him at once within the scope of our affections, and renders him an object of our love as our friend, as well as our Saviour. His sympathy with human feelings is the very groundwork of the confidence through which we come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy. For,' as the Apostle argues, we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities'.'

6

Not that it was necessary that Christ should -take upon him our flesh in order to understand its nature, and become conscious that it needed the intercession of a compassionate advocate. As God, he must have been acquainted with it from the beginning, and his personal experience could have added nothing to the intimate knowledge he possessed of the frailties of those whose form he voluntarily assumed. But it would be difficult for man to understand how so great and unapproachable a spirit as God could stoop so

• Heb. iv. 15.

low as to enter into the feelings and make allowance for the infirmities of his creatures.

It became therefore of the utmost consequence, that the conviction of his sympathy with our condition should be impressed on our minds by such proof of his past condescension, as would be sufficient to establish in us a firm belief of his tender regard for mankind. Hence the propriety of his having been made like unto us, that when we contemplate him in his character of mediator, we may divest him as it were of his divine attributes, and apply with more freedom to our advocate, who, before he passed into the heavens, was in all things tempted like as we are. We can now understand as well as believe, that Christ, although exalted to the right hand of his Father, continues to feel the same tenderness for his church which distinguished him while on earth. As a pledge that he always identifies himself with the cause of his followers, we can dwell on his question to Saul when journeying to Damascus

-Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me'?' It was against the disciples of the Lord that this zealous enemy of the new religion had been breathing out threatenings and slaughter; but the Lord was pleased to look upon the persecutions inflicted on them as if they had been offered directly to himself, and charges the author of their sufferings with the crime of having fought against God in person I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.' The idea of Christ's union with his people, and of his participation in their interests, is thus brought home to the mind, and becomes an additional motive for love to such a compassionate Saviour.

It is to this feature in our Lord's character that the Evangelists refer, when any striking. instances of his mercy is mentioned. Did he look complacently upon the hopeful points in the character of the young man who came to him running, and asking how he might inherit

Acts, ix. 4,

eternal life? St. Mark tells us, it was because 'Jesus, beholding him, loved him. Did he give proof of his power over death by restoring Lazarus again to his family? It was because 'Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus 3. Was he desirous in his last conversation with the Apostles to omit no topic which could edify, or comfort, or support them under their approaching state of bereavement? It was because he knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end? Did he so far forget his own sufferings in the moment of his last agony, as to provide for the support of his mother and the alleviation of her sorrows during the remainder of the days of her widowhood? It was to the disciple whom Jesus loved,' that he recommended her for protection, as a last token of his confidence in the strength and permanence of his follower's attachment. Did he wish to convey

3 John, xi. 5.

some idea to his disciples of the extent and nature of his own regard for them? He could find no fitter measure for it than by comparing it with the love of God for his only begotten Son

- As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. It is through his love that we have spiritual strength-' In all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us"." It is through the same love that we are provided with his intercession in our behalf through all eternity.

But above all, it was his love which produced that voluntary abasement and sacrifice of himself which made satisfaction for the sins of the world-We live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us.' 'Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet-smelling savour.' 'Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests

5 John, xv. 9.

6 Rom. viii. 37.