Meditation.

Consider now, O my soul! how miserably thy LORD and Creator is secured and led, as though He were a robber, or wicked man condemned to death. And notwithstanding all this persecution, that He suffered from evil men, He was ever well pleasing to His Eternal FATHER. O what a sad and wearisome night was this to Thee, O my Saviour! but Thou didst meekly and willingly endure it for our sakes.

Prayer.

O Blessed JESU, Who didst suffer Thyself to be led, bound by Thine enemies, to Annas, and didst stand before him as a malefactor, and in unspeakable gentleness didst bear all their insults; O give me grace that I may never be led into sin, either by the malicious spirit, or by wicked men, but that I may be led by Thy good SPIRIT to all things which are agreeable to Thy will, and may Thy virtues ever shine forth in me, to the everlasting glory of Thy holy Name. Amen.

II. JESUS SMITTEN ON THE CHEEK IN THE PALACE OF CAIAPHAS.

Prophecy.

I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear is on every side, while they conspire together

against Me, and take their counsel to take away My Life. Ps. xxxi. 15.

Gospel Harmony.

selves; and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

S. Matt. xxvi.; S. Mark xiv. 53; S. Luke xxii.; S. John xviii. And they that had laid hold on JESUS led Him away to Caiaphas, the High Priest, where all the Chief Priests and Scribes and Elders were assembled. And Peter followed Him afar off unto the High Priest's Palace, and so did another disciple; that disciple was known unto the High Priest, and went in with JESUS into the Palace. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the High Priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then said the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this Man's disciples? he saith, Woman, I know Him not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they warmed them

The High Priest then asked JESUS of His disciples, and of His doctrine. JESUS answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou Me? Ask them which heard Me, what I have said unto them: behold they know what I said. And when He had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck JESUS with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest Thou the High Priest so? JESUS answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me? Now Annas had sent Him bound unto Caiaphas, the High Priest.

Reflections.

The long suffering and patient LORD returned not evil for evil, but bore this contumely, as He did the

many others which followed, with perfect patience and meekness, for our sakes; and He taught us patience, by answering humbly, with placid Countenance, and modestly, with lowly words, gently and charitably reproving the servant upon whom He might have inflicted any punishment He pleased, by a mere command.

CHRIST willed to be smitten on the cheek for us, that we should learn, in all the injuries and reproaches inflicted upon us, to bear them with patience, in imitation of the LORD, Who, in this especially, deigned to give us an Example of perfect patience.

Meditation.

O most meek and lowly Saviour! how great is Thy benignity and patience which did lead Thee to submit to that insulting blow upon Thy Gracious Countenance, on which the angels desire to look! O ye proud, hasty, impatient souls, who are disturbed by one little word, take the Life and Passion of your Saviour for the Pattern of thy life; and learn of Him, Who was meek and lowly of heart, so shall ye find rest unto your souls. Meditate on all His Sacred Passion, and thou wilt find Him unmoved by the injuries or insults inflicted on Him by His cruel enemies, and see Him ever showing all gentleness towards them, both in deeds and gesture; for so meek and amiable is the LORD, that He shows nothing but love and friendship to His enemies. He salutes the Traitor, heals the ear of Malchus, who had come to

take Him, and He prays for His foes, whose hardness and sinfulness of heart greatly afflicted Him.

I

Is this Thy place, O my Saviour? Thou travellest no more among the villages of Judea to teach Thy doctrine and to perform Thy miracles. Let the heaven and the earth praise Thee, O my GOD, let all creatures bless Thee, all hearts love Thee, for humbling Thyself even for us sinners. It is I who am guilty, and it is Thou Who art accused, judged and condemned. adore Thy great love, for I ought to be judged by Thee, Who art a just and righteous Judge, and Thou dost submit to all the unjust judgments of the world, and all holy, and innocent though Thou art, Thou wouldst suffer that which I deserved. There is no judgment, which can be too severe for me, nor condemnation to such punishment, but that I deserve greater. Thou hast taken upon Thyself the sins I have committed, and the sentence I have deserved. There is nothing in Thine infinite holiness which they can condemn, but they might justly discharge all their malice upon me, without injustice; and they would find in me, all that they vainly seek for in Thee.

But there was no justice for Thee, O my Saviour.. For Thee only are all laws violated, all judges corrupted. Teach me, LORD, this Divine Wisdom, unknown to the world, that by Thy Example I may conquer by silence, triumph by love, and be justified before Thee, when I am unjustly condemned before men.

Prayer.

Praise, glory and honour be to Thee, O LORD JESUS, King of heaven and earth, Who humbly stand

ing, as if a vile and abject man, before the proud High Priest, didst meekly bear the blow which his impious servant struck Thee. Restrain in me, I beseech Thee, all bursts of anger and passion, destroy all the incitements to indignation, and extinguish all desire of revenge, that when provoked by injuries, I may not be disturbed, neither dispute, nor make any tumult, but sustaining all with a quiet mind, I may return good for evil. Amen.

III. THE FALSE WITNESSES.

Prophecy.

False witnesses did rise up, they laid to My charge things that I knew not. Psa. xxxv. 11.

Gospel Harmony.

S. Matt. xxvi. 59-61; S. Mark xiv. 55-59; S. Luke xxii. 66.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the Chief Priests came together, and led Him into their council. Now all the council sought for witness against JESUS, to put Him to death; and found none. Yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none; for many bare false wit

ness against Him, but their witness agreed not together. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, 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.