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this cup is the new teftament in my blood ' which is shed for you. But behold the hand of

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him that betrayeth me, is with me on the ta'ble. And truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to enquire among themselves which of them it was that fhould do this thing.' Luke does not record the refult of this enquiry; or any accufation of Judas in particular; but he records that this enquiry led them to ftrife among them, which of them fhould be accounted the greateft.' Jefus first humbles them, by preaching humility, and then exalts them by a very flatterring promife, ch. xxii, v. 28 to 30. • Ye are

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they which have continued with me in my temptations, and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. That ye may eat and drink at my table, in my 'kingdom, and fit on thrones, judging the ' twelve tribes of Ifrael.' This promife, in confequence of the ftrife among them; is contradictory to the account given by Matthew and Mark *, and how are we to account for its being made to Judas? He, certainly, was one of the twelve. And if, as it is faid in John ch. vi, v. 64. Jefus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him;'

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this promife is the more extraordinary; and is as unaccountable as the conduct of Judas, who fold the reverfion for thirty pieces of filver. St. John (who before; ch. xiii, v. 12, had faid—and fupper being ended, the Devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's fon to betray him) records, that Jefus ended this contention by an example of humility; washing their feet himself, and commenting upon it for their inftruction. He then goes on- When Jesus had

thus faid, he was troubled in fpirit, and tefti• fied and faid—Verily verily I fay unto you that one of you fhall betray me. Then the difciples looked one on another, doubting ' of whom he fpake. Now there was leaning on Jefus' bofom one of his difciples whom Jefus loved (John himfelf). Simon Peter there

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" fore beckoned to him that he

fhould ask who it

'fhould be of whom he fpoke. He (John) then

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laying on Jefus' breaft, faith unto him, Lord who is it? Jefus anfwered, he it is to whom I fhall give a fop when I have dipped it and when he had dipped the fop, he gave it to Judas If'cariot the fon of Simon. And after the fop Satan ' entered into him. Then faid Jefus unto him, that thou doft, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he fpake this unto him. For fome of them thought because Judas had the bag, that Jefus had faid unto him, buy 'those things that we have need of against the

feaft:

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feaft or that he fhould give fomething to the Chapter Verfe poor He then having received the fop, went immediately out and it was night.' There is fomething unintelligible to me in this tranfaction; it feems as if the Devil's entrance into Judas, was in confequence of his having received the fop from the hand of Jefus and how are we to account for the direction given by the latter to Judas? If the act, which he then premeditated, was evil; we fhould rather have expected diffuafives. This however was a prophecy which at all events must be fulfilled; and how far Judas was culpable, will be confidered when we come to the most interesting part of his story*. St. Matthew xxvi. records-that after the fupper they went out into

the Mount of Olives, (it is not clear from Matthew's

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account, whether Judas had or had not left them

at this time.) Then faith Jefus unto them, all ye fhall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will fmite the fhepherd, and the fheep of the flock fhall be fcattered abroad. 'But after I am rifen again, I will go before you into Galilee.' (When this promife was fulfilled, or whether it was at all, is a matter of doubt at beft +,) Peter anfwered and faid unto him, though all

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men fhall be offended because of thee, yet will I

never be offended, Jefus faid unto him, Verily I
fay unto thee, that this night before the cock.
crow, thou fhalt deny me thrice. Peter faid

30

31

32

33

34

35

Page

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K 3

unto

unto him, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee, likewife alfo faid all the 'difciples.' (By Matthew's account, we may ftill fuppofe Judas was one of them.) Mark gives nearly, the fame account, the chief difference is before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.' Luke records this difcourfe (ch. xxii) in a very different manner, and that it was made before they went to the Mount of Olives And the Lord faid-Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath defired to have you, that he

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may fift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, ftrengthen thy brethren.

And he

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faid, I tell thee Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before thou fhalt thrice deny that thoù 6 knoweft me.' And here we find this fingular and extraordinary addition- And he faid unto

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them, When I fent you without purfe, and

fcrip, and fhoes, lacked ye any thing? And

they faid, nothing. Then faid he unto them, But now he that hath a purfe, let him take it and likewife his fcrip; and be that hath no fword, let him fell his garment and buy one: (This injunction, in cold weather, seems to imply a very urgent neceffity.) For I fay unto you, that this that is written, muft be accomplished in me-And he was reckoned

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among the tranfgreffors-For the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold here are two fwords; and he faid unto them, it is enough. And he came out, and went, as 6 he was wont, to the Mount of Olives: and his difciples alfo followed him.' In this record of St. Luke's it is difficult to understand the 31st and 32d verses, Jefus tells Peter, that Satan defired to have him, but that he had prayed for him that his faith might not fail; and that, when he was converted, he fhould ftrengthen the brethrep. We shall find hereafter, that Satan not only defired to have him, but that he ftrove hard for him; and fo far prevailed, notwithstanding the prayer, that he brought him to lie, to curfe, and to fwear. By this it is evident that Peter's faith had failed; but did his converfion take place, when he went out and wept bitterly? It is ftill more difficult to account for the directions given (v. 36) to his disciples- He that hath no fword,

let him fell his garment and buy one.' They reply. Lord behold here are two fwords;' and he rejoined it is enough.' It doth not appear that they purchased fwords, in compliance with his direction; and their whole history furnishes. but one inftance of a fword, or any other weapon, being used by them even defenfively; that happened the fame evening, when he was apprehended in the garden. Simon Peter (encouraged, I apprehend, by the preceding order) drew his (word,

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