A tract for Passion Week, containing reflections on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve

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A TRACT

PASSION W EEK

CONTAINING

REFLECTIONS ON PALM SUNDAY, GOOD FRIDAY,
AND EASTER EVE.

Reholil. wo so up to Jerusalem ; and the Sun of man shall be be-
trayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, ami they shall
condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to
mock and to scotirge and to crucify him; and the third day he snail
i isc again.— St. Matt. xx. IS, 19. '

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CHARLESTON:

STKAM-l'OWKU PRESSES OF EVANS & COGSWELL

Xo. 3 Broad and 103 East Bay street.

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PASSION WEEK.

0 Thou, who through this holy week

Didsl Buffer for us all :
The sick to cure, the lost to seek,

To raise up them that fall :

We cannot understand the woe
Thy love was pleas'd to hear:

0 Lamb of God ! we only know
That all our hopes arc there !

Thy feet the path of suffering trod:
Thy hand the victory won:

What shall we render to our God
For all that He hath done ?

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy (ihost.

By men on earth he honor done.
And by the heavenly host.

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by ? behold, ami see
if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.— Lam. i, 12.

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P A L M SUM I) A Y

Gal. vi, 14.

"God forbid that I should glory, saro In the erqss of
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucifiefl

until me, and I unto the world."

To-day begins the most solemn week in the whole
year, the great and holy week of the Passion (or sutL
fe'ring) of our blessed Lord. From beginning to end
of it one tiling is held up to us, even the Cross of
Jesus. On that we are bidden to fix our eyes. It is
that which must fill our hearts. Day by day in the
services of the Church is read the wonderful stofy of
the Saviour's death. Day by day we are called upon
to go up, as it were, in spirit to Calvary, and gaze on
that blessed and awful sight. A voice seems to speak
to us from heaven, saying, " Go up and behold : —
behold your Lord and your God sinking under the
cross, which He bears for you: behold Him nailed to
the accursed tree, bleeding with the strokes of the
cruel scourge, torn with the thorns they have put
upon His holy brow : behold Him raised high in the

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air, like the brazen serpent in the wilderness, while
the world stands round and mocks His agony : behold
Him worn out with His awful weight of suffering,
bowing His head, and giving up the ghost. Listen
to His sacred voice praying for His murderers :
listen to His blessed promise to the penitent thief
beside Him : listen to His words of fearful woe. when
even the presence of the Father seemed for a while
withdrawn. 'My God, my God, why hast Thou for-
I saken Me ?' listen to that last piercing cry, when lie
gave up His spirit to God. Look upon the earth-
quake, and the sudden, awful darkness, and the
rending of the veil of the Temple, and the rising of
the dead from their graves." Nay, let not man's
weak words try to picture that mighty scene. Go to
God's own Word. Read there, day by day this week,
of these things. And as you read try to realize — to
make it real to your hearts. Bring it all before you.
See it. Hear it. Stand there, amid the darkness
and the signs and wonders, and try to feel yourself
in the very presence of that scene, the most marvel-
lous the world has ever known — God hanging in
death upon the Cross for man.

Oh ! can we stand unmoved before Him who,
though lie was God from everlasting, put off His
glory, and took upon Him our flesh that He might
sulfer these things for us? Can we see unmoved the
load of our sins weighing down the spotless Lamb of

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God even unto (loath ? " Surely He hath borno Otw
griefs and carried our sorrows." " lie was wounded
for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniqui-
ties: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
and with His stripes we are healed."

And yet, alas ! it is too true that we can see and
hear these great tilings unmoved — nay, that many do
so. Year by year we are called upon to behold and
to listen to them. They are brought before us,
Whether we will or no. But how often do they
rouse in us no awe, no worship, no fear, no gratitude,
no love, no zeal, no penitence. How often are we
like Gal lio, who u cared for none of these things."
Oh! how is it that there are such numbers, who do
make some outward profession of religion, yet are so
wholly wanting in its spirit and power? Surely the
fault is in the root of the whole matter. It is Want
of faith which makes the Cross of Christ so dull and
cold a subject to so many, which hides its wonders
and its glories from the passer-by. The eye of the
soul is shut : so how can it see that which it is bid-
den to look upon V It is asleep, and opens not : so
how can it gaze upon the great things held up before
it ?

And now. how shall we spend this Passion Week
with profit ? How shall we win a blessing from it as
it passes ?

First, let us try to fill our minds with the one great
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thought of Christ's suffering and death. Whatever
| our business or work, let us take this thought with us,
and dwell upon it as often and as long as we can.

Secondly, let us turn this thought into prayer. Let
us lift up our hearts very often to the throne of grace
in secret prayer; thanking God for the great Re-
demption wrought for us, and asking Him to help us
to love our Saviour better and to become more like
Him.

