some in this life, by the greatest of all mercies, that they may not lie groaning under it for ever.

45. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46. And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation.

Not praying is the dead sleep of the soul, and every temptation will overset us.

SECTION LXXV.

Chap. xxii. ver. 47—62.

CHRIST'S BETRAYAL; PETER'S DENIAL.

47. And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

48. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Christ knew what Judas's design was under this show of kindness and respect. He knows what is at the bottom of our profession.

49. When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

50. And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

not stay for an answer; his But afterwards, when grace

This was Peter, who did temper was naturally warm. had the management of it, he could be as forward for God.

51. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Christ was highly displeased with this small degree of resistance, and as it were begged pardon for it.

52. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

53. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hand against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

The power of Satan over Christ, for the sin of the world. He had taken it upon him, and must pay the penalty. But it was comparatively but an hour. He soon conquered for all who will conquer in him.

54. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Nature could carry him but a little way. With no better support, he soon began to flag, and was as stout in his three-fold denial of Christ, as he had been in drawing his sword for him.

55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

56. But a certain maid beheld earnestly looked upon him, and him.

him as he sat by the fire, and

said, This man was also with

57. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

59. And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him for he is a Galilæan.

60. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter: and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter had an excellent root in him, and one look from Christ fetched him back.

62. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

O Jesus! bring our sins to remembrance, and pierce us to the heart with them, as thou didst Peter.

SECTION LXXVI.

Chap. xxii. ver. 63-71.

THE SAVIOUR MOCKED.

63. And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. Let us think now only and altogether of our own sins, otherwise what we here read will be lost upon us. Our own sins, whosoever we are; these mocked and blasphemed him, blindfolded him, smote him on the face, caused his bloody sweat, struck the thorns into his temples, drove the nails into his hands and feet, and thrust the spear into his side. For our sake he endured all this, because we were lost creatures, and to deliver us from the eternal death of our souls; yea, for our sake the Son of God submitted to all these indignities and sufferings. Oh! let us see in this glass, what we are, and what sin is, and tremble at our danger.

64. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

65. And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

The number and character of those indignities which Christ suffered for our sins, are more than the Evangelists could enumerate. - Edit.

66. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

67. Art thou the Christ ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

68. And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

69. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

This Son of man, now standing before you as a criminal, when he has finished the work which he came to do, shall sit down on the right hand of God. As the Son of man, for men. As the Son of God, it was his right before. Blessed comfort in those words, Son of man!

70. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

71. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

That for which they condemned him is our consolation and joy. Belief in the heart, that Jesus is the Son of God, is salvation. The gospels were written that we might hear, and believe this.

The design of our Lord's coming into the world, was to purge away our sins by his propitiatory death, and sacrifice, -to work out a complete righteousness for us,—to give us a perfect rule of holy living,—and to convince us of the necessity of conforming ourselves to it, in order to our being made fit for heaven and happiness: it was also necessary that his death should be recorded, and at the same time his innocency fully vindicated, to take away all suspicion of his suffering as a malefactor. And accordingly all the four Evangelists agree in relating his death, the judge's repeated attestation of his innocence, and that the only crime. laid to his charge by his malicious persecutors, the Jews, was his taking upon himself to be the Christ, the Son of God. But still the great evidence was wanting to recommend him to the belief of mankind, as sent of God to be the Saviour of the world. And therefore God himself confirms and crowns all with his own testimony, in raising him from the dead; with the account of which all the four gospels conclude. Let us attend to this, and every other part of them, with hearts full of gratitude to God for sending his only-begotten Son, to suffer death for our redemption; and with earnest desires to be partakers of it, by faith, and our own resurrection to newness of life. But remem.

ber that no man can have this desire, or the least degree of faith in Christ for remission, and renovation, till he sees and abhors that sin in himself, which nailed him to the

cross.

SECTION LXXVII.

Chap. xxiii. ver. 1—11.

JESUS IS ACCUSED BEFORE PILATE, AND SENT TO

HEROD.

1. And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

He did say this. But he also said as plainly, that his kingdom was not of this world; and he was so far from perverting the people, by forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, that he positively commanded it. Just so the truth is always treated in his servants. The world has no way to run it down, but by wresting what they say to a wrong meaning. We may also see in this, one reason why Christ sometimes withdrew himself, and would not suffer his miracles to be made public. He knew his enemies would make a handle of it to accuse him. And herein he is a pattern to his followers, to be as careful as possible not to give occasion of reproach to them that seek it.

3. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

No other than his taking upon himself to be the king of the