In heaven, Parnassus may be forgotten-Calvary, never; Eden may fade from all memories-Gethsemane, from none.

ATONEMENT.

From the dreadful agony of Christ in the garden, may be drawn an argument for the doctrine of the atonement, which cannot be gainsaid, but by the bold avowal that Jesus Christ was a weak and pusillanimous man. If he was not bearing the weight of the punishment of the sins of the world, it was the fear of death alone that troubled him; and in that case, he had not so much fortitude as many of his own disciples. Not only did he not suffer and die like a God, but he did not even suffer like a good and holy man in favor with God. He must have been bruised for our iniquities. How can this conclusion be evaded?

There is but one safe character; even that of holiness. So there is but one safe condition: that is in Christ. There is in the universe but one spot, which it is safe for a sinner to occupy. On every other spot the wrath of God is liable to descend and destroy him. That spot is the foot of the cross of Christ. That is a place of safety; because the wrath of God has already come down and spent itself. There, there, only there, is safety for sinners. This is it, "Wherein he hath made

us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood."

The Balm of Gilead is the only article in our materia medica. We prescribe that for every thing. "The blood of Christ doth still remain sufficient and alone."

Behold, I show you a mystery. The robes of the redeemed are washed and made white in blood. Without shedding of blood there is no remission and no sanctification. But what blood had the wondrous efficacy? Not the blood of bulls and goats, but of the Son of God. Acts xx, 28.

There is a mystery in Redemption, from which I know not if any finite mind shall ever return and be able to say, "I have found and have fathomed it."

The atonement is not merely a testimony to the severity of God's government, but also to the evil of sin. And it testifies not only to the reality, but to the magnitude of the evil, that required so great a remedy. How deep and foul the stain, which no tears could wash out, nor blood, save that of Christ. What malignity and mischief must there not be in that for which nothing short of the extremest sufferings of the Son of God could satisfy. How dreadful that penalty, under which that most powerful and illustrious personage writhed and bowed, and fell a victim to death. How will a feeble creature like one of us be able to sustain it! He don't sustain it. See, he sinks down, down, for ever and for ever. The testimony which the atonement bears to the evil of sin, it bears to the evil of all sin in all men.

The Bible does not say, that without the pouring forth of prayers and a reformation of life, we could not be forgiven. Nor does it say that without the shedding of tears, there could be no pardon; but "without the shedding of blood there is no remission."

The most affecting of all scenes, the most extraordinary of all events, the mightiest of all transactions, was Christ's undertaking for sinners. In comparison with this, every transaction recorded in the history of time, is a trifle,-yea, it is as nothing.

In regard to the extent of the atonement, I would just say, that it is so extensive, that none will ever be lost by reason of any deficiency in it. It is as extensive as it need be; so extensive, that on the ground of it, salvation is sincerely and freely offered to all; so extensive, that if all should accept the offer, all would be saved. Is not this extensive enough? It is limited only in this sense, that it was made with a special reference to those who will be ultimately saved by it. The foundation is broad enough to receive every soul—all the souls of all men. And all the sins of all these souls, though they be very many and very great, Christ's blood has still efficacy to cleanse away. Therefore, let each one come to Christ, and secure to himself an interest in the atonement. Let this be the first anxiety -the first work. What should precede it in order of time? Doth any thing equal it in point of importance?

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

Is it a thing incredible that God should raise the Saviour, because, forsooth, the philosophy of that brave little being that lives in a mud cottage, a house of clay, has objections to offer to the resurrection of the dead? Must heaven suspend the everlasting song to the Lamb, until man is convinced that he is worthy of these honors ?

CHARACTER OF CHRIST.

The history of our Saviour, throughout so luminous and interesting, increases in glory as it draws to its termination. The brightest page of his memoir is the last.

And from the cross, where it was intended his life should go out in infamy, the moral glory of his character shines forth in its fullest effulgence. The things that were most remarkable on that day, were not the sun's withholding his light, nor the earth's trembling, nor the grave's disinterring its dead. There was a moral display more remarkable still, in the deportment and language of the dignified sufferer. Who could witness it without saying, "Truly this was the Son of God?"

Ah, the poor and the wretched know not what a friend they would find in Jesus, if they should betake themselves to him, else they would not delay as they do.

When Jesus only wept at the grave of Lazarus, they said, "Behold how he loved him." With how much more force may we, who see his agony in the garden and his sufferings on the cross, exclaim, Behold how he loved us, even unto death!

WHAT A SAVIOUR!

What Christian has not sometimes given expression to the feelings of his heart in some such language as this, "What a Saviour!" That there should be to us, lost and ruined sinners, any Saviour, is marvellous mercy-is worthy of our highest admiration. But that there should be to us such a Saviour, is still more astonishing. I have thought that we might have had a Saviour, who should have been able to save us, and should have actually saved many, and yet not been such a Saviour as him we have. Less tender, less condescending, less forbearing, I have thought he might have been, and yet have been a Saviour. Perhaps I have thought wrong. But certainly there is in the character of the blessed Jesus, much to draw forth the exclamation, "What a Saviour!"