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READER. The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship, &c. See § LXIV.

Matthew XX. 25—28.

Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, &c. See § LXXXIII. Mat

thew XXVI. 33-35.

This that is written must yet be accomplished in me, &c. See Commentary on Matthew XVI. 21, in § LV; and on ch. XXIV. 27, in § CCXXXI, below.

§ CCXXIII.

CHAP. XXII. 39-53.

Christ prayeth in the mount, and sweateth blood. He is betrayed with a kiss. He healeth Malchus' ear.

39 ¶ And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

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40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup * from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared "an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and

his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation.

47 ¶ And while he yet spake, 'behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

49 When they which were about saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

50 ¶ And 'one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

52 "Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

53 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.

Mat. xxvi. 36. Mark xiv. 32. John xviii. 1-1 ch.

xxi. 37.-m Mat. vi. 13; & xxvi. 41. Mark xiv. 38. ver. 46.-n Mat. xxvi. 39. Mark xiv, 35.—† Gr. willing to remove-o John v. 30; & vi. 38.-p Mat. iv. II.—9. John xii. 27. Heb. v. 7.-r ver. 40.-s Mat. xxvi. 47. Mark

of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan.

60 And Peter said, Man, I

xiv. 43. John xviii. 3.- Mat. xxvi. 51. Mark xiv. 47. know not what thou sayest.

John xviii, 10.-u Mat xxvi. 55. Mark xiv. 48.- John xii. 27.

See § § LXXXIV. LXXXV.

Matthew XXVI. 36-56.

§ CCXXIV.

CHAP. XXII. 54-71.

Christ is denied of Peter; shamefully abused; and confesseth himself to be the Son of God.

54 T "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. "And Peter followed afar off.

55 "And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

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59 And about the space

And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

61 And the Lord turned, and

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looked upon Peter. And

Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him; Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

63 ¶And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

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of man sit on the right hand of priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

the power of God.

70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, 'Ye say that I am.

71 "And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

y Mat. 'xxvi. 57.-z Mat. xxvi. 58. John xviii. 15.a Mat. xxvi. 69. Mark xiv. 66. John xviii. 17, 18.

5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan.

7 And as soon as he knew

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6 Mat. xxvi. 71. Mark xiv. 69. John xviii. 25.-c Mat. that he belonged unto Herod's

xxvi. 73. Mark xiv. 70. John xviii. 26.-d Mat. xxvi. 75. Mark xiv. 72.-e Mat. xxvi. 34, 75. John xiii. 38.f Mat. xxvi. 67, 68. Mark xiv. 65.-g Mat. xxvii. 1.— h Acts iv. 26. See Acts xxii, 5.-i Mat. xxvi. 63. Mark xiv. 61.- Mat. xxvi. 64. Mark xiv. 62. Heb. i. 3; & viii. 1.- Mat. xxvi. 64. Mark xiv. 62.-m Mat. xxvi. 65. Mark xiv. 63.

See § § LXXXVI. LXXXVII.
Matthew XXVI. 57-75.

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9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11 * And 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.

12 And the same day 'Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between

4 Then said Pilate to the chief themselves.

a Mat. xxvii. 2. Mark xv. 1. John xviii. 28.-b Acts xvii. 7.-c See Mat. xvii. 27; & xxii. 21. Mark xii. 17.d John xix. 12.-e Mat xxvii. 11. 1 Tim. vi. 13.-ƒ 1 Pet. ii. 22.-g ch. iii. I.-h ch. xi, 9.—¡ Mat, xiv. 1. Mark vi. 14.-k Is. liii. 3.- Acts iv. 27.

