2. The wonderful love of the Lord Jesus Christ to our sinful race —
[This which is spoken of in my text has been done for us by our Lord Jesus Christ ; of whom it is said, " He poured out his soul unto death k." He even came from heaven for this very purpose, and assumed our nature that he might be capable of doing it. And this he did too, not merely as a witness for the truth, or as an example to the Church, but as an atonement for the sins of all mankind. On him were laid the iniquities of us all: and, when he saw what a bloody baptism he was to be baptized with, he was quite straitened until it should be accomplished ; so ardently did he desire the wished-for period. Nor was it for friends and brethren that he poured forth his blood, but for his very enemies, even for the very people who nailed him to the cross : and this too, not in the midst of consolations and supports, but under a sense of God's wrath, and in the depths of dereliction. O ! who can tell what manner of love this was? Truly, its height and depth, and length and bi-eadth, are utterly unsearchable, and incomprehensible. Brethren, you contemplate with wonder and gratitude the example of St. Paul : but what must you think of our Lord Jesus Christ ? I charge you, beloved brethren, be not insensible of this : but set it before you, and meditate upon it, till it has penetrated your inmost souls, and " filled you with all the fulness of God1'."]
3. What is the proper character of a Christian minister —
[Even a private Christian ought not to fall short of the example before us: for St. John says, " Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us : and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren"1." What then becomes the Christian minister, who has consecrated himself to the service of the sanctuary, and bound himself, by the most solemn ties, to live only for his God ! The union of love and zeal which the Apostle manifested on this occasion should be visible in the whole of his walk before God ; so that at all times he may appeal to his people as the Apostle did; " We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children ; so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto usn." O that there were in us such a heart as this! What blessings should we be to the places where our lot is cast !
k Isai. liii. 12. ! Eph. iii. 18, 19.
m 1 John iii. 16. n 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8.