28 As wine refreshes the body, so faith in my blood refreshes the soul*. 30 It is pleasing to think that our Lord hath thus specially sanctioned singing as part of our devotions +. 31 We are all too apt to be offended, when religion brings us into trouble: as a faint heart easily turns from its path when obstacles cross it. them, saying, Drink ye all of it; " for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingi dom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go 37 These three, having been witand pray yonder. 7 And he nesses of his glory in his transfiguratook with him Peter and the tion, witness now his humiliation. 37 39 Fortitude in suffering, and a strong reliance on Heaven, are sure marks of a great and generous cha racter. two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very 42 Occasions may happen to any one of us, when the soul, too deep in sorrow to look up, and too overwhelmed with anguish to lay hold Hitherto the paschal lamb represented his body; henceforth, He being himself the sacrifice of which all others had been types, the sacrifice of life was to cease. Bread was to be received as his body. + They sang from the 112th to the 119th Psalms. on prayer-says "the same words." Take we heed, that in our own case there be the same submission. my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the peo48 The traitor Judas crowns his treason with hypocrisy. ple. ing, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus 51 50 Nothing disturbs our Lord's placidity. Then came they, and laid hands on said unto him, Friend, where- 51 This was the courageous act of Peter. and struck a servant of the high 52 What equanimity in danger! Even in a scene like this, how calm and dignified our Saviour's bearing! his place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou 53 Angels are at hand to protect us also. that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none : yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 61 Jesus spoke of his death and resurrection the body being often compared to a temple. 64 Our Saviour, having allowed himself to be the Son of God, speaks of himself as the Son of man also— thus claiming both a divine and a human nature. saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. bitterly. 68 How often do we now find that scorn is a favourite weapon against the faithful servants of God. 75 Peter's denial is a painful proof, how dangerous is the fear of man; and how fatal, self-confidence. And he went out and wept CHAPTER XXVII. JAN. 30, MAY 29, SEPT. 26. KING CHARLES THE MARTYR, morning. WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pi 3 2 The Jews, being a conquered people, had lost the power of life and death therefore they delivered Christ to the Roman governor. : late the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. "Then 3 Successful sin is often followed by overwhelming shame. Judas, stungi by his own conscience, and tortured by the triumphant scorn of his employers" See thou to that! what is that to us?". was driven from shame t despair-from despair to death*. was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the pro This price was the usual recompense when a slave had been slain by any beast +. phet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. 11 And Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked 11 To Pilate, as to one in authority, he replies to the insolence of his countrymen he deigns no answer ‡. him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. accused of Then said * Peter also had sinned. But the end, how different! The reason is clear. Peter sinned from infirmity, but by God's grace he repented, and regained his Master's love. Judas sinned in his heart-with deliberate purpose-planning and contriving how he might "conveniently betray" his Lord. Hence he fell to rise no more. The sum was about 3/. 10s. 8d. Bear patiently calumnies and false accusation. A good conscience can well afford a dignified silence. MAY 29, SEPT. 26. Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto 21 Pilate's love of popularity and fear of the people led him into the awful injustice of permitting guilt to escape, and condemning innocence to suffer. He who was appointed to rule the people was himself their slave. them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be 24 How vain this attempt to clear crucified. 24 When Pilate saw the conscience! that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: 25 25 This imprecation! how fearfully it has been answered, let the fallen Jerusalem now tell! see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, say30 My reader! do you meet with ing, Hail, king of the Jews. contempt and reproach for your SaAnd they spit upon him, viour's sake! Be patient-the serand took the reed, and smote vant is not greater than his Master. him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, 30 |