The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-03

with blood-but no look of sympathy,
no word of compassion greeted the suf-
ferer. An oppressive sense of loneli
ness must have afflicted and chilled his
mighty soul. His sufferings were vol
untary. SHe was impelled by nothing
save his own sovereign, memorable, and
bene6cent purpose. He might have
escaped. He could with single flash
of his glory have dispersed his clamor-
Gus foes, and men would have admired
his power or applauded his prudence.
But his was no abortive purpose to
save. For this cause came he unto this
time, and so he gaze his back to the
smiters." He was not impelled by the
motives which ordinarily influence can
didates for earthly distinctions. He
was not moved by false pride of con-
-sistency, or a mere desire for applause.
He was not borne away by sudden
outburst of enthusiasm such as has
hurried the thoughtless into the jaws
of death. He was not forced by any
such weak allegiance to code of honor
as has brought many a noble life to an
untimely and ignoble end. But he was
swayed by such disinterested sym
pathy and love as dignifed his mission
and exalted his death into sacrifice
He suffered too against the entreaties
of the urgent, and energetic but inef
fectual, remonstrance of his disciples
With all the affection engendered and
nourishcd by years Of precious init
macy they strove to drive him from
his mortal purpose. But unmoved, as
well by tears of friends as the threats
of enemies, he "set his face like flint"
And then he declined any mitigation
of his suffering. He had all the sinless
intirmities of our nature, and shrank
with strong crying and tears from the
coming death, and yet, refusing any
alienation of his pain, he emptied to
the dregs the cup which was pressed
to his lips. He resolved that all Gods
waves and pillows should roll over
him. "The cup which my father hath
given shall / not drink it?' He suf
fered also in silence. No complaint of
wrong or injustice escaped from him
Not a murmur of dissatisfaction was
breathed by him. Yet he did utter
one word-a word which none but
heart broken with pity and love could
have suggested. Gather forgive them,
for they know not what they do"
Wonderful silence, amazing love He
suffered too for others, not for himself,
for he was holy, harmless, indebted,
and separate from sinners, and needed
no Daysman. He was a vicarious vic
tim and died to atone for sins not his
own" And these sufferings were all
foreseen by him. He was not taken
by surprise nor weakly, in a moment
of confusion, succumbed to fate which
he did not comprehend. He was not
suddenly overwhelmed by an unex-
pected calamity. He did not under
take task which he had not surveyed
in all its length and breadth and depth.
He did not in a moment of thoughtless-
ness encounter sufferings which he had
moderated or had not measured in all
their unprecedented agony. For years
he had foreseen the approaching tenn
pest--watched the gathering of the
pitiless and desolating storm, and reck-
oned to the last drop the contents of
the cloud, black and big with wrath
Yet, with perfect comprehension of
the fate which awaited him in all it's
literal and measureless magnitude, he
"set his face steadfastly toward Je-
rusalem," and barring his soul unto
death, bid justice, in the interest of a
lost world, to strike and do its worse.
Was there ever such heroism Where
is there another record Of such sub
lime action, such grand submission,
and such noble devotion to disinter-
ested and exalted purpose of benevo
lence? Truly, beside the life and death
of J esus all hnman deeds and sacrifices
wane into utter nothingness
FRANoE.-M. Eugene Roveillaud, edi-
tor of lie Signal, who has evangelised