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DEATH OF CHRIST,

SERMON.

GAL. i. 3, 4.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD AND OUR FATHER.

THERE

HERE is no fubject on which the human mind can be employed, that furnishes more ample matter for reflection than the history of Jefus Chrift. The events connected with his miraculous birth; the luftre of his personal qualities, and the fpotlefs purity of his life; the train of wonderful circumstances involved in his death; form together an affemblage of interefting objects, to which there has not occurred a parallel fince time began.

Jefus was ushered into the world with an unufual folemnity; a dignifying pomp that rendered him, from the very womb, an object of

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general attention and general expectation. His conception was previously announced by a meffenger from God. "A multitude of the hea

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venly hoft" defcending from on high to publish and celebrate his nativity. Wife men of the eaft, under the guidance of a star, came from a diftant land to honour his birth and "to wor

fhip him." And Jews, venerable for their age, and ftill more for their prophetic character, openly rejoiced in him, and "fpake of him "to all them that looked for redemption in "Ifrael."

From a life begun with fuch diftinguished honours, the mind would draw the prefage of future greatness; and this prefage the sequel verified. The fuperior brightness of the dawn. was but a natural prelude to the transcendent glories of the fucceeding day.

The first part of his life indeed, Jesus paffed in the obfcurity of a private station, without exhibiting any thing tranfmitted to us, that could justify the early expectations which were formed of him. During that period, the fun was hid behind a cloud; its rays were intercepted; its native glory was obfcured. But in procefs of time it emerged, and fhone forth in full fplendor.

The glory of Jefus appeared: and men "beheld it as the glory of the only begotten of "the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jefus difplayed, in his conduct, the highest poffible excellence, without a fhade of imperfection. He could challenge the utmoft malice of his enemies to "convince him of fin. He knew

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no fin, nor was guile found in his mouth. "Holy, harmless, undefiled, and feparate from finners," his life was the image and pattern of universal righteousness.

With the luftre of human virtue, Jefus united a far brighter glory. Profeffing to have come into the world with authority from God; affuming the name and character of the Son of God; claiming, and “ thinking it no robbery

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to be equal with God;" he justified these high pretenfions by difplays of wisdom, power and goodness, which bespoke the presence and perfection of God. His wifdom was infinite; "all things were naked and open to him;" he clearly" difcerned the thoughts and intents "of the heart; he knew what was in man." When he opened his mouth to dispense " the "treafures of his wifdom," his enemies were constrained to own that "never man fpake like

"this man." Thé language of heaven dropped from his lips. He had the words of eternal "life. He fpake with authority. His word "was with power."

To his power all nature was obedient. At his command, the boisterous winds were laid; the raging fea was calm. The most malignant, and inveterate, and hopeless difeafes, were healed with a word. Nay, the bands of death were diffolved; and, yielding to his fovereign influence, the "cruel grave" refigned her dead,

This almighty power he made fubfervient to the purposes of goodness. Ever attentive to the calls of humanity, and regardless of any inconvenience that attended its fervice," he went "about doing good;" ministering health and comfort, and happiness, wherever he came.

To this excellent perfon, who united the fullness and fufficiency of the Godhead with the kindly fenfibilities of human nature, what regard fhall we fuppofe to have been paid? what reception fhall we fuppofe to have been given? Did he not attract the eager attention, and captivate the beft affections of mankind? Did not his conduct extort their admiration; his prefence command their refpect; his character ex

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eite their reverence and engage their love? Wera they not counted happy who obtained accefs to him; who heard his heavenly inftructions and faw his godlike acts? Did not "the wife, and "the noble, and the mighty," lift themselves in his train? Did not all men concur to honour him, and with earnest zeal exprefs their affection and confidence?

With every claim to this reception, who could fuppofe that Jefus fhould have experienced a treatment directly the reverfe? that inftead of paying him his juft homage, a whole nation should have combined against him? that his actions fhould have been vilified; his character traduced; his perfon hated; his miniftry despised? that he should have been "oppreffed, "afflicted," perfecuted, arraigned, condemned and put to death, with peculiar circumftances of indignity and cruelty?

It is difficult to conceive how men, depraved as they are, fhould have fo far divefted themfelves of the feelings of humanity, and violated every right principle of conduct, as to requite the confpicuous innocence and perfect virtue of Jefus Chrift, with fuch barbarity and injuftice. But that Jefus fhould have condefcended to fuffer

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