The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-16
THE END.

JOHn RECORDS tnaI aItef JESUS nau CON-
mended his mother to his filial care, "Know-
ing that all things are now finished, that the
Scriptures might be fulfilled, said, Il thirst"
His agony was now about over, and the end
was near. He was most conscious of the
thirst that preceded death by crucifxion.
According to Matthew and Mark it was about
the ninth hour, or 8 P. M, (JEsus was cruel
fed between and ~ A. M and JESUS cried
out, "My COP, my Cop, why hast thou for
saken me!' This is the frat line of the TWEEN
ty-second Psalm, which was familiar to all
devout Jews. 1t may have been recited by
JESUS as devout exercise for his own COM
fort, or to bring it to the attention of the
Jews in connection with the scenes being en-
acted. The Psalm is strikingly applicable to
the occasion. The soldiers were provided
with vessel of sour wine, their common
drink. With this sponge was filled and
fastened to stalk of hyssop and placed to
his lips. The Scripture that was fulfilled,
by this circumstance is Psalm Xix 81. The
statement of John does not necessitate the
belief that the passage was primarily pro-
phetic of the event, or that JESUS called for
the drink to fulfill the passage, though he
may have had it in mind, and by its fulfill
ment thought to increase, to his countrymen,
and especially to his disciples, the evidence of
his Messiahship. The statement is Johns, and
may mean no more than that the Scripture
was fulfilled by the circumstance. JESUS
took the vinegar" (sour wine) and said, SIT
is Finished" or "all is over now" and bow
ing his head, expired. Luke adds, '' Having
said, Father, into thy hands commend my
spirit he gave up the spirit" He willingly
gave his life in testimony to the truth. May
not he who had power, as he said, ito lay
down his life aud to take it again. (Johu
K. 18) have willingly surrendered his spirit to
God, who gave it, that he might be gloriied,
and that GoD might be glorifed in him?
Certainly death occurred, in his case, in an
unusually short time (less than six hours)
But the sensitiveness of his refined nature :,
or the cruelties to which he was subjected in
the palace of the governor, or both, may be
sufficient to account for his death SO soon
after being crucifed. "He suffered, the right
eous for the unrighteous, that he might bring
us to COP" Il Peter iii. 49,. When revealing
the Father to His earth-born children, and
the way of their communion with, and obe-
dience to Him, he was put to death by wicked
hands. He tasted death for every man (He-
brews ii. 81. He died for all. Whatever may
be the exact function of the death of CHRIST
in "the plan of salvation" it is plain that it
applies to all, both as to purpose and effica-
cy, "And |, if l be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto myself (John xii.
32). To be drawn to CHRIST is to come unto
his truth and life, and thus be brought to
GoD by him. His death upon the cross is the
manifestation of the love of GoD for all,
even sinners. "All have sinned and come
short of the glory of GoD." But COP COM
mended his own love toward US, in that while
we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for as. (Ro-
mans v. 81. "GoD so loued the world, (the
perishing, sinful world) that he gave his
only begotten Son" (John iii. 15). COP gave
JESUS as a testimony of his love for man
kind. 'JEsUs gave himself for us, having
also loved us" (Ephesians v. p. The dispo-
sition of GoD toward His sinful children it
revealed in the death of His Son. The
knowledge of his compassionate love is the
reconciling power in the work of redemptions
ave are reconciled to GoD by the death of
His Son, being reconciled we shall be saved
by his life" (Romans V. l0l. This appears
to be the plan of Salvation, the true theory
of the Atone ment. The compassionate love
of GoD revealed in the death of his Son rec
onciles the rebellious heart to His Divine au-
thority and wins to his service; then salvation
(deliverance from SIM is wrought by making
the perfectly obedient and holy life of JESUS
the example and inspiration of our lives.
The power of the cross and the example of
JESUS are forever efficacious. The final eff
feet upon all souls is contingent, not alone
upon the finite will and agency of man, but
upon the will and purpose of the Infinite
| GoD and the efficient grace of His SoN JESUS
CHRIST. "He humbleth himself becoming
obedient unto the death of the cross; where
fore GoD highly exalted him, and gave unto
him the name ttitle) which is above every
name, that in the name of JESUS every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and things
on earth, and things under the earth, aud
that every tongue should confess that JEsU-
CHRIST is LORD, TO the glory of Con the Fa-