3

scribed. God was pleased that all these details should be foretold by David, to the end that when they came to pass, we might have the clearest proof that He was the true Messiah 2. It was probable that Jesus had not spoken for some time so that those who, "sitting down, watched Him there," were startled from their repose; and some of the by-standers, when they heard Him speak, pretended, in a taunt, to mistake the word Eli, or My God, for the name of Elias 3. The continued torture of the cross would naturally produce thirst; and, accordingly, a vessel, full of vinegar, was set near the cross*: and it is said, that "Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, saith, I thirst;" but, it is expressly added, that this was done, "that the Scripture might be fulfilled:" "and they filled a sponge with vinegar," and put it on a long pole, or reed, (or, as it is called, hyssop,) and gave Him to drink. When, therefore, He had received the vinegar, He said, "It is finished." And when Jesus had cried, with a loud voice, He said, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit." David had in his distress expressed by these words his resignation of himself and his affairs into the hand of God; and Christ expired on the cross with the same words on His lips'.

It was not till every tittle was fulfilled, that the patient Son of God, as if then, and not before, at liberty to depart, said, "It is finished," bowed His anointed head, and rendered up the ghost. Wonderful catastrophe! replete with mysteries!—“ It is finished." Holy Victim, Thy sufferings are terminated! All is finished that wicked men were wonderfully destined to contribute towards the general deliverance. The high Sacrifice, appointed before the foundation of the world, typified in all the sacrifices of the Law, is now slain and accepted. All creatures in heaven and in earth are moved at our Saviour's passion. The sun in heaven is "darkened." "The earth did quake, and the rocks rent," as if they had sympathy in it and shall sinful men only remain unmoved,—they to whom it appertained,—and for whom it procured unspeakable blessings'? Such were the convulsions into which the whole frame of nature was thrown, when the Lord of all yielded up His life, "that the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints arose, and came out of the graves;" showing Christ's conquest over the grave: but, above all, the priest, who that day and at that hour offered Bishop Andrewes.

6

Bishop Horsley.

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incense at the evening sacrifice, could bring a testimony of sufficient amazement, when He came forth; for, "Behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom "." The veil, here mentioned, was a curtain of rich tapestry, which separated the holy place of the Temple from the Holy of Holies. By the rending of it, was probably signified the abolition of the whole Mosaic Ritual, the removal of the partition between Jew and Gentile; and the admission of the latter, on the terms of the Gospel covenant, into heaven, of which the Holy of Holies was a type 9.

SECT. CLX.-Christ is confessed by the Centurion to be the Son of God.-Matt. xxvii. 54; Mark xv. 39; Luke xxiii. 47.

A ROMAN captain, with a guard of soldiers, called "a Centurion," was ordered to attend the crucifixion of Jesus, and see the sentence executed; and others, also, stood also, stood watching Jesus, who, when they saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly and when the Centurion saw the meekness, the patience, the resignation, the firmness with which our Lord endured the most excruciating torments; when he heard Him at one time fervently praying for His murderers; at another, disposing with dignity and Bishop Porteus.

Dr. Lightfoot.

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authority of a place in Paradise to one of His fellow-sufferers; and, at length, with that confidence, which nothing but conscious virtue, and conscious dignity could at such a time inspire, recommending His Spirit into the hands of His heavenly Father, he could not but conclude Him to be a most extraordinary Person, and something more than human: "Certainly this was a righteous Man." But when, moreover, he observed the astonishing events that took place when Jesus expired, the agitation into which the whole frame of nature seemed to be thrown, the supernatural darkness, the earthquake, the rending of rocks, the opening of graves, he then burst out involuntarily into that striking exclamation, "Truly, this was the Son of God." Here we have a most impartial and incorrupt testimony of the Divine character of our Lord; the honest, unsolicited testimony of a plain man, a soldier, and a heathen; the testimony not of one who was prejudiced in favour of Christ and His religion, but of one who, by habit and education, was probably strongly prejudiced against them'. "And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts," in token of remorse and grief for their guilt, "and returned "."

1 Bishop Porteus.

2

2 Dr. Hales.

SECT. CLXI.—Christ's Side is Pierced.-John xix. 31-37.

FRIDAY, or the sixth day of the week, being the day before the Sabbath, was called "the day of the preparation." The next day is called by St. John "an high day," because it was one of the eight days of the paschal feast 3. It was the day of the offering of the sheaf of first fruits, because it was this year the first day of unleavened bread. On this account, the Jews were desirous "that the bodies should not

remain on the cross, polluted spectacle to the people, but that "they might be taken away," and the lives of the condemned shortened, by the violent death of breaking their legs. A heathen writer, when commending the Edict of Constantine, abolishing the punishment of the cross, notices this horrible custom". "But when the soldiers came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs;" thus remarkably fulfilling that which had been expressly commanded in the typical paschal lamb, "that a bone of Him should not be broken." "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side;" accomplishing again another prophecy, that of Zechariah, which says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced "." It is also recorded, that "forthwith came thereout blood and water."

Among the

Dr. Lightfoot. 6 Dr. S. Clarke.