it is gone. The language is unworthy, I will not say merely of an inspired apostle; it is unworthy the pupil of Gamaliel : it is unworthy a man of common intellects. No one who is acquainted, in the smallest degree, with propriety of speech, would say, Though he were a servant, yet learned he obedience. But if Christ were a creature, though superior in the rank of finite beings to Gabriel, the character of servant would, in virtue of his derived and dependant nature, necessarily belong to him. Yes, an archangel of the sublimest genius, of the highest dignity, of the most extensive power, is a servant of God: but Christ is the Son, in a sense in which no created being can be so denominated.

The apostle Thomas seemed to enter into the spirit of this truth, when, on seeing Jesus after his resurrection, he exclaimed, " My Lord and my God," John xx. 28. For this is to be considered not merely as the language of a mind fully convinced of the great fact, and agitated by strong passion, such as love, joy, gratitude, admiration of an unexpected and extraordinary event, and shame for having disbelieved his Master, dishonoured his brethren, and laid down an unreasonable principle as the basis of his faith; it is also to be regarded as an animating declaration of his sentiments respecting the essential and supreme dignity of his risen Master. "My Lord, and my God!"

Thirdly. The witnesses represent this fact as a glorious proof of the efficacy of Christ's work.

Here we must consider what his work was, when it was finished, and how the resurrection of Christ proves that his work was finished.

1. What was the work which the Father gave him to do? The gospel replies, He came into the world to save sinners. "This is a faithful saying,

and

worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into

the world to save sinners." save that which was lost.

He came to seek and to "God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved," 1 Tim. i. 15; Luke xix. 10; John iii. 16, 17.

"He

2. When was this work finished? When he died on the cross. By making himself a sacrifice for sin, his gracious undertaking was completed. On this subject the language of the Bible is remarkably explicit and forcible. Christ died for us. died for our sins," says St. Paul, "according to the Scriptures;" intimating that this is one of the leading doctrines of Scripture. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," 1 Cor. xv. 3; Rom. v. 8. He endured the punishment which we deserved. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." He who knew no sin, was made sin for us. He suffered the just for the unjust, Isa. liii. 4-6; 2 Cor. v. 21;

1 Peter iii. 18.

Our salvation is represented as the effect of his death. Are our iniquities pardoned? "We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." Are we justified? His blood .. cleanseth us from all sin.' Are we sanctified? He " gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,

zealous of good works." Are we reconciled unto God? It is "by the death of his Son." Have we access to God? "We are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Do we rejoice in God? It is "through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement." Is the sting of death taken away? "Through his death he destroyed him that had the power of death." Shall we be happy in heaven? We shall gratefully attribute our felicity "to Him who hath washed us from our sins in his own blood," Eph. i. 7; 1 John i. 7; Tit. ii. 14; Rom. v. 10; Heb. ii. 14, 15; Rev. i. 5.

The death of Christ is the substance of the ancient Jewish sacrifices. They were shadows of good things to come; the body is of Christ. He is the true Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. His one sacrifice takes away sin, purifies the conscience of the believer from dead works, and perfects for ever them that are sanctified, Heb. x. 1; Col. ii. 17; John i. 29; 1 Cor. v. 7; Heb. ix. 26, 14; x. 14.

t This account of the nature of his death illustrates the history of his sufferings. If Christ died as a martyr only, or to seal the truth of his doctrine, or to set us an example of patience and resignation, of fortitude and benevolence, how can we account for = the horrors of his soul? No one ever had more reason to die with firmness. His submission to God, who required his death, and his love to men, who, in any view, would be benefited by it, were perfect. = His confidence in the goodness of his cause was unshaken. His consciousness of the innocence of his life could not be disturbed. The prospect of a future state of immortality opened to his view was truly glorious. He anticipated the happiness he was

going to enjoy, and the dignity to which he woul be soon raised. Yet, with all these causes of firm ness, which in a mere martyr might have produce heroic fortitude, and extatic joy, his soul wa sorrowful, exceeding sorrowful, sorrowful even unt death, Matt. xxvi. 38. Such was the agony he felt that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground," Luke xxii. 44. With

strong crying and tears, Heb. v. 7, he thrice prayed that the cup, the bitter cup, might pass from him. Matt. xxvi. 44; and, on the cross, in all the depth of woe, he exclaimed, in language that must rend the heart of sensibility, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt. xxvii. 46. If he died as a martyr only, upon what principles can we account for the horrors he endured? But if, as we have seen, his soul was made a sacrifice for sin, the reason is evident. Now,

3. His resurrection from the dead is the bright evidence which God has given us of the perfection and efficacy of his work.

If God had not raised up his Son, Jesus could not have delivered from the wrath to come, 1 Thess. i. 10; remission of sins could not be preached in his name, Luke xxiv. 46, 47; nor could the justification of the ungodly be effected, Rom. iv. 25. Blessed, therefore, be his glorious name for ever, because, as he was delivered for our offences, so he was raised again for our justification. Well, then, might the apostle exclaim, in the language of triumphant faith, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again," Rom. viii. 34. His resurrection proves that he finished transgression, made an end of sin, and brought in an everlasting righteousness; that iniquity is expiated, that the demands of the law are answered, that

Divine justice is fully satisfied, and that death hath no more dominion.

Atonement was made by our great High Priest on the cross: but his death, unconnected with his resurrection, could not have satisfied us. If he had ei not arisen, the hopes of his disciples would have been for ever buried in his tomb. For it is his resurrection which shows that God is well pleased ra with him for his righteousness' sake. Hence "the God hof peace, "Heb. xiii. 20, is said to have "brought le again from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant." In dying, Jesus satisfied every demand; and in rising f again, he received his acquittal. He was released from the prison of the grave, as by public adjudication. When justice ceases to punish, it is satisfied. Justice, provoked by our rebellious conduct, inflicted death upon him, under the charge of our sins which he took upon himself; justice, appeased by his one offering, restored him to life. His death, therefore, pleased God; and his resurrection, by expressing the good pleasure of the Father of mercies, assures men of the perfection and efficacy of the Saviour's work.

Hence, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless us, Acts iii. 26. "It behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, that repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name among all nations," Luke xxiv. 46, 47. Agreeable to this is the language of Paul, when addressing the Jews at Antioch, "We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus gain. Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you