There we shall see his face,
And never, never sin.
1, Murders. 2, Adulteries. 3, Uncleanness. 4, Blasphemy. 5, Thieves. 6, False Witness. 7, Idolatry. 8, Hatred. 9, Wrath. 10, Enmity. 11, Bitterness. 12, Evil Speeches. 13, Evil Concupicence. 14, Envy. 15, Covetousness. 16, Vile Affections. 17, Strife. 18, Disobedience. 19, Heresies. 20, Malice. 21, Contentions. 22, Anger. 23, Unkindness. 24, Self Righteousness. 25, Hardness. 26, Rebellion. 27, Unbelief. 28, Jealousies. 29, Evil Thoughts.—These are the things that defile the man; these are the violations of the holy, righteous law of God; these are opposite to infinite purity; and without an atonement, without satisfaction to law and justice; without these are pardoned and subdued by the blood of the Lamb, no flesh could be saved; for man, dying under the guilt of the above sins, must answer for them at the bar of God. The glorious Gospel reveals a dear Redeemer, standing in the law place, room, and stead of sinners, with all their guilt, defilement, and rebellion, bearing their sins in his own body on the tree, and dying the just for the unjust! while faith discovers all sin put away, and the law magnified, by the Lord our Righteousness. This brings peace and comfort to the mind, and this alone, nothing else can. We see him whom we have pierced with those instruments of death, and mourn over him. See the real evil of sin, and mourn that we pierced the Lord. These were the real instruments of his death, nor can we love them after being called to view what they have done to HIM whom our souls adore. We may be perplexed with their inbeing—we may be at times attacked by them, and we may be overcome—beset by them, but no sin can ever be loved by the regenerate soul—this constitutes that warfare between the flesh and the spirit, which causes all the real misery a believer has in this world, but glory be to all-conquering grace, that hath delivered us from these instruments of death by his blood, and the love and power of them by his word and spirit, that we, being dead to sin, and alive to God, (though sin is not dead in us) we may not yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but may yield ourselves to God, and our members as instruments of righteousness unto God; for the promise runs, sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Thus it appears plain, that the sins of God’s people, in heart, lip, and life, were the betrayers and murderers of the Son of God.—These, like knives, cut his heart, his comfort, his body, and soul.
’Twere you my sins, my cruel sins,
That his tormentors were.
O that this affecting thought might have its proper effect on all our hearts, and produce in our minds that repentance which is a tear of love, dropping from the eye of faith, beholding Christ crucified for sin. I do not pretend to say the handles of the knives had any particular reference; but if any, may we not consider them as shewing how precious the same people were to the Saviour, whose sins put him to death; hence they are called the precious Sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold: these were reckoned among the valuables, the gold and silver vessels in the Temple.
May I be permitted to suggest one thought more? The death of the Redeemer was an effect of Covenant love—the appointment of the Father, and his own consent:—Considering the miseries of his people—the means to accomplish the end—the various steps taken—and the different branches of his sorrows, may be represented by these knives, 1, the Pursuit of Herod. 2, the Temptation of Satan. 3, the long Fasting. 4, His outward Wants. 5, the cruel Reproaches of Men. 6, their Contempt of his Doctrines and Miracles. 7, the Consultations against him. 8, the Fears of Death. 9, the Horrors of Hell. 10, the Agonies of his Mind. 11, the Weight of Guilt imputed. 12, His Apprehension. 13, the Treachery of Judas. 14, the Flight of his Disciples. 15, the Denial of Peter. 16, the rude Treatment in the Streets. 17, the Insults in the Hall. 18, the false Accusations against him. 19, the Scourgings. 20, the cruel Thorns. 21, the Mockery, Spitting, Buffeting, and Blindfolding. 22, Bearing the Weight of the Cross. 23, His lifting up on the Cross. 24, the piercing his Hands and Feet. 25, the Insults on the Cross from Priests and People. 26, the Darkness over all the Land. 27, his awful Desertion. 28, the Pangs of every kind of Death. 29, the Soldiers Spear piercing his heart. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us; let us therefore keep the feast, with joy; let us tell the glorious tidings, he hath redeemed us from out sin; by his blood—he perfected for ever them that are sanctified—he hath made full atonement, and pleads the virtue of his great act for us—here may we fly as doves to their windows—here alone is safety—the sufferings and death of the dear God-man mediator. Let us cease from legal strivings, and obey that command, hold thine hand—remember the battle—do no more, because all is finished for us who believe—all in whose hearts the Spirit has begun to operate—all who are led to Jesus for life and salvation—all who see and feel their lost, ruined state, and are flying for refuge to him alone—all who, from a sense of sin, venture their everlasting all upon him; for such poor sinners Jesus died, and lives for them for ever.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and has redeemed us to God by his blood.
FINIS.