.A coumgrn11s reqtiest. Joseph oame to Pilat~ to ask permission to take away the body o[ Jesus to be burie_rl. 1rhie wae a bold venture, as expressed by Mark, Involving con- 61dernble personal nsk, and BO contrary to his natural temper and pMt conduct. Dut h~ is now his new self and not hie old, or hie old and real self in its true garb. 2. ..1 rourageou~ an~ "loving deed. Permission was given. His inspired venturo proved rnccessful. His eloquent request was granted, and he took away the body. 'l'his wna a public act, in which he shared and for which he was responsible. His fear of losing position, cnste, and wca.lth is now gone. He is under the sway of the opposite pl'inciple of lo'"e. It is not the fear of the Jewe, but the love of Josue, sways him now, nnd he is soon joined by a timid brother. 8. Benevolent gifts. (1) The gift of Nicodemus, A hundred pounds of costly spices. He came to the funeral neither empty-hearted nor empty-handed, but with ~ princely gift-abundance of spices to embalm the dead but sacred corpse. (2) The gift of Joseph. The linen and the grave, He was determined that the body of Jesus should not share the fate of ordinary criminals, but thnt it slwuld have a grav- new grave in his garden, probably intended for himself. Jesus should sleep in hie bed. But there would be no inconvenience, as Jesus would leave it ea.r~· enough; eo there was no danger of its being needed by Joseph before it would ho left by Jesus. And be left it much improved. A garden was never the depository of such a seed ; and a grave was never the resting-place of each a tenant. (3) 'l'hese were gifts and acts of devotional love. Theirs was the heroism of unconquerable affection, which could no longer be repressed. The river overflowed its banks and swept all before it. The Jivin"' Christ was in Joseph's heart, and his dead body was now in his sacred grave. The hundred pounds of costly spices were the devotions of Nicodemus's love to the Saviour. 4. .d.U this was manifested at the darkest hour. (1) When his enemies had complded thei,,- work. They had accomplished thr.ir purposes, and realized their fondest hopes in the crucifixion and death of Jesus. But while the council had crucified him, two of its members buried his body. When hatred had reached its highest mark of triumph, latent and secret love reached a higher mark of public courage. (2) When his friends had deserted him. Only the women and the beloved disciple were in attendance at his last hour. None of bis public followers came to bury him, nor follow his body te the tumb. 'fhen these secret disciples came forward as the reserve force of the King, and courageously and lovingly performed his sacred obaequies. (3) When his cause was appai·ently at an end. Nicodemus never ea.me to him on such a dark nip:ht as this. The common faith was eclipsed, and hope all but extinguished; but then the faith, hope, and love of these private disciples glowed and &hone in the gloom of death. LESSONS. 1. That general sincerity of character i, advantageous to the reception of Jesus. Joseph was a just and honourable man. This wa.e his general character, and to such J esns must recommend himself. 2. In the most wicked councils generally there are - good men. In the very nest of his murderers Jesus had at least two genuine friends. 3. Genuine pri,nci,p'le, however weak, will triumph in the end. Life ultimately will make itself seen and felt. Those who sincerely come to Jesus by night will come to him at last by day, and in the day of greatest need. 4. Jesus has ever some secret diseiples, who wi.71, do for him what others will or can not. It was intended that ho should have a princely buriaL If in life he was with the poor, he was with the rich in his death. No one could foresee how this could come to pass; but Jesus had secret friends among the rich, and they buried his body in a rich fashion, very befitting. Others buried him; he rose himself. 6. Christ was more influential in death than in life. In life he had failed to draw Joseph and Nicodemus out publicly; hut in death they could not resist the attraction. He said," If l die, I will draw;" and here is a striking illustration, but not the only one.-B. T.
Ver. 6.-" Eca Homo!" L PILATE'& llEANING. He meant that a very little thing frightened the priests and elders and their sympathizers. He invited them to look at Jesus, with the thorny crown encircling his brows, and the purple robe-doubtless some tattered and outworn piece of costume thrown over his shoulders. Surely if Jesus wern indeed e. King, if his royalty was in power as well as in word, all this mockery woul<l have brought the reality our. IL 'Ju .A.OTO.AL BEBULT OF TBIS TBEATKEIIIT, Pilate meant that Je2us should llb. xtj!:, 1--42.) 'I'lrn OO!:ll'EL ACCORDING TO S'l'. JOHN.