THE TRUE PENITENT. 491. Lawgiver and Judge of all, matchless love made him yield to be judged, and unjustly condemned at Pilate's bar, that he might be honourably acquitted, and glo- riously rewarded, before his awful tribunal'. Though archangels laid their crowns at his feet, and sera,phims vailed their faces before him, unable to stand the dazzling effulgence of his glory, he suffered himself to be derided, scoffed, spit upon, scourged, and crown- ed with thorns; that we might be' acknowledged, ap- plauded, embraced, and presented with never - fading crowns of righteousness and glory. The Lord of Hosts is his name; he is deservedly called, Wonderful, Coun- sellor, the everlasting Father, the mighty God, the, Prince of peace. Cherubic legions fly.at his hod: and yet, astonishing humiliation ! his shoulders, on which is laid the government of the world, felt the infamous load of a malefactor's cross; and barbarous soldiers, fol- lowed by an arranged mob led him as a lamb to the slaughter, that we might be delivered from the heavy curse of the law, and gently conveyed' by celestial powers into Abraham's bosom. Let all the angels of God worship him, is the great. decree, to which the heavenly, hierarchy submits with incessant transports of the most ardent devotion ; and yet he was cru- cified as an execrable wretch, guilty of treason and blasphemy, that we, daring rebels and abominable sinners, might be made kings and priests unto, God, partaking of his highest glory, as he partook of our deepest shame : and, to crown his loving - kindness, he expired in the midst of rending, rocks, and a super- natural darkness ; that we might feel his tender mer- cies, and be indulged with the light of heaven, when we go through the dreary valley of the shadow of death, to reap the joys of eternal life. Survey this wondrous cure: And at each step let higher wonder rise! Pardon for infinite offence! and pardon Through means that speak its value infinite! A pardon bought with blood! with blood divine! With blood divine of him we made our foe! Persisted to provoke! though woo'd and aw'd.
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