rds of the
same import upon his lips, with a significant alteration, "_Lord
Jesus_, receive My spirit." We may use them as they have been used by
countless thousands in all ages; and we know Him whom we have believed,
and are persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed
unto Him.

And when Jesus had said these words, He bowed His head upon His breast,
and breathed out His spirit. No one took His life from Him: He laid it
down of Himself: He had power to lay it down.

So ended that marvellous scene. The expectation of all the ages was
more than realized. If it be true that on that day a tidal wave of
immense volume swept around the world, and rose high up in all rivers
and estuaries, this may be taken as an emblem of the much more
abounding grace, which on that day rose high above the mighty obstacles
of human sin, and is destined to lift the entire universe nearer God.
For by it God will reconcile all things to Himself, whether in heaven
or on earth.

Three items remain to be noticed.

At the moment that Jesus died there was a great earthquake, which made
the earth tremble and the rocks rend, so that the ancient graves were
opened, preparatory to the rising of the bodies of the saints on the
Resurrection morning, following the Lord from the power of Death. And
when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus,
charged to see the sentence executed, saw the earthquake and the things
that were done, they feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the
Son of God."

The vail of the Temple, also, was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom, at the moment that the Great High Priest Jesus was entering the
Temple not made with hands, with the blood of His propitiation. Is it
to be wondered at that afterward many priests, who had been in close
contiguity to that marvellous type, became obedient to the faith?

Finally, from the pierced side of Christ came out blood and water, as
John solemnly attests. "He knoweth that he saith true." This was a
symptom that there had been heart-rupture, and that the Lord had
literally died of a broken heart. But it was also a symbol of "the
double cure" which Jesus has effected. Blood to atone; water to
cleanse. "This is He that came by water and blood, not with the water
only."

XXXII

Christ's Burial

"Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with
the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury."--JOHN xix. 4