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difciples of Jefus, they refolve to bear a part of the reproach of Chrift. They unite with their afflicted brother in ftemming the torrent of wickedness that runs down the streets, and in advancing the kingdom of God on the earth. All this fympathy and aid makes a new man of him; he again lifts up his head, and goes on his way rejoicing.

The bleffed Redeemer eftablished his cross on the earth as the rallying point for all hearts; that being foftened there by divine love, they might be united to God; and that being divefted there of all selfishness, they might be united to each other in the bonds of a holy, loving brotherhood. 'A new commandment," faid the Saviour, "give I unto you, that ye love one another." Hence the words of the Apostle, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and fo fulfil the law of Christ."

Even under the Jewish difpenfation it was ordained that "if thou fee the afs of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, thou shalt furely help him."

How much better is a man than a beast! and compared with the Jew's, how much more powerful is the weight of the Christian's obligation !

Bleft be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love,
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

We share our mutual woes;

Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The fympathizing tear.

Before our Father's throne

We

pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

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"Without fhedding of blood there is no remiffion."-ROM. ix. 22. We have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of fin."-COL. i. 14.

DIVINE LOVE AND JUSTICE.

Behold where Juftice, with her fword raised high,
In words that echo through the trembling sky,
Demands, in virtue of the Law's just right,
That man should perish in eternal night.
Pale, trembling, fearful, fee the culprit ftand,
Nor dares to hope deliverance at hand.

On wings of grace, and heavenly motion fleet,
Love haftens, proftrate at the claimant's feet.
"Me! me behold!" fhe cries, " on me be pour'd
The wrathful vial that for him is ftored.

Here, in this heart, plunge deep th' avenging blade,
My life for his! fo Juftice fhall be paid.'

'Tis done! the fword is bathed in fpotlefs blood,
And man, released, returns to life-and God.

In this picture Juftice is seen standing with her fword raised high, ready to fall upon the

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guilty one. In her left hand fhe holds the scales of equity; at her fide the two tables of law appear, at the foot of which lies the Holy Bible. front of Juftice, one is seen in the attitude of a culprit; he hangs his head down in acknowledgment of his guilt. Between the offender and Juftice, behold one of celeftial mien, in a kneeling posture, with wings outfpread; her countenance beams with compaffion; addreffing Juftice, fhe points to her uncovered bofom, and asks that the fword may be plunged therein, and that the guilty one may go free. This is Divine Love.

This is an emblem of human redemption. A book of laws is given to man, which is holy, juft, and good, the substance of which is contained in the decalogue, or ten commandments.

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laws, whether engraved on tables of ftone, or written on rolls of parchment, or printed in books, or impressed on the human heart, have been violated by all mankind, for "all have finned," and confequently have come fhort of the divine approbation. The penalty is "death.” "The foul that finneth, it fhall die." Thus the matter ftands when the finner is brought before the tribunal of justice.

Juftice never forgives, nor makes any allowance for circumftances or human infirmity. The plea put in by Lord Nelfon when dying, that "he had not been a very great finner," will be utterly unavailing. The reply of Justice is, "He that offends in one point, is guilty of all.” But ere the fword of Juftice is bathed in the

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blood of the guilty, Divine Love, in the perfon of Jefus Chrift, interpofed, " and poured out his foul unto death, and made interceffion for the tranfgreffors.' On the hill of Calvary this wonderful scene took place. There Divine Love received the sword of Justice-there the heart of the Son of God bled for guilty man-there he "who knew no fin, became a fin offering for us. Mercy and Truth now meet together, Juftice and Peace kifs each other.

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"Greater love than this hath no man, that a man lay down his life for his friends; but God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet finners, Chrift died for us." Shout, heaven and earth, this sum of God to man, that God can now be juft, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

"Infinite grace! Almighty charms!
Stand in amaze, ye rolling ikies!
Jefus the God extends his arms,
Hangs on a crofs of love, and dies!

"Did pity ever stoop fo low,

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Dreffed in divinity and blood?

Was ever rebel courted fo,

In groans of an expiring God?

Again he lives, and spreads his hands—
Hands that were nail'd with torturing smart,
By these dear wounds! he looks and stands,
And prays to clasp me to his heart."

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