When fainting under guilt's dread load, Unto the cross I'll fly, And trust the merit of that blood Which flowed at Calvary. Whene'er I feel temptation's power, On Jesus I'll rely; And, in the sharp conflicting hour Repair to Calvary. When seated at the feast of love, Then will I fix mine eye On him who intercedes above, Who bled on Calvary. When the dark hour of death, the last Momentous hour draws nigh, Then, with my dying eyes, I'll cast A look on Calvary. O SON OF GOD, who camest from above That I may know thee, and by thee be known; BONAR. Hymns of Faith and Hope. CHAPTER III. ITS IMPORTANCE - THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ITS INSTITUTION - ITS SECOND APPOINTMENT-POETRY. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."-Phil. 2 : 8. QHE deep place which this precious ordinance has in the Saviour's heart, and therefore should have in ours, appears also from a more careful survey of the circumstances under which it was instituted. These were indeed peculiar, solemn, amazing beyond comparison. The Lord of glory is about to die! to die under "the curse!" as the Lamb of God. The scenes of that fearful hour are full before the mind of the great Victim; he is now within its deepening shadows. The last night before his betrayal has come, when he shall be laid upon the altar of sacrifice. He is now with his faithful and beloved eleven, the traitor-the paschal supper being ended—having gone out1 to do his work of blood. Here, then, just this side of the garden and cross of agony, as it were on the border of that sea of anguish whose waves and billows were about to roll over him, and were even now sending up their murmurs into his ear, he spreads the table, and would thus forever consecrate it in the hearts of his followers. Ere he passes into the gloom and the conflict which he knew were so near and would be so terrible, he pauses to appoint this dear memorial of his death. He breaks the bread, knowing how soon his own body shall be broken and torn by cruel hands; he pours and gives the cup, knowing how soon his own blood shall be shed, and a bitterer cup than was ever mingled for human lips shall be pressed to his own, and drained to the dregs. Precious memorial! Olivet's garden brings its crimsoned garlands to lay them upon the consecrated elements, and Calvary casts over the scene its hallowed memories of a love which no terrors could extinguish. Never 1 "The question rises, Did Judas leave before the institution of the Supper? The other evangelists make no mention of his departure; but what Matthew says, xxvi. 30, 31, and the fact that Judas does not until a later period (vs. 47) return again to the circle of the disciples, implies that he did."-Tholuck, Com. on John. So also Ellicott. was there such a night as this, never such a day as that which followed it. The sun was to look down upon a scene such as he had never witnessed in the four thousand years of his shining, and was to hide his face; the earth was to tremble, and the graves to give up their dead. That in the full anticipation of such personal suffering he should so regard the welfare of his people as to appoint it, proclaims his estimate of its value. How dear it should be to us! A dying testimony is stamped with peculiar interest and worth. A memento from the hand of a dying friend is cherished most tenderly. When a beloved and venerated parent speaks to his children from the borders of eternity, as they gather around his bedside, with what interest do they listen to catch every syllable that falls from his lips, feeling that the treasured wisdom and love of years will be compressed into those farewell utterances. They are his last words, spoken within the shadows of another world, whispered back ere he takes his upward flight, as most worthy of remembrance. Dearest Friend! elder Brother! dearer than father or mother, Saviour from the wrath to come, "Do this in remembrance of me," are thy farewell |