Practical Reflections on the Sufferings and Cross of Our Lord [Tr. by C.B. Tayler] (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. 1839 edition. Excerpt: ... INTRODUCTION. The heart of man finds a natural, but mournful delight in the scenes where every spot awakens some association of departed genius. We know that to such places the visitor becomes a pilgrim, and every spot he visits is looked upon as hallowed. The spirit of the departed haunts with its unseen presence the deep and solemn shade, or steals past on the lonely hill side; and the accents of the voice long mute, come breathing in the whispers of the plaintive winds. Yes, and there have been such pilgrim visitors to the sacred shades of the garden of Gethsemane, to the hill side of the Mount of Olives; and there imagination has pictured the fainting form of the despised and rejected Christ, and gazed with intense emotion upon the pale brow, and the eyes upraised in such inexpressible anguish, and listened to that reiterated piteous appeal, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me " But is it thus that the true disciple comes, in the course of his pilgrimage, to the garden of the Mount of Olives? Ah, no Imagination may bring before him, with all the vivid reality of breathing life, the agonies of the Son of man; but imagination is only the handmaid of faith. It is faith that can alone realize the presence of the Saviour, and behold Him who is invisible. Faith, which sees in Christ suffering, sin suffering; Christ agonized, sin agonized; Christ fainting, sin overcome. And then, to change at once the figure: faith, which beholds in Christ strengthened, grace renewed; Christ rising from the earth, grace triumphant; Christ going forth from the garden to meet his enemies with heavenly calmness, grace going forth into the midst of the trials and the temptations of a world at enmity against God. "Lord, it is good for us to be here, ..".