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out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. They then took him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. When they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them: when a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. He denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while, another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter: and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Then Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”—O that look, my love, how it must have cut Peter to the heart! Think, my love, of one innocent in every act, gentle and meek, forgiving and never offending, bestowing and never receiving, full of pity, of charity, be

neficence, and benignity, forsaken by the whole world, which he had succoured and delivered O think of a look of such a sufferer, on such ingratitude!—The men that led Jesus, mocked him, and smote him :. then they blindfolded him, and struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy who it is that smote thee. And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, when they reached the tribunal, Art thou the Christ? tell us. If I tell you, replied the forbearing, longsuffering Lord, ye will not believe: and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on? the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. What need we any further witness? said they with one voice; for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

"The whole multitude of them then arose, and led him unto Pilate, and began to accuse him, saying, We have found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying, that he himself is Christ a king. Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? Thou sayest it, was the Lord's reply. Then said Pilate to the chief

priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. On which they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad : for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood, and vehemently accused him. On this Herod, with his men of war, set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. The same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together; for before they were at enmity between themselves. And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man, touching those things whereof ye accuse him : no, nor yet Herod ;

for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done by him. I will, therefore, chastise him, and release him. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)-See, my love, how vile the Jews were: Barabbas was a murderer, and they even preferred him to the holy and beloved Lamb of God! Pilate, therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. Butthey cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. He therefore found all attempts to prevail with this people vain : but he said unto them the third time, Why? what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will, therefore, chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified so that the voices of them, and of the chief priests, prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence, that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

As they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country; and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. There followed him a great company of

me,

people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. This much affected the suffering Lord ; › and turning unto them with compassion and sympathy, he said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for but weep for yourselves and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us for if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

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There were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death, that every degree of reproach and contumely might be cast upon his death. Let me, I beg, my dear child, hasten to finish this painful recital. When they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. They then parted his raiment, and cast lots. The people stood beholding: and the rulers also, with them, derided him, saying, He saved others, let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and ; offering vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of;