The Seven Words of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, Tr. by E. Cox (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1855 Excerpt: ... "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"--(St. Matt, xxvii. 46.) Threefold is the position which every man occupies in this earthly life, and threefold, consequently, the relations by which we are bound to this life. In our corporeal life every one of us comes forth, as an individual, like the branch or leaf of some great tree. But man is not a mere individual of his race, like unto plants or animals; he is, moreover, a spiritual being, perfect in himself, a free, self-determining personality. Finally, each one comes into existence as the member of a family to which he peculiarly belongs. As au individual, springing from human nature, each one necessarily bears his part in the destiny, in the weal and woe of the whole body; and there shall never be round one amongst mortals, whom a higher position will entitle to an exemption from this doom. As a spiritual being or person, every one has to acknowledge by his thoughts and by his will a supreme Ruler and Lord: there are imposed upon him sacred duties, which his relation to God and to men decrees: he has to decide between right and wrong, and is responsible for his choice. Each one belongs to a family, and here, these two classes of relations are so closely united, that from them proceed the duties of love and reverence, which are extended to the greater family of civil society. To this threefold position of man, correspond the first three words of our Saviour on the cross, by which he concluded his testament which was commenced at his last supper. He contemplated first the universal destiny of man, which includes every member of the human race, namely, original sin and its consequences, --the turning away from God, the interior conflict between, the powers of body and of soul, error and ignorance, which br...