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out, I thirst.' In his humiliation this cry may | said, 'I thirst!' Then was fulfilled what had be regarded as an appeal to his enemies; but been uttered in prophecy ages before: From they were dead to all compassion; and the appeal above he sent fire into my bones, and it prewas made in vain: and yet not in vain, seeing vailed against them; he hath spread a net for that by their very cruelty, though they meant it my feet, he hath turned me back, he hath made not, a prophecy was fulfilled. The holy Sufferer me desolate and faint all the day.' 'Behold, O knew the hardness of their hearts, and it was Lord, for I am in distress; my bowels are that the scripture might be fulfilled that he said, troubled; mine heart is turned within me.' 'I thirst.' How precious would a cupful of They have heard that I sigh; there is none to cold water then have been to the suffering Sa- comfort me: all my enemies have heard of my viour! Instead, however, of giving water, they trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it.' filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it on hyssop, Think then, O my soul, on the sufferings of thy and put it to his mouth. That this was done in Saviour, when laden, and desolate, and forsaken, the spirit of cruel mockery appears from the pro- he said, ‘I thirst.' phecy respecting it. After saying, Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none;' he immediately subjoins as part of the complaint, 'They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.' The gall had already been given to him; and Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." He shall drink of the brook by the way, therefore shall he lift up the head."

'I thirst!' How often have we read this without thinking of what, even from thirst, the Redeemer suffered when he thus gave utterance to his sufferings! We grieve when we think of his being torn by the scourge, and pierced by the nails; but do we deeply sympathize when, at the close of his sufferings, he cries, I thirst?' And yet this very thirst may have added more to his distress than all that he suffered from the thorns, and the scourge, and the nails. We have read of a number of British subjects being immured by a despot's power, in a crowded dungeon, in a sultry clime; and while many died, others were driven to utter frenzy, and to raving madness, by the agonies of thirst. How unspeakably precious, in some circumstances, may a single drop of water be! In hell,' the rich man in the parable lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.' How inconceivably precious would a spongeful of water have been to Christ when, in the agonies of crucifixion, he

"I thirst!' O should we not, in meditating on this, learn resignation? His sufferings were unmerited, for he was altogether without sin. Our sufferings are all merited, and are always less than we deserve. Should we not be resigned then in the day of trial, when we may sing of mercy as well as of judgment? Should we not hear the voice of the rod, and Him who hath appointed it, when, if we receive chastening as from a Father's hand, he will sanctify the affliction, and cause it to be one of the 'all things' that work together for our good?

'I thirst!' said the suffering Saviour. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth.' Alas, alas! did no eye pity? Did no hard heart relent? Must the dying Redeemer say, I was thirsty, and they gave me no drink? Nay, what is worse, must his complaint be, 'In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink?' In what circumstances of trial then can the believer be placed, in which he has not cause to be, not only resigned, but thankful? Is he visited with bodily trouble? How often are there affectionate friends tenderly to sympathize; and to do all that earthly friends can do, to comfort, and to soothe! But though it should be otherwise; though earthly friends should either turn their back, or prove miserable comforters all; what a happiness is it, that there is one friend who sticketh closer than a brother, who knows what it is to suffer, and who is both able and willing to comfort and to sustain! That friend is the Saviour of sinners, who said on the cross, 'I' thirst.' O let us love him: let us serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind, saying, Lord, we are thy servants, we are thy servants, the sons of thy handmaiden: thou hast loosed

our bonds!

THIRTIETH DAY.-EVENING.

‘And let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely,' Rev.

xxii. 17.

THE Son of God, exhausted with sufferings of body and soul, said, 'I thirst.' O what an opportunity of doing what never would have been forgotten through time or through eternity! And did many rush forward to quench the Redeemer's thirst? Alas, alas! they made haste, but it was to add bitterness to his bitter cup, In his thirst they gave him vinegar to drink.' And yet, instead of visiting them with vengeance, either immediately, or when he came to his kingdom, from his throne of glory he said of old, and he says now, 'If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink;' 'let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'

How precious the offer! How precious even the common element of water! Withhold it even a few days from man, and he dies in agony. What water is to the body, grace is to the soul; -indispensably necessary to its life and welfare. Grace is here figuratively spoken of as living water, the water of life.' Grace was typified by the refreshing streams that flowed from the smitten rock in the wilderness. Rich are the blessings of grace that flow from Christ this smitten rock, such as pardon of sin, and consequently deliverance from the punishment of iniquity; sanctification of body and spirit, and consequently deliverance from the power of sin; meetness for the inheritance, and at last possession of the kingdom that cannot be moved.' The pure river of water of life is of heavenly origin; it proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.' It is life-giving; and the life imparted is life everlasting. It purifies; 'I will sprinkle clean water on you, and ye shall be clean.' It refreshes; it is 'as rivers of water in a dry place;' or as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.' How precious the invitation then, Let him that is athirst come!'

