soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands.

11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, & shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Thus the Evangelical prophet not only foretold the sufferings of Christ, as it was afterwards literally fulfilled,by the unbelieving Jews,but he clearly declares these events, so far as related to our Saviour himself, to be of divine appointment. It is proper here to observe, that a distinction may be drawn between the event, and the agents by which that event was effected. But to this part of the subject, I shall speak more particularly in another place.

The apostles and primitive believers considered the subject in the same point of view that is here intended.

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, in bearing his testimony to Jesus of Nazareth, said: "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel & fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." Acts, 2. 23, 24. The same eminent apostle bore a similar testimony to the people, who came together, in consequence of the miracle performed in the restoration of the lame man: "And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had

shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." ib. 3. 18. And in the fourth chapter, it is recorded,that when they had been examined before the Jewish authorities in relation to this miracle,, & were borne up by divine power on that occasion, and finally returned to their own company, and reported what had taken place“They lift up their voice to God with one accord," in adoration and praise. And in that united address to the Throne of Grace, they say: "Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do, whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all that he did and suffered, is ascribed to infinite Love. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John, 3. 16.

"Hereby perceive we the Love of God, because he laid down his life for us." 1 John, 3. 16. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins." 1 John, 4. 10. "Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling savour." Eph.5.2.

He also testified: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John, 15. 13. "I lay down my life for the sheep" "therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." John, 10. 15, 17, 18.

Thus the death of our Lord, was one of the greatest evidences of his Redeeming Love; it was an act, which we should remember with the deepest reverence and gratitude.

But there is still further evidence that it was both designed, and necessary. When "Jesus began to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day," that zealous disciple Peter, who could not see the necessity for these things, and whose feelings revolted at the idea of his sufferings and death, exclaimed: "Be it far from thee Lord, this shall not be unto thee." "But he turned & said unto Peter, Get thee behind me satan: thou art an offence unto me, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matt. 16. 21, &c. On another occasion he said: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come." John, 16. 7. This saying was incomprehensible to his disciples. For how could they suppose it was expedient for them that he should go away? And especially if they connected this information with that which had been given of the manner in which he should go, that he must suffer many things, and be killed— How could they feel an interest in his death, or even in his separation from them? He had power to control the elements-to heal diseases-raise the dead, cast out devils, and powerfully administer comfort and consolation. They had felt the sweet influences of his presence, seen his miracles, tasted of his love, and all their hopes were centred

in him. Nor could a case occur to their minds, in which benefits had been ascribed to the death of any of the prophets. But notwithstanding all this, the language of the Divine Master was, "nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away." Here then was occasion for the exercise of faith, rather than of reason. And again he said: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This it appears he said, signifying what death he should die, and that through his death, the grace which brings salvation, and draws the soul to God, should be dispensed unto all men.

As the hour of his trial drew near, and while suffering the agonies of it, he said: "For this cause came I unto this hour." John, 12. 27. When the Jews were about to apprehend him, Peter attempted to prevent the accomplishment of those events which the prophets and the Divine Master had foretold, but he was commanded to desist, with this further evidence of the divine will: "Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" Matt. 26. 53, 54. "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" John, 18. 11.

It was not possible for the Jews to defeat the purposes of his coming, by putting him to death, before his ministry was accomplished. The evangelist bears a testimony to this affect, when he says: "No man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come." John, 7. 30, also 8. 20. But when he was about to expire on the cross, he said: "It is finished."

And when he had risen from the dead, and appeared to two of his disciples, "He said unto them,

O fools, & slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself." Luke, 24. 25, 26, 27.

Again, when he afterwards shewed himself to the eleven, "He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins, should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." Luke, 24. 44, to 48.

The apostle Paul uses the following language: "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." Acts, 26. 22, 23. And when he reached Thessalonica, "where was a synagogue of the Jews, as his manner was, he went in, unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen from the dead: and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Acts, 17. 2, 3.

It was very probably an argument with the Jews against the christians-that Jesus had suffered