April 15

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.— Luke 23:34.

The crucifixion of Christ, was the most atrocious crime the Jews ever committed. When we contemplate the dignity of the illustrious sufferer, and the overwhelming evidence he gave of the divinity of his mission, we must perceive, that to shed his infinitely precious blood, must have been a crime of the deepest dye — a murder of the foulest and most aggravated description. Well might Jesus exclaim, "They know not what they do." The

N full amount of guilt they were then committing, will only be fully ascertained in the day of judgment, and the day of doom. Yet heinous as was the crime, unfathomable as was their guilt, it did not place them beyond the reach of mercy, it did not render their salvation impossible. What a striking scene is exhibited before us! The powers of earth and hell, are exhausting their malignant cruelty on the Son of God. Men and devils seem to vie with each other, which should have the preeminence in perpetrating this deed of horror and blood. Christ is enduring the most intense agonies, they could cause him to suffer, yet his heart becomes as it were insensible to his own excruciating sufferings, and compassion towards his enemies, triumphs over every other feeling. While they blaspheme, he prays,—while they mock and revile him, he intercedes for their salvation,—while they cover him with wounds, and extract his precious blood, every wound they open and every drop of blood they shed, became vocal on their behalf. Let heaven and earth be astonished, the dying victim exclaims,

"Forgive them Father, O forgive,

They know not that by me they live."

Is it not then the interest of every self-convicted sinner to come to the same Redemer, and to plead,

"Thy precious death and life,—I pray,

Take all, take all my sins away."