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devil departed from him "for a season";" and that this was one and the great period of his return, not only the circumstances of the scene indicate, but, taken in connection with these, the many allusions made now by Christ to the especial exertions of the tempter. Before his arrival at Gethsemane, and after the Passover had been kept, he reminded his apostles, that they were the persons "who had continued with him in his temptations;" as if arming them to abide the last which they were to share with him as his friends and coadjutors, and against which, in that capacity more especially, he had taught them to pray, "Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one." A little after their arrival at the scene of trial, he warned them all now to use the appointed prayer," Pray that ye enter not into temptation." All were admonished of Satan's desire to have them that he may sift them as wheat; and Peter knew that an extraordinary trial awaited him, from the intercession which the Lord told him that he had made especially for him". In unison with all these hints too is the expression which fell from t Luke xxii. 39. "Luke xxii. 31.

Luke iv. 13.

him at the close of the whole scene,

your hour, and the power of darkness.”

"This is

Nor do the circumstances of the event less forcibly suggest this: "He began to be sore amazed and exceeding sorrowful," is a description which accords with no other moment of his life. The words too, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me"-what an agony of soul they convey! Scarcely less affecting is his request to Peter, James, and John, to "tarry with Him;" as if even their weak presence was a comfort to him in that tremendous hour of trial. "And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy." Then saith he unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me."

This view of our great Example has been the more dwelt on here, because, in our reverential contemplation of Christ's human perfections, we are apt to overlook the important fact, that they were not the result even of his original human nature left to itself, but as it was influenced and perfected by the same holy comfort which he has imparted to all his disciples. "He was made in

all things like unto us, sin only excepted." The tears which fell on the grave of Lazarus flowed from the same source, out of which, in unregenerate man, springs weak repining or sullen discontent; his unwearied industry in "doing good" was but that, which the miser or the ambitious man employs to other ends; and the calm fortitude with which he endured insult, pain, and death, was formed out of the very same qualities, which, ungoverned and misdirected, brought the guilty robber to a cross by his side. The materials were all human and our own, the workmanship alone divine. And is the Lord's arm shortened? will not the same God that worketh in us also, enable us like him perfectly to will and to do of his good pleasure, if only the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus? It is true, indeed, that to us the Holy Spirit is given by measure; still that measure is a measure of grace sufficient for us. It is true, that it is given in a way which renders not the Christian as his Lord both God and man; but, still, the moulding of human nature into the highest perfection of which it is capable is one promised result of that union; and it is enough

T

for the disciple, that he be, in this respect, as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.

CHRIST BEFORE THE JEWISH SANHEDRIM.

Ver. 53-65.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am : and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet

him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

At this period of the Jewish history the great council of the nation, before whom our Lord was now brought, had not the power of passing sentence of death. The decision of capital causes was in Judæa, as in the other provinces of the empire, reserved for the Roman tribunal. But still, the Sanhedrim was long permitted to exercise a limited jurisdiction over all Jews, whether by birth or proselytism, and abroad, it would seem, as well as at home. It was confined to "questions of their law," and on such a question our Lord was now brought before them.

For the origin of the charge made against him we must refer to the second chapter of St. John', where it is recorded of him, that, according to his usual method of hinging instruction on present scenes and occurrences, whilst he was teaching in the temple, he spoke of his body as a temple

* See Acts, chap. ix. where Saul is described as applying to the high priest for "letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem,"

y Ver. 19.

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