instances possessed by the early Christian martyrs, who nobly rejected temporal deliverance, that they might obtain eternal. And this power by our blessed Saviour was completely possessed; the glorious act was all his own; and when the conflict was decided, and he gone forth to meet his deadly foes with patient resignation, the violent agitation of his human nature appears to have subsided, as we find no further mention, though this distress was to be soon succeeded by those very sufferings, the apprehension of which, as Dr. Porteus observes, "he so acutely felt, and so earnestly deprecated." But though the violent commotion of the blessed Redeemer's corporeal frame was probably abated at this momentous crisis, yet there is much reason to believe that the dreadful horrors with which he was seized on his entrance into the garden of Gethsemane, continued to molest him (perhaps) with unabated violence, during the doleful scenes on which he was then entering; as it was just previous to his departure from the garden he declared that this was the hour delivered by God unto the power of darkness; and furthermore, by its being just as his agonies both of mind and body were on the point of terminating, that we find him uttering that most lamentable exclamation, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" rendering it certain that he was left to wade through his succeeding sufferings unsuccoured by his Father's consolation, heightening and enhancing the glory of that dignified magnanimity which in every stage and in every circumstance of his unparalleled trials he so eminently displayed.

"Now when our Lord was thus retired to the garden, Judas also that betrayed him, knew the place; for Jesus often resorted thither in company with his disciples, and had particularly done it again and again since his coming up to spend this passover at Jerusalem. (Compare Luke xxi. 37.) Judas therefore, taking with him a band of soldiers, or a Roman cohort, with their captain, (see ver. 12,) and some Jewish officers, sent for that purpose from the chief priests and other Pharisees belonging to the Sanhedrim, who were chiefly concerned in this affair, came thither with torches and lamps and hostile weapons, which they brought with them, though it was now full moon, to use their arms if they should meet with any opposition, or to discover him by their lights if he should go about to hide himself, as they foolishly imagined he might, among the private walks or other recesses of the garden.

"And immediately, while he was yet speaking to his disciples, and giving them the alarm already recorded, behold this very Judas, one of the twelve apostles, came into the garden, and with him a great multitude of persons of very different stations and offices in life, who were sent with authority from the chief priests and scribes and elders of the people. And more effectually to execute their orders, they were armed with swords and staves to seize him by violence, if any resistance should be made to the attempt; and there were also with them some persons of superior rank and quality, who full of impatient and malicious zeal, could

not forbear mingling themselves with the dregs of the people upon this infamous occasion. (See Luke xxii. 52.) Now he that betrayed him went a little before the rest of them; and that they might not be mistaken in the person, he had given them a signal by which they might distinguish Jesus from any others who might chance to be with him, saying, He whom I shall kiss at my first entering into the garden, is the person you are commissioned to take; be sure to lay hold of him immediately, and lead him away safely; for he has sometimes made strange escapes from those who have attempted to take him; and if he get away from you after this signal, it will be your fault, and not mine.* And accordingly, being come into the garden, he drew near to Jesus to kiss him, as a signal to the company to seize him; and going directly to him, with an air of the greatest respect, and with the fairest appearances of duty and friendship, he said, Hail to thee, Rabbi, Rabbi! (may the greatest pleasure and happiness continually attend thee!) and upon this he kissed him. But Jesus, well understanding the perfidious purposes concealed under this fond address, answered with great mildness, yet with becoming spirit, and said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? and whence is all this ceremony and transport? Think of it, Judas! Is

(Lead him away safely, for he has sometimes made strange escapes.) Compare Luke iv. 30, John viii. 59, x. 39. I am ready to imagine from this precaution, that Judas might suspect that Christ would on this occasion renew the miracles he had formerly wrought for his deliverance."

this the friendship thou hast so often boasted? Alas! dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss? And dost thou think that he can be imposed upon by this poor artifice? or that God, who has promised him so glorious and triumphant a kingdom, will not punish such baseness and cruelty to him?

"Then Jesus, though he fully understood what was to follow this perfidious salutation, as knowing all the dreadful things that were coming upon him, (being well acquainted with all the circumstances of ignominy and horror that should attend his sufferings; which we should particularly note, it being impossible to enter aright into the heroic behaviour of our Lord Jesus Christ, without carrying this circumstance along with us,) yet did not attempt to escape, or to withdraw himself out of the power of his enemies : nevertheless he determined to show them that he could easily have done it; and therefore, as they now upon the signal that was given them, were drawing near to seize him, he went forth towards his enemies, and said to them with the greatest composure of mind, Whom do you come to seek here? and they were so confounded at the air of majesty and intrepidity with which he appeared, that without saying they were come for him, they only answered him, We are come to seek Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus says to them, You have the person then before you, I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, then stood with them; and he who had formerly followed Christ as one of his disciples, now sorted with his open and

avowed enemies. Then as soon as he had said to them, I am he, there went forth such a secret energy of divine power with those words, that all their united force was utterly unable to resist it, so that they presently drew back, as afraid to approach him, though unarmed and unguarded, and fell at once to the ground,* as if they had been struck with lightning. Yet a few moments after, recovering from this consternation, they arose and rallied again; and then, as they came up the second time, he asked them again, Whom do you seek? and they said to him as before, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answered them, I have already told

you that I am he. If therefore If therefore you seek me alone, you may let these my companions and friends go their way in safety. (What magnanimity, what tenderness, was here towards those who had so lately neglected him, sleeping whilst he was in such extreme agony, that yet he would not suffer them to be terrified by so much as a short imprisonment!)† And indeed I shall insist

(They drew back and fell to the ground.) As there were scribes and priests among them, they must have read of the destruction of those companies which came to seize the prophet Elijah, (2 Kings i. 10, 12:) a fact which bore so great a resemblance to this, that it is an amazing instance of the most obdurate wickedness, that they should venture to renew the assault on Christ after so sensible an experience both of his power and mercy."

+ "And the words also intimate that he intended presently to dismiss them, as probably not thinking it convenient to appear before his judges with such an attendance. His disciples perhaps might consider this speech as an excuse for their forsaking him; but had they viewed it in a just light, it would rather have ap