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How general the invitation! Let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take *the water of life.' This invitation, without doubt, extends to all those who have tasted of the water of life; who have had experience of its virtue, and earnestly desire fresh supplies, saying, As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land where no water is.' It extends also to those who as yet know nothing of the

joys of God's salvation, but who have been made to feel their need of mercy to pardon and grace to help. For them the fountain is open, and to them the invitation is given, Come ye unto the wells of salvation, and draw, and drink with joy.' But extends it no farther? Yes: it is to those also who are labouring in the fire, compassed about with sparks of their own kindling; thirsting-but coming to broken cisterns-wells without water, or to empoisoned streams which only feed the burning thirst that consumes them;— searching eagerly after happiness, saying, 'Who will show us any good?' and yet utterly ignorant where this true good is to be found. How merciful is it to say to such, 'Ho! every one that thirsteth, come unto the waters.' 'Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread; and your labour for that which satisfieth not?' And lest they should still fear that the invitation extends not to them, because they thirst not aright, it is subjoined, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life.'

How free is the invitation! It is not only, Whosoever will, let him take the water of life,' but let him take it freely. The unrenewed man is a stranger to the riches of the glory of divine grace; and he concludes that he must have some righteousness of his own to entitle him to apply for grace; and Satan seeks to keep him in this belief, that without some merit of his own, application would be fruitless. But Christ says, 'By grace ye are saved through faith;' 'take the water of life freely.' 'The water of life' is saving grace; and saving grace is free grace, unmerited kindness; for were it merited, it could not be free grace. He who died for sinners offers it freely, without money and without price; and what he offers liberally and ungrudgingly, he wishes you to take unsparingly, saying, 'Drink, yea, drink abundantly' of the water of life.

It is the Prince of life that offers it. 'In his thirst they gave him vinegar to drink;' but he holds out to you the cup of salvation. To-day, while it is called to-day, harden not your hearts.' Do you hesitate? To-day he says, 'Come;' tomorrow he may say, 'Depart from me ye cursed.' To-day he says, Drink-drink of the living water. To-morrow he may say, Drink-but drink of the cup of trembling; and drink of it for evermore.

What love is manifested in the earnestness of the invitation! When the need is so great, it had been enough, one might have thought, to give the most distant hint, that all our wants might be supplied. But wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth, at the condescending

kindness of the Lord, when all we need is not only offered, and freely offered, but with the utmost urgency, and earnestness pressed on our acceptance! 'Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price. To rouse the careless sons of men, and to attract their special attention, the cry is raised aloud, 'Ho!' How precious is water to the exhausted traveller! Were we in the wilderness, almost perishing of thirst, and were the smallest fountain of water discovered, with what speed would we rush to it! How eagerly would we drink of it, muddy and polluted though it might be, even amidst the thirsty camels' feet! And when we are in the moral wilderness, and when our soul fainteth in us, how wonderful, when the fountain of life has been pointed out, that we should need to be urged to drink of it! He who freely offers the living water, knows that we must perish if we drink not; and therefore his compassionate and urgent cry is, Come, come, come! Come, and take freely, not only water, but wine, and milk, without money, and without price;water, to save from death; milk, to nourish and strengthen; and wine, to cheer and gladden the fainting soul. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whoso ever will, let him take the water of life freely.'

6

THIRTY-FIRST DAY.-MORNING.

'When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished,' John xix. 30.

An angel's tongue could not tell the full import of these words, 'It is finished.' But yet, though we cannot fathom the depth of their meaning, we may with profit consider, that

Christ's sufferings were then finished. In assuming our nature, he became subject to its sinless sufferings of body and of mind. How great would be his heart-griefs during the whole of his ministry arising from the impenitence, malice, and hatred of the Jews to whom he addressed himself, offering them life, and warning them to flee from the wrath to come! But his sufferings at the close of his ministry were above what we can form any conception of, strong as the language is which the evangelists employ in describing them. 'He began to be sore amazed,' to be in consternation, to be laden with grief, saying, 'my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. This

was the hour and power of darkness,' and being in agony he fell on his face, and prayed most earnestly, and in the mental struggle, 'his sweat was it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.' And soon was the blood to flow in streams from his sacred body, when he gave his back to the smiters, his hands and his feet to be nailed on the accursed tree; when his head was torn by the thorns, and his side pierced by the spear. And yet all that fiends from hell, and all that foes on earth could do, was but as a drop to the bitter waters of a full cup which was wrung out for him, when his Father hid from him his face. Then the waters came in unto his soul, and in the anguish of his heart he cried out, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.'

