This reply, it is obvious, leaves the question unanswered, except by his actions; yet we do not find that he was influenced by fear to detract at all from the exalted character which his expressions, when justly weighed, always attributed to him, for he presently used these remarkable words; "I and my Father are one;" a declaration which caused the crowd, we are told, to proceed to execute upon him the summary justice which they conceived him to merit, by the award of their law. (See the places quoted p. 52, note ".)

It might be expected that the occasion was now come when he would submit to and embrace a violent death which he had repeatedly declared he should receive at the hands of the Jews of Jerusalem: yet we find that he mitigated their fury by pointing out to them from their own sacred books (Psalm lxxxii, 6), that even more exalted expressions than those he had used of himself had been there applied to the congregation at large. He appeals once more to the works which he had done as bearing testimony to his assertion, (which he repeats, notwithstanding their menaces), that "The Father was in him, and he in the Father;" but on their renewing their atme." See also verses 37, 38, of the present chapter; (x); and still more especially the answer of our Lord conveyed to John the Baptist, which has been already discussed, and which is an appeal to the miracles he performed, as characteristic of Himself.

tempt to lay hands on him, he avoids it, and, quitting the city, retires into the unfrequented parts beyond Jordan.

I would request the reader to observe:

1. That he is not deterred by their menaces from repeating the strong expressions which most Christians believe to be characteristic of his true nature and dignity.

2dly. That, nevertheless, without betraying fear, he avoids their violence: as he had done on every other occasion when the death menaced was not of that particular kind which he had expressly predicted.

These events have brought us, let it be observed, to the period of about four months previous to his death.

While thus retired to the solitary neighbourhood of Jericho, he is informed by a message from the sisters of one Lazarus, for whom he had a regard, of his dangerous illness. In consequence, after a delay of two days, he declares his intention of returning into Judæa (Proper). His disciples remark that the Jews (of Jerusalem), had just sought to stone him; and are naturally surprised at his returning thither: a remark which shows the notoriety of the danger which he was incurringt.

t Our Lord answers: "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth

We have, on the present occasion, nothing to do with the most remarkable miracle which is recorded to have followed, except so far as it is stated to have roused to a still greater degree the apprehensions, and excited the animosity of the ruling party among the Jews: the proximity of Bethany, where the transaction is said to have occurred, to the city, (a distance of not quite two miles), increasing this effect. Accordingly, the words of the historian very pointedly refer the settled purpose of his enemies to put him to death to the present time. John xi, 49, 50, 53; "And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man

not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." John xi, 9, 10.

If these words do not imply that our Lord's continuance upon earth, (of which He had declared Himself to be the Light, see John ix, 4, 5), was limited; they would seem to declare that it was possible by walking prudently, to avoid those dangers which beset his path: and this would be in accordance with the Divine prudence which we seem to observe throughout the whole of His conduct.

That the danger was great appears also from the despairing exclamation of Thomas: "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.-Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death." Be pleased to observe the consequence:

Ver. 54. "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples."

At this time, (according to the Harmony I have followed), and somewhere in this neighbourhood, he is appealed to by a young man professing great anxiety to "inherit eternal life." The answer of Jesus is couched in the same terms with the directions which he had given to his own more immediate followers: "One thing thou lackest : go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me*." Mark x,

21.

u I need not remark that the Ephraim here meant was not the district of the ancient tribe of that name, but a city only eight Roman miles distant from Jerusalem, yet lying on the borders of the wilderness.

x I shall afterwards have occasion to remark that it destroys all suspicion of collusion or combination in the statement of this and other prophecies of our Lord respecting His death, that the prophecy is sometimes not given by one or two of the narrators, who give all the other circumstances of the transaction. For instance, St. Matthew and St. Luke, who relate with great par

he once

After a short residence in these parts, more, and for the last time, returns to Jerusalem, to the feast of the Passover; the one during which he suffered. One of the narrators describes the natural feeling of astonishment and alarm with which this movement was viewed by his followers: "And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went up before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid." Mark, x, 32.

We do not find that he dissipated their fears; on the contrary, he is stated to have taken aside the Twelve, his chosen disciples, and to have told them with great particularity the circumstances which were about to befall him: saying, that they were now going up to Jerusalem, and that all things that had been predicted by the prophets should be fulfilled; that he should be betrayed to the High Priests, condemned by them to death, handed over to the power of the Gentiles; (the Romans); to be mocked and spit upon by them; scourged and crucified: adding that on the third day he should rise again. See Matt. xx, 17, sqq.; Mark x, 32, sqq.; Luke xviii, 31, sqq.

ticularity the material parts of the conversation we are considering, omit the prophetic expressions; which are given by St. Mark only.

y Observe that our Lord goes first, and is followed by His disciples, reluctantly.