dence watching over them, and that before God's time nothing should hurt them. But I suppose that it relates chiefly to their eternal interests. If we are unhurt in that, we are safe, whatever befals us.

19, In your patience possess ye your souls.

That patience which shall be given you; neither fretting against God, nor quarrelling with men. O that we all had this safeguard and armour of defence, in all troubles!

20. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

21. Then let them which are in Judæa flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

The Christians remembered this warning, and saved themselves by flight. Eusebius says, they were saved by a divine admonition at the time, and that they were directed where to go.-(Ecc. Hist. B. iii. c. 5.)

22. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

All things which God has before spoken, will be fulfilled to the end of the world, one as well as another; the great day of vengeance on the wicked, yet to come, as sure as those which are past. The things which are written, are the word and truth of God, and cannot fail, and there is no safety for us, but in having them written upon our hearts.

23. But woe unto them that are with child, and to then that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Jerusalem should be possessed by other nations; as it has been ever since, and will be till God's appointed time for the restoration of the Jews, and a more general conversion of the Gentiles than has yet taken place.

SECTION LXXI.

Chap. xxi. ver. 25-38.

SIGNS OF CHRIST'S COMING.

and

25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Those men's hearts will fail who have not the fear of God in them. To those who have that fear, it will be both a terrible and a joyful day.

27. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

up,

The things which begin to come to pass are mentioned in verse the twenty-fifth, and the following, which relate to the destruction of Jerusalem. "Your redemption draweth nigh;" here Christ speaks of their deliverance from their troubles and persecutions, which the Jews would no longer be able to inflict upon them.

29. And he spake to them a parable, Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30. When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

The time when the Jewish economy would cease, together with the destruction of their city and temple: when God's kingdom under Christ would be his only kingdom upon earth, and be greatly enlarged by a more plentiful accession of the Gentiles.

32. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

This came to pass thirty-nine years after.

33. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not

pass away.

They did not with respect to the destruction of Jerusalem.

34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

This was a warning to the disciples; and it is intended to be a caution to us. "That day," or the day which gives us up to it. Observe, that our hearts may not only be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, but with the cares of life, to the loss of our souls. For whatever we neglect them, if they are neglected, we perish.

35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the ace of the whole earth.

Suddenly, like the springing of a snare. Men will no more look for it before-hand then, than they do now; and the circumstance that men do not think of it, is no proof that it is far off.

36. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

We see the way to escape, at Christ's final coming to judgment, as they did then; but let none think that they shall be able to stand before him without watchfulness and prayer. To expect and prepare for his coming is the work of every Christian, and these are some of the chief purposes for which he is a Christian, if he knows why he is so; and this work will not prosper in our hands without continual prayer. How many in that day will be found who never were in a state of watchfulness; how many who never put up one true prayer in their whole lives, for their souls' salvation!

37. And in the day-time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

This relates to the time past, for after this he went no more to the temple.

38. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

Whatever they meant, or however they profited, it is our business to attend duly upon Christ, hearing him in his word, and by it receiving him into our hearts.*

SECTION LXXII.

Chap. xxii. ver. 1-18.

CHRIST EATS THE PASSOVER.

1. Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the passover.

2. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Christ was now fully prepared to enter upon that scene of his sufferings which terminated, as he foretold, in his death for the redemption of mankind.-Edit.

3. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how they might betray him unto them.

5. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Judas is a memorable and fatal instance of the power of covetousness. Let us not deceive ourselves. A covetous, or, which is the same thing, a worldly heart, which does not seek the kingdom of God, in the first place, always sells

* Vide, Observations on the chapter at the end of the Gospel.

Christ. The world is preferred to him, by a free choice, though not by as deliberate a bargain and sale, as Judas made.

7. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare ? 10. And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11. And ye shall say to the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12. And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished : there make ready.

Christ either knew the man's heart, or framed it for his purpose at the instant of speaking this. May we be as ready to entertain him.

13. And they went, and found as he said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And shall we find him less than his word in anything he has said to us, or promised on our behalf? They went at his bidding. They believed that it would be as he had told them. Here is our pattern.

14. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

Christ had earnestly desired it, though he knew it would be the last time of his eating and drinking with them. His great, burning desire, his joy, was to put the finishing hand to his work, by suffering a cruel death. Let this inflame our desires after him. Think how dear thy soul is to him; and know what the loss of it would be, by Christ's concern for it, and also the price he paid to redeem it from death and hell. If ever we know what a passing from death