Surety, our Proxy, — the Divine Friend wlio undertook to stand in our stead, and by the priceless merit of His sufferings, to purchase our redemption. — Was He scourged ? It was that " through His stripes we might be healed." — Was he condemned, though innocent ? It was that we might be acquitted though guilty. — Did He wear a crown of thorns ? It was that we might wear the crown of glory. — Was He stripped of His raiment ? It was that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness. — Was he mocked and reviled ? It was that we might be honored and blessed. — Was He reckoned a malefac- tor, and numbered among transgressors ? It was that we might be reckoned innocent, and justified from all sin. — Was he declared unable to save Himself ? It was that He might be able to save others to the uttermost. — Did He die at last, and that the most painful and dis- graceful of deaths ? It was that we might live for evermore, and be exalted to the highest glory. — Let us ponder these things well. They are worth remembering. The very key to peace is a right apprehension of the vicarious sufferings of Christ.
Let us leave the story of our Lord's passion with ' feelings of deep thankfulness. Our sins are many and great. But a great atonement has been made for them. There was an infinite merit in all Christ's sufferings. They were the sufferings of One who was God as well as man. Surely it is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to praise God daily because Christ has died. ^, Last, but not least, let us ever learn from the story of the passion, to hate sin with a great hatred. Sin was the cause of aU our Saviour's suffering. Our sins platted