READER.-Pilate asked him saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.-He, that was no less wisdom than truth, thought it not best either to affirm or deny at once. Sometimes it may be extremely prejudicial to speak all truths. To disclaim that title suddenly, which had been of old given him by the prophets, at his birth by the Eastern sages, and now lately at his procession by the acclaiming multitude, had been injurious to himself; to profess and challenge it absolutely, had been unsafe, and needlessly provoking. By wise and just degrees, therefore, doth he so far affirm this truth, that he both satisfies the inquirer, and takes off all peril and prejudice from his assertion. Pilate shall know him a king, but such a king, as no king needs to fear, as all kings ought to acknowledge and adore: "My kingdom is not of this world." It is your mistaking, O ye earthly potentates, that is guilty of your fears. Herod hears of a king born, and is troubled; Pilate hears of a king of the Jews, and is incensed. Were ye not ignorant, ye could not be jealous; had ye learned to distinguish of kingdoms these suspicions would vanish.

There are secular kingdoms, there are spiritual: neither of these trenches upon other: your kingdom is secular, Christ's is spiritual; both may, both must, stand together. His laws are divine, yours civil: his reign

is eternal, yours temporal: the glory of his rule is inward, and stands in the graces of sanctification, love, peace, righteousness, joy in the Holy Ghost; yours in outward pomp, riches, magnificence: his enemies are the devil, the world and the flesh; yours are bodily usurpers and external peace breakers: his sword is the power of the Word and Spirit; yours material; his rule is over the conscience, yours over bodies and lives; he punishes with hell, ye with temporal death or torture. Yea, so far is he from opposing your government, that "by him ye kings reign:” your sceptres are his; but to maintain, not to wield, not to resist. O the unjust fears of vain men! He takes not away your earthly kingdoms, gives you heavenly; he discrowns not the body, who crowns the soul; his intention is not to make you less great, but more happy.

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The charge is so fully answered that Pilate acquits the prisoner. The Jewish masters stand still without : their very malice dares not venture their pollution in going in to prosecute their accusation. Pilate hath examined him within, and now comes forth to these eager complainants, with a cold answer to their overhot expectation: "I find in him no fault at all.” O noble testimony of Christ's innocence, from that mouth which afterwards doomed him to death! What a difference there is betwixt a man as he is himself, and as he is the servant of other's wills! It is Pilate's tongue that says, "Let him be crucified."

That cruel sentence cannot blot him, whom this attestation cleareth. Neither doth he say, I find him not guilty in that whereof he is accused; but gives a universal acquittance of the whole carriage of Christ-" I find in him no fault at all." In spite of malice, innocence shall find abettors. Rather than Christ shall want witnesses, the mouth of Pilate shall be opened to his justification.

-BP. HALL.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought.-It became our High Priest, who was to sanctify all our sufferings, to consecrate affronts and scorn, that we may learn to endure contempt, and to suffer ourselves in a religious cause to be despised; and when it happens in any other, to remember that we have our dearest Lord for a precedent of bearing it with admirable simplicity and equanimity of deportment and it is a mighty stock of self-love that dwells in our spirits, which makes us of all afflictions most impatient of this. But Jesus endured this despite, and suffered this to be added, that he was exposed in scorn to the boys of the streets. For Herod caused him to be arrayed in a gorgeous robe, sent him out to be scorned by the people, and hooted at by idle persons, and so remitted him to Pilate.-TAYLOR.

HYMN.

Saviour of men and Lord of love, How sweet thy gracious name! With joy that errand we review, On which thy mercy came.

While all thy own angelic bands

Stood waiting on the wing, Charmed with the honour to obey

The word of such a king.

For us mean, wretched, sinful men,
Thou laidst that glory by,
First in our mortal flesh to serve,
Then in that flesh to die.

Bought with thy service and thy blood,
We doubly, Lord, are thine!
To thee our lives we would devote,
To thee our death resign.

Blest man, who in thy cause consumes,
His vigorous days with zeal;
Then with the last slow ebb of blood
Is called thy truth to seal!

Doddridge.

§ CCXXVI.

CHAP. XXIII. 13-26.

Barabbas is desired of the people and is loosed by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified.

13 "And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 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:

15 No, nor yet Herod for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

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