April 16

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness: even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life.—John 3:14, 15.

WHEREFORE did he not say plainly, "I am about to be crucified," instead of referring his hearers to the ancient type? First, that you may learn that old things are akin to new, and that the one are not alien to the other; next, that you may know that he came not unwillingly to his Passion; and again, besides these reasons, that you may learn that no harm arises to him from the fact of his suffering, and that to many there springs from it salvation. For, that none may say, "And how is it possible that they who believe on one crucified should be saved, when he himself is holden of death?" he leads us to the ancient story. Now if the Jews, by looking to the brazen image of a serpent, escaped death, much rather will they who believe on the Crucified, with good reason enjoy a far greater benefit. For this takes place, not through the weakness of the Crucified, or because the Jews are stronger than he, but because God loved the world, therefore is his living Temple fastened to the Cross.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Seest thou the cause of the crucifixion, and the salvation which is by it? Seest thou the relationship of the type to the reality? there the Jews escaped death, but the temporal, here believers the eternal; there the hanging serpent healed the bites of serpents, here the Crucified Jesus cured the wounds inflicted by the spiritual dragon; there he who looked with his bodily eyes was healed, here he who beholds with the eyes of his

10* understanding, believing, puts off all his sins; there that which hung was brass fashioned into the likeness of a serpent, here it was the Lord's Body, builded by the Spirit; there a serpent bit and a serpent healed, here death destroyed and a Death saved. But the snake which destroyed had venom, that which saved was free from venom; and so again was it here, for the death which slew us had sin with it, as the serpent had venom; but the Lord's Death was free from all sin, as the brazen serpent from venom. For, saith Peter, He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. And this is what Paul also declares, And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. For as some noble champion by lifting on high and dashing down his antagonist, renders his victory more glorious, so Christ, in the sight of all the world, cast down the adverse powers, and having healed those who were smitten in the wilderness, delivered them from all venomous beasts that vexed them, by being hung upon the Cross. Yet he did not say "must hang," but must be lifted up; for he used this which seemed a milder term, on account of his hearer, and because it was proper to the type.

"O that I could look to thee, Jesus lifted up for me, Me, a wounded Israelite, Me, expiring in thy sight!

"Give me now to find thee near, Now as crucified appear; Life is through thy wounds alone, Mine to heal, display thy own."