of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 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. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? When they who were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high-priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders who were come to him, Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves? 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. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high-priest's house: and Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 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. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about

the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and 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. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

(To-day we consider our Lord's agony in the garden, His betrayal by Judas, and St. Peter's denial. Christ probably foretold His betrayal, and Judas concluded his agreement with the chief priests and elders on this day, but it took place on the evening of Thursday.)

T. Where did our Lord resort after His supper with His disciples?

S. Over the brook Cedron (John, xviii. 1), to a place called Gethsemane (a village on the Mount of Olives), where was a garden.

T. Who were with Him?

S. Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John.

T. How does He describe His grief to them, and ask their sympathy? Matt. xxvi. 38.

S." Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."

T. What was His thrice-repeated prayer?

S. "Remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."

T. What do we notice particularly?

S." He fell on the ground;" "He kneeled down." As His agony increased, "He prayed the more ear

:

nestly;" yet twice He left His prayer to strengthen and warn the sleeping disciples.

T. What was the cause of His agony?

S. The sins of the whole world, and His Father's wrath for sin.

T. How was our Lord's prayer answered?

S. "An angel came unto him from heaven, strengthening him." He received comfort from His creature.

T. When do we resemble the sleeping disciples?

S. When we carelessly indulge the inclinations of the flesh instead of watching and praying for God's help, when threatened with temptations to deny and forsake Christ.

T. How did they show their weakness?

S. When they all forsook Him and filed?

T. What do we know of the traitor Judas? (Iscariot signifies man of death, according to some.)

S. He was the son of Simon, one of the twelve apostles whom Christ sent forth to teach, and seems to have been appointed treasurer, keeping the bag, or purse. John, xiii. 29; and xii. 6.

T. With whom had he covenanted our Lord's be. trayal?

S. With the chief priests and elders, who promised him thirty pieces of silver (the price of the meanest slave).

T. How is Judas's sin accounted for?

S. Satan entered into him; his former sins having prepared the way for the enemy.

T. When had Jesus shown His divine knowledge of Judas's character and purpose?

S. After declaring Himself the bread of life, He said, "There are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and

who should betray Him." Again, after Peter's confession, "He answered, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (John, vi. 64-70.) After He had washed the disciples' feet, he said, "Ye are clean, but not all. For He knew who should betray Him" (xiii. 10, 11). At the last Supper He declared it to the disciples: "One of you shall betray me," giving a sign unto John (John, xiii. 26); and, finally, in the garden He declared," He that betrayeth me is at hand."

T. How did they send to take Jesus?

S. With a band of men and officers, "with swords and staves" (Matt. xxvi. 47), " lanterns, and torches, and weapons" (John, xviii. 3), as against a thief.

T. What was the sign Judas had given them? S." Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he," Matt. xxvi. 48. He betrayed Him with the sign of love. T. What are the prophetic words of David? xli. 9.

Ps.

S. "Mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

T. We now turn to the consideration of Peter's sin. Was his fall the work of the powers of darkness?

S. Yes; Christ having warned him, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat."

T. What was the weakness of St. Peter?

S. Self-confidence; he was earnest without humility. T. How did he betray his intemperance on our Lord's apprehension?

S. He waited not for his Lord's permission, but "drew a sword and smote a servant of the high-priest, and cut off his ear." Mark, xiv. 49.

T. Did our Lord need such human aid?

S. No; for his Father would have given Him twelve legions of angels (Matt. xxvi. 53); therefore He reproved Peter, and healed the servant.

T. Did Peter place himself in the way of temptation? S. Yes; he followed afar off, and at the request of that other disciple (probably John) was admitted into the high-priest's palace, where he remained to see the end. T. What do we notice in his denial of our Lord?

S. He fell from one sin to another. He first denied Christ to a maiden before them all, the second time with an oath, and the third time he began to curse and to swear. Matt. xxvi. 70, 72, 74.

T. How was he brought to repentance?

S. The cock crew, and the Lord turned and looked on Peter (as it were to remind and reproach him), and he went out and wept bitterly.

T. When are we in danger of denying Christ?

S. When we are not prepared to resist temptation by watching and prayer.

T. What comfort may we derive from Peter's history? S. As he who sinned so deeply was restored to our Lord's favour on repentance, so we who for our sins may hope to obtain mercy.

weep

THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER.

The Epistle. 1 Cor. xi. 17.

In this that I declare unto you, I praise you not; that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For, first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you, and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they who are approved may be