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March 23
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The mental pressure
arising from our Lord's struggle with temptation, so forced his frame
to an unnatural excitement, that his pores sent forth great drops of
blood which fell down to the ground. This proves how tremendous must
have been the weight of sin when it was able to crush the Saviour so
that he distilled great drops of blood! This demonstrates the mighty
power of his love. It is a very pretty observation of old Isaac Ambrose
that the gum which exudes from the tree without cutting is always the
best. This precious camphire-tree yielded most sweet spices when it
was wounded under the knotty whips, and when it was pierced by the nails
on the cross; but see, it giveth forth its best spice when there is
no whip, no nail, no wound. This sets forth the voluntariness of Christ's
sufferings, since without a lance the blood flowed freely. No need to
put on the leech, or apply the knife; it flows spontaneously. No need
for the rulers to cry, "Spring up, O well;" of itself it flows
in crimson torrents. If men suffer great pain of mind apparently the
blood rushes to the heart. The cheeks are pale; a fainting fit comes
on; the blood has gone inward as if to nourish the inner man while passing
through its trial. But see our Saviour in His agony; he is so utterly
oblivious of self, that instead of his agony driving his blood to the
heart to nourish himself, it drives it outward to bedew the earth. The
agony of Christ, inasmuch as it pours him out upon the ground, pictures
the fulness of the offering which he made for men. Do we not perceive how intense must have been the wrestling through which he passed, and will we not hear its voice to us? "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Behold the great Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and sweat even to blood rather than yield to the great tempter of your souls. March
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