THE LIFE OF OUR BLESSED LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. IN PROSE AND VERSE. LIFE OF CHRIST. THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. WHAT condescension and love did our blessed Lord and Saviour manifest, in coming into this sinful world, and being born in a stable, and laid in a manger! Though he was rich, being God over all, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich. Let us consider the pity and love of God to poor lost sinners, and how great our sins must be, that it should be necessary for God himself to come down from heaven to save us. Let this encourage the youngest child to go to Jesus; like the shepherds, when the angels told them the "good tidings of great joy for all people," that a Saviour was born in Bethlehem. Jesus, who reigns above the sky, The Son of God, the Lord most high, Was pleas'd our nature to assume, And a poor infant to become: A stable was his lodging made, And the rude manger was his bed. THE CHILD JESUS AMONG THE DOCTORS IN THE TEMPLE. Jesus, while yet a child, was possessed of extraordinary wisdom; as a proof of which, we find him, at the age of twelve years, in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Yet he was not lifted up with pride, on account of the attention that was paid to him, but returned to Nazareth with his parents, and was subject to them, as before. The youngest child, if taught of God to know and love the Saviour, will be wise in the things of God and of salvation, and will become humble and obedient to his parents, like the holy Jesus. Jesus, when but a child, was found In holy wisdom to abound. Behold him in the house of prayer, Conversing with the doctors there; Yet he was meek and humble still, And subject to his parents' will. CHRIST INSTRUCTING THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. No sooner did this poor woman know that the person with whom she had been conversing, was indeed the Messiah, than she went at once into the city to make him known to her friends. "And many of the Samaritans believed on him for the saying of the woman. And they besought him to tarry with them; and many more believed, because of his own word." So when Jesus speaks to the heart, the conscience is awakened, and brings all our sins to remembrance; we are then made willing to confess all, and believe in Him, who is the Lamb of God, to take away our sins. And those who believe in Jesus, will try to persuade others to come and hear the preaching of Christ, that they may be saved also. When Jesus did himself reveal To the poor woman at the well, Soon as she knew his glorious name, She hasted to declare the same, And told to all her neighbors round, What a dear Saviour she had found. THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST. When John the Baptist, who had been imprisoned by Herod the king, heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples-not so much for his own satisfaction, as for theirs-to inquire of Jesus, whether he was indeed the promised Messiah, or if they were to look for another. Our Lord answered the question, by working various miracles in their presence, and then telling them to go and show John the things which they had heard and seen: "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them;" adding, "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." Jesus will always reveal himself to every humble simple-hearted inquirer. The blind beheld him, and the ear Which had been deaf, his voice could hear; The dumb his praises speak; the lame Leap like a hart, and bless his name; Sickness confess'd his healing hand, And devils fled at his command. CHRIST RECEIVING LITTLE CHILDREN. While our Lord was teaching and working miracles, there were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them and pray. And his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said unto them, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." And he called them unto him, took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. What a kind encouragement is this for all little children to come to the Saviour by prayer and faith. Will not you come unto him? Behold the Saviour, full of grace, Young children in his arms embrace: "Permit them to approach," he cries. With kind compassion in his eyes; "Such are the objects of my love, And such shall dwell with me above." THE LORD'S SUPPER INSTITUTED. At the feast of the Passover, which was the last that our Saviour kept with his disciples before he suffered, we are told, that as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me." After the same manner also he took the cup, after he had supped, saying, "Drink ye all of it. This cup is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." It is added, 1 Cor. 11:26, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." He broke the bread, he pour'd the wine, The emblems of his love divine: "Do this," he cried, "till time shall end, In memory of your dying Friend; Meet at my table, and record The love of your departed Lord." CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE. The night before his crucifixion, our blessed Saviour retired into a garden and prayed, saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." By cup, he meant his bitter sufferings on the cross for his people's sins; and being in an agony, his sweat was as drops of blood falling to the ground. This agony shows what a dreadful thing sin is; what agonies sinners will feel, when wrath over-takes them; and what mercy there is in Jesus for those who come to him. Low on the ground the Saviour lies! In bitterness of heart he cries! His laboring soul sustains our debt, His anguish writings the bloody sweat! Oh, how will sinners bear the load, Which overwhelm'd the Son of God? CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST. Crucifixion was a most painful and shameful death. Yet even to this did our blessed Lord submit for our salvation. He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. O who can conceive the bitter anguish he endured, when he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, and cried, "My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" May we be enabled to give ourselves to Him, who gave himself for us, the just for the unjust. Every sinner who comes to him, will be washed from sin in his blood. See, by the hands of wicked men, The Lord of life and glory slain; Nailed to the cross with cruel smart, What anguish racked his tender heart! While justice on his sacred head The weight of our transgressions laid. RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. On the third, the appointed day, the Saviour rose as a mighty conqueror from the tomb, being raised again for our justification. He repeatedly appeared to his disciples, convincing them, by many infallible proofs, of the reality of his resurrection; and gave them a commission to preach the Gospel to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. After this, he ascended to heaven, and sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; where he ever liveth to make intercession for us. In the cold tomb the Saviour lay, Until the third, th' appointed day, When he triumphantly arose, Victorious over all his foes; Prov'd his recover'd life, and then Ascended into heaven again.