III. "And bowing down His head, He gave up the ghost." (John xix. 30.) O ineffable mystery! The sun of glory is eclipsed, the temple of the living God is dissolved, and the Author of life yields to death. How true is the sentence of the Apostle, "Ye are bought with a great price." (1 Cor. vi. 20.) Do not feel less affected at the completion of this awful mystery than all nature seemed to be on this occasion. For, " the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst" (Luke xxii. 45); "the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent, and the graves were opened." (Matt, xxvii. 51.) Be ashamed and confounded at your sins. Tear asunder the veil of self-love that hangs between you and your God. Tremble at the account that you will have to give for Christ's death and passion. Rend your heart with true contrition, and quit the loathsome grave of tepidity and sin.
MAUNDY THURSDAY.
Christ your Redeemer.
" Arise, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from off thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion, ye were sold for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money." (Is. lii. 2.)
I. The Church in a particular manner at this holy time celebrates the benefits of our common redemption. We were all subject to the tyranny of the devil and children of wrath in consequence of original guilt, and there was no created being able to atone for the crime. We should all have been lost forever, had not God sent His only begotten Son as "a redemption to His people." (Ps. cx. 9.) This divine Son offered Himself a sacrifice for us, and enabled us to address Him in the prophetic language of Isaias, " Thou, O Lord! art our Father, our Redeemer, from everlasting is Thy name." (Is. lxiii. 16.)
