of Saints which slept," and by the rending of the great veil which separated the holy place of the Temple from the Holy of Holies. The Crucifixion and Death of Christ, which had been prefigured by the Sacrifice of Isaac,-the brazen Serpent of Moses,-and the Paschal Lamb,-and had been foretold in the most clear and descriptive terms by the inspired Prophets, are a sufficient pledge that he "hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us," having removed the malediction under which every transgressor lay, by taking it upon himself in the accursed mode of death to which he was condemned;-that he has cancelled the rigid obligation of the Mosaic Covenant, that he "blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Cross:"-and that, by enduring the infamous punishment of a malefactor and slave, he humbled himself to the very lowest degree, in order that he might redeem us from slavery to sin. The publicity of his execution left no doubt of his having actually died in consequence of the torture which he underwent, and of the shedding of his blood upon the Cross, without which there could be no remission of sins,-no salvation for the sinner. § 5. In order that the body of Jesus might not remain upon the Cross during the ensuing Sabbath, the Jews begged of Pilate that it might be taken down, as soon as it was ascertained that he was dead. A Soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a spear; and from the wound there flowed blood and water, physically demonstrating that death had really taken Joseph of Arimathea, with Nicodemus, having requested the body of Jesus, wrapped it in fine linen and spices, according to the custom of the richer Jews, and laid it in his own Sepulchre newly hewn out of a rock. A great stone closed the entrance to the Tomb and the Priests and Pharisees, for fear the disciples of Christ should steal away the body, and say that, according to his own prediction, he was risen, put a seal upon the stone, and set a watch to prevent the access of any person to the spot. The burial of Jesus was not permitted to take place till Pilate had been convinced that he was really dead, and had thus afforded additional and most unquestionable evidence of this most important fact. § 6. The Soul of Jesus Christ, when separated by death from his mortal body, "descended into Hell,”went to the invisible place of departed spirits. By this last act of Humiliation, Christ submitted to perform all that could be required of him, as perfect man, consisting of a human body and soul. While these were disunited, and the mortal part was deposited in the earth, the immortal Spirit was subjected to the same condition as other human Souls. Having thus satisfied the Law of Death, He who was without sin, rescued from the Dominion of Death and Power of Satan, those who should believe in him, and who without his satisfaction must have continued subject to the punishment of sin, even eternal death. From Scripture. SECTION 1. PHILIPPIANS ii. 5-7. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Matt. iii. 13-17. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Luke iv. 1, 2. And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days templed of the devil. And in those days he did cat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterwards hungered. Heb. ii. 17, 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people: For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Luke iv. lilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. Matt. viii. 16, 17. 20. When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 2 Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Matt. xii. 24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. John ix. 16. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath-day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. John xv. 18. 20. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than the lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. Heb. ii. 10. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Isaiah Ixiii. 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them: and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. SECTION II. Matt. iv. 23, 24. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those that were possessed with devils, and those that were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. Luke viii. 1. And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. 1 Peter ii. 21, 22. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Mark x. 32–34. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and the third day he shall rise again. Mark xi. 1, 2. 7-10. 15-17. And when they came nigh to Jerusalem unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples. And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments upon him; and he sat on him. And many spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And they came to Jerusalem and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And : |