by the breath of mild conciliation. Force, indeed, may outwardly constrain the sinner, and terror may suddenly arrest him. But it is not thus that the blessed work of moral renovation is completed. It is charity alone, which can procure the permanent and voluntary devotedness of body, soul, and spirit. It is only by the cords of affection, that men are so drawn to the service of their Maker, as to find it perfect freedom. And perhaps, it may not be too much to affirm, that the moral omnipotence of God himself, is resolvable into this one eternal principle, that GOD IS LOVE.

It was not, then, from mere suavity of nature, that our Lord addressed a deeply criminal offender, in the gracious language of our text. That language was in unison with the divine law of kindness, mercy, and restoring love; with that enfranchisement of the spiritual world, with that great primæval charter of the universe, which decreed the reestablishment of fallen man; and which

decreed, as the means of that re-establishment, that the eternal Son should descend from the bosom of the Father, should take our nature upon him, should bear with our infirmities, heal our diseases, raise us from the degradation of sin, and restore us to the image of infinite perfection. His language, on this occasion, is in unison with this law. His conference with this unfortunate woman, and her treacherous accusers, is but a detached though faithful specimen of his whole conduct upon earth; a brief though satisfactory precedent of that heavenly jurisprudence, by which he regulates his everlasting kingdom. kingdom. The scribes and pharisees demanded her death; for hypocrisy is always cruel. The Son of Man pronounced her absolution; for He came to seek and to save that which

was lost. It was not for Him to give

sentence after the ordinances and decisions of earthly tribunals; for He came not as a ruler, or a judge; his kingdom was not of this world. It was not for

Him, rigidly to enforce the civil institutes of Moses; for He possessed within himself an authority paramount to all the national provisions even of that sacred code; the authority of eternal equity, and of all-seeing wisdom. He could read the secrets of the heart; and therefore was ready to absolve, where mortals must condemn. He clearly viewed every fair extenuation of the past; whether flowing from ignorance, misguidance, or whatever unhappy combination of circumstances. He intuitively distinguished each prognostic of amendment for the future; the latent workings of ingenuous shame, the earliest movements of sincere repentance, the faint, but progressive dawnings of happiness and virtue. He felt, that her heart might yet be touched; He knew, that her soul might yet be rescued from perdition. He spake, then, to convert, and to save. He employed not the chilling language of reproof, but the calm voice of gentleness and peace. And He thus engaged her to begin, and

persevere in, a new and holy course, by the mildest, and therefore, the most irresistible energies of mercy. "Woman," said he, "where are these thine accusers? Hath no man, condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go; and sin no more."

These words harmonise, at once, with our Lord's whole conduct upon earth; and with the gracious movements of his mediatorial kingdom.

I. They harmonise with his whole conduct upon earth, For, wherever it was safe and practicable, He exercised the same mild persuasion, the same generous oblivion, the same merciful allowance; and sought, with the same tender solicitude, to recover and restore the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Sometimes, indeed, He adopted a severer tone; and denounced the impending chastisements of heaven, against presumptuous, impenitent, irreclaimable offenders. But this was only a variation of means, to

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secure his unity of end. It was the kind severity of mercy; of mercy to multitudes in that age and nation, perverted by examples the most fatal, because the least suspected; of mercy to multitudes in all succeeding times, that He might awaken their conscience, and dispel their self-delusion, by his penetrative and heart-searching criminations of scribes, and pharisees, and lawyers, and moneychangers in the temple of God. But severity was not the character of our blessed Saviour's mind. It was a temperament of dignity, meekness, purity, and extenuating love. It was the serene energy of goodness and wisdom; distilling, as the showers upon the grass, as the small rain upon the tender herb: and thus, nourishing, in the secret recesses of the heart, the still remaining seeds of primitive perfection. His sanctity was not more awfully strict, than it was benignantly attractive. Touched with the feeling of our infirmities, He accommodated his teaching, his conversation, his