The tempest, however, had now done its worst. The lurid cloud, having exhausted its thunders, and launched its fierce fires against his head, had vanished. His Father's benignant countenance again beamed on him in all its brightness, and with the triumphant voice of a conqueror he cried, 'It is finished.' Can we conceive the feelings of a great commander when for a whole day he has witnessed the bloody strife betwixt two mighty armies, when victory, for hours, has hung trembling in the balance, now inclining to this side, and now to that; when the fate of empires depended on the result-can we conceive his feelings, when the long wished-for moment at last comes when he can lead to the decisive charge his noble troops, when he hears them raise the shout of triumph; when he sees the proud array of the enemy's host utterly broken and routed, and changed into a mingled O! how much less then can we conceive the full mass of flight, and carnage, and consternation? import of the words of the Son of God, when all his spiritual foes were discomfited, when the deadly struggle was brought to a close, and when with the shout of a conqueror he cried, 'It is finished!'

'It is finished;' types and prophecies were fulfilled. The true paschal Lamb was then slain when Christ our Passover had been sacrificed for us. The true Rock was now smitten, when he who is indeed our Rock, was stricken, smitten, and afflicted. Then it was seen why the red heifer, whose ashes were to be mingled with the waters of purification, was an unclean thing to be burnt without the camp, when Christ, bearing our sins, as the worst of malefactors, had suffered without the gates. Then the typical meaning of the brazen serpent could be understood, when Christ had been lifted up on the cross, that those who looked to him might be healed; that they who

believed on him should not perish, but should | hitherto lived, was one of distance, and darkness, have eternal life. and fear. For the law having a shadow of good Time would fail us were we to attempt to things to come, and not the very image of the enumerate the prophecies which were fulfilled things, can never, with 'those sacrifices, which they when Christ said, 'It is finished.' The treachery offered year by year continually, make the comers of Judas; the injustice of Pilate; the cruelty of thereunto perfect.' 'But in those sacrifices there the Jews; the impious taunts of the rulers; the is a remembrance again made of sins every year. insulting mockery of the soldiers; the parting of For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and his raiment, the casting of lots for his vesture; of goats should take away sins.' But 'what the and many other prophecies, had been accom- law could not do in that it was weak through the plished; and Jesus knowing that one yet re-flesh, God sending his own Son, in the likeness of mained that the scriptures might be fulfilled, he said, I thirst.' And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth, and when he had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished, and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.'

sinful flesh, and for sin, 'condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' How delightful the blessed gospel truth, that 'God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons! Darkness, and distance, and dread were now at an end, and the followers of Christ might draw near unto God as children unto a father who was both able and willing to help them. And this privilege was not to be granted to the Jews only; but to those also who in time past had been Gentiles in the flesh, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, without God, without Christ, and without hope. But the vail had now been rent, the partition

been far off, might be made nigh by the blood of Christ; and that through faith in his name Jews and Gentiles might both have access by one Spirit unto the Father; and be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.

'It is finished;' the atonement had been completed. The great God who made us had a right to give us laws, and to vindicate the authority of these laws when we had broken them. Had the punishment been inflicted on us, we must have everlastingly perished. In the great plan of redemption, mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other. It was to save sinners, and yet to magnify the law of God, that the Redeemer came. It was to make atonement for sin, by bearing our sins-by dying in our room and stead, thus satisfying divine justice, and reconciling us to God-that the Son of the Eter-wall had been broken down, that they who had nal appeared in the flesh. It was to destroy death, and him who had the power of death, that he suffered on the cross. It was to save a multitude, whom no man can number, that he endured the cross, despising the shame. And now that the work was complete; now that he had torn the prey from the dragon's teeth, and saw the gates of heaven opened for himself and his followers-with what transport would he exclaim, 'It is finished!' and with what rapture would it be re-echoed by those who through the merits of this sacrifice had already entered, who, beholding the overthrow of Satan in the triumphant victory of the Son of God, would strike their golden harps to a louder song, saying, 'Alleluia, Alleluia! Salvation to our God who sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.' 'Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.'

