T. What other prisoner had Pilate at this time?

S. Barabbas, a robber, who for sedition and murder was cast into prison.

T. Who moved the people to require Barabbas?

S. Their teachers, the elders. As said Isaiah, iii. 12, "O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."

T. Whose was the greatest sin?

S. Theirs who delivered Christ. John, xix. 11.

T. How did Pilate finally try to clear himself of the guilt of Christ's death?

S. He took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it" (Matt. xxvii. 24); and then delivered Him to them.

T. When was this custom observed among the Jews? Deut. xxi. 6-8.

S. In the case of an uncertain murder. The elders of the nearest city and those next unto the slain man, were to wash their hands over a sacrifice, and say, "Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge."

T. How did the Jews call down judgment upon themselves?

8. "They answered, His blood be on us and on our children."

T. Was crucifixion a Jewish punishment?

S. No; the Jews stoned criminals. It was a Roman punishment for slaves and the worst malefactors; but Christ had so foretold His death. Matt. xx. 19; John,

iii. 14.

T. How does the Jews' choice of Barabbas resemble the choice of the world?

S. Christ is offered to all who will obey Him, and bear His yoke; but some prefer evil, that they may follow their own inclinations; and because they cannot choose both, they hate and destroy the good which reproves them.

T. (We read in history that Pontius Pilate was afterwards banished by the Emperor Caligula to Vienne, in Gaul, and died by his own hand.)

WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER.

The Epistle. Hebrews, ix. 16.

WHERE a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator: for a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth. Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedicated without blood: for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament, which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices

than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high-priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others: for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

T. What is a testament?

S. A covenant or agreement confirmed by death.

T. How were God's first covenants with men thus sealed?

S. With the sacrifice of animals; as that with Noah, after the flood (Gen. viii. 20); the covenant with Abraham (xv. 9-18); and its ratification with Isaac (xxvi. 25).

T. What is spoken of in the Epistle as the first testament?

S. The covenant of God with the children of Israel, declared by Moses.

T. How is the dedication or consecration of this testament described? Ex. xxiv. 5-8.

S." He sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the

covenant, and read in the audience of the people; and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words."

T. What was observed under the law concerning sin? S. It was always purified by shedding of blood, which was an acknowledgment that it deserved death.

T. What did these ceremonies point to?

S. The perfect atonement for sin by Christ's death. Matt. xxvi. 28.

T. What does St. Paul declare concerning the Tabernacle and all connected with it?

S. They were images or "patterns of things in the heavens."

T. What was the law concerning the ministry in the Tabernacle?

S. The priests were never permitted to enter it without shedding of blood. Lev. xvi. 3.

T. What was the holy place the figure of?

S. Heaven.

T. How is Christ our high-priest?

S. Having entered heaven, there to make atonement for us by His own sacrifice, and purify all our offerings by this precious blood-shedding.

T. How did His sacrifice differ from those under the law?

S. In that it was offered once for all.

T. How will He come again?

S. In power and great glory, as a judge; without the burden of our sins or any sin-offering.

T. To whom will His second coming be unto salvation?

S. To those who look for Him, and prepare for it by a life of daily obedience.

T. How may we cleanse our sins by His blood?

S. If we offer the satisfaction of Christ's death every time we approach God by prayer, praying that our sins and their remembrance may be blotted out for his sake.

7. How shall we thereby fulfil the words of Isaiah, liii. 10, 11 ?

S. We shall "make his soul an offering for sin ;" and "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied." T. How do we constantly enjoy the benefits of His blood-shedding?

S. In the commemoration of His death in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

T. What do we pray therein?

S. "So to eat the flesh of Christ and to drink His blood that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His body, and our souls washed through His most precious blood."

The Gospel. Luke, xxii. 39.

AND he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops