6. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

What are we if he cannot say this of us in many instances? Let, indeed, all the world be angry with us, and murmur at us, if we do but please Christ.

will

7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye ye may do them good:

We may, and ought, and can, if we are but habitually willing, be always helpful to them.

7. But me ye have not always.

Christ speaks this with respect to his bodily presence with his disciples. Yet he tells us, that whatever we do for his sake, he accounts as done to himself. Matt. xxv. 40.

8. She hath done what she could she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

It will be a blessed thing to have this testimony from Christ. We are all apt to say this of ourselves; but there is a day coming that will try us. Let us search out this matter beforehand. And perhaps we need not go far for a proof. Have we done all we could to-day? Have we prayed to God, through Jesus Christ. Do we make a habit of praying to God in secret? Without this, we may think what we please, but we do nothing for ourselves, or for the glory of Christ, or for the promotion of his kingdom? Our Lord spoke the latter part of the verse for the apostles. They thought not of his death and burial. They did not choose to understand him upon that head, though he had mentioned it so often; and therefore he takes occasion to remind them of that event. Is not this generally our own case? Christ, indeed, speaks plainly enough. Why then do we complain for want of knowledge? Why do we not understand him? We will not.

9. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Who could have certainly known that this would be recorded, but Christ? You may be able to discover several other traces of Christ's foreknowledge in this chap

ter.

In this woman we have an instance of lively faith in Christ, and love of him: she grudged no expense to show her love to the Saviour. Christ applauded her action, and would have it left upon record, not so much for the costliness of it, but for the love which she therein displayed. Even the poor widow's mite was a great gift in Christ's esteem, because he saw the heart from which it came. He looks at nothing else in us. We are all apt to say, we have good hearts; but is the love of Christ in them? let us make our hearts answer this question.

SECTION XLVII.

Chap. xiv. ver. 10-25.

THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS BY JUDAS.

10. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

11. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Was there never but one Judas in the world? What are we, when we let Christ go for the world, or for our own sins? Is not this selling him?

12. And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

13. And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto

them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bear. ing a pitcher of water: follow him.

14. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

15. And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared there make ready for us.

16. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the pass

over.

As the disciples found as Jesus had said unto them, so shall we, in all that he has promised, if we will receive it and obey him; if not, we shall find it in all that he hath threatened.

In these verses we have another proof of the divine foreknowledge of Jesus Christ, in his foretelling the disciples exactly how everything would fall.

17. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

18. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily, I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

Our sins betrayed Christ first, else Judas could not have done it. There is a terrible sting in these words, "One of you which eateth with me.” Let the false-hearted Chris

tian think of them.

19. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

Let us put this question to ourselves. Let each one of us ask, do I pretend to be a disciple of Christ? and do I yet betray and crucify him by my sinfulness and unbelief?

20. And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

21. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Judas would have a sorer punishment than others; but the woe belongs, more or less, to all that are like him.

22. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, anp said, Take, eat: this is my body.

To this command, take, eat, alas! how many, in effect, too frequently say we will not: and not a few always refuse; even of those who say that they do all they can.

23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many.

Each of the expressions, This is my body, This is my blood, signifies the token of remission, through my body broken, and blood shed; of union with me, and newness of life in virtue of it. This is a sacramental eating and drinking. I can never believe that those persons have anything to do with Christ, who carelessly and frequently turn away from the sacrament of the supper of the Lord.

25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

We shall know what this means, if we are accounted worthy to sit down with Christ in his kingdom.

26. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

27. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

28. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

He does not say he will forsake them for ever, for deserting him; he knew their eyes would soon be opened. So he bears with us while there is hope. Let us not abuse his patience, but meet him as the apostles did, according to his appointment.

29. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

Here again was man's confidence, and man's strength. We shall presently see what will follow this resolution of

Peter.

30. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

It may seem strange that Peter thus forewarned as he was, should not be proof against the temptation, and stand fast when he heard the cock crow. Alas! no; he could not stand, nor shall we, if we neglect the means here prescribed, and sleep as he did, when we are charged to watch!

31. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

32. And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

He was just entering upon his dreadful agony, and knew of no way of arming himself against it but by prayer. And have we no need to pray? Yes; but we are not concerned for our souls, or not sensible of the danger they are in, and therefore have no will to pray.

33. And he taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

34. And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

Follow Christ in his agony, with deep consideration, that you may never know what it is in your own persons.

VOL. II.

K