3ìh T0 !AIN AbtO`G !TILE $LE,S$ED. {DISC. TX. came to save from misery were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same, that he might suffer in the flesh, and by his sufferings put away our sins ;" lieb. ii. 14. Háppywas he in his Father's bosom, and the delight of his soul through many long ages before his incarnation: But he condescended to be born " in the likeness of sin- ful flesh," that he might feel such smart and sorrows as our sins'had exposed us to. His innocent and holy soul was incapable of such sort of sufferings till he put on his clothing of human nature, and became a surety for sinful perishing creatures. Let us survey his sufferings a little. He was born to sorrow, and trained up t4uough the common uneasy cir- eumstances of the infant and childish state, , till he grew up to man : What pains did attend him in hunger and thirst, and weariness; while he travelled on foot from city to city, through wilds and deserts, where there was no food nor rest ? The Son of man sometimes wanted the common bread of nature, nor had he where to lay his head. What uneasy sensations was he exposed to, when he was buffeted, when he was smitten on the cheek, when his tender flesh' was scourged with whips, and his temples were crowned with thorns, when his hands and his feet were 'barbarously torn with rude nails, and fast-. cued to the cross, where the whole weight of his body hung on those wounds ? And 'what man or angel can tell the inward anguish, when his " soul was exceeding sor- rowful unto death," and the conflicts and agonies of his spirit forced out the drops of bloody sweat through every pore. It was by the extreme torture 'of his nature that, he was supposed to expire on the cross; these, were the panes of his atonement and agonies that expiated the sins of men. " O blessed Jésus ! what manner of sufferings were these ? And what manner of love was it that willingly gave up thy sacred nature to sustain them ? And what was the design of them, but to deliver us from the wrath of God in hell, to save our flesh and spirit from eternal anguish and distress there ? Why was he made such " a cure for us, but that he might redeem us from the curse of the law ;" Gal. iii. 13. and the just punishment of our own iniquities?" Let us carry our thoughts of his love, and our benefit
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