not this still more exalt our conceptions of his love? It prevailed against the most deliberate expectation of dreadful agony. He not only suffered, but he always knew that he should suffer it was the design of his birth it was the object of his life: it was what he had every moment in prospect, to endure what he did endure-to die "the accursed death of the cross!"

Observe again; The motives which had influenced the Saviour to suffer were still the same; and, as "this hour" approached, they gathered weight. He had still not only the same respect to his own voluntary engagement, but the same deference to his Father's will, a continued consciousness of Divine support, ardent love for the souls of men, and a lively prospect of glorious recompense. "For the joy which was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame ;" and, as this awful "hour" advanced, his joy advanced with it. He saw the blessed fruit of all his agony in the redemption of a lost world, in the everlasting salvation of millions; and, had he shrunk from the last suffering scene, all his undertaking would have been frustrated, all he had hitherto done would have been of no effect. By his death he dethroned him who had the power death, and destroyed the works of the devil.

"

of

Beside, it was comparatively but an hour;" a short time. The conflict was severe but transient; the agony was violent, but soon over; and, having once suffered, he suffers no more. Such considerations contributed to work this most pleasing and perfect resignation. "Shall I say, Father, save me from this hour? No! For this cause," in order that I might suffer, "came I unto this hour."

Learn, then, a lesson of resignation from Jesus.

Christ. Do not repine at your trials: they are nothing compared with the affliction of the Saviour, and that affliction was all for your sake. He said, "Now is my soul troubled;" in order that he might express the soothing sentiment-" Let not your heart be troubled"—"Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world; and now is the prince of this world cast out." Did the Lord Jesus endure such agony with calm resignation? Shame on us to fret and grieve at our little crosses! Let us learn from him to say, "Not my will, but thine be done." And in the words already mentioned, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" Lastly, the text contains,

IV. The comprehensive PRAYER which the Saviour presented.

Father, glorify thy Name."-This is still the language of resignation, of cheerful acquiescence in regard to suffering: as if he had said, 'Holy Father, whatever becomes of me, glorify thyself; I freely and entirely give myself up to thy righteous will: let. me suffer what thou pleasest, I am satisfied; only glorify thy Name." But it is more than resignation, more than submission to the will of God: it is a consecration of his sufferings to the glory of God: it is a prayer that he might suffer, provided thereby the great Name of Jehovah might be honoured. Hear him speaking thus: "Though life be naturally dear, the cup which I am to drink extremely bitter, and the wrath that I am to undergo heavy and infinite; yet all these things are not so considerable to me as thy glory; and, therefore, though it be by agonies, by death, by the cross, yet, Father, glorify thy Name."

Is it asked, How is the Father glorified in the sufferings of the Son? Doubtless, in his adorable perfections.-These are partially displayed in the works of Nature, and in the ways of Providence; but much more in the plan of human Redemption, and, most of all, in the grand accomplishment of this plan, when the Son of God, the Saviour, suffered. "Father, glorify thy Name;" that is, make thine essential glory, the lustre of thine attributes, conspicuous to the world. The answer from Heaven was; "I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again." Already the wisdom, the power, and especially the mercy of Jehovah were displayed in the Saviour's mission and miracles; but now he was about to display his holiness, to magnify the awful severity of his justice, in the agony and death of his beloved Son. And was not this effected? Truly, in the cross of Christ, mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have embraced each other," the matchless perfections of Deity shine forth more clear and full they are displayed in strictest harmony: they are brought near for our encouragement and hope, and are most evidently engaged for our eternal felicity.

The Father is glorified also in the sufferings of the Son, as it regards his dispensations.-These, viewed through any other medium, are altogether mysterious. The introduction of sin, and the endless train of miseries which sin occasions, present us with a scene of utter confusion. But, in the sufferings of the Saviour, all is made plain. Contemplating the cross of Christ, the end and design of his death, the believer is constrained to say, not only "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty," but "just and true are thy ways, thou King of

saints." In his cross, "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound;-that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Some of you, perhaps, are deeply afflicted, enduring the consequence of transgression; but suspend your complaints, meditate on the sufferings of Christ, and on the present and future benefits resulting to the child of God from his bitter anguish, and you will see that all is well, that you have no reason whatever to repine. God is glorified, through the sufferings of the Saviour, in all his dispensations.

And did Christ suffer so cheerfully for us? Did he endure such agony with so much patience, and death with so much readiness, for us men, and for our salvation? Let us prize the salvation which he hath accomplished, which cost such a price, and which really possesses inestimable worth! Let us receive this salvation with all gladness and gratitude; and let us consider nothing too much to be done or endured for the sake of him who hath done and endured such great things for us!

Did the Lord Jesus so highly regard his heavenly Father's glory? Was he so willing to forego even life itself, and to endure what indeed was worse than a thousand deaths, that his Father's Name might be glorified? Let this mind also be in us which was in him. We cannot glorify God by making atonement for sin, or by satisfying the demands of justice: nor is it necessary: this the Saviour hath himself effected. But glorify God by yielding yourselves wholly to him, by devoting your time and talents to his service, by observing his institutions, by obeying his word, by running in the way of his command

ments.-Are you called to suffer? Be it your care to suffer with meekness, with patience, with thankfulness. Glorify God in the fire, justify the Almighty in your affliction, praise him with your whole heart in the deepest adversity. Let us all learn to regulate our requests by this lovely example: "Father, glorify thy Name." We ask in prayer, as one observes*, "for other things, with limitations and restrictions; but for the glory of God, absolutely and simply. Glorify thy Name: and if, in the counsel of thy will and the course of thy Providence, it cannot be otherwise than by my suffering or sorrow, yea, or death itself; yet, Father, even in this, glorify thy Name, and, out of my very ruins, erect thou a trophy and monument to thy praise. Be thou hallowed and sanctified, although at my cost, and with the loss of all." We need much grace in order to this temper of mind; but let us earnestly seek it. Is God a Father? Is he acting the part of a Father towards us? Let us, then, be in subjection to him, and live. This subjection is life itself. Remember, "You are not your own; for you are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."