July 21

"Christ crucified." — 1 Corinthians 1:23.

THIS is an inexhaustible subject — it contains the basis of our faith, the ground of our confidence, the object of our triumph, and the medium of all spiritual and eternal blessings. Behold in Christ crucified

A SCENE OF GLORY. Glory as it refers to his character and perfections. He is the brightness of his Father's glory. In the cross we have an exhibition of all the Divine attributes in equal, united, and eternal splendor.

A SCENE OF EFFICACY. In the death of Christ we find an answer to all the requirements of the law, and the demands of justice. Here our guilt is removed, our pardon is obtained, sin atoned for, hell vanquished, and heaven opened. This is the medium through which the influences of the Spirit descend upon us; and the foundation of our Saviour's prevalent intercession in heaven. By it, how many dead sinners have been quickened; how many sorrowful penitents have been made to rejoice; how many proud boasters have been humbled; how many desponding souls have been comforted!

A SCENE OF IGNOMINY. Many things connected with our Saviour's humiliation were ignominious: his introduction into the world; the meanness of his condition here; the epithets heaped on him; his being clothed with the purple robe; having a reed given to him for a sceptre; being crowned with thorns, and suffering the death of the cross.

A SCENE OF LOVE. This was the principle that constrained him to suffer so much. The greatness of his suffering did not prevent his attention to his mother, John 19:26, 27. He did not forget the interests of the women that followed him weeping, Luke 23:28. He prayed for his enemies, who were gnashing on him with their teeth: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." He heard the prayer of the thief who had reviled him; and said, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."

A SCENE OF RESPONSIBILITY. You must give an account of the manner in which you regard this solemn scene: there must be repentance for sin; faith in and love to Christ, and active exertions in his cause. If Christ was crucified for me, I must be crucified to the world; dead to its spirit, principles, and maxims, and alive to him who died for me. The attractive influence of the cross, says one, is to us what the heat of the sun is to the moisture of the earth—the only drawing power; other doctrines may, like the moon, produce regular tides of formal worship, and, like the stars, brighten the surface of the character; but they shine too cold to regenerate the heart, or purify the conscience.