the eternal God。 But He was also Man； and took part of flesh and blood；
and was made like unto us in all things； sin only excepted。 He had a
body like our own。 Like us； He was born of a woman。 Like us； He grew
and increased in stature。 Like us； He was often hungry and thirsty； and
faint and weary。 Like us； He ate and drank； rested and slept。 Like us；
He sorrowed； and wept； and felt。 It is all very wonderful； but so it
is。 He that made the heavens went to and fro as a poor； weary Man on
earth！ He that ruled over principalities and powers in heavenly places；
took on Him a frail body like our own。 He that might have dwelt for
ever in the glory which He had with the Father； amidst the praises of
legions of angels； came down to earth and dwelt as a Man among sinful
men。 Surely this fact alone is an amazing miracle of condescension；
grace； pity； and love。
I find a deep mine of fort in this thought； that Jesus is perfect
Man no less than perfect God。 He in whom I am told by Scripture to
trust is not only a great High Priest； but a feeling High Priest。 He is
not only a powerful Saviour； but a sympathising Saviour； He is not only
the Son of God； mighty to save； but the Son of man； able to feel。
Who does not know that sympathy is one of the sweetest things left to
us in this sinful world？ It is one of the bright seasons in our dark
journey here below； when we can find a person who enters into our
troubles； and goes along with us in our anxietieswho can weep when we
weep； and rejoice when we rejoice。
Sympathy is far better than money； and far rarer too。 Thousands can
give who know not what it is to feel。 Sympathy has the greatest power
to draw us and to open our hearts。 Proper and correct counsel often
falls dead and useless on a heavy heart。 Cold advice often makes us
shut up； shrink； and withdraw into ourselves； when tendered in the day
of trouble。 But genuine sympathy in such a day will call out all our
better feelings； if we have any； and obtain an influence over us when
nothing else can。 Give me the friend who； though poor in gold and
silver； has always ready a sympathizing heart。
Our God knows all this well。 He knows the very secrets of man's heart。
He knows the ways by which that heart is most easily approached； and
the springs by which that heart is most readily moved。 He has wisely
provided that the Saviour of the Gospel should be feeling as well as
mighty。 He has given us one who has not only a strong hand to pluck us
as brands from the burning； but a sympathizing heart on which the
labouring and heavy…laden may find rest。
I see a marvellous proof of love and wisdom in the union of two natures
in Christ's person。 It was marvellous love in our Saviour to condescend
to go through weakness and humiliation for our sakes； ungodly rebels as
we are。 It was marvellous wisdom to fit Himself in this way to be the
very Friend of friends； who could not only save man； but meet him on
his own ground。 I want one able to perform all things needful to redeem
my soul。 This Jesus can do； for He is the eternal Son of God。 I want
one able to understand my weakness and infirmities； and to deal gently
with my soul； while tied to a body of death。 This again Jesus can do；
for He was the Son of man； and had flesh and blood like my own。 Had my
Saviour been God only； I might perhaps have trusted Him； but I never
could have e near to Him without fear。 Had my Saviour been Man only；
I might have loved Him； but I never could have felt sure that He was
able to take away my sins。 But； blessed be God； my Saviour is God as
well as Man； and Man as well as GodGod； and so able to deliver
meMan； and so able to feel with me。 Almighty power and deepest
sympathy are met together in one glorious person； Jesus Christ； my
Lord。 Surely a believer in Christ has a strong consolation。 He may well
trust； and not be afraid。
If any reader of this paper knows what it is to go to the throne of
grace for mercy and pardon； let him never forget that the Mediator by
whom he draws near to God is the Man Christ Jesus。
Your soul's business is in the hand of a High Priest who can be touched
with the feeling of your infirmities。 You have not to do with a being
of so high and glorious a nature that your mind can in no wise
prehend Him。 You have to do with Jesus； who had a body like your own
and was a Man upon earth like yourself。 He well knows that world