Thirdly, let us take for our guidance our Lord's
own rule, " If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."
Let us practise some sell-denial — give up something
for Him who gave up all for us.

Fourthly, let us, if we have the power, seek God's
house more often, and not mind if it puts us to some
little trouble to do so. Or, if we cannot do this, let
us at least read at home those portions of God's
Word which are lixed for the different days of this
week, and try to print its great lessons dee}) on our
minds.

Fifthly, let all who have been confirmed prepare
themselves in a very careful and solemn manner for
the Easter Communion. Surely, all who love their
Lord, and whose hearts this week have been tilled
with the thought of His most precious Body broken
and Blood poured forth for them, ought to be present
at the sacred feast at Easter.

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But are we to think of these things only for one
short week V Oh, no ! It is good for us to have
times and seasons fixed for the special thought of the
great truths of God; but, Unless these times and sea-
sons have some lasting fruit, they are truly thrown
away. Our Lesson this week is to glory in nothing
"save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." But
God help us always to love that Cross better. God
keep alive in us its sacred lessons, till we can take up
our cross daily, and " follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth ;" till we can feel that "the world is cruci-
fied unto us and we unto the world ;" till we can say,
" I am crucified with Christ ; nevertheless I live, yel
not I, but Christ liveth in me."

Almighty and everlasting God, who of Thy tender love
toward mankind, hast sent Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus
Christ, to take upon Iliin our flesh, and to sutler death
upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the exam-
ple <>i His great humility; mercifully grant that we may
both follow the example of His patience, and also be made
partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

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••Tell ye the daughter of Sinn, behold thy King cometh unto
thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass. and a colt tlie foal of an ass."

Ride on ! ride on in majesty !

Hark, nil the tribes Hosanna cry :

0 Saviour meek, pursue Thy road,

With palms and scatter'd garments strew' d.

Ride on ! ride on in majesty !
In lowly pomp, ride on to die !
0 Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O'er captive death and conquer'd sin.

Ride on ! ride on in majesty !

The Angel armies of the sky

Look down with sad and wondering eyes,

To see the approaching Sacrifice.

Ride on ! ride on in majesty !
The last and fiercest, strife is nigh :
The Father on His sapphire Throne,
Expects His Own anointed Hon.

Ride on ! ride on in majesty !

In lowly pomp, ride on to die !

Bow Thy meek Head to mortal pain,

Then take, 0 God, Thy Power, and reign.

Reign on ! reign on in majesty!
Reign on in triumph. Lord most High !
We hymn Thee on Thy Throne of love,
Almighty King, in realms above. Amen.

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GOOD FBI DA V.

St. John xix, 5.

''Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns,
and tii.' purple robe. A 1.1I Pilate saitb unto them, Behold

the man !"

How simple, and yet how perfect, is this picture !
A few short words, and vet we can sec it all. Let us
stop and gaze upon it ; for it is not a picture to be
lightly passed by. Sic He comes forth from the
judgment-hall, "wearing the crown of thorns, and
the purple robe." And who is this that comes forth ?
It is the " man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;"
it is Jesus of Nazareth, the "despised and rejected
of men;" and vet (oh! wonderful love!) it is our
Saviour, our Kino;, our God. There He stands, and
we can see the bleeding brow, and the smitten face,
and the mangling of the cruel scourge; we can see
the look of patient suffering, of holy meekness, of
tender love. And Pilate points Him out to us, and
says, " Behold the man." And can we turn away
from such a picture ? Does it not touch and melt
j our hearts ? Do we not hear His pleading voice as
I He stands there in His crown and robe of mockery,

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crying to us and saying, " Is it nothing to you, all ye
that pass by ? Behold, and see if there be any sor-
row like unto my sorrow ?"

Or pass on a few hours, and look upon another
picture. It is a still more wonderful and touching
one. Pass on from the judgment-hall to Calvary.
Go, and stand afar off', in loving awe and lowly rev-
erence, and behold that awful sight. See there that
dim Cross standing up against the darkened mid-day
sky. Trace the suffering Form that hangs upon it.
Mark the drops of blood falling last from the pierc-
ing thorns upon His sacred head, and raining down
from the cruel nails in His holy hands and feet.
Once again, " Behold the man !" And know that
He you look upon is none other than your God, giv-
ing His most precious Body, shedding His most pre-
cious Blood, to save you from the wrath to come.
Oh ! " is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by ?"

Such are the pictures Good Friday sets before our
eyes. It is a day to be much observed amongst as —
a day to fill our whole hearts and minds with thoughts
of the Cross of Christ. It is a solemn, mournful, day ;
a day of fasting and prayer; a day for much secret
thought, and self-examination, and repentance.

