cause DO man shall say. that he lacked time to do good works, for else he would have done them, truth it is, I will not contend therein : but this I will surely affirm that faith only sared him/'
Luther, quoted by Stier, says, " This is a comfortable symbol and example for all Christians, how that God will nerer let faith in Christ and a confession of His name go down. If the dis- ciples as a body, and those otherwise related to Christ, confess not and lose their faith, deny Him in fear, are offended and forsake Him, this malefactor and murderer must come forward to confeHB Him, to preach Him to others, and teach all men who He is and what consolation all may find in Him."
RoUock, on the Passion, says, " I say of this man, to the glory of God, that he shamed all that stood by. He shamed the apostles and made them cast down their faces. He shamed all men who will not believe, when they see Christ not crucified as He saw, but glorified in the heavens, and sitting at the right hand of Majesty." — " The Lord raised him up on the gallows to be a teacher of faith and repentance, of hope, of patience, of love, and of all graces. Think no shame to learn of him."
Baxter says, " The thiefs example showeth us what election freely doeth in calling one, while another is passed by. Christ would give this present proof of the virtue of His sacrifice to caU and justify sinners. True conversion is never too late to the obtaining of mercv and salvation. True repentance and faith, however late, will have its fruits. This man was not saved without good works."
LUKE XXin. 44-49.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
4t5 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit : and hav- ing said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw
what was done, he glorified God, say- ing. Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 Aiid all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
Let us observe in these verses, the miraculom signs which accompanied our LorcTs death on the cross. We are told that there was '' a darkness over all the earth '^ for three