It is finished.' Legal worship ends; the Mosaical dispensation is brought to a close; and gospel ages begin to run. Though well-fitted to answer the purpose intended by infinite wisdom, the dispensation under which the Jews had

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"Tis finish'd-The Messiah dies
For sins, but not his own;
The great redemption is complete,
And Satan's pow'r o'erthrown.

"Tis finish'd-All his groans are past;
His blood, his pains, and toils,
Have fully vanquished our foes,
And crown'd him with their spoils.

"Tis finish'd-Legal worship ends,
And gospel ages run,

All old things now are past away,
And a new world begun.'

THIRTY-FIRST DAY.-EVENING.

'I have finished my course,' 2 Tim. iv. 7. 'IT is finished,' said the Saviour; and when all his sufferings were finished, and types and prophecies fulfilled, and complete atonement made,

with what joy would he say, 'It is finished!' | from heaven says, Be strong, fear not, quit you Though the apostle's sufferings were not propitia- like men, onward, onward; and when Satan tory, neither light, nor few, had the afflictions says, Soul! take thine ease; crown thyself with been which for Christ's sake he had endured; rose-buds before they wither; walk in the ways and though he was about to suffer martyrdom, of thine own heart, and in the sight of thine own and to seal his testimony with his blood, he could eyes, that thy heart may cheer thee all the look death in the face, not only without dismay, days of thy life; if we believe the tempter, but with complacency and delight. At an earlier and forsake the way of the Lord God, soon shall period he could say, 'Behold I go bound in the we find that our path is covered with darkness; Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that it taketh fast hold on hell; and leadeth down that shall befal me there, save that the Holy to the chambers of everlasting death. Ghost witnesseth in every city that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.' He had obtained his wish; he had fulfilled his ministry; he had been found faithful; he had rejoiced to spend and to be spent in the service of the best of Masters; and with holy joy he now could say, 'I have finished my course.' Soon, very soon, will it be the lot of every one of us to say, 'I have finished my course.' O! what will these words imply when they are uttered on the brink of the grave; when all life's interests are crowded into a moment; when that moment is the last of time, and the next the beginning of eternity that dread moment which is to seal our doom-to determine whether it is to be well with us for ever; or whether it had been better-far, far better that we had never been born!

What then is this course? The apostle speaks figuratively; but the figure is easily understood. In Greece of old there were periodical assemblies, in which all had an opportunity of competing for prizes, and the much-wished prize was often an honorary, ornamental, but a fading crown. The contests were often trials of bodily strength or agility, such as running or wrestling. Rules were laid down by which the competitors were to be regulated; and none could be crowned who did not strive according to these rules. Regarding life as a race then, rules are given in the holy scriptures; the course is prescribed; the goal is heaven; and the prize is a crown of glory. The prophets, apostles, and martyrs, are held up to us as patterns: Christ himself has left us an example that we should walk in his steps. Grace also is freely offered to us by him who giveth power unto the faint, who strengtheneth the weak hands, and confirms the feeble knees. When Christ from his throne says, Look unto me, and I will guide you to the victory; if we forget the prize, and pant after the dust, what can await us but disgrace and discomfiture? When the Lord

Think on the blessedness of running in the right course. Is there not a happiness in tracing the footsteps of prophets, and apostles, and martyrs, yea, and of the Redeemer of souls? Is there not sweet satisfaction in serving him who has bought us with a price? in esteeming, like Moses, the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, having respect unto the recompence of the reward? Is there not a foretaste of the reward of grace, even in this world; an earnest of the inheritance? And how great the consolation when life is closing, when the course is finished, and when death is at hand! At that dread moment what would it avail though we could say that we have been rich, and prosperous, and honoured of men, if we have no treasure laid up in heaven, and if we have not, through Christ, sought the favour of God? When the night cometh when no man can work, O how much worse than frivolous shall this world's affairs appear to us, if they have been our chief concern; and have weaned our hearts from the Redeemer of souls! When every day tells, in some degree, on our future destiny, how sinful to trifle—how dreadful to live in guilt! How great the wisdom, and how exquisite the happiness in laying aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;' then when the time of our departure is at hand, each, like the apostle, may say, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also who love his appearing.'

How awful, on the other hand, is the state of those, who instead of fighting the good fight, fight against God; against Christ; against the Holy Spirit; against the best wishes of good men; against the richest mercies; against their own souls! They are finishing their course, but they are advancing in the broad way which leadeth to destruction; in the downward path which taketh hold on hell. As instead of keeping the faith,

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