unconverted men will sometimes go, and the fierce delight with which they will sometimes trample on the most holy and the most pore, almost justify the strong saying of an old divine, that ^* man left to himself is half-beast and half-devil." He hates God and all who bear any- thing of God's image about them. '' The carnal mind is enmity against God." (Bom. viii. 7.) We have probably « very faint idea of what the world would become, if it were not for the constant restraint that God mercifully puts upon evil. It is not too much to say that if xmcon- verted men had their own way entirely, the earth would soon be little better than a hell.
Our Lord's calm submission to insults like those here described, shows the depth of His love towards sinners. Had He so willed. He could have stopped the insolence of his enemies in a moment. He who could cast out devils with a word, could have supimoned legions of angels to His side, and scattered these wretched tools of Satan to the winds. But our Lord's heart was set on the great work He had come on earth to do. He had undertaken to purdiase our redemption by His own humiliation, and He did not flinch from pa}ring the uttermost farthing of the price. He had tmdertaken to drink the bitter cup of vicarious suffering to save sinners, and "for the joy set before TTiTn He despised the shame," and drank the cup to the very dregs. (Heb. xii. 2.)
Patience like that which our blessed Lord exhibited on this occasion should teach His professing people a mighty lesson. We should forbear all murmuring and com- plaining, and irritation of spirit, when we are iU- treated by the world. What are the occasional insolfe