ostensibly devoted unto God : " Suffer it to be so now ; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness f."]
4. When he went up to Jerusalem in order to his crucifixion —
[The paschal lamb was to be separated and set apart four days, in order to its being fully ascertained by the most accurate examination, that it was without spot or blemish, and therefore fit to be offered in sacrifice to Gods. And on the fourth day previous to his crucifixion did our blessed Lord go up to Jeru- salem, that after the strictest examination his very judges might proclaim his innocence, and consequently his fitness for the work assigned him, of making an atonement for the sins of the whole world. And his persisting in his work in opposition to all the dictates of suffering humanity, shewed that on this occasion also he sanctified himself to the office he had under- taken11."]
5. When he surrendered up himself into the hands of his murderers —
[He beat them all to the ground, when they came to apprehend him; to shew that he could with his word have struck them all dead upon the spot'. He took care also to exempt his Disciples from a participation of his lot, because their work was scarcely yet begun. But himself he resigned into the hands of sinners, in order that all which he had under- taken to do and suffer might be accomplished in him.]
Having seen what the act was, let me shew, II. What light his performance of it throws upon his character —
There was a most mysterious composition in his character —
[All others, even Aaron himself, were sanctified through the instrumentality of one appointed to that office : but Christ " sanctified himself.'" He was at the same time the Sacrifice, and the Priest that offered it, and the Altar on which it was offered k.]
And this it was which gave his offering its efficacy — [Had he been a mere man, his sacrifice could never have availed for the redemption of the world. But he was God and man in one person : and his divinity, whilst it gave an infinite value to his sacrifice, both qualified and authorized him to present himself a sacrifice to God. Both his body and soul
f Matt. iii. 15. 8 Exod. xii. 3, 6. h John xii. 12, 13,27, 28. ' John xviii. -1 — 8. k Heb. xiii. 10.