesus displayed in the reproof of vicious men, may be profitably compared with his meekness and quietness in suffering. "When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not." "1 He bore the contradiction of sinners and the taunts of his opposers, with immoveable patience. He appears to have possessed an absolute command over all his feelings. His temper was like the dove's -incapable of being ruffled. Another instructive contrast may be drawn between the dignity and lowliness of Jesus. He never forgot that just self-respect which leads to the inviolate maintenance of the rightful post of duty. Wherever he went, he carried about with him the dignity of a perfect virtue, and to this were often added the mysterious influence and authority of a divine 8 Luke xxiii, 34. 1.1 Pet. ii, 23. 9 Matt. xix, 14. |