may the melting influence of his love penetrate and soften our hearts! And may this perfect submission under the severest temptations shame our repinings under momentary trials! "Go to the Garden, sinner! see Those precious drops that flow; "There learn of him the cross to bear, And when temptations press thee near, CHAPTER II. The Treachery and the Arrest. SCRIPTURE NARRATIVE. Matt. xxvi. 14-16, 47–26; xxvii. 3–5. Mark xiv. 10-11, 43-50.- Luke xxii. 3–6, 47-53. — John xviii. 3-11.- Acts. i. 16-18. WHILE the Saviour is standing in conference with his disciples, the sound of many a step is heard coming up the footpaths of the garden, and many a fitful gleam of light glances around among the trees. A body of armed men, with lanterns, draw near to the little company of Christ and his followers. But to understand who these intruders are, and what are their intentions, we must go back in our narrative a few days, and trace down the measures of the Jewish chief priests. At each return of the Jewish festival, the Redeemer had visited Jerusalem, and had fearlessly proclaimed the humbling doctrines of the spiritual worship which he came to establish. The popularity of Christ among the common people, "who heard him gladly," highly exasperated the aristocracy. Their depraved hearts, wedded to the pride of place and self-righteousness, hated him who stripped them of their robes of sanctity, and brought them down below publicans and harlots. In their attempts to entrap him in his speech, and humble him by proposing perplexities, he had given them most humiliating defeats. They saw his principles spreading; even some of the sanhedrims were suspected of being converts to his heavenly teachings; they saw their own star waning and setting in night before the pro gress of this "true light," this rising Sun of Righteousness. The people, that source of anxiety to all in usurped places, began, at every national gathering, to inquire "What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? Each new miracle extended the wave of interest and speculation more widely from mind to mind. A notable one had just been performed, which was so prominent in the public knowledge, and so striking in itself, as to excite the most anxious apprehension and alarm in the breasts of the tottering hierarchy. In the little village of Bethany had lived a man, well known in Jerusalem, named Lazarus, an intimate friend of Jesus. At his house, Christ had often retired from the bustle of Jerusalem, to enjoy the quiet and affection of a domestic circle. While he was absent, death had invaded the favored roof, and clad the sisters in mourning for their brother. Many of the Jews, their relatives, and acquaintances, went out from the city, to comfort them in their affliction. Thus the fact of his death had become widely and certainly known. But not to detail particularly, Jesus delayed his return until the fourth day, that the this greatness of his power might be the more manifested. Then, when corruption had begun its work, he, with a word, called forth the decaying body from its tomb. Astonishment seized the beholders. The intelligence of the miracle flew with the rapidity of the wind. Numbers flocked to behold him that was returned from the invisible world, and to convince their wondering unbelief by the sight of their own eyes. The report reached the ears of the chief priests, and awakened the utmost alarm in their breasts. And well it might. The arm of the Lord had been recould vealed at their very doors. They did not deny the miracle; too many were acquainted with the facts; and the scene was too near for them to expect the excitement to subside, as rumors from a distance usually do. Bethany was less than miles from Jerusalem, and all who would might visit the spot for a solution of their queries. No way of escape seemed to present itself to them but to remove Christ immediately from public notice. three In this dilemma the council is assembled not a regular meeting of the sanhedrim, but a faction that the mind of the official power might be sounded, and a course of proceeding decided upon. In this assembly, the high priest, Caiaphas, reveals the spirit which actuated him, and, we may suppose, all the rest, in their subsequent revengeful measures. The common argument of their lips is, "What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come, and take away our place and nation.” * This was their reason If "all men will believe on him!” -and by consequence they would be justly forsaken. We As a result of their deliberations, if they deserve the name, it is voted that Christ should die; "and from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death." are informed ‡ that the necessity of putting Lazarus also to death, was debated at this time, although the result we are not told. Jesus was apprized probably of all their deliberations, and of their purpose to silence him by death if necessary, before the arrival of the Passover. Accordingly, he withdrew a short time to the city Ephraim, about eight * John xi. 47, 48. John xi. 53. John xii. 10, 11. |