Holy Thursday — On our Saviour's preaching from the Cross

Consider, first, that the whole life and doctrine of Christ waf a continual lesson to his followers to renounce self-love, with its three wretched branches; namely, the lust of the flesh, that is. the love of sensual pleasures; the hist of the eyes that is, the love of the perishable goods ot this world; and the pride ofKfe, These are the unhappy sources of all our evils, which withdraw us from our allegiance to God, and make us exchange the fountain of life for poisonous puddles, that can never satisfy our thirst. These are the foundations of a worldly and sinful life, and the broad road to death and hell. Alas! we love ourselves, and our own will, more than God; we are ever full of ourselves; sensual, covetous, presumptuous, as if we were something; and we can bear with nothing that opposes or contradicts us. But mark, in particular, my soul, the sermon which the Son of God preaches from the cross; and see how loudly he there condemns, from that pulpit, all the illusions of our self-love, with all the maxims and practices of the world, and the unhappy attachments of worldlings to their carnal and sensual affections. O, remember that what he suffers is all by his own choice; and this not only to the end that he may expiate our sins, but also in order to undeceive us in the preposterous judgment we make of things, and to teach us to embrace what he embraces, to despise what he despises, and to condemn what he condemns. Learn then, my soul, at the foot of the cross, to overcome thy pride, by the great exam pie of the voluntary humiliations of the Son of God; thy love of the world, by his voluntary poverty, and by his being stripped of all things, and abandoned by all; and thy love of pleasure, by his voluntary sufferings and unexpressible torments.

Consider, secondly, that Jesus Christ, in offering himself upon the cross a sacrifice to his Father, without any manner of reserve, and in dying in pure obedience to his heavenly will, preaches another excellent sermon to us, containing the whole perfection of a spiritual life, which consists in giving our whole selves to God, and in being obedient unto death. Yes, Christians, if you desire to be perfect, you must learn of your dying Saviour to make this offering of yourselves, without reserve, to his Father and to your Father; you must join your offering with his, and make it by his hands, that it may be acceptable. You must make it every day, and oftentimes in the day. O, give him, then, daily, your soul and body; give him your understanding, your memory, and your will; give him your whole hReing, with all that belongs to it, both for time and eternity; and he will give his whole self to you. O happy exchange I Offer yourself, then, daily, to do for him whatsoever he pleases, to suffer for him whatsoever he pleases; dedicate yourselves eternally to his love, and resolve to die a thousan ' deaths, rather than to forfeit, in any thing, the obedience you Ve to this your Father, Maker, King, and God.

Consider, thirdly, the particular lessons that our Lord also gives us in his seven last dying words upon the cross. First of perfect chanty to our enemies, by his praying for his, and excusing them to his Father: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Secondly, of mercy and compassion ibr sinners, by the plenary indulgence he imparts to the penitent thief: Amen. I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me inpar adise. Thirdly, of duty to our parents, in his recommending his Virgin Mother to the care of his beloved disciple; and of z, filial devotion to her, as recommended for a mother to us aU: Woman, Behold thy son — Behold thy mother. Fourthly, of an earnest thirst for the conversion and salvation of all men, by that which he expresses in this word, I thirst. Fifthly, of fervent prayer to GM, under anguish and desolation, by the fervour of his prayer: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Sixthly, of perseverance to the end, till we have consummated, that is, completely finished, the work for which we came into the world, by that word of his. It is consummated. Seventhly, of committing ourselves, both in life and death, by a perfect rc- ignation, into the hands of God, by his great example: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. O let us learn these last lessons of our dying Lord.

Conclude to frequent daily this school of the cross, if thou wouldst learn to be wise indeed. But, more especially, take care to study well, at the foot of the cross, those two most essential lessons, the renouncing thy own will, and embracing the will of God, by a resolute conformity and obedience, even unto death.