Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-25

er benefit from these smaller and less prominent
facts recorded in Holy Scripture. Fancy and fri
volty in interpreting the Scripture are always tt
be stunned; but well is it for him who remember
that every sentence has its appropriate and i'm
por.ant meaning, and that "by every word"-
every narration, as we'll as every doctrine-"by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth o
the Lord doth man live" In our enumeration
of the interesting circumstances connected with
the crucifxion of our Lord, we have omitted one
and that one of the most remarkable-the nara
tive of the two nialefactors blasphemer and
the penitent. A narrative is this, great SIM
plicity and great brevity, and yet are there shad
owed out in it many of the most important doc
trines and deepest mysteries ofthe Gospel. In a
certain degree l would consider the whole nara
tive as my subject, though l have only read to
you few words as my text These words how
ever appear perhaps, the most important of the
whole, and will, accordingly, receive the most Of
my attention. and after explaining the history,
with few practical remarks in passing, Iwould
dwell more fully on the prayer-its extended
meaning-its universal application-its never
failing success-and may God, the giver of re-
pentance, and of every other good gift, grant us
both to understand this portion of his word, and
to initiate the repentance, andt 0 utter the pray
er, and to receive the pardon, "Lord, remember
me, when thou comest into thy kingdom" The
narrative calls for our first attention; the narra-
tive, with passing comment. When our Lord
was crucifed he was not crucifed alone; there
were crucifed with him two thieves-the one on
the right and the other on the left. Our Lord,
forsooth, as the greatest criminal, was placed in
the midst. The Scripture was fulfilled, "he was
numbered with the transgressors." The sons Of
Zebedee had besought him, that they might be
placed, the one on bis tight and the other on his
left. ut is not mine to give," said the Saviour
but to them for whom it is prepared Of my ia
ther." But of that post, whom did the Jews
think worthy? How nnfathomablei is the depth
of human depravity! In the annals of nations
we seldom find an instance in which the great
est malefactor, when led to execution, receives
any thing of insult. In almost every case his
crime is forgotten in his punishment; and the
multitude are rather disposed topity than to in
suit, But we'll may be put into the mouth Of
the Saviour the words of Jeremiah with regard
to Jerusalem = 1ras never snrrasi e T.,
consent, made our Lord an exception to this gen.
eral rule they added mockery TO his snttcrlngs.
The scribes and priests, the professors OF learning
and religion, united with the popuace to revle
and taunt. Nor was this scorn confined to them.
One of the malefactors could forget his own sui
ferings and join the common cry Two OF the
evangelsts appear to assert that such was the
case with both, but there seems reason to doubt
whether this is necessarily implied in their words:
zone of the malefactors" one of them at least,
"railed on him. saying, if thou be Christ save
thyself and u.s. What depravity, we naturally
say, was here what dislike of the Saviour-
Brethren, remember how different have been our
circumstances from those of this unhappy being.
1t is probable more probable, from his cha
racter and occupation, that he had never been
within the sound of salvation-that no kind IN
struction-no plous warning-no blessed invita-
ton had ever reached his ears. And yet, per-
haps, there may be found among us those who
love our Lord and his gospel little better than
he did Such then, was one OF the maleactors;
but were both alike ? Divine love made Otter
ence: God, as one has observed, is the only be-
ing who can gratutously love; from his gratu'-
tous love comes all our hope Repentance was
yiven to one of the malefactors. He rebuked
his fellow, saying, "Dost thou not fear God, see
ing thou art in the same condemnation And
we indeed Justly; for we receive the due rewards
of our deeds but this man has done moth
ing amiss." AND be said unto Jesus, lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy king
dom" Here on the cross, was repentance and
its Transformation Of sin-application to DE-
sus, and proofs of a renewed heart in glorhcation
of the tsasiour, snd reproof of evil. There was
conviction of sin-"we indeed justly, for we re-
ceiye the due reward Of ourdeeds." No extenu,
ation-no denial-the sinfulness of the penitent
contrasted with the holiness of the Redeemer-
"we, indeel, Justly, but this man hath done no.
thing anliss" Brethren, without this conviction
of sin, this confession of the justice Of our SEN
tence, there can be no real peDitence-l say not
that it is necessary to understand this justice tc
be able to explain why Gods sentence against
sin is Just, but yet we must allow it, and receive
it meekly without murmur. ave, indeed
Justify" Mark further-there was a confession
of the divinity of Christ. For what was the al
leeed crime of Jesus? 1t was blasphemy. Now
if Jesus were not indeed God, the accusation
against him was just. He was blasphemer
and deserved to die. But no, said the pentent
"this man has done nothing amiss." He is nj
blasphemer and therefore he is God. "Whoso
ever belieyeth that Jesus is the Christ, is borI
of God" A true, real, and practical belief il
this t,rth must spring from divine illumination
Such belief had the penitent, and it brought hin
| .o Josus in earnest PRAYER" Lord remember m