Yet, for this, among other purposes of mercy, did the Son of God, as on this day, suffer death upon the cross:  he died that we might be one in him.  Let us turn, then, from the thought of the general temple in ruins, and let us see whether we cannot, at any rate, within the walls of our own little particular congregation, fulfil also this object of Christ’s death, and be one in him.  Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works:  we too often consider one another for the very contrary purpose, to provoke to contempt or ill-will.  True it is, that if we look for it we can find much of evil in our brethren, and they can find much also in us; and we might become all haters of one another, all in some sort deserving to be hated.  But where is he who is entitled to hate another’s evil when he has evil in himself; and when Christ, who had none, did not hate the evil of us all, but rather died to save it?  And is it not true also, that, if we look for it, we can also find in every one something to love? something, undoubtedly, even in him who has in himself least:  but much, infinitely much in all, when we look upon them as Christ’s redeemed.  Not more beautifully than truly has it been said, that Christian souls—­

     “Though worn and soiled by sinful clay,
     Are yet, to eyes that see them true,
     All glistening with baptismal dew.”

They have the seal of belonging to Christ; they are his and our brethren.  And, as his latest command, and his beloved Apostle’s also, was that we should love one another; so, if we would bring all our solemn thoughts of Christ’s death to one point, and endeavour to derive from it some one particular lesson for our daily lives, I know not that any would be more needed or better for us, than that we should especially apply the thought of Christ dying on the cross for us to soften our angry, and proud, and selfish feelings; to restrain us from angry or sneering words; from unkind, offensive, rude, or insulting actions; to excite us to gentleness, courtesy, kindness; remembering that he, be he who he may, whom we allow ourselves to despise, or to dislike, or to annoy, or to neglect, was one so precious in Christ’s sight, that he laid down his life for his sake, and invites him to be for ever with, him and with his Father.

LECTURE XXV.

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EASTER DAY.

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JOHN xx. 20.

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.