man the free and legitimate use of all his powers. This, no less than the foregoing, was a principal end of all his sufferings. Did he give his back to the sm iters, so that they even " ploughed it up with scourges, and made long their furrows ?" It was that "by his stripes we might be healed:" he gave him- self for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works0. And it is worthy of observation, that St. Peter, quoting the text, omits all mention of other ends, and fixes upon this alone; " he bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead unto sin, might live unto righteousness ; by whose stripes ye were healed p."
It would be unpardonable, if, on such a subject as this, we did not lead you to consider,
1. What obligations we lie under to love the Lord!
If a fellow-creature should submit to excruciating torments for us, how deeply should we feel, and how gratefully acknowledge, our obligations to him ! We should wonder at such a proof of affection even from the dearest friend or relative. What then shall we say to these tokens of love from one, to whom, in the whole course of our lives, we had shewn ourselves the most determined enemies ? What shall we think of the Lord Jesus, leaving the bosom of his Father on purpose to endure these things for us ; to endure all that men or devils could inflict, and all that our sins had merited? Shall we feel no grateful emotions rising in our bosom ? Shall our hearts be still frozen and obdurate ? O let us contemplate the wounds and bruises, the chastisements and stripes which he bare for us. Let us follow him through the whole scene of his sufferings, and say, with confidence and wonder, " Surely" it was all for me ; to redeem me from de- struction, to exalt me to glory. Base as human na- ture is, it could not long withstand the influence of such a sight: at the view of him, whom we have pierced, our unfeeling hearts would relent"; and
0 Tit. ii. 14. p 1 Pet. ii. 24. °- Zech. xii. 10.