DISC. comes us. Looking unto Jesus, the author VIII. and finisher of our faith, going before us, and suffering so much for us, himself perfectly innocent, we cannot think it much, that we should fuffer something, who are in so many ways guilty. "If these things be " done to the green tree"-if the ax be laid to the root of the verdant and fruitful tree of life itself-" what shall be done to the "dry?" what can the sapless and barren wood expect, but to be for burning and fuel of fire ?

When a man groans under the iron rod of oppreffion, or, cast down upon the bed of fickness, feels his bones to be filled with pain, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain; when he endeavours to recollect some passage of Scripture, wherewith to folace and support his weary foul; perhaps there is nothing that will cause more light and comfort to break in upon him,

than frequently to repeat and medidate upon

that humble acknowlegement, made by the

poor penitent from the cross on one fide of

VIII.

his Saviour, and addressed to his reprobate DISC. companion on the other-" Dost not thou " fear God, seeing thou art in the fame con"demnation? And we indeed justly; for " we receive the due reward of our deeds; " but THIS man hath done nothing amifs." At this thought, Love of the Redeemer will spring up in his mind; and to Love nothing is irksome; it will make "his yoke " easy, and his burden light,"

In every path and every period of life, the cross will meet us; it will be found lying before us: by mean compliances, by tranfgreffing or neglecting our duty, we may turn out of the road, and avoid it; through wilful blindness and obstinacy, we may stumble over it, and fall. Our Lord took up bis, and bore it while strength remained; let us do likewife,

It fhould be borne in a spirit of fubmifsion and refignation, without complaining or murmuring. "Attend to the rod, and to " him who hath appointed it;" confider well the

VIII.

DISC. the latter, and you will entertain right ideas of the former. "The cup which my Father " hath given me, shall I not drink it ?"" Not my will, but thine be done."

Resignation to God should be accompanied with meekness towards men, who may be the instruments of our fufferings, for they are only instruments, in the hands of their Maker and ours; and whether the inftruments employed be animate or inanimate, a Christian sees it equally absurd to discharge his anger against them. "Let him "alone, let him curse, because the Lord " hath faid unto him, curse "," exclaimed David of Shimei. "Thou couldest have no

"

power at all against me, except it were "given thee from above," said a greater than David to his unjust judge. Knowing this, therefore, "when he was reviled, he " reviled not again; when he fuffered, he "threatened not; but committed himself to " him that judgeth righteously." Spotless

2 Sam. xvi. 10.

d 1 Pet. ii. 23.

and

and filent, he was led, a lamb, to the DISC.

slaughter.

Meekness is not at all incompatible with fortitude, which is necessary to carry us through, that we may not faint in our minds, and fail, before the end of our fufferings.-Behold the man! He comes forth with the purple robe, and the crown of thorns, into the midst of the hoftile and furious multitude, unmoved by the scoffs of apostate priests, and the insults of an infidel rabble; undaunted by all the efforts of evil men and evil spirits; unappalled at the fight of that cross, on which he was to " taste death for every man." He is mocked, spit upon, stripped, scourged, and nailed to the fatal tree. Patient and decided, firm and recollected, he commends his spirit to the Father, in words which recognized and substantiated an ancient prophecy concerning him; and then, as the last token of obedience, bows his head, and dies.

Charity is always glorious; but never appears

VIII. VIII.

DISC. pears more so, than when shining forth from a dark cloud of affliction; when it evinces, that our thoughts are not so engrossed by our own fufferings, as to forget those of others; when we are not unmindful to perform the last kind offices to those about us; when our latest breath is spent in comforting our relations and friends, and praying for our enemies. Thus the dying patriarchs of old called for their children, and left with them the monitions and benedictions of heaven: and thus He of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, to the women, who followed him wailing; "Daughters of Jerufalem, weep not for " me, but weep for yourselves and your "children"-to the blessed virgin, and the beloved difciple, standing under the cross; " Woman, behold thy fon - Behold thy "mother" - of the Jews, who crucified him; "Father, forgive them, for they know " not what they do."

:

These are the virtues, these the triumphs of the CROSS!

But