ensnare Him, by a political inquiry concerning the lawfulness of paying tribute to Tiberius. Had He denied his right to levy this mark of national subjection, the Herodians would have apprehended Him as an enemy to the government, and had He justified the claim, the Jews, who disdained a foreign yoke, would have risen up violently against Him. Therefore, with consummate wisdom, He desired them to produce a Roman coin, which He held up to view, demanding whose image and superscription it bore. Cæsar's, was their unanimous reply. He then drew the line of duty between things temporal and things spiritual, and silenced them with a summary admonition, to distinguish between what · was due to God, and what was due to the emperor. The free-thinking Sadducees next renewed the assault, by endeavouring to puzzle Him with an artful question, concerning the relationships of a future state of existence, which they disbelieved; for they denied both the resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits. Jesus exposed their ignorance, by unfolding the condition of the saints in glory, and declaring that all human consanguinity belonged exclusively to this present world, and was dissolved at death, when the soul returns to God, to await its resurrection in a spiritual body, when it will resemble the angels both in nature and appearance. The few nights which now remained of his life upon earth, were passed by Jesus in communion K with his heavenly Father on the Mount of Olives, and his days, in preaching within the precincts of the temple. While thus engaged, some Greek proselytes, who were only allowed admittance into the court of the Gentiles, ardently desired to see Him, and with the most touching simplicity made known their wish to Philip, with a hope that he would inform them of the first favourable opportunity. They were probably acquainted with the Scriptures, which had been for two centuries translated into their native language, as they were evidently prepared to receive Him as the Messiah. Through the medium of Philip, or his brother Andrew, they obtained their object, and when informed of their presence, Jesus answered, with a solemn reference to his approaching death,-"The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." The striking feature of this similitude is, that as the buried grain dies, and after starting into life, produces by perpetual multiplication an abundant harvest, so, by his approaching death, and as the first-fruits of the resurrection, He would redeem to God an innumerable company of sinners. Had Jesus not died, He would have been without fruit now He will see of the travail of his soul in a countless offspring. But much had He to endure before the accomplishment of this glorious object. : The waves of affliction were even now beginning to break in upon Him, ere long to immerse Him in the deepest waters; and in bitter anticipation of all the woes that were coming upon Him, He exclaimed,— "Now is my soul troubled," and shall I call upon my "Father to save me from this hour?" No, that would be to abandon the purpose for which I became incarnate. Then meekly raising his eyes in placid resignation, He said," Father, glorify thy name." Instantly God responded in an audible voice," I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." It was heard, but not understood, by all present. Some said that "it thundered," others, that " an angel spake to Him." He assured them that the voice was uttered from heaven for their sakes alone, for He required no such testimony of his Father's love and approbation. He then expatiated on his approaching triumphs over Satan, and on the attractive power of his cross in drawing sinners to Him. Some, nevertheless, still doubted that He was the Messiah, yet "among the chief rulers many believed on Him secretly," avoiding an open profession of their faith, from a dread of excommunication.* He then interrogated the unbelieving Pharisees concerning the twofold nature of the Messiah, so evidently implied in the hundred and tenth Psalm, which they were unable to answer. "Neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions."+ * John xii. 20-33, 42. † Matt. xxii. 41-46. Having thus silenced his enemies, Jesus sat down near the door of the treasury, from whence He observed the rich as they entered the temple casting large contributions into the chest; but his attention was especially attracted to a poor woman, who, with a feeling of sincere piety, threw into it a very small coin, wholly unconscious whose eye was upon her. Turning to his disciples with an expression of approbation, He remarked, that she had "cast in all her living," in the midst of her want and penury, while the wealthy had only "given of their abundance," and, therefore, could not experience, from their bounty, the inconvenience to which she had exposed herself.* * Mark xii. 41-44. CHAPTER IX. "The King of heaven prepares a feast, Could such delight afford. And endless life are given, And the rich blood that Jesus shed,- Two days before the passover, Jesus solemnly concluded his public ministry, by a sublime and awful description of the day of judgment, when seated upon his "great white throne," all nations will be gathered before Him, divided into only two companies. "And He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left." To exemplify how much the smallest exercise of benevolence to the household of faith is noticed in heaven, He described Himself as cordially welcoming his sheep, who had performed labours of love and works of mercy from a Christian principle, into his blood |