place : only we must remember, that they both flow from the wounded side of Christ ; and that Christ is the only fountain from whence either the one or the other can be derived.
It is possible that this interpretation may appear fanciful : but it will no longer be thought so, if only we consult the ex- position which St. John himself has given us of this mystery : " This," says he, " is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ ; not by water only, but by water and blood ' : " from whence we may fairly infer, that " what God has so joined together, we must never attempt to put asunder."]
3. What dispositions we are to cultivate — [The latter prophecy referred to in our text says, " They shall look on Him whom they have pierced :" and the prophet adds, " They shall mourn and be in bitterness, as one mourneth for his only son." Now this shews the two dispositions which we should exercise towards our adorable Lord and Saviour: we should " look to him" with penitence and faith. Never can we mourn too deeply, when we reflect that it was our sin that crucified the Lord of glory : the Jews and Romans were the instruments ; but our iniquities were the cause of all his suffer- ings : " He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities? Nay more, by our sins we have " crucified the Lord afresh, and put him to an open shame m." If then we feel that the Jews have cause to mourn, how should zve mourn, who have done that with our eyes open, which they did only through the blindness and ignorance of their hearts ! Yet, whilst we mourn and are in bitterness, we should not forget that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, that he " bare them all in his own body on the tree," and that, by becoming a curse for us, he has redeemed us from the curse which our sins had merited. We should resemble the penitent under the law, who, whilst he presented his sacrifice to God and confessed over it his sins, put his hand upon the head of his sacrifice, and transferred his guilt to that as his substitute and surety. Thus should we do : in our view of Christ upon the cross, we should unite penitence and faith : to separate the two will destroy their efficacy altogether : an impenitent faith, and an unbelieving penitence, will leave us in no better state than that of devils, of whom St. James says, that " they believe and tremble"." Let us then cultivate these dispositions to our dying hour ; and look unto Jesus with penitential faith, and with believing penitence.]
1 1 John v. 6. m Heb. vi. 6. » Jam. ii. 19.