Vol. 2

CHAPTER XIV. 223fear and amazement, and our sins raise in him a mortalgrief; and shall we alone remain insensible ofboth ?We could not enjoy one moment of satisfaction,should God be pleased to open our eyes, thatwe might see, as our blessed Saviour did, our ownsins and his justice, in all their dreadful and amazingcircumstances.Christ has borne them both for us,and even spared us the mortification of so grievousand dismal a sight." 34. And saith unto them, My soul is exceedingsorrowful unto death :tarry ye here, and watch."It is the duty of a Christian soul to tarry and continuewith Christ under his sufferings, and to contemplatehis pains and sorrows. We could neverhave known how exceeding painful the inward sufferingsof Christ were, had he not discovered themhimself. Let us have, at least, a grateful senseboth of his condescension invouchsafing to lay openhis heart to us while it was under this mortal sorrow,and of his love in choosing to open and expose itthereto for our sakes. How good is it to open ourheart to him when it is oppressed with grief, in orderto attract that grace which he has merited for us bythis sorrow unto death !" 35. And he went forward a little, and fell onthe ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, thehour might pass from him."Observe here the extreme humiliation of Christ inprayer.Pastors have sometimes such heavy crossesto bear, that they beseech God, but with the greatestsubmission, that they may be delivered fromthem. It is expedient to make such addresses inprivate, that they may not discourage those whom