Perhaps, had he never come to our SAVIOUR at night, he would never have thus defended HIM in the day. Had he neglected the first step, he would not have taken the second. But now he waxed stronger and bolder, and was able to raise his voice against the false accusers, and the persecutors. So gently did God's good grace lead him on from the dark chamber, where he sat at the SAVIOUR'S Feet, to the open court of the Pharisees; from the secret inquiry, to the bold reproof.

Holy Scripture brings Nicodemus forward, at the last, in connexion with our Blessed LORD's Crucifixion. Although not expressly told, we know that he, with Joseph of Arimathea," had not consented to the counsel and deed of them." Had not consented to the counsel and deed of them who condemned the LORD of Life to death upon the Cross. Doubtless, Nicodemus heard HIM, WHO spake as never man spake," speak His last words, when "He was taken from prison and from judgment." Heard HIM declare HIMSELF the SON of GOD, WHO should come to judge those before whom He was judged.

1 S. Luke xxiii. 51.

2 Isa. liii. 8.

But they had "filled up the measure of their fathers." They crucified the LORD. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so" did Nicodemus behold "the SON of Man lifted up.'

And once more do we behold Nicodemus.2 He cometh to JESUS at night. Yea, before the evening shadows have yet closed in. Nicodemus cometh, at even, to the Cross. He reckoneth nothing of "the fear of the Jews;" he careth not for what Pilate, their ruler, may think, or say. When " Joseph goeth in boldly, and craveth the Body of JESUS," Nicodemus is not far absent. There, amidst the scoffs and the sneers, there, amidst the rude mirth and insult of the wicked multitude, they set about and accomplished their last work of love to HIM WHO had "loved them unto the end." Blessed was their work towards HIM WHO, in that "He had hanged on a tree," was made " a curse. Blessed were they as they "took HIM down, and wrapped HIM in the fine

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1 S. Matt. xxiii. 32.

2 S. Matt. xxvii. 57; S. John xix. 39.

3 S. John xix. 38.

5 Deut. xxi. 23; Gal. iii. 13.

4 S. John xiii. 1.

linen, and laid HIM in the Sepulchre which was hewn out of the rock, and rolled the great stone to the door of the Sepulchre." Full surely, when the LORD rose again, He appeared unto them. Full surely, he who came to JESUS by night, and who raised his voice to defend HIм by day, and at eventide took His Body from the Tree, " he rejoiced to see that day; and he saw it, and was glad." And we doubt not that, after

the LORD had ascended, Nicodemus was among those who in the upper chamber gathered together-that Hundred and Twenty who awaited, in patient hope, the fulfilment of the SAVIOUR'S Word, "ye shall be baptized with the HOLY GHOST, not many days hence."

Full surely, when that "rushing mighty wind" filled all the house where they were sitting, Nicodemus was not absent; nor forgetful of his MASTER'S words, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the SPIRIT." Then would not Nicodemus answer and say, "How can these things be?" but thank his LORD and

1 S. John viii. 56. 2 Acts i. 5.

his God that they were so, "according to His word."

And "when the even was come" of his own life, think you that Nicodemus trembled, when "the preparation "—even "the day before the sabbath" of his own Heavenly rest-" drew on ?" Did he fear, when the linen was even now ready, and the sepulchre opening for himself? I trow not. For he knew that "very early in the Morning" of the Resurrection, "at the rising of the sun " "of Righteousness," "the stone" should be "rolled away" from his own grave too; and that HE WHOм he had seen descend from the Cross, and ascend into Heaven, should raise him also, and bid him "be for ever with the LORD.""

11 Thess. iv. 17.

SERMON VIII.

GOD'S PRESENCE.

PSALM XIII. 1.

"HOW LONG WILT THOU FORGET ME, O LORD? FOR EVER? How LONG WILT THOU HIDE THY FACE FROM ME?"

Ir has been observed, as a very striking fact, that there has never been discovered an entire nation of infidels. So far from it, the complete body of each nation, of whom we have received any knowledge, has held the belief in the Being of a GOD. It has ever been the few, not the many of a nation, who have denied it. They have formed the exception to the rule, not the rule itself. Even in the opinion of the most savage and barbarous among mankind, it would be "the