through which you are struggling； for He dwelt in the midst of it
thirty…three years。 He well knows 〃the contradictions of sinners；〃
which so often discourages you； for He endured it Himself。 （Heb。 xii。
3。） He well knows the art and cunning of your spiritual enemy； the
devil； for He wrestled with him in the wilderness。 Surely； with such an
advocate you may well feel bold。
If you know what it is to apply to the Lord Jesus for spiritual fort
in earthly troubles； you should well remember the days of His flesh；
and His human nature。
You are applying to One who knows your feelings by experience； and has
drunk deep of the bitter cup； for He was 〃a Man of sorrows； and
acquainted with grief。〃 （Isa。 liii。 3。） Jesus knows the heart of a
manthe bodily pains of a manthe difficulties of a man； for he was a
Man Himself； and had flesh and blood upon earth。 He sat wearied by the
well at Sychar。 He wept over the grave of Lazarus at Bethany。 He sweat
great drops of blood at Gethsemane。 He groaned with anguish at Calvary。
He is no stranger to your sensations。 He is acquainted with everything
that belongs to human nature； sin only excepted。
（a） Are you poor and needy？ So also was Jesus。 The foxes had holes； and
the birds of the air had nests； but the Son of man had not where to lay
His head。 He dwelt in a despised city。 Men used to say； 〃Can any good
thing e out of Nazareth？〃 （John i。 46。） He was esteemed a
carpenter's son。 He preached in a borrowed boat； rode into Jerusalem on
a borrowed ass； and was buried in a borrowed tomb。
（b） Are you alone in the world； and neglected by those who ought to
love you？ So also was Jesus。 He came unto His own； and they received
Him not。 He came to be a Messiah to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel； and they rejected Him。 The princes of this world would not
acknowledge Him。 The few that followed Him were publicans and
fishermen。 And even these at the last forsook Him； and were scattered
every man to his own place。
（c） Are you misunderstood； misrepresented； slandered； and persecuted？
So also was Jesus。 He was called a glutton and a wine…bibber； a friend
of publicans； a Samaritan； a madman； and a devil。 His character was
belied。 False charges were laid against Him。 An unjust sentence was
passed upon Him； and； though innocent； He was condemned as a
malefactor； and as such died on the cross。
（d） Does Satan tempt you； and offer horrid suggestions to your mind？ So
also did he tempt Jesus。 He bade Him to distrust God's fatherly
providence。 〃mand these stones to be made bread。〃 He proposed to Him
to tempt God by exposing Himself to unnecessary danger。 〃Cast Thyself
down〃 from the pinnacle of the temple。 He suggested to Him to obtain
the kingdoms of the world for His own； by one little act of submission
to himself。 〃All these things will I give Thee； if Thou wilt fall down
and worship me。〃 （Matt。 iv。 1…10。）
（e） Do you ever feel great agony and conflict of mind？ Do you feel in
darkness as if God had left you？ So did Jesus。 Who can tell the extent
of the sufferings of mind He went through in the garden？ Who can
measure the depth of His soul's pain when He cried； 〃My God！ my God！
why hast Thou forsaken me？〃 （Matt。 xxvii。 46。）
It is impossible to conceive a Saviour more suited to the wants of
man's heart than our Lord Jesus Christsuited not only by His power；
but by His sympathysuited not only by His divinity； but by His
humanity。 Labour； I beseech you； to get firmly impressed on your mind
that Christ； the refuge of souls； is Man as well as God。 Honour Him as
King of kings； and Lord of lords。 But while you do this； never forget
that He had a body and was a Man。 Grasp this truth and never let it go。
The unhappy Socinian errs fearfully when he says that Christ was only
Man； and not God。 But let not the rebound from that error make you
forget that while Christ was very God He was also very Man。
Listen not for a moment to the wretched argument of the Roman Catholic
when he tells you that the Virgin Mary and the saints are more
sympathizing than Christ。 Answer him that such an argument springs from
ignorance of the Scriptures and of Christ's true nature。 Answer him；
that you have not so learned Christ as to regard Him only as an austere
Judge and a being to be feared。 Answer him； that the four Gospels have
taught you to regard Him as the most loving and sympathizing of
friends； as well as the mig