k Dan. ix. 24. ! Job xxxiii. 24. ni Gen. xxii. 13.
redeemed, and delivered from the hand of the enemy."
But this subject affords us also, 2. A pattern for our imitation — The delivering of us from destruction was by no means the only end of our Saviour's suffering: he further intended to " leave us an example, that we should follow his steps ;" that as he, " when reviled, reviled not again, and when he suffered, threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth right- eously ; so we and all his disciples, should walk according to the same rule." And how excellent is such a disposition ! how incomparably more glorious does Jesus appear, when " giving his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, and when he hid not his face from shame and spitting," than any of the heroes of antiquity riding in their triumphal car, and dragging captive princes at their chariot wheels ! If then we would be truly great, let our first victory be over our own spirit. Let us " possess our souls in patience," that, " pa- tience having its perfect work, we may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing." " If our enemy hunger, let us feed him ; if he thirst, let us give him drink ; that by so doing we may heap coals of fire on his head," not to consume him, but to melt him into love. Let us " not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good"." Difficult, no doubt, this conduct is : but can we want an inducement to it, when we reflect how Christ has loved us, and given himself for us ? Should we think it much to forgive our fellow-servant a few pence, when we have been forgiven ten thou- sand talents ? Let us remember that all our profes- sions of faith, if we be destitute of this love, are vain and worthless. " If we could speak with the tongues of men and angels, or had faith to remove moun- tains," or zeal to endure martyrdom, yet if we wanted the ornament of a meek, patient, and forgiving spirit, we should be " only as sounding brass, or as tinkling
" Rom. xii. 20, 21.
971.] 0UR lord's trial and execution. 375
cymbals." God has warned us, that, as the master seized his unforgiving servant, and cast him into " prison till he should pay the utmost farthing ;" " so will he also do unto us, if we forgive not from our hearts every one his brother their trespasses0." Let us then set Christ before our eyes : let us learn of him to forgive, not once, or seven times, but seventy times seven ; or, to use the language of the Apostle, let us " be kind one to another, tender-hearted, for- bearing one another, and forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven usp."
0 Matt, xviii. 35. p Eph. iv. 32.