Satan, then, must be resisted; his temptation must be met and overcome. And in the Redeemer he had an invincible opponent; one who possessed patience sufficient to bear his insults with mildness, to form and deliver becoming replies; and holiness, to avoid even the most trifling emotion of sin "It is written again," said the lamb-like Jesus, 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."" Nor did satanic temptations end with this second attack. Repulsed in the two former, the wily tempter resolved on a third. From the pinnacle of the temple he removed the Saviour to the top of a high mountain; there showing him all the kingdoms of the world, with their glory, saying, "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." The force of this temptation, in circumstances of worldly comfort, we cannot rightly apprehend. In some degree we discover it in the history of Christ's poverty. Although as God he was the owner of the universe, yet as man he had not even a foot of ground he could call his own. Of all the works of his hands, he possessed not by personal right the smallest portion. His food and raiment, from the commencement of his public ministry, were invariably provided by the bounty of others, while his only home was the abode of strangers. In the wilderness his destitution rose to its height. Left without a shelter from the burning sun, without a covering from the wetting dew, without bread to satisfy his hunger, and probably water to quench his thirst, his situation then was certainly most trying. In such circumstances how could he reject the offer of the tempter? Its acceptance would have put him in immediate possession of every earthly enjoyment. From extreme poverty he would have been raised to the throne of the entire world. What a change! and one which might have been effected by a single act of worship done to Satan. How could he resist? Yet he did resist. His spotless purity forbade the bare idea of idolatry; his patience endured and overcame the temptation to it, and his meekness and wisdom dictated a suitable answer to the insidious tempter: "Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.'" Here is not the roaring lion met by the gentle Lamb? The perfection of Messiah's character emblematized by the lamb, may be seen as a last instance in his ignominious and cruel death. It is with a special reference to this, Isaiah says, "He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." How exactly this corresponds with the actual history of the case! Go to Gethsemane, my readers-visit the halls of judgment-accompany Christ to Calvary-and you will witness a remarkable fulfilment of the prophet's language. See here in this lonely garden, the blessed Jesus stretched along the cold ground. Mark how he "sweats as it were great drops of blood," betokening his extreme agony of mind. Listen to his melting words,-" My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." Oh, how dense that cloud which now overspreads the mind of the Redeemer! How heavy that wrath which now lies upon his soul! Behold the sword of Jehovah entering the heart of the great Christian Sacrifice. Hear the touching complaint of the agonized Sufferer, forced from his lips by torture inconceivable,"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws." Now "the sorrows of death compass" him; now "the pains of hell get hold upon" him. And yet in this entire scene, can you detect aught unbecoming the Lamb of God? Nay, on the contrary, are you not constrained devoutly to admire the mild importunity, the holy resignation, and the patient submission which so eminently characterized that ever-memorable prayer,-"Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." See him again in the presence of Caiaphas. Arraigned before the High-Priest of the Sanhedrim of the Jews, observe how he listens in silence to the false and malicious accusations of his enemies. "This fellow," say the lying miscreants, "said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" Not so, false witnesses! those were not the Saviour's words; although for that work he was fully competent. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," was the expression used: and in it, a far higher and more important meaning is conveyed than that you seek to establish. "He spake," not of the decaying structure of timber and stone now leveled with the ground, and laid in eternal oblivion; but, "of the temple of his body," raised more than eighteen hundred years ago to a glorious and happy immortality. Why then so pervert his language, and that too for the worst of purposes? O Divine Redeemer! what heavenly mildness and holy patience shone in thy silence in this trying scene! Thou didst endure the contradiction of sinners against thyself, and yet didst hold thy peace; thou wast oppressed and afflicted, yet didst thou not open thy mouth. So in Pilate's judgment-hall. To the accusations of the chief-priests and elders, he there opposes entire silence. At this the governor is surprised and is it at all strange that he is so? Was ever a prisoner at the bar, possessing a clear conscience, known to act thus? Can inno cence bear to be accused, without uttering a word in self-justification? Will not false charges, at the least for the moment, fill the heart with unhallowed passion? Yet here it was not so. The accusers bring the charges; they testify falsehoods. Jesus listens, but does not speak. Pilate calls his attention to their evidence; still he answers not a word. What patience! what mildness! what purity! Is not this too more than perfection of the lamb? O most