Vol. 2

CHAPTER XV. 253of Jews and Gentiles, and of the companions andwitnesses of his sufferings, because he alone bears,expiates, and destroys all the sins of the whole world." 36. And one ran and filled a spunge full ofvinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink,saying. Let alone; let us see whether Elias will cometo take him down."Malice persecutes Christ to the very last. Heexpiates the sharpness and bitterness of our words,and the licentiousness of our tongue, by what hesuffers in his own. See here all the consolation thecreatures give their Creator whilst he is suffering forthem : namely, infidelity, sharpness, and bitterness.The sharpness and bitterness of a heart full of gall, animosity,and revenge against one's brother, are, withoutcomparison, more grievous to Christ than thosehere tasted by him, which are only an emblem of theother. It is by the sweetness and gentleness ofcharity thatinChrist requires men should comfort himhis sufferings." 37. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gaveup the ghost."This cry is a testimony of Christ's divinity, at thesame time that his death gives one of his humanity.The cry of our sins gives him death ; his cry, whichoffers his death to his Father, delivers us from death.All nature ought to be annihilated at the death of itsGod; but he requires no more than the annihilationand death of sin in us. Let us pay him at leastadoration, thanksgiving, humiliation, love, and allthe other duties of which the heart of man is capabletowards his God dying for him.