SERMON XXI.

JOHN, XIX. 30.

IT IS FINISHED.

THIS affecting expression, at the close of our

blessed Saviour's life, was the conclusion, as it were, of the grand scheme of the redemption of mankind. It is finished, said the holy Sufferer; and bowing his head, gave up the ghost.

In contemplating these awful words I shall shew you first, what Christ finished for our sake -and secondly, what we ought to finish for his.

WITH regard to what Christ finished, in the first place, the prophecies respecting the Messiah

were

were completed.- -Those which predicted his miraculous birth-his bringing salvation to all mankind-the miracles he wrought-the manner of his death-and his being made an offering, an atonement for sin-were all now fulfilled. The completion of this great work, the holy Jesus had no doubt in view, when he cried out, as he expired, It is finished.

Then also the types and ceremonies, particularly the sacrifices of the Jewish law, were fulfilled. The devout Jew, no doubt, often felt himself at a loss for the meaning of these mysterious rites, and though he was too pious to question their propriety, as they had been appointed by God himself; yet he could not but wish to have a more perfect insight into their hidden meaning. All this darkness was now dispelled, when the blessed Jesus from the cross declared, that all was finished. Then was seen the propriety of those mystical representationsthe various sacrifices of the law-the passoverthe paschal lainb-the high-priest entering the holy of holies-and all the other parts of the Jewish ritual.

Again, the sufferings of the Messiah were now finished. In what those mysterious sufferings consisted-what was the extent of them-and

whether,

A

whether, severely as they affected the body, they did not still more severely affect the mind, we know not. It is certain they were very acute. No man's sorrows, we are assured, were like his sorrows. A painful life, great part of which had been spent in poverty and labour, was closed in torment and cruel anguish. But all was now over. The holy Sufferer bowing his head, and crying, It is finished, gave up the ghost.—To this great event was afterwards added Christ's glorious resurrection from the dead.

These great works the Messiah finished to give evidence to the truth of the grand scheme, in which he had engaged.With regard to the great works, he finished, in which man was more immediately concerned, we may mention first his opening the gospel to all mankind. We suppose indeed, that all, who before the coming of Christ lived up to the lights they had received, were saved through his merits, though the great atonement was not yet made. But now all had the means offered them of holier living, than they had before: and these means were to be extended-and we have no doubt, will, in due time, be extended-to all the nations upon earth. The Jewish government, had performed its office, in being, as the apostle

says,

says, our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Its services therefore were no longer wanted. This great event then of offering the gospel freely to all mankind, no doubt, the blessed Jesus had in view, when he declared from the cross, that all was finished.

Another great work, which our blessed Saviour finished, was to give us a complete rule of lifethe means of observing that rule, through the assistance of God's holy spirit-together with a perfect example of piety and virtue. To the example, we always find him as attentive as to the precept. He has instructed his disciples in no virtue, of which he has not also given a pattern in himself: and the precept, and the example together, make that rule of conduct, which is to direct the christian life. The completion of this great work also was, no doubt, included in our Saviour's dying words, It is finished.

But the grand work of redemption, which Christ perfected for man, was his enabling him to triumph over death and the grave, by making that atonement for his sins, which he could never have made for himself. In what mysterious way the death of Christ atones for the sins of mankind, we know not-nor does it become us to inquire.

inquire. If we believe the scriptures, we must also believe, that had it not been for this wonderful instance of love, in whatever way accepted by the Almighty, we should have had nothing to stand between our guilt and God's displeasure; and had been left without the least hope of everlasting happiness.

HAVING thus briefly seen the work, which our blessed Saviour finished for our sake, let us now see, as I proposed secondly, what we are to finish for his.

It was the great intention of the gospel to restore mankind, as much as possible, to that purity and innocence, in which our first parents were created. If they had continued to live in that happy state, they would not have wanted a Saviour. It seems therefore to follow, that to bring us again as nearly as possible to that holy state, was the great design of our Saviour's coming into the world. Faith in him, is the mean, by which we obey the gospel. The great point therefore before us is a holy life. At the same time, as it is impossible for man, in his present depravity, to attain that height of perfection, which our first parents lost, our blessed Saviour's death was to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. It obtains for