perfect Redeemer! thou art indeed the Lamb of God! May we be enabled to imitate thy heavenly character, and exhibit thy heavenly graces! ment. Nor is the case altered in the subsequent final sufferings of the Son of God. Condemned at Pilate's judgment-seat, scourged and delivered over by that unjust judge to his malicious foes, he is thenceforth, till the moment of his death, subjected to the most cruel and insulting treatThe soldiers of the governor bring him to the common hall or prætoreum, and then having gathered together their whole company, they array him in all the insignia of mock royalty. His own garments are taken from him, and he is clothed in a scarlet or purple robe; a crown of thorns is prepared, and placed on his head; and a reed is put in his right hand. He is then bowed to, and hailed as King of the Jews. After this, they spit on him, and take the reed and smite him on the head; and when thus wearied out deriding him, they change his dress again, and lead him away to crucify him. And oh! what a scene then opens on the view! Behold, my readers, the blessed Jesus going forth to the place of execution, bearing his cross. See the dreadful instrument of death erected, and the innocent victim of Jewish hatred and Gentile scorn riveted thereto with cruel nails. Mark the bitter draught-vinegar mixed with gall-offered by his savage murderers to satiate his thirst. Behold the inscription of mock royalty over his head, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews;" and see how its indignity is heightened by his demeaning position-between two thieves! Listen to the revilings of passing accusers, and mark how they wag their heads in contempt and derision. Hearken also to the bitter taunts of the chief-priests and scribes around the cross, and the thieves on either hand, blasphemously insinuating his certain and eternal desertion of God, and his utter help. lessness in himself. But above all, observe the indications of his extreme bodily and mental torture, while hanging on "the accursed tree." His is not the death of the gallows or the block; it is a far more dreadful death-the lingering, living death of the cross. Nor can his longing spirit quit its falling tenement, until he drinks the last drop of the cup of death Hear that piercing cry, "Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?" Hear again the same melting sounds; and now all is over; yes, and over too without a murmur, without a frown. The scene was dreadful beyond description; but all was calm in the appearance of the Sufferer. The conflict with the powers of darkness was long and fierce; but purity and patience forsook not the heavenly Combatant. No complaint of cruelty on the part of him whose wrath he bore, escaped the Saviour's lips. No threat of vengeance against those who mocked his dignity and murdered his person, was heard to pass from the dying Redeemer. The scornful gaze of his exulting persecutors met not in him even an angry look. Here, then, ye observers of the Redeemer's sufferings, here behold the perfection of the Son of God. Admire the purity, mildness, and patience of the great Christian Sacrifice. In one word-adore, devoutly adore, the heavenly Lamb-"The Lamb of God." TRUE MISSIONARY SPIRIT. THE REV. Dr. Morrison, of China, after having for some years labored at Canton, earnestly requested the Directors of the London Missionary Society to send him out a colleague. Their attention was directed to Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Milne. A circumstance occurred on his first introduction to the friends of that Society, which at once showed his devotedness to the Saviour's cause, and the humble opinion he entertained of himself. On his appearance before the committee at Aberdeen, he seemed so rustic and unpromising, that a worthy member took Dr. Philip aside, and expressed his doubts whether he had the necessary qualifications for a missionary; but added, that he would have no objection to unite in recommending him as a servant to a mission, provided he would be willing to engage in that capacity. "At the suggestion of my worthy friend," says Dr. Philip, "I desired to speak with him alone. Having stated to him the objection which had been made, and asked him if he would consent to the proposal, he replied, without hesi tation, and with the most significant and animated expression of countenance, "Yes, sir, most certainly; I am willing to be anything, so that I am in the work. To be 'a hewer of wood and a drawer of water,' is too great an honor for me when the Lord's house is building" C. M. R. A. Our good fortune is the cause of the consideration we gain with the public; our good qualities, of that which we gain with friends. NEVER MORE. To the Memory of Rev. William T. Biddle. BY JENNIE DOWLING DE WITT. FATHER, hath the shadow darkened Are the hopes that sprung like blossoms From the eye that watcned his boyhood The heart that gloried in his manhood Ye who round that hearth-stone knelt Weep that one loved voice may join you Thou, whose widow's weeds are blending O'er thy meek and fainting spirit Sorrow darkly lowers; Thine was faith all strong and holy, Clinging to that pilgrim lowly Is thy bosom rent with anguish To its inmost core? Thou for whom the sigh floats upward Tell us-doth thy soaring spirit Tell us-mayst thou fondly cherish List! the echo sweetly floateth Nevermore this heart shall quiver Joying ever in His presence Whence all love doth flow, Ransom'd ones may watch in spirit Mine, beloved, unseen to guide you Life's rough o'cean o'er, Till we meet again to sever New York, Sept. 1851. |