k Luke xii. 50. ' Eph. iii. 18, 19. m Luke xxiii. 31.
Matt, xxvii. 38 — 44. The7i were there two thieves crucified with him. ; one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and VOL. XI. Q Q
saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and huildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the Scribes and elders, said, He saved others; him- self he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come doivn from the cross, and we loill believe him. He trusted in God ; let him deliver him now, if he loill have him : for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, ivhich were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
SOME, from idle curiosity, are fond of attending upon public executions ; whilst others, from a com- mendable sensibility, could not prevail upon them- selves to be present at such a scene. But there is no room for the one or other of these feelings, in the scene now presented to our view. Our corporeal senses can neither be gratified nor shocked : it is by faith only that we can realize the transactions of this day : but if we have faith, we shall " look on Him whom we have pierced, and mourn, and be in bitterness, as for a first-born son." In general, the behaviour of the condemned person is the chief object of contemplation ; that of the spectators is never so much as thought of : it is taken for granted, that that will be decorous, and suited to the solemn occasion. But, in the present instance, we wish particularly to notice the conduct of those who attended the cruci- fixion of our Lord : and we shall find that t/ieir treat- ment of him is replete with instruction in a variety of views :
I. As an exhibition of man's depravity —
[Much of the wickedness of man appears in the arrest, the prosecution, and the condemnation of our Lord : but in no part of his history do we behold such a mass of impiety as in that before us. For all that preceded his crucifixion, there was a reason: it was deemed necessary for the safety of the state that he should be put to death : and, till they had accomplished that object, we do not wonder at any thing they did to attain it. But, when they had attained it, and there was no further occasion for their hostilities, we are surprised beyond measure that there was no relaxation of their resentment. On all other occasions, the execution of criminals, however deservedly they suffer, calls forth a measure of compassion : but towards him the fury of all ranks of men raged with unabated force ; and.