The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-05-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
written for this paper by DR.. II X. Hinde.
JESUS on THE CROSS.
MARI v.Oo-q7

ment OF nntlquity--a punishment, the name
OF which, Cicero tells us, should never come
near the thoughts, the eyes or ears Of n
Roman citizen far less his person. Alexan-
der the Great adopted 1t In Palestine from
the phenicians, after the defense of Tyre,
which he punished by crucifying two thous-
and citizens, when the place surrendered
II was the punishment inflicted by heather
ism, which knew no compassion or reverence
for man as man, ON the worst criminals, ON
highway robbers, rebels and slaves. For
the Jews TO cruelty "A Jew, indeed would
have been impossible, as the national senti'
ment would have revolted from It,
(Geikie).
The cross used on such occasions consisted
of a strong post, which was carried before
hand to the place of execution, and two
cross pieces, borne to the spot by the vic
tim. The evangelists furnish us but little of
the details Of this cruel punishment. We
learn of but two incidents on the way to his
death, and are left to conjecture as to the
exact location of calvary. owing to extreme
sptfinr ~ .ls --r g the awful cru
u 10. iu v,acr % wa s1I 'cted during the
uNlonged trials, ho was unable to bear the
cross u~'per, placed "r him, and one
4 .,p .rlc Wa COZ elled to assume
his burden ., What ar opportunity was
here Cor poor p%enitent RI! What a joyful
service. after his I email and bitter
weeping, might this Ia EN-!
Tradition teaches US that this incident le'l
to the conversion of this simon, and that the
''Rufus and his mother" referred to by Paul
were his wife and one Of his sons. True to
her nature, we ind woman, in this dark
hour, rallying to the side of the blessed
Lord, evincinE her love and sympathy IN
bitter lamentations; and in his characteristic
unselhshness We hear Jesus saying To those
faithful women: ~"Daughtcrs of Jerusalem,
weep not for me, hut for yourselves n he
was thinking uf the terrible calami'ics that
were to come upon them.
We are left to infer that the two thieves,
guarded by the soldiers, accompanied him
in this sad procession, bearing their crosses
and the placards that advertised their
crimes. We are not inclined longer to he
charitable towards PLATE, when We find him
heaping this additional insult upon one
whom be had repeatedly declared innocent.
rived upon the fatal spot which was hence
forth to he the center Of this worlds tnfu-
ence, the preparations were quickly dis
patched, the lacerated and bleeding body
was stripped of It's clothing and laid prone
upon the rugged beams, the cruel nails were
driven through the quiycriug flesh. and As
stalwart Roman soldiers ru1ely elevated the
cross which dropped into it, oartsen socket,
the hours Of agony, which no pen can
describe, began.
Gladly would We turn from this awful scene
of agony. which >icEcu~ the heart that con-
templates it; but, O blessed saviour, as We
thus gaze upon thy tortured luiycring form
and hear thy tender loving words, Father
f,rpiV. tb,r, tbay tp,ty. mt what They Ip.''
we would try To catch something Of thy
spirit and gain some faint conception Of that
love for fallen humanity which led thee to
submit to all this suffering
1t would seem that common pity would
have left the innocent victim To- suffer and
die in peace; but perverted religious zeal
knows no compassion towards those who
would oppose its false teachings. The title,
liking OF the Jews which PLATE persist.
entity placed over his head stung these
religious bigutS to madness, and they tanta-
HEED him with bitter gIbcs and mUckeries,
saying, IF he be the Christ, the King of
Israel, the Chosen Of God, let him descend
from the cross, that We may see amt hclieve.'
"He wrought miracles to save others, him
self he cannot save Even the two thieves
rallied upon him; hut very soon one II them
experienced a wonderful transformation,
.l ~ . ,t -. a. q, -
ing, or possibly by the memory lf some past
teaching nr miraculous act of heneyulence.
His prayer, Lord remember me- when thou
contest into thy Kingdom, and the answer,
''This day shalt thou see NE IN Paradise
" WI "" o. " " '",S ,"'''"'' VI
of warning Us against presumption on the
one hand, and saving Us from despair IN the
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