taken away by Christ's death. We should think of him as a foe who can hurt the body for a little season, but after that has no more that he can do. We should await his approaches with calmness and patience, and beUeve that when flesh fails our soul will be in good keeping. This was the mind of dying Stephen ; " Lord Jesus/' he said, "receive my spirit." This was the mind of Paul the aged, when the time of his departure was at hand. He says, " I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.'' (Acts vii. 59 ; 2 Tim. i. 12.) Happy indeed are those who have a last end like this !
Let us observe, lastly, in these verses, the poioer of con- science in the case of the centurion atid the people who mw Christ die. We are told that the centurion "glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man." We are told that the people who had come together to the sight, " Smote their breasts and returned."
We know not exactly the nature of the feelings here described. We know not the extent to which they went, or the after-fruit which they brought forth. One thing, at all events, is clear. The Eoman officer felt convinced that he had been superintending an unrighteous actK)n, and crucifying an innocent person. The gazing crowd were pricked to the heart by a sense of having ai(}ed, countenanced, and abetted a grievous wrong. Both Jew and Gentile left Calvary that evening heavy-hearted, self-condemned, and ill at ease.
Great indeed is the power of conscience ! Mighty is the influence which it is able to exercise on the hearts of