Christ's resignation.
John xii. 27, 28. Now is my soul troubled ; and what shall I say ? Father, save me from this hour : but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name.
THE sight of one in affliction necessarily produces some emotion of pity in our breasts, if we be not dead to all the feelings of humanity. But if there be majesty in distress, and that majesty be accompanied with consummate goodness, we take a deeper interest in all the circumstances exhibited to our view. Be- hold then a spectacle, such as the world never saw before, never will see again ! a sufferer, infinitely superior to the highest archangel in dignity and worth ! a suffering God ! Let us draw nigh with reverence, and learn from his own lips,
I. The depth of his troubles —
Man had not yet touched his body; nor, whatever
weight we may give to his apprehension of bodily sufferings, can we suppose that it was that alone, or that chiefly, which drew forth these bitter com- plaints.
His soul was now enduring the severest agonies —
[He particularly says, " Now is my soul troubled." If it
be asked, What was the source of his troubles ? we answer, he
was now sustaining the wrath of God, and conflicting ivith all
the powers of darkness.
It had been foretold that the Father should bruise his Son a, and smite him with the swordb of his inexorable justice. And now the season was come for the accomplishment of these prophecies. The wrath of God was the punishment due to sin : and that wrath Jesus was now enduring: yes; in order that he might redeem us from the curse of the law, he himself was become a curse c.
But it had also been foretold that the " Serpent should bruise his heeld." And he himself had just before said, that the prince of this world was coming to assault hime. Satan, when first our Lord entered on his ministry, had made repeated efforts to destroy himf ; and, though foiled and vanquished, he retreated only for a season8, determining to renew his assaults with increased vigour. This therefore seeming an opportunity peculiarly favourable to his designs, he failed not to improve it. He summoned all his principalities and powers to unite their efforts11: and O, how desperate was their attack! Our blessed Lord himself, though victorious in the conflict, had almost fainted, if angels had not been sent from heaven to succour and support him1.]
Under these agonies he was reduced to the greatest
embarrassment —
[Never was he embarrassed through the persecutions or cruelties of man: but when he endured the wrath of God, and the assaults of Satan, he could not but complain of his accu- mulated troubles : yea, so was he distressed, that he was at a loss what to say, or what to do. His nature dictated a prayer, which however he afterwards saw occasion to revoke. He begged that the cup might pass from him, and that he might be saved from that tremendous hourk. Nor was this petition
a Isai. liii. 10. first part. b Zech. xiii. 7. c Gal. iii. 10, 13.
d Gen. iii. 15. e John xiv. 30. and xii. 31.
f Luke iv. 2 — 12. « Luke iv. 13. h Col. ii. 15.
> Matt. iv. 11.
k Some read the words with an interrogation ; thus : " What shall I say ? Father, save me from this hour?" But our translation seems preferable, if we compare the account in Matt. xxvi. 3S — 42.
1673.] Christ's resignation. 559
in the least degree inconsistent with his fortitude or resig- nation. It shewed him to be a man; and it was such a petition as he might offer with perfect innocence ; seeing that to dread and deprecate the wrath of God is not only lawful but our bounden duty.]
Recovering himself, however, he welcomes his afflictions, and states,