Let us try to think of Jesus Himself watching our
hearts to see how the great things of this day touch
them, and what will be their fruit in us. Alas ! how
many go upon their way — of business or pleasure, it

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matters not which — and never turn aside even for a
moment to gaze where their Saviour Himself hangs
bleeding ibr them. They hurry od : it is nothing to
them : and they pass by. But is it really nothing to
them ? Tljey may think it so. and feel it so, but it
cannot really be so. It must make a difference to
them, for good or for ill. whether they will or no.
They cannot despise their Lord, and refuse to heed
Him, ami w" pass by," and be none the worse ibr it.
If the}' will not know Him as their living and cruci-
fied Saviour, they shall know Him, one day, as their
wrathful and terrible Judge.

But many stop to gaze. There are many eyes that
turn to look on the wondrous scene. But not all
alike : not all in the spirit of faith and love. A gnat
many look because it is the custom to look. The}' go
to church, and listen to the story of their Saviour's
death, because it is the right thing to do. But though
that solemn story falls on the ear, does it always go
down deeper V Does it always get to the heart ?
Is it never heard with listless weariness, with idle
unconcern '? Let us each make sure, at least, about
ourselves. How have we heard this story '? How
have zve looked upon the great Good Friday pic-
tures ? Plave we really taken our part in the great
scene ? If we have been standing by the Cross of
Jesus at all, has our place been with the careless,
godless, Roman soldiers, who, though so near the

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Cross, knew nothing of its power and its love ; or
with the holy women who " stood afar off," gazing
with full hearts on that sight, from which the very
sun in heaven hid its face? Has it all been a real
living thing to our hearts ? Has it filled them, so
that there was no room for vain and idle (and much
less for sinful) thoughts this day? Have Ave really
felt, and mourned, and loved ? Remember, there
may be much inward coldness under much outward
observance. The great question is, Do we love the
Lord or no ? If we do love Him, we cannot pass by
all His sorrows and His sufferings for us, with hearts
cold and unconcerned.

God grant that this day may not be without its
fruit in us, but that we may so learn its holy lessons
that " Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith ; that
we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able
to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height; and to know the
love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that we may
be filled with all the fulness of God." Amen.

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0 Lord Jesus Christ, the only Sou of God, who wast
given both to be a sacrifice for sin and also an ensample
of godly life; who did'st bid us take up our cross and daily
follow Thee; make, we pray Thee, the yoke of Thy com-
mandments sweet, and the burden of Thy cross light unto
our souls. Conform Thy sen ants, 0 Lord, to the likeness
of Thy passion; give us grace, 0, Eternal Father, that we
strive to keep the way of the holy cross, and carry in our
hearts the image oj' Jesus crucified. Make us cheerfully
resign ourselves to Thy divine will, that, being fashioned
after His life-giving death, we may die according to the
flesh, and live according to the spirit of righteousness ;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Saviour. Amen.

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-Jesus said. It is finished; and He bowed His head and gave up
the ghost.''

JeSU, Who didst set us free
From sin's curse and tyranny:
By Thy death Thou life dost give.
Life to all who Thee receive.

While each solemn function high
Of that woeful mystery
On the Cross Thou deign'st to bear.
Saviour, with most loving care:

" Finishing" the Rite of rites !
" Finishing" the last of fights !
"Finishing" life's shadowy race!
"Finishing" the Work of Grace !

While death's hour is hast'ning ou,
While life's strength is all but gone,
While the end Thou'rt bent to meet.
While the task is just complete;

In a word the sum is said —
Thou dost cry " 'Tis finished!"
Yea, the Lord is crucified !
Yea, for us the Lamb hath died !

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Now His precious Blood is shed !

Now our souls aro ransomed !

Now is Satan's power braved ;

Christ hath died, and man is saved ! Amen.

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Psalms xxiii, 4.

''Yen. though T walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, 1 will (car no evil : for Thou art with me ; Thy

rod and Thy start' they comfort me."

How strangely calm and solemn are the thoughts
which this day brings ! It was the Jewish Sabbath,
the day of rest. And Jesus rests in the dark and
silent chamber of the tomb. "It is finished" — the
sad life of sorrow and of suffering — the pathway of
grief — the journey of pain. No more toil, and
want, and misery: no mure sighing and tears; no
more hatred and enmity ; no more mocking and
insult ; no more agony and sorrow of soul even unto
death ; no more smiting, and jeering, and buffeting,
and spitting on ; no more fainting under the weight
of the cross ; no more rending with the scourge : no
more piercing with the nails; no more crowning
with the thorns : no more hanging by those bleeding
hands and feet to the bitter cross; no more dying in
the lingering torture of a felon's shameful execution.

