What magnanimity in all His words and actions on this great occasion!  The court of Herod, the judgment-hall of Pilate, the hill of Calvary, were so many theaters prepared for His displaying all the virtues of a constant and patient mind.  When led forth to suffer, the first voice which we hear from Him is a generous lamentation over the fate of His unfortunate tho guilty country; and to the last moment of His life we behold Him in possession of the same gentle and benevolent spirit.  No upbraiding, no complaining expression escaped from His lips during the long and painful approaches of a cruel death.  He betrayed no symptom of a weak or a vulgar, of a discomposed or impatient mind.  With the utmost attention of filial tenderness He committed His aged mother to the care of His beloved disciple.  With all the dignity of a sovereign He conferred pardon on a fellow-sufferer.  With a greatness of mind beyond example, He spent His last moments in apologies and prayers for those who were shedding His blood.

By wonders in heaven and wonders on earth, was this hour distinguished.  All nature seemed to feel it; and the dead and the living bore witness of its importance.  The veil of the temple was rent in twain.  The earth shook.  There was darkness over all the land.  The graves were opened, and “many who slept arose, and went into the holy city.”  Nor were these the only prodigies of this awful hour.  The most hardened hearts were subdued and changed.  The judge who, in order to gratify the multitude, passed sentence against Him, publicly attested His innocence.  The Roman centurion who presided at the execution, “glorified God,” and acknowledged the Sufferer to be more than man.  “After he saw the things which had passed, he said, Certainly this was a righteous person:  truly this was the Son of God.”  The Jewish malefactor who was crucified with Him addrest Him as a king, and implored His favor.  Even the crowd of insensible spectators, who had come forth as to a common spectacle, and who began with clamors and insults, “returned home smiting their breasts.”  Look back on the heroes, the philosophers, the legislators of old.  View them, in their last moments.  Recall every circumstance which distinguished their departure from the world.  Where can you find such an assemblage of high virtues, and of great events, as concurred at the death of Christ?  Where so many testimonials given to the dignity of the dying person by earth and by heaven?

II.  This was the hour in which Christ atoned for the sins of mankind, and accomplished our eternal redemption.  It was the hour when that great sacrifice was offered up, the efficacy of which reaches back to the first transgression of man, and extends forward to the end of time; the hour when, from the cross, as from a high altar, the blood was flowing which washed away the guilt of the nations.