with the cords of Thy love. O grant me true patience that I may cheerfully bear with my enemies, and suffer all kinds of adversity without rebellion or resistance to Thy holy will. Amen.

IV. THE DISCIPLES FLEE.

Prophecy.

Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow, saith the LORD of Hosts. Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. Zech. xiii. 7.

Gospel Harmony.

S. Matt. xxvi. 56; S. Mark xiv. 50–52.

Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled. And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast

about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him; and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them.

Reflections.

Let us learn from the flight of the disciples to beware lest we flee from CHRIST, by forsaking justice and truth, either through fear of man, the temptations of the devil, or the indulgence of evil affections. But if, through human infirmity we forsake CHRIST for a season, let us not despair, but rise up and return by penitence and prayer. 2ndly. If our friends and

neighbours seem to forsake us in time of adversity or necessity, we must bear it patiently, remembering that the Apostles fled from their loving LORD and Master. If our conscience accuses us of having often forsaken GOD, let us ponder the words of the Psalmist. They that forsake Thee shall perish; Thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against Thee. But it is good for me to hold me fast by GOD, to put my trust in the LORD GOD." Ps. lxxiii. 26, 27. See Williams, p. 79.

Meditations.

What is this extreme dejection in which I see Thee, O my Saviour? Why permittest Thou Thy friends to abandon Thee, and Thy Miracles and Virtues to be causes of humiliation to Thee, and triumph to Thine enemies? In all that Thou hast done, suffered, or taught, Thy only aim was the salvation of souls. Thou wouldst try the faith and love of Thy disciples by Thy opprobriums, to draw them from the number of those who love only for interest's sake; and to raise their thoughts to Thy Divine Majesty. Those hearts which had been nourished with the Body and Blood of the Divine LAMB, succumbed to the fear of death. That faith strengthened by an infinity of miracles, was staggered at the sight of persecutions. O my Saviour, preserve me from such cowardice, fortify me in temptations; for if Thou assist me by Thy grace, all hell will be powerless to separate me from Thee. When shall I love Thee entirely, O my

Saviour and my GOD? Alas! I am full of thoughts of myself, and there is much self-love in me, and I desire to be known and loved of men. If my friends are dissatisfied with my conduct, and lose their esteem for me, I am troubled; for I wish them to praise my actions, and to approve them.

Let all

my friends forsake me, O my Saviour, rather than Thou abandon me. Let them treat me as they will, provided I live and die in Thee. Open to me, LORD, all Thy treasures, shed them upon me, and show in Thy poor creature the riches of Thy grace. Take from me all that is alien to Thyself, and fill me with Thy love.

Prayer.

All praise, honour, and glory be to Thee, O LORD JESUS, Who, when Thy disciples and friends forsook Thee and fled, didst remain alone in the hands of wicked men, like a gentle lamb in the fangs of a furious wolf. Receive me, Thy fugitive servant ; strengthen my weakness, and hold me by Thy omnipotent power, and suffer me not, by any act of selfwill, to wander from Thee; but may I give thanks to Thee with my whole heart, and daily increase in Thy love more and more, until I come to Thine everlasting kingdom. Amen.

PART III.-THE CONDEMNATION.

I. JESUS IS TAKEN BOUND TO ANNAS.

Prophecy.

They that hate Me without a cause are more than the hairs of My head; they that are Mine enemies, and would destroy Me guiltless, are mighty. Psalm lxix. 4.

Gospel Narrative.

S. John xviii. 12, 13.

Then the band, and the captain, and the officers of the Jews took JESUS and bound Him, and led Him away to An

nas first, for he was father-inlaw to Caiaphas, which was the High Priest that year.

Reflections.

If, for the cause of GOD, we are led to punishment, let us bear it patiently, after the Example of Him Who for love of us was led as an innocent Lamb to the slaughter. We may sometimes be led to the evil of suffering, but we must never allow ourselves to be led to the evil of sin: and if we are ever brought into temptation, let us not be led into it by consenting to sin.

See Williams, pp. 88 to 93.

Meditations.

O my Saviour, how different is this entry into Jerusalem to that which occurred a few days before, when they cried, "Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh," &c. Now they lead Thee as a Captive, with reproaches, insults, and ignominy; but Thou didst meekly and willingly endure all for our sakes. O LORD, save me from the like inconstancy, and give me such firmness and patience that I may never depart from Thee.

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.