"It is finished" — all that the prophets prophesied,

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and the types foreshadowed. " Messiah is cut off,
but not for Himself." " He is cut off out of the land
of the living." It has "pleased the Lord to bruise
Him; He hath put Him to grief." He hath made
" His soul an offering for sin." " He hath poured
out His soul unto death." " He was numbered with
the transgressors, and bare the sin of many ;" and
His fainting lips " made intercession for the trans-
gressors"— " Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do." " And lie hath made His grave
with the wicked and with the rich in His death,"
dying between the thieves — buried in the rich man's
grave. And the Paschal Lamb has been truly sacri-
ficed, and He is a Lamb " without blemish and with-
out spot;" and "as Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so" now hath the Son of Man
been " lifted up." And the Scapegoat is gone away
into the wilderness, the Victim has passed to the
unseen world with the sins of the people laid upon
His precious head. The Scriptures are fulfilled.
" It is finished."

Yes, all is over, and between, the sad heart-rend-
ing scenes of Good Friday, and the glad and glori-
ous news of Easter morning, there conies in this one
calm day of rest and peace — rest for the weary
Body, peace for the Soul set free. The Body rests
in the silent tomb. The Soul is gone to Paradise.

And what is Paradise V We know not, save that

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it is the happy place where the souls of those that
"die in the Lord" are waiting for the fuller glory
and happiness of the presence of God in heaven.
There the penitent thief met his Saviour after death.
And there we believe are gathered in a blissful rest
all the " spirits of just men made perfect;" sharing
in the special presence of their Lord, for to them to
"depart" was to "be with Christ;" and looking
forward, with a "hope full of immortality," to their
"perfect consummation and Miss, both in body and
soul, in eternal and everlasting glory."

And here, we may observe, that when our Creed
says that Christ "descended into hell" the word
"hell" does not mean hell-fire. It is quite a differ-
ent word in the original language of the Creed,
and means the " place of the departed;" and so the
Creed only tells us that our Lord went down
amongst the dead, which He did when He went to
Paradise.

And, oh ! what a happy place Paradise musl be!
" There the wicked cease from troubling, and the
weary are at rest." Surely there are times — times
of sorrow, and weariness, and disappointment —
when all, who have any thought of these things,
would " desire to depart and to be with Christ,
which is far better." Christ said, "Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest." He gives that rest even here ; but,

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oh ! how far sweeter must be the rest He gives in
Paradise ! " There remaineth a rest for the people
of God." "Let us labor, therefore, to enter into
that rest."

And while Christ is dead in the silent tomb, let us
think of our death. It is fttt drawing near. It will
not tarry long. Our bodies, too, unless we be alive
at the coming of the Lord, will soon sleep in the
dark, cold, grave. Are we afraid to die ? Does the
" valley of the shadow of death" look very dark and
terrible to our weak faith V Nay, why should we
fear it ? Jesus has passed through it before us. He
has robbed it of its terrors. Do we fear to go to
Him ? Do we fear to be with Him? Is it so fearful
to hear the words, " To-day shalt thou be with Me
in Paradise V" We only want more faith — faith to
look beyond the narrow stream that parts us from
the promised land — faith to believe in the Saviour's
blessed presence even as we pass through the dark
waters. How well for us to be able to say, " O
Death, where is thy sting V O Grave, where is thy
victory V" " Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, 1 will fear no evil: for Thou
art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff* they comfort
me."

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Grant. 0 Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of
Thy blessed Son, our Saviour. Jesus Christ, so by con-
tinual mortifying our corrupt affections, we may be buried
with Him : and that through the grave and gate of death,
we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for His merits
who died and was buried, and rose again for us. Thy Sou
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"And when Joseph hail taken the Body, he wrapped It in a clean
linen cloth, and laid It in his own new tomb, which he had hewn
out in the rock. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre."

Besting from His work to-day
In the tomb the Saviour lay ;
Still He sleeps, from Head to Feel
Shrouded in the winding-sheet,
In the rocky tomb alone,
Hidden by the sealed stone.

Late at even there was seen
Watching long the Magdalene;
Early rose, as rested late,
By the sepulchre to wait,
In the holy garden glade,
Where her buried Lord was laid.

So with Thee, till life shall end,
I would solemn vigil spend;

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Let me hew Tliec, Lord. :i shrine
In this stony heart of mine ;
Where, in pure embalmed cell,
None but Thou msty ever dwell !

Myrrh and spices will I bring.

True affection's offering;

Close the door from sight and sound

Of the busy world around :

And in patient watch remain,

Till my Lord appear again. Amen.

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By Thine agony and bloody sweat;

By Thy Cross and Passion ;

By Thy precious Death and Burial ;

By Thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension ;

By the coming of the Holy Ghost :

Good Lord deliver us.

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