Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/221

 an obscure  place  for  His  nativity,  in  order  to  conceal His glory,  but  He  chose  to  be  suspended  aloft  on  a  cross for His  greater  ignominy. How different  are  the  ideas of men  from  those  of  God! " My  thoughts  are  not  your thoughts,  nor  your  ways  My  ways,  saith  the  Lord." (Is. lv. 8.)  We  attempt  to  conceal  whatever  tends  to  disgrace us,  but  we  display  to  the  world  whatever  is  calculated to  attract  its  attention  and  commendation.

III. Christ suffered  at  the  most  solemn  festival  of  Easter, at  the  time  when  the  city  was  unusually  crowded with strangers,  in  open  day,  at  noon. The choice  of place  and  time  were  Christ's,  for  "  He  was  offered,  because it  was  His  own  will  "  (Is.  liii.  7),  at  the  time  and the place  which  He  selected,  and  with  the  companions whom He  had  chosen. This He  did  in  order  to  teach us by  His  own  example  to  condemn  every  temporal  consideration and  worldly  idea.

I. When  all  things  were  ready  for  His  crucifixion, Christ is  thrown  down  upon  His  cross  by  His  executioners. Observe how  this  second  Isaac  is  "  laid  on  the altar  upon  the  pile  of  wood"  (Gen.  xxii.  9),  offering Himself a  sacrifice  to  His  eternal  Father. See how  He stretches  out  His  hands  to  the  places  where  they  were to be  nailed  to  the  cross,  to  atone  for  Adam's  stretching forth his  hand  to  the  forbidden  fruit. Mark the  streams of blood  running  down  upon  the  ground,  and  learn,  as the  Apostle  exhorts  you,  "  to  crucify  your  flesh  with  the vices  and  concupiscences." (Gal. v.  24.)

II. How excessive  must  have  been  the  torments  which Christ endured  in  His  hands  and  feet,